KITCHEN UPGRADES
Below, I showcase some of the tools I have loved adding to my kitchen and use on a very regular basis. Some I bought myself, and many were given to me as gifts. If you like an option, upgrade when you can, but don't go crazy. If you are going to spend the money on it, make sure it is a tool that you use a few times a week if not every time you cook.
There are also recommendations within the recipes pages for tools I find helpful for that particular recipe. However, since I do not have multiple recipes in mind that use that tool, I cannot justify adding it here as an upgrade option yet.
There are also recommendations within the recipes pages for tools I find helpful for that particular recipe. However, since I do not have multiple recipes in mind that use that tool, I cannot justify adding it here as an upgrade option yet.
NEW - Jan '21 - Pastry Brush
A couple of my recipes now call out a pastry brush. Yes, even a cheap 1" chip brush from a paint store will do, just make sure it's new and the bristles are secure. However, when you are ready to upgrade I love the silicone versions. They work great for basting meat in the oven where the temperatures are hot, and the bristles are integrated so you don't have to worry about finding hairs in your food. Plus, they are dishwasher safe, always a plus in my book!
A couple of my recipes now call out a pastry brush. Yes, even a cheap 1" chip brush from a paint store will do, just make sure it's new and the bristles are secure. However, when you are ready to upgrade I love the silicone versions. They work great for basting meat in the oven where the temperatures are hot, and the bristles are integrated so you don't have to worry about finding hairs in your food. Plus, they are dishwasher safe, always a plus in my book!
Mini Food Processor
If all I ever use this for is mincing garlic, this is a huge help in my cooking. I have done other things with it, including making salsa and chopping nuts. But I can crack open an entire head of garlic and chop it up in seconds. My parents gave me the one I use as a gift, but it is easily worth the $40 price tag when I consider how much time it saves me in food prep. Clean up is a breeze as top, blade and bowl all are dishwasher safe. The bottom gets put away, but the top seems to be in a perpetual state of in use or in the dishwasher.
If all I ever use this for is mincing garlic, this is a huge help in my cooking. I have done other things with it, including making salsa and chopping nuts. But I can crack open an entire head of garlic and chop it up in seconds. My parents gave me the one I use as a gift, but it is easily worth the $40 price tag when I consider how much time it saves me in food prep. Clean up is a breeze as top, blade and bowl all are dishwasher safe. The bottom gets put away, but the top seems to be in a perpetual state of in use or in the dishwasher.
Slow Cooker / InstaPot - Updated Nov '21
I finally brought out the InstaPot I was given. I have used it basically as a small pressure cooker to make a pork carnitas recipe. I tried to make a jambalaya as well, but that is going to take a bit more to get right. However, my slow cooker gets used on a regular basis. Mine, again, was given to me and will fit an entire chicken, an oval slow cooker. It has simple controls with just a knob to turn between: Off, Keep Warm, Low, and High. The interior crock and lid are both dishwasher safe. I love using mine to make homemade stock, soups or curries while I am at work.
I finally brought out the InstaPot I was given. I have used it basically as a small pressure cooker to make a pork carnitas recipe. I tried to make a jambalaya as well, but that is going to take a bit more to get right. However, my slow cooker gets used on a regular basis. Mine, again, was given to me and will fit an entire chicken, an oval slow cooker. It has simple controls with just a knob to turn between: Off, Keep Warm, Low, and High. The interior crock and lid are both dishwasher safe. I love using mine to make homemade stock, soups or curries while I am at work.
Bakeware
I baked before I did a lot of cooking, so I had a lot of these items when I started my current journey. I have muffin tins, cookie sheets, jelly roll pans, spring-form pans, square cake pans, loaf pans, roasters, etc. I just add new pans when a recipe calls for one. If you are starting from scratch, there are plenty of starter sets out there to choose from. I'd pick up something non-stick, that can be washed in the dishwasher. Otherwise, pick up pieces as you need them for a recipe you have to try.
I baked before I did a lot of cooking, so I had a lot of these items when I started my current journey. I have muffin tins, cookie sheets, jelly roll pans, spring-form pans, square cake pans, loaf pans, roasters, etc. I just add new pans when a recipe calls for one. If you are starting from scratch, there are plenty of starter sets out there to choose from. I'd pick up something non-stick, that can be washed in the dishwasher. Otherwise, pick up pieces as you need them for a recipe you have to try.
Mixing Bowls
You can get away with your soup bowls for only so long before you need something bigger. I like using the glass versions that are microwave safe. I have a few different sizes, and stack nicely. My most recent set is actually decorative as well, so storing them in the open helps my limited space kitchen!
You can get away with your soup bowls for only so long before you need something bigger. I like using the glass versions that are microwave safe. I have a few different sizes, and stack nicely. My most recent set is actually decorative as well, so storing them in the open helps my limited space kitchen!
Graters
I love using graters from Microplane. From cheese to chocolate and more, these graters pack a punch. I keep a few styles on hand including a zester and a box style cheese grater. The zester works great for all citrus peels, and also grates garlic and ginger when I only need a pinch. If you are buying one, look for a set that comes with a cut glove. I wear one when using these since they are incredibly sharp and I like to grate all of what I am using, so it helps me keep my hands safe. They have many more styles that I would collect for specialty uses, including a spice grinder.
I love using graters from Microplane. From cheese to chocolate and more, these graters pack a punch. I keep a few styles on hand including a zester and a box style cheese grater. The zester works great for all citrus peels, and also grates garlic and ginger when I only need a pinch. If you are buying one, look for a set that comes with a cut glove. I wear one when using these since they are incredibly sharp and I like to grate all of what I am using, so it helps me keep my hands safe. They have many more styles that I would collect for specialty uses, including a spice grinder.
