The list author says: "This is a list of what I have in my kitchen currently. Towards the end of the list are some of the things I wish I had. I have researched all of these products extensively and they come highly recommended by both myself and others. As always, Amazon prime shipping and prices are hard to beat - most of my kitchen was purchased through Amazon.
This is just about the ultimate set up for a single, aspiring gourmet cook/student with room to grow. When I started stocking my kitchen, I figured I only wanted to buy this stuff once and wanted to do it right. It takes time to get everything, but if you're patient you can have an ultimate set up that last."
"This is the building block for my knife set. The 6 inch utility is probably the least used - may be able to piece it together cheaper, but overall I'm extremely happy with my purchase. These knives are razor sharp!! Workhorses of the kitchen."
"Absolutely beautiful, this was the third knife purchase I made. Kind of wish I had the matching set of Shun Premiers, although they are a lot more expensive."
"A good cutting block is a must. This one is large and I find it perfect for all my tasks. Maybe one day I can get all my countertops in Boos. Until then, this will have to do. Be sure to apply mineral oil liberally so your nice block doesn't crack/warp. I find it works best if I keep a kitchen towel under it, that way it stays dry and stable."
"Good starter set of cookware. Some friends of mine have AllClad, I think this is the best value out there. Heavy, durable, no complaints from me. Has about all the standard pots/ pans I need."
"Le Creuset is the best dutch oven you can get. Lifetime warranty, very heavy, cool colors. This is excellent for jambalaya, red beans, soups, tomato sauce, and lots of other dishes. 5 1/2 quart is a good size unless you're cooking for a large family."
"You want to have a good non-stick pan for cooking omelets. Be sure to let the pan heat up before you begin cooking so the nonstick coating can expand and work for you. Also works for searing rare ahi tuna and other things. I really only use it for eggs though. Be sure to use a plastic utensil so you don't scratch it!"
"Pretty decent wok. If I had my druthers I'd get a real chinese wok with more carbon in it to achieve that great patina I hear asian chefs talking about. If you have an electric stove, you can stick it in the oven @ 500 degrees to get it hot enough for real stirfriday experiences. All in all pleased with it."
"Be sure to season your cast iron well and never use soap!! Excellent for making fajitas, steak, grilling chicken breast, and lots of other uses. Eagerly anticipating making a berry cobbler in it - the fat from cooking meats and such is supposed to make the baked goods extra fluffy. I also hear about people using them to make corn bread. A cast iron skillet is a kitchen essential."
"Kind of want a bigger one, but I think they are too expensive. Works well for me - small batches of bread crumbs, crumbling graham crackers for cheese cakes, making pesto. I usually am only cooking for myself, so this works fine for me."
"Getting a pepper mill changed my life! Fresh cracked pepper or nothing!! Tellicherry peppercorns, lampung, and sichuan are good to get you started. I think this one works awesome, is adjustable, and looks good. I did use some acetone and wipe the "P" off the top of the gold nut at the top - looks better that way IMO."
"Gotta have some tongs. I wish I could afford to be a Rosle snob and buy everything they make. These have a really cool hands free lock/unlock feature."
"Whatever you find that works at a good price. Don't remember exactly what I have. I think they match whatever measuring cups I got. Again, get something heavy."
"Bought mine at W&S when I had it in my head I wanted to make angel food cake. Would probably hold off on this if I could do it again. This is a much better deal than I got though."
"I don't have a nice kitchenaid mixer, and I don't do much mixing - but I do tackle DIY projects and this multitasks. I found a wooden spatula that fits it good. I use it to make cheesecakes, that's about it so far. I imagine the right whisk would fit in it too."
"The first cookbook I got. Very good encyclopedic resource if you need to learn a technique. It mostly looks pretty, I got to youtube when I need to learn how to do something."
"AWESOME! One of the best things I've gotten. Im egg boiling illiterate, so this takes the guesswork out of boiling an egg. If you're not a prime member, use this to qualify for free shipping. WORTH IT!!"
"I have a thicker rolling pin (without handles though). If I didn't already have the thicker one, I'd get a french rolling pin. Better control for pastry dough from what I gather."
"I have the kitchenaid pro series stainless blender - I think it's pretty awesome. I guess it got discontinued, glad I got it while I could. I'd probably get something like this without the option for the kitchenaid."
