Kitchen essentials you need for your new home

Equipping the kitchen in your new home can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be.

You only need a few essentials to make wining, dining and entertaining all the more exciting.

Here are a few basic items you need to cook with, cook on and eat off:

Chef’s knife: We can all agree that knife sets are extremely expensive. Certainly an investment, but not something that is necessary from the get-go. If you can, try opting for a ‘chef’s knife’ which allows you to do a variety of different actions like chopping and slicing, without having to switch tools.

Cutting board: Anyone who has ever had to chop something on a plate will appreciate a cutting board. Plastic or wooden, these boards are the most convenient when looking to chop vegetables, clean meat and so forth. Although plastic boards can be slightly more expensive, they are more hygienic than wooden boards as germs and liquids tend to sink into the wood, making it a health risk for you.

Measuring cups and spoons: Baker or not, measuring cups and spoons can come in handy with any type of cooking in the kitchen. They even work perfectly when positioning out serving sizes. They make your life easier and are those items which are most needed when you least expect it.

Colander: Pasta is a staple meal for many people, and if you want to drain your pasta properly, then using a pot lid won’t work (and it will certainly impact its al dente taste). Not only are these ideal for pasta, but they also used to drain fruit and vegetables after washing them.

Can opener: There are few things worse than excluding coconut milk from your chicken curry because you can’t open the can. Realistically, you could cut it open with a knife, but why go through all that effort when you could store a can opener in your drawer for all the canned food you thought you never needed.

Mixing bowls: Again, mixing bowls are not only used for baking. They are perfect for marinating or seasoning meat. These bowls are extremely useful in size, especially when you’re looking to marinate a chicken and leave it in the fridge to soak in. A tip with these bowls is to find stainless steel ones that don’t chip and can be used whenever and wherever without worrying about breaking them.

Grater: From carrots and cheese to garlic and more, food enthusiasts will understand the importance of having a grater in their kitchen. Graters make your cooking experience so much more exciting and they advance your dishes because of the things you are able to add in small bits.

Pans and pots: From frying things up to making a quick sauce, cooking stews or soups, pots and pans are your most-used items in the kitchen. If you’re not willing to cook up an entire meal in the oven, why not just fry some stir-fry vegetables, steak, chicken or anything else that needs to be cooked quickly on a stove or hob. A pot is always great for cooking longer meals, especially in the winter months.

Roasting tray: If you do decide to cook something that needs to be in the oven, for example, a roast or a lasagne, you will need to put it into a roasting tray or oven dish. These trays are perfect for cooking large amounts of food for your dinner party.

Cooking utensils: You may think that a spoon or fork will do, but unfortunately, you cannot cook fried eggs or flip meat without the right utensils. Well, you can, but why make it difficult for yourself? Plus, all these essentials are versatile and can be used for almost any cooking technique.

Knives, forks and spoons: When it comes to essentials, you only really need a set of six. Even though you might only need four, there might be times when you are tasting the food and dirty the other ones. These are items which grow with time, so don’t stretch your budget in the beginning if you can’t.

Plates, bowls, mugs and glasses: These items cannot be compromised on. Of course, you don’t need wine glasses in the beginning but you do need glasses to drink cold drink or juice out of. The same goes for your mugs, plates and bowls. Try to keep your range simple and specific to what you need. The more money you save over time, the easier it will be for you to splurge on these items. However, in the beginning, you only need a set of four or six. Preferably six if your budget allows for it.

Serving ware: The exciting part about moving into your new home is being able to invite some friends or family over and entertain them. If you’ve cooked them a meal with many different side dishes, having serving bowls to serve the food in is a must-have. Not only for others but you might have some leftover food that cannot fit on a plate or bowl, therefore you can store it in these bigger containers.

Storage containers: Going to work and need some leftovers for lunch? Plastic storage containers are great for storing old or new food. There are a variety of different sizes which will really save you from having to wash dishes all the time. They are also more practical for fridge purposes.

Kettle, toaster, microwave: Last but not least, the essential small appliances. You definitely need a kettle, toaster and a microwave for home. One, for cooking food, and two, for convenience. These items range in prices, according to their features. eHome has a variety of kitchen appliances to suit your budget.