So, what gear do you need to have in your kitchen to put a good meal together? The answer is, not a whole lot. We both have had multiple experiences with limited kitchens (vacation rental homes, corporate apartments, rental townhouses) and make do with whatever is available in the sparse kitchen. During these times we are always reminded of how great meals can come out of a kitchen that has only a few basic cooking tools. There are a lot of kitchen tools that will make your culinary endeavors easier and more efficient, but you can get by with a few key items and can master meal prep with a thoughtful collection of gear.
Our Free Printable Kitchen Gear Essentials and Kitchen Gear Essentials Plus lists will help you sort through what you have, or add to your current inventory, so you can continue the empowering process of getting an effective meal planning system going.
You may have most or all the items on our Kitchen Gear Essentials list, and if you do this may be a great opportunity to do some weeding and get back to basics — or you can start to fill in the gaps. For those just starting to outfit a kitchen, or needing to expand to outfit a growing family, it is a great resource.
The Kitchen Gear Essentials Plus list includes items that, like our Pantry Essentials Plus list, will allow you to expand your cooking repertoire. There are many different brands, price points, and materials available for most kitchen gear basics, so our advice is to ask the experts at cooking/kitchen supply stores if you need specific recommendations beyond our list. (Or send us a comment and we’ll let you know our favorites.) Another option beyond cookware stores and big box retailers is to visit a local restaurant supply store to compare availability and pricing.
Cheers!
