Kitchen Essentials to Start Cooking

Learning how to cook is an essential life skill that everyone should learn to do. Like any skill, having the correct tools do it will help tremendously. That is why I decided to start with the basic items everyone should have in their kitchen to start cooking. That being said, you can add or take away things from this list to your liking. This is just a basic list that I use if not every day a few times a week.

Cooking is a very important life skill. There are so many things that just learning to cook can do for you. My number one thing is it allows you to save money and as a homemaker I am always looking for ways to be frugal. Did you know buying premade meals or items at the store costs much more than if you were to just make the same thing at home from ingredients. My favorite example is my tomato sauce. I buy a .50 cent can of plain tomato sauce, a head of garlic, an onion, plus the seasonings I have at home. Roughly when I mix all of it together it costs $1.50, and I have ingredients for a few more meals. A store bought can of the same thing in my area would have cost me $3.00 and I would not have ingredients for another meal.

My next point is eating for your health. Your health is possibly the very most important thing in your life. We need our bodies to function properly so we can accomplish tasks, even basic tasks such as laundry can become hard if you’re sick. Cooking from home can change your health by using whole ingredients without added processed preservatives and calories. All over the world there are a growing amount of people that are obese. Obesity can cause numerous health problems like type 2 diabetes and heart disease. By making your meals at home you can reduce the extra oils, sugars and other refined carbs that can deteriorate your health. This not only will affect you but anyone you cook for like your significant other, children and even friends.

The last point I want to bring to the table is something that makes homemakers smile and nod their head. We homemakers have a job to take care of those under our roofs and create an environment that is warm, cozy and a peaceful place to rest. There is no better way in my mind then to show those people I love them and to make everyone happy than a good homemade meal. Dinner specifically is the time during the day where everyone pauses, sits down with each other and checks in with one another. The meal I serve acts like the catalyst turning the hot tasty morsels into thankfulness, family time, and a moment to rest in the environment I work so hard all day to make. Nothing hits like a homemade meal. 

Now that you know my reasons why I cook let’s get onto what you should have in your kitchen. Of course, you may have different reasons for wanting to cook (like recreating a Tic Tok meal for fun) but thankfully the list of must haves in a kitchen remain the same. So, without further ado, here are 14 essentials to start your cooking journey. 

Measuring cups (1c, 1/2c, 1/3c, 1/4c)

Liquid measuring cup (I recommend the 2 cup Pyrex microwavable one)

Kitchen Essentials List

Large bowl (Dishwasher/microwave safe)

Metal Spatula 

Large spoon

Pan

Pot

Strainer

Knife 

Cutting board

Measuring spoons (1 tbsp, 1 tsp, ½ tsp, ¼ tsp)

Tongs

Whisk

Dough roller

Cheese Grater

Muffin tin

Baking sheet

Baking pan 9×12

Just for fun I have included a Delicious Coffee Cake Casserole from my blog to help you on your cooking journey. Until next time.

-Hannah