10 Tools You Need to Have in Your Kitchen

I’ll be honest. I own a retail store, and I would be thrilled if you purchased all of your kitchen supplies at The Chopping Block. But the only reason we carry kitchen equipment is because you actually NEED IT to cook! I’m not talking about luxury stuff here. I mean having a few tools (not gadgets, please) that will improve your efficiency, your results and your enjoyment in the kitchen.

We don’t have the biggest selection, the fanciest or most thorough array of kitchen supplies, but what we carry is the best edited, in my humble opinion. Our goal is to carry products that do what they are supposed to do very well. Sometimes they are expensive, sometimes not, sometimes they come with great warranties, sometimes not, sometimes they are beautiful and sometimes not. Our peelers peel, our graters grate, our tongs pick things up, our knives are sharp and our sharpeners sharpen.

When I travel, I usually bring basic equipment with me because in my experience, people have the poor quality, non-functional tools in their kitchens, if they have them at all. Our commitment at The Chopping Block is that you have the essentials and that they all do what they are supposed to do.

Here is my list of absolute must haves in the kitchen:

10” Chef’s Knife: Shun and Global are my two favorites.

18” x 24” Wooden Chopping Block: You can always go bigger, just not smaller. Think of your board as your work surface, not something to cut on. If the food falls off, it isn’t safe to work on.

5 ½ quart Le Creuset French Oven: Think long slow moist heat cooking… pot roast, stew, tomato sauce. Also, you can use this as a stock pot or to bake things like cornbread in.

12” Le Creuset Skillet: You need a big pan and this nonstick is as durable as any pan. You can put it in the dishwasher and use metal utensils in it.

Rosle Peeler: It’s sharp enough to peel a tomato and comes with a lifetime warranty to stay that sharp!

Rosle Vegetable Grater: Same distinction as their peelers

Rosle Whisk: You need at least one whisk so a standard size is best.

Rosle Perforated Turner: This turner is flexible and bends slightly with an edge that has just enough sharpness to really get the sticky stuff off. The perforation helps to keep the food from sliding off.

A less expensive option to the perforated turner is a Fish Spatula, which has much of the same attributes.

OXO tongs: When you close the tongs they touch, so you can actually pick things up with them!

Le Creuset  Rubber Spatula: Use this in place of your wooden spoons. It’s heat proof, flexible and dishwasher safe.

Bonus item: Meat Thermometer: I always have one with me (really) at all times.

What tools can you not live without? Share them here.