Preparing Your Kitchen
Saturday, July 14th, 2007 by The Cooking Guy Subscribe To Our Feed
Kitchens come in all shapes and sizes. Whether you have a large and spacious kitchen or a small studio apartment, there are a few basic steps for preparing your kitchen for your next cooking adventure.
Basic Utensils, Appliances and Equipment
The first step is to have a few of the basics. What are considered basics? Good question. Depending on whether you are a beginner or seasoned pro, the basics will be different for everyone. Some prefer to use their fingers or palms for measurements while others want precise measurements. Stocking your kitchen with a few essential items will become an individual thing. After some trial and error, you will learn what works and what you are missing.
This is a basic list of suggested items for cooking beginners. Measuring spoons, measuring cups, mixing bowls, cutting board, knives, mixing utensils such as electric beaters or wire whisk, blender, spatulas, can opener, cheese grater, small food processor, vegetable peeler, various pots and pans including sauce pans, skillets, cookie sheets, muffin tins and loaf pans.
There may be other items you want to add to your core list of basics. You may even want to upgrade your gadgets once you get going. For example, instead of hand electric mixer, you may find a stand mixer better fits your needs.
Storing your Basics
Assess the space you have to store your basics. If you have limited space, buying big bulky equipment or appliances may not be the best fit for you. Find the items that best fit your area.
Quality over Price
Another important aspect in collecting and purchasing your basics is to consider the quality of the utensil or gadget rather than just the price. Good quality items will last for years while, other less expensive items may need to be replaced each year.
Although, the basics will be different for everyone, there are a few things like knives, mixers or pots and pans that all cooks from beginners to seasoned pros will need. If needed, do a little research before buying. Read reviews from others or look at consumer reports.
Basic Pantry Staples
Just as important as having the right utensils and equipment, stocking your pantry with a few basic staples, will keep you prepared for any recipe. First, access your dietary needs or restrictions. If you don’t eat white flour, don’t purchase white flour as a staple. Instead, work with the ingredients that best fit your lifestyle.
This is a basic list of suggested staples to have in your pantry. Flour, sugar, salt, pepper, spices such as rosemary, cumin, basil, nutmeg, and cinnamon, extracts, chocolate chips, baking powder, baking soda, oil, cooking spray, canned beans, crackers, fruit and vegetables, broths, corn starch, bread crumbs, yeast, minced garlic, bottled lemon and lime juice, nuts, pasta, peanut butter, popcorn, jams, dried fruit, canned soups, rice and fresh vegetables like potatoes, carrots peppers and onions.
This is only a general guideline, so make it individualized to your tastes and space requirements.
Clean working space
Another important aspect to getting your kitchen ready for cooking is to have a clean and open area to prepare the food.
Make a space on your counter specifically dedicated for preparing food. Give the area a good scrub down using hot soapy water or a store bought sanitizer. Once the area is clean and you are ready to start cooking, take the proper precautions to keep the area sanitized while preparing your meal. For example, if you are working with meats or foods that could contain harmful bacteria, get a good solid cutting board that is reserved for only those types of foods. This way, you are not cross-contaminating your other food items. Or if you prefer to not use a cutting board, lay a sheet of wax-paper down over the counter to prevent any contamination.
Second step in keeping the area clean is to wash your hands regularly. You could also wear disposable latex gloves that could be throw away after each use. Even if you wear gloves, always wash your hands to keep you, your family or guests safe.
Now that you have a few basic tips, you should be off to a great start. Happy Cooking!
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