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Top 10 Must Have Cooking Items

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Have you ever stood in the Kitchen store wondering what in the heck to buy? With the enormous amount of kitchen gadgets out there, consumers become easily overwhelmed! Resulting in the dreaded chaotic ‘gadget drawer’ – where items are seldom used.

No more! Seriously. Those gadgets may do awesome things, but are they versatile? Does that ONE item you just purchased for $15 work on multiple items? Or does it just hull strawberries?

I have 10 items I use regularly. With the exception of some items that are just handy and make life easier. Citrus squeezer anyone??

The items below are my absolute favorites; these are the ‘I-Could-Never-Live-Without-You’ things that I will take on vacation, just in case!

One of my ALL-TIME favorite gadgets?

The Microplane 40020 Classic Zester/Grater.

Just saying ‘rasper’ is fun. But using one is even more fun! I use it to zest any citrus where it calls for juice – but I also use it for “mincing” garlic! Just run your clove of garlic over the rasper, and you have finely grated garlic that doesn’t get stuck in your teeth… No one likes that. I use it to grate ginger into my dishes. Or finely grate parmesan cheese. Or, if I’ve over baked the cookies, just run this rasper on the crispy edges, and you’ve saved your cookie! That is 5 uses so far for ONE item.

Moving on….

Winware ALXP-1318 Commercial Half-Size Sheet Pans, Set of 2 (13-Inch x 18-Inch, Aluminum). Whatever you want to call them – they are the perfect vessel for baking cookies, baking a ‘half-sheet cake’ {oh, now you get it!}, roasting vegetables, chicken, fish, beef, pork, anything. I make meatloaf on here, individual meatloves. {So nice to have your own!} And, the size is what I love the most! You can put your veggies on one side and your protein on the other and bake T-O-G-E-T-H-E-R. What a time saver! That is 9 uses for ONE item!

Woo hoo!

Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet w/ Tempered Glass Lid (10.25 Inch) – Cast Iron Frying Pan With Lid Set.. You HAVE to have one. Your grandmother probably used it, and her grandmother probably gave it to her! If I had to tell you to buy one thing from this list {as much as I hate to say it…} this would be it! It is truly and all purpose ‘cooker.’ You can bake it in, you can fry in it, you can saute, and if you flip it over, you can make pancakes if you were in a pinch! Wowzer!

The ONLY utensils you need in your jar. A spatula is nice and convenient – but these are you basic ‘stirring’ items you need…

OXO Good Grips 11-Inch Better Balloon Whisk

Wooden Spoon, FAAY Premium Cooking Spoon, Mixing Spoon Handcraft from Teak | Durable, Natural, Non Toxic and High Heat Resistance for Non Stick Cookware 

OXO Good Grips 12-Inch Stainless-Steel Locking Tongs

Greener Chef Extra Large Organic Bamboo Cutting Board with NEW CRACK-PREVENTION TECHNOLOGY & LIFETIME REPLACEMENT WARRANTY – Best Wood Cutting Boards for Kitchen – Juice Groove for Meat – FDA Approved. Duh.

Duralex 100010 Made In France Lys Stackable 10-Piece Bowl Set. I bought these several years ago after Christmas from Williams-Sonoma. They are $40 for 8 of them, and hands-down-my-favorite-bowls-ever. {I’m using this phrase a lot today, get used to it.} The different sizes are great to mix a cake, marinade, toss a salad, etc in. They are dishwasher safe, and for $40, I wish I had bought an extra set. LOVE THEM.

Cuisinart 766-24 Chef’s Classic 8-Quart Stockpot with Cover. Do you make stock? It’s really easy! Your biggest “hurdle” is getting the big pot out. The bigger the pot the more the stock. Which means the better your homemade corn chowder just got! Buy a big stock pot and make the stock. You can thank me later.

And, finally. My pride and joy. THE Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast-Iron 5-Quart Oval (Dutch) French Oven, Caribbean. It is heavy enough to lift weights with – but, I have never met another pot I liked better. It goes from the stove top to the oven to the table. With all the colors you can create a set that is like the color wheel – perfectly suited in every way! The heat is regulated within this great cooking vessel because it is Cast-Iron, coated in ceramic. Meaning, the great heat conduction cast iron gives is made even better by the ceramic-ness added! And, it’s prettier.  Way prettier.

{Can I add an 11th thing?}

I didn’t include a CUTCO Model 1766 Santoku Knife………. 7.0″ High Carbon Stainless Straight Edge blade………….5.6″ Classic Brown handle (Sometimes called “Black”)………………..In factory-sealed plastic bag.! You will definitely need a knife. I like BIG knives and cannot lie. Like this one:

These are from Cutco, one of my favorite kitchen companies. They have wonderful customer service, and their knives are guaranteed for life. Even after my parents pass their big set down to me, the lifetime guarantee is still there! Yay!

Are there any kitchen gadgets you would add?

Happy Simple Cooking!

 

sweetpea lifestyle

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