Pasta Pot
What one pot or pan to upgrade first? Get yourself a pasta pot. I use mine for pasta naturally, but I can also use it as a stock pot, and it came with a steamer basket insert which mostly gets used for artichokes and broccoli. I love using it for large batches of mashed potatoes as well. The interior deep basket makes my pasta super easy to strain and dump into my sauce pan when it's cooked al dente! The the hot water can cool down before I dump it, and if my sauce is too thick, I have pasta water I can easily add to thin it out. You can find them for under $50, but when I start upgrading my pots and pans, I am going to solid copper which will cost a bit more.
What one pot or pan to upgrade first? Get yourself a pasta pot. I use mine for pasta naturally, but I can also use it as a stock pot, and it came with a steamer basket insert which mostly gets used for artichokes and broccoli. I love using it for large batches of mashed potatoes as well. The interior deep basket makes my pasta super easy to strain and dump into my sauce pan when it's cooked al dente! The the hot water can cool down before I dump it, and if my sauce is too thick, I have pasta water I can easily add to thin it out. You can find them for under $50, but when I start upgrading my pots and pans, I am going to solid copper which will cost a bit more.
Rice Cooker
Yes, I can cook rice in a pot on my stove. But, the ability to add rice and water, hit a button and let the machine do all the work for me is a time saver. I don't have to think about the rice while I am prepping the rest of my meal, or doing other household chores. The cooker knows when the rice is done and stops cooking, changing to a keep warm setting. When cooking short grain rice like calrose, I unplug the machine as soon as it pops, and fluff the rice. Longer grain rices seem to do fine on the keep warm setting without getting mushy. My rice cooker came with a steamer basket. I don't use it very often, but it's a useful addition if you like steamed veggies with your rice. This tool hardly ever leaves my countertop.
Yes, I can cook rice in a pot on my stove. But, the ability to add rice and water, hit a button and let the machine do all the work for me is a time saver. I don't have to think about the rice while I am prepping the rest of my meal, or doing other household chores. The cooker knows when the rice is done and stops cooking, changing to a keep warm setting. When cooking short grain rice like calrose, I unplug the machine as soon as it pops, and fluff the rice. Longer grain rices seem to do fine on the keep warm setting without getting mushy. My rice cooker came with a steamer basket. I don't use it very often, but it's a useful addition if you like steamed veggies with your rice. This tool hardly ever leaves my countertop.
Spice Grinder
A mortar and pestle is the easiest to find, but a motorized spice grinder will save you time and energy. What I use is my first coffee grinder, after I bought a new one for just coffee. I only use the older one for dry spices so it wipes out fairly easily. You want to be sure it is clean between batches so you only get the flavors you want. When mine wears out, I will look for one that has a removable basket to make cleaning easier.
A mortar and pestle is the easiest to find, but a motorized spice grinder will save you time and energy. What I use is my first coffee grinder, after I bought a new one for just coffee. I only use the older one for dry spices so it wipes out fairly easily. You want to be sure it is clean between batches so you only get the flavors you want. When mine wears out, I will look for one that has a removable basket to make cleaning easier.
Vacuum Food Storage
We've all seen the commercials with the freezer burned meat wrapped in tin foil. But is a vacuum-sealer useful for the single cook? 100% Yes
This tool doesn't go far in my kitchen, but stays pretty accessible despite the space it takes on my counter.
I have a club membership and pick up proteins in bulk, then package into cooking portions, one steak, two sausages, one chicken breast, 2 thighs, etc. Yes, I have a chest freezer that all of it goes into, so you can't buy club sizes if you don't have that storage capacity. But if you do, then adding one of these can be very useful..
There are other systems out there, but what I really like about mine is the versatility. Besides the standard envelopes, it also has a built in accessory that works with some food storage containers I bought. I like the containers, because of their reuse feature, being both microwave and dishwasher safe. The gasket at the top is easy to pull off and lets steam vent while reheating without worrying about splatter. I wish I could find them to purchase more.
I can also highly recommend the canning jar attachment, as I use those for some of my dry good storage, like pasta, beans and nuts. It's an economical alternative to canister sets that run over $100 for 3 canisters of varying sizes. It removes the air and then seals with the canning jar lid. If you are careful when you pop the seal, you can reuse the lid and reseal what you haven't used. This is especially useful for something like bread crumbs. I rarely use up an entire box, and like to be able to save the rest for later!
We've all seen the commercials with the freezer burned meat wrapped in tin foil. But is a vacuum-sealer useful for the single cook? 100% Yes
This tool doesn't go far in my kitchen, but stays pretty accessible despite the space it takes on my counter.
I have a club membership and pick up proteins in bulk, then package into cooking portions, one steak, two sausages, one chicken breast, 2 thighs, etc. Yes, I have a chest freezer that all of it goes into, so you can't buy club sizes if you don't have that storage capacity. But if you do, then adding one of these can be very useful..
There are other systems out there, but what I really like about mine is the versatility. Besides the standard envelopes, it also has a built in accessory that works with some food storage containers I bought. I like the containers, because of their reuse feature, being both microwave and dishwasher safe. The gasket at the top is easy to pull off and lets steam vent while reheating without worrying about splatter. I wish I could find them to purchase more.
I can also highly recommend the canning jar attachment, as I use those for some of my dry good storage, like pasta, beans and nuts. It's an economical alternative to canister sets that run over $100 for 3 canisters of varying sizes. It removes the air and then seals with the canning jar lid. If you are careful when you pop the seal, you can reuse the lid and reseal what you haven't used. This is especially useful for something like bread crumbs. I rarely use up an entire box, and like to be able to save the rest for later!
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Check back and see if I have added something new, I've decided my kitchen cannot live without!
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last updated 11/19/2021