Before you (or more likely your partner says it), no number one on this list isn't going to be "you, making a sandwich". However there will be items which I don't think I could live without, they aren't crazy expensive items like mac daddy ovens or anything like that, but little things (which can be pricy) that make the kitchen and cooking experience better.
MANDOLIN SLICER
Not for the faint hearted, these things will take your finger (well the tip of it) if you just look at it funny, BUT they make quick work of slicing and dicing. Our particular mandolin has three thickness settings and you have the option of slice or julienne
CAST IRON FRYING PAN
We have four cast iron pans that range from large to small enough to fry a single size 8 egg. We have one non-stick and an electric frying pan, but they are lucky to get used once in a six month period, the cast iron pans do everything we want and have the added advantage that you can put them in the oven.
Our original large cast iron pan set us back about $60, but we have had it for over 6 years. However, the three smaller pans were picked up as a bundle for $20 at The Warehouse, so it pays to look around and keep an eye out.
A KNIFE SET
Not a cheap item to buy, but if there is anything you bottom line need in your kitchen, it's a good set of knives. You want something with a good weight to it and something that is nice to grip. Spend a bit of money on this item rather than picking up something cheap from The Warehouse, a good knife set will last you a number of years if looked after.
I'm lucky enough that the Bearded One was a chef at one point, the last time he was sweating it out in a kitchen and barely seeing me he got himself a knife set. We now use these at home & have been since he decided against being in a kitchen (he is fine with being in the kitchen at home & has been doing 95% of the cooking for the last 2 years).
MANDOLIN SLICER
Not for the faint hearted, these things will take your finger (well the tip of it) if you just look at it funny, BUT they make quick work of slicing and dicing. Our particular mandolin has three thickness settings and you have the option of slice or julienne
CAST IRON FRYING PAN
We have four cast iron pans that range from large to small enough to fry a single size 8 egg. We have one non-stick and an electric frying pan, but they are lucky to get used once in a six month period, the cast iron pans do everything we want and have the added advantage that you can put them in the oven.
Our original large cast iron pan set us back about $60, but we have had it for over 6 years. However, the three smaller pans were picked up as a bundle for $20 at The Warehouse, so it pays to look around and keep an eye out.
A KNIFE SET
Not a cheap item to buy, but if there is anything you bottom line need in your kitchen, it's a good set of knives. You want something with a good weight to it and something that is nice to grip. Spend a bit of money on this item rather than picking up something cheap from The Warehouse, a good knife set will last you a number of years if looked after.
I'm lucky enough that the Bearded One was a chef at one point, the last time he was sweating it out in a kitchen and barely seeing me he got himself a knife set. We now use these at home & have been since he decided against being in a kitchen (he is fine with being in the kitchen at home & has been doing 95% of the cooking for the last 2 years).
TOMATO/STEAK KNIFE
There is nothing worse than going to cut a tomato and you end up murdering the poor thing. In the last 6months we have brought two Victorinox SwissClassic Utility Knives (one green, one yellow/his & hers) from Moore Wilsons. We use these knives for two things and two things only - cutting tomatoes and eating steak.
Game changer. Buy one here
The fifth and final item on this list is…
A GOOD TEA TOWEL
No, not a tea towel that only comes out for special occasions, I mean a tea towel that actually does it's job and does it well. Not all tea towels are created equal and it's hard to find great ones, if you find a great towel hold on to that mystical unicorn and never let go. After all you will want a good tea towel for cast iron pan wrangling.
The best towels that we have are from The House of Knives, they were great right off the shelf and didn't need any settling in. We have a couple of other checkered tea towels, but they have taken a long while to break in.
There is nothing worse than going to cut a tomato and you end up murdering the poor thing. In the last 6months we have brought two Victorinox SwissClassic Utility Knives (one green, one yellow/his & hers) from Moore Wilsons. We use these knives for two things and two things only - cutting tomatoes and eating steak.
Game changer. Buy one here
The fifth and final item on this list is…
A GOOD TEA TOWEL
No, not a tea towel that only comes out for special occasions, I mean a tea towel that actually does it's job and does it well. Not all tea towels are created equal and it's hard to find great ones, if you find a great towel hold on to that mystical unicorn and never let go. After all you will want a good tea towel for cast iron pan wrangling.
The best towels that we have are from The House of Knives, they were great right off the shelf and didn't need any settling in. We have a couple of other checkered tea towels, but they have taken a long while to break in.