There are essentially two main categories of basic must-haves for a well-equipped kitchen. The first is equipment and the second is something to prepare. You shouldn’t need to rush out and buy a lot of kitchen equipment or stock up on grocery carts if you do a little planning.

EQUIPMENT

In addition to the essentials—a sink with hot and cold water, an oven and stove, and a refrigerator—you’ll need an assortment of cookware, something to drink, cookware, and dinnerware. First the kitchen utensils.

Cookware comes in a wide variety of materials and finishes. There are many schools of thought on what is best, so much of the choice is a matter of preference, as most cookware will do the job. I personally prefer stainless steel and have some favorite cast iron pans, but I also have glass or Pyrex that I use frequently. You should look for some basic sizes in any kit you buy.

• 10 pan for sautéing, making sauces, frying and one-dish meals
• 2-quart and 4-quart sauce pot for heating vegetables or cooking grains like rice, reheating canned foods like soups, and boiling small amounts of food like some eggs.
• 8- or 10-quart pot for boiling pasta, potatoes, and preparing soups and stews.
• A small skillet used for things like cooking eggs.
• And of course tapas.

Most cookware sets will come with at least these pieces, some will have more. If you choose a set with a non-stick coating, remember to replace it as soon as it shows signs of wear. Eating the layer that has come off the food is unhealthy.

Small appliances like a coffee maker, kettle, and hand blender are the basics. You can choose to get an electric can opener and a small food processor, but these are not necessary items. You can chop the food with a good knife and use a manual opener if necessary.

You will need kitchen utensils. I would recommend a pair of each of the following

• Pancake turner and spatula – Teflon ones are a good choice, however at least one metal one is useful for flipping meats and the thinner edge makes flipping pancakes or eggs a bit easier.
• Whisk. This is used for making sauce, beating eggs and egg whites, whipping puddings, and other tasks. You should have at least one, even if you plan to use an electric mixer most of the time.
• Several wooden spoons of different sizes.
• Several large metal spoons. These are not tableware, but the larger spoons used in cooking.
• A ladle is helpful, but you can use a large spoon instead.
• A pair of large two-pronged meat forks
• Flip flops
• At the height
• You can open Y a key to the church. A church key is the type used to open bottles and pierce cans. You may find an all-in-one that works just fine.

you will also need

• A kitchen timer. This is essential if you plan to bake anything.
• Salt and pepper shakers or pepper mill and salt shaker
• Bowls in various sizes
• to strain
• Measuring cups for dry and wet ingredients and measuring spoons
• At least one, but preferably two cookie sheets, the kind with no sides
• A set of cake pans
• A rectangular shaped dish with a side of about 2 inches
• A square pan with 2- or 3-inch sides
• Walking
• Storage containers for dry goods and leftovers

And of course, no kitchen will do without a good set of knives. Be sure to also look for a knife sharpener. More cooks are injured with dull knives than with sharp ones because of the extra effort required to cut or slice food. Will need

• A small paring knife
• A large carving knife
• A serrated bread knife
• a meat cleaner

There are many other appliances and equipment you can get to stock your kitchen, but these are the basics. With this kit you should be able to create delicious meals for your family.

BASIC FOOD

At the grocery store, you’ll want to make sure you add these basic items to your list. If you’re just starting out, it might mean a higher bill at first, but once you’ve bought the basics, it’s easy to keep a list and pick up replacements when you see you’re running low. These are staple foods, not the usual foods you’ll buy to prepare your meals. You should have on hand in your pantry:

• Sugar, brown sugar and icing sugar
• Sweetie
• Syrup for pancakes, waffles and desserts
• all purpose flour
• cornstarch
• baking powder
• sodium bicarbonate
• Salt
• Pepper
• Spices, especially garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning. Chili powder, cumin, oregano, dried parsley, and sage are also good additions to the spice cabinet.
• Pickles and olives and capers if you like them.
• Flavoring extracts, especially vanilla and almond.
• coconut powder
• Quick Cooking Oats (Oatmeal)
• Rice
• Pasta
• dry beans
• Dried potatoes like mashed potato flakes.
• Cans of tomato sauce and tomato puree, cream of mushroom soup, chicken broth, evaporated milk and tuna
• Vinegar: white, apple cider, and balsamic are good choices to start with
• Soy sauces and Worcestershire
• oil for frying
• solid butter
• Cereals, especially those that can function as breadcrumbs, such as cornflakes.
• Canned vegetables as a backup. I like to keep a few cans of peas, corn, green beans, spinach, asparagus, mixed greens, baby canned potatoes, and artichoke hearts on hand.
• canned fruit. Pineapple, peaches, and maybe a jar of applesauce
• jams and jellies
• milk powder
• Peanut butter unless of course there are allergies in your family
• Salad dressing
• Condiments such as ketchup, salsa, mayonnaise, and mustard
• Coffee and tea

You may want to add other elements or you may want to do some tweaking, but this is a good base to start with.

In the fridge and freezer there should be at least

• a pound of butter
• eggs
• Milk
• Sour cream
• cream cheese
• assorted hard cheeses
• Assorted Nuts
• Pie shells (the frozen variety)
• whipped topping
• maraschino cherries
• vanilla ice cream
• Bacon
• Pork neck bones for seasoning beans and soups
• Onions
• dad
• carrots
• Celery
• lemons

Don’t forget plates, bowls, cups and serving utensils. It’s nice to have a couple of large platters, but you can always serve it right off the stove.

With these items you have all the basics you need to feed your family delicious meals that are properly cooked and served. You can add additional items to the list as you start to feel more confident cooking or when you find that wonderful gadget that you just know will make your life in the kitchen so much easier. Cooking isn’t a chore unless you make it one. Being the family cook is a big responsibility, but it’s also an honor and a way to show your family how much you love them. Remember, the most important thing to have in the kitchen at all times is LOVE. It will make every meal something special.