For the Love of Cooking: 7 Essential Kitchen Tools

Delivery is all the rage, but the joy of cooking can never be replaced. Here’s what you need to get started.

Published September 9, 2019 10:15AM (EDT)

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While meal delivery subscriptions are all the rage these days (and understandably so, we've got busy lives!), but there's a reason why the Joy of Cooking has sold more than 18 million copies—there's something special about cooking that delivery services just can't match.

Cooking might seem like an insurmountable task, but the key to unlocking your culinary skills is getting the right tools. Kitchen appliances can have a reputation for being fancy indulgences reserved only for chefs and other confident cookers, but with the right tools in your kitchen arsenal, you'll be making the most of your CSA membership in no time. Here are the basics to begin to invest in to beef up your cooking chops.

Knife set

This is one thing that new cooks are tempted to skimp on since they can be on the spendy-er side of things, but investing in a proper set of kitchen knives and a sharpener will make your whole cooking process smoother and cleaner… literally. Luckily there are plenty of places where you can get discounts on knife sets so you can get the most for your dollar.

Measuring spoons and cups

Until you get good enough to eyeball things like grandma, you're going to want measuring cups and measuring spoons around so you can get proportions right. No one wants to eat a dish with double the amount of chili powder than the recipe called for.

Food processor

People love their Vitamix for a reason, but these top line blenders aren't the only option. There are plenty of other food processors out there that will be more than enough to not only get you started, but keep you choppin' and soup-making for years to come.

Slow cooker

Getting a slow cooker is perhaps the easiest way to begin cooking. All you have to do is throw the right ingredients in the cooker, turn it on, and wait for meals that range from breakfasts to dinners and desserts. 

Flatware and dinnerware

Once you start cooking, chances are you're going to want to have friends and family over to share in the confections you create. That means you're going to want to have flatware and dinnerware for at least a group of four around.

Storage containers

Especially if you're cooking for just one or two or buying some speciality ingredients for a new dish, you're going to have something left over that will need to be saved, which means you'll want storage containers on hand. The best part is that they make it easy to send friends home with leftovers as well.


By Compiled by Salon staff



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