Home cooking has been on the rise, as the Covid-19 pandemic forced even the most fanatical foodies to become home chefs. While we wholeheartedly recommend continuing to support your local restaurants, it can be nice to test a new recipe in the kitchen. If you’re continuing to use the battered kitchen gear you bought in college, it might be time for an upgrade. Below are the kitchen tools that can help unlock your inner chef.
Key Selling Point: This dinnerware is both sustainably made and ideal for everyday use.
Dinnerware might not seem very important, but without it you won’t have a place to present (not to mention eat!) your latest creation.
The set we’re recommending comes from Fable, whose sustainably made Base Dinnerware Set comes with four dinner plates, salad plates, pasta bowls, and breakfast bowls. These are the staples you’ll need to serve breakfast, lunch, or dinner. All of the dishes are made in Portugal using recycled clay, and are both dishwasher- and microwave-safe. You can even use them in an oven up to temperatures of 450 degrees, which is helpful if you’d like to keep a dish or ingredient warm while you cook.
Key Selling Point: Hast’s knives are made out of durable materials and feature a single-piece design.
A dull knife can skip off slippery ingredients (think freshly washed tomatoes) and cut you, which is why you should always keep a set of sharp blades at hand. This four-piece set from Hast includes a chef’s knife, utility knife, paring knife, and serrated bread knife, which are the four knives you’ll need to chop, cut, or slash any ingredient. We really like that these knives are made out of a single piece of titanium-coated powder steel, so you’ll never be at risk of a handle coming loose or dislodging from the blade.
Key Selling Point: These reusable pods help you cut down on waste.
If your palate is more sweet than savory, having a good set of baking tools is absolutely essential. This bundle from Zulay includes a metal whisk, two silicone baking mats (using one is more eco-friendly than single-use parchment paper), and a pair of aprons. These tools can help you get started on your baking journey before you move onto more advanced tools like a digital scale and an assortment of cookie sheets and cake pans.
Key Selling Point: These pans can be used on electric, gas, or induction stove, and are even oven safe.
A stainless steel pan is a home chef’s best friend, and essential for searing, simmering, frying, and even baking a variety of dishes. This two-pan set from Proclamation includes a wok (which can also be used as a stockpot) and 12-inch wide skillet. With this set of pans in hand, you’ll be able to make a variety of stocks, stir fries, and sauces. We’re especially pleased that Proclamation includes a stainless steel lid with these pans, which is important to use while simmering certain dishes to prevent moisture from evaporating.
Final Thoughts
Cooking can seem intimidating, but having the right kitchenware can make a big difference. Instead of reaching into a disorganized utensil drawer, you can use the tools above to make restaurant-quality dishes in no time. The ingredients you use, and your familiarity with cooking techniques is also vital, but you never want to be limited by the kitchenware you have on hand. With our recommendations, you’ll never have to worry about that again.
This post was created by a non-news editorial team at Recurrent Media, Futurism’s owner. Futurism may receive a portion of sales on products linked within this post.