Remember when you moved into your first apartment? Chances are that your kitchen wasn’t stocked with a milk frother, ice cream maker, or four-tray dehydrator. You probably used the supplies you brought from home, borrowed everything else from your roommate, and still managed to make great meals.
We can all take a break from those days. Today, you can’t go into a kitchenware store without being tempted by specialty tools like pasta machines and milk frothers. Unless you’re diligent, your kitchen can become better-stocked than a five-star restaurant- even when you live alone.
Many people are now taking a minimalist approach to stocking their kitchen. For some, it’s the principle: why waste money on utensils and gadgets that you won’t use or already have enough of? Others have limited budgets or tiny kitchens and want to focus on the essentials. Whatever your reason, this article presents a list of minimalist kitchen supplies that will meet your family’s meal prep and serving needs.
Quality Knife Set
There are only three knives that your kitchen really needs:
- Chef’s knife: An 8” chef’s knife is a must-have for slicing and chopping meal ingredients. This Japanese chef’s knife is made of Damascus steel and is sure to last. If you must splurge on anything in your minimalist kitchen supplies list, let this be the item.
- Paring knife: You can use a paring knife to peel potatoes and slice fruit.
- Serrated knife: These knives are great for slicing bread and soft, ripe fruit like tomatoes.
Pots and Pans
At the bare minimum, invest in two pot sizes: three quarts and six quarts. Three-quart pots are ideal for boiling eggs and preparing oatmeal or small batches of rice while the six-quart ones can be used for cooking pasta, chili, soups, and even making popcorn!
Have at least one stainless steel pan and one nonstick skillet. Stainless steel can last for decades, and nonstick cooking utensils are important for preparing proteins like tofu, fish, and eggs. You’ll need more than one of each if you have a family, but scale only according to your cooking needs.
Kitchen Drawer Essentials
You need cutlery like knives, forks, and spoons, but how much is too much? A general rule of thumb for families is three utensils per person, so you can do the math. You should also stock:
- One set of measuring cups and spoons.
- One each of essential cooking utensils like spatulas, stirring spoons, whisks, and tongs.
- A manual can opener.
- At least two cutting boards. Be sure to designate one specifically for cutting pungent items like onions and garlic.
Cupboard Must-Haves
Your cupboard is where you stock your cups, plates, bowls, and prep tools that won’t fit in a drawer. At the bare minimum, include:
- Three cups, plates, and bowls per person.
- Food storage containers for leftovers and prepped ingredients.
- One medium and one large mixing bowl
Baking Necessities
A lot of recipes call for using a sheet plan or a baking dish with a lid. When you’re preparing your list of minimalist kitchen supplies, include one of each.
You MAY Need These
These appliances are technically not part of a minimalist kitchen because you can prepare food without them. However, if you work long hours and don’t always have the time to prepare meals from scratch, you could add the following:
- Slow cooker
- Microwave
On a similar note, if you’re a regular coffee drinker, it’s fine to invest in a small machine or, ideally, a French Press that takes up a lot less space.
ConclusionThese minimalist kitchen supplies will let you maximize space no matter how small your kitchen is. At Unique Restaurant Supply, we stock a wide range of kitchen utensils and can supply what you need to maintain your simplified lifestyle. For more information, please contact us today.
