Essential kitchen tools?

[mdboatbum]

There was another thread on essential BBQ tools, and that got me thinking.
What items would you really not wish to do without in your kitchen? Obvious items aside, like stove, sink etc ... I'm referring to things that as you've progressed as a cook, you've realized you absolutely need.
My list is fairly short:

Good probe thermometer. I hate guessing.

Large, stable cutting board. Anything undersized or that moves around is annoying and dangerous.

Sharp knives. I mean SHARP. Dull knives are, again, annoying and dangerous.

Cookware: my needs are pretty simple here. 2 skillets in the 12" range, one cast iron and one stainless.
One large (8 quart) heavy bottomed pot.
One heavy sauce pan. We have a le crueset 2 quart with a lid.
Medium sized Dutch oven. We have a 3.5 quart enameled cast iron Martha Stewart one.
Half sheet pans. Lots. And wire racks to fit the half sheet pans.

A good stand mixer. For years I thought this was a luxury item I didn't need. I didn't know how wrong I was. We have the Kitchenaid ultra power tilt head model.

A good food processor. Again, thought this was an item I didn't need. Again I was dead wrong. We have the Cuisinart Classic Pro 7 cup.

A good whisk. Larger is better. An all stainless one from a restaurant supply store will last forever and make life easier.

Tongs. Again, large ones from a restaurant supply store.

Wooden spoons. Lots. And at least one with a flat, spatula shape. Great for deglazing pans.

That's about it. Post your kitchen must haves.

 

[dirtsailor2003]

17724856974_1223c5f671_c.jpg

• dirtsailor2003
• Aug 10, 2015

 

[bmaddox]

My list of essentials is pretty close to yours. The main thing that I have learned is that spending extra money upfront and buying quality equipment will save you in the long run. Not only will quality equipment last longer but it performs better. Sure spending $300 on a dutch oven might seem crazy to some people, but you can't get the same performance or quality for less. My grandfather bought a set of Le Crueset pots that were in use for more than 30 years. The stuff you get at most department stores barely lasts 2 years with regular use. 

 

[bmaddox]

 

17724856974_1223c5f671_c.jpg

• dirtsailor2003
• Aug 10, 2015

This looks amazing! Now that Florida relaxed the growler laws I might need to get one. 

 

[sfprankster]

Maybe a little overboard for most...

IMG_8352.JPG

• sfprankster
• Aug 10, 2015

Pure set and forget cooking... 

 

[dirtsailor2003]

 
This looks amazing! Now that Florida relaxed the growler laws I might need to get one. 

The Drinktank is the bomb of growlers! You can even get a carbonation kit for it. We empty the 64oz. too fast for that. I was a Kickstarter backer for their new 128oz. growler and am looking forward to it arriving this fall!

Supposedly you can keep hot stuff in it too, never tested it as we always have beer or cider in ours!

http://www.drinktanks.com/

 

[bmaddox]

 
The Drinktank is the bomb of growlers! You can even get a carbonation kit for it. We empty the 64oz. too fast for that. I was a Kickstarter backer for their new 128oz. growler and am looking forward to it arriving this fall!

Supposedly you can keep hot stuff in it too, never tested it as we always have beer or cider in ours!

http://www.drinktanks.com/

64oz is the biggest a brewery can fill in Florida based on the new law (it was 32oz before that). I have already sent a link to the wife to get her approval to order one (or two) and the keg kit. We have some really good breweries within 20 minutes of the house so this will be a great addition. 

 

[rabbithutch]

About the only things I would add to your list are a set of good stainless steel mixing bowls in graduated sizes, a set of good measuring cups and spoons (for getting repeat results), and a couple of good forks for holding meat while slicing. I've tried using tongs but always get a slip that I don't want. My most recent addition - that I didn't know I needed until I bought it - is a good roast carving knife.

 

[cal1956]

for doing bbq,  a good commercial table top electric steam table is a must for me .  they are only about $100.00 or so and worth every penny  as it lets you control the meat temp during the rest period

without tying up the wife's oven

 

[bluewhisper]

About the only things I would add to your list are a set of good stainless steel mixing bowls in graduated sizes

You beat me to it! Those are the workhorses of the kitchen. As for the whisks, yes, but have a few sizes of those - it depends on the task at hand. A steamer insert for a pot is good. Have some good non-stick skillets, and some cast iron to crush zombies or cook in a fire.

 

[mdboatbum]

You beat me to it! Those are the workhorses of the kitchen. As for the whisks, yes, but have a few sizes of those - it depends on the task at hand.
I guess a few sizes would be nice once in a while. I've gotten by with one medium/large one for quite a few years with no complaints though.

A steamer insert for a pot is good. Good point!! I forgot about that one. I use a mesh colander that fits my large pot perfectly, and the lid to the pot fits the colander perfectly

Have some good non-stick skillets, and some cast iron to crush zombies or cook in a fire.
I can flip crepes easily in the stainless skillet, and fried eggs slide around the cast iron like they're on ice skates. I wouldn't mind nonstick if I could find a decent one, just haven't yet.

 

[sfprankster]

Well seasoned cast iron = non-stick

I'm afraid to use non-stick pans made with Teflon and aluminum.

 

[seenred]

Don't have too much to add that's not on everyone's list...The items I use daily/weekly include:

* Several sharp knives, but the one I can't live without is my Henckels's 8" Chef's knife
* Chef's Choice 3 stage knife sharpener...I've never been very good with a stone, so this tool is vital for keeping my knives sharp
* Large bamboo cutting board
* 12" skillet
* Large Dutch oven
* Wok - I like to do different stir fry recipes at least once or twice a week
* Set of Pyrex mixing bowls in all sizes
* One med/large whisk
* A couple sturdy spatulas - a metal one and a flexible nylon one
* Cuisinart food processor
* Hand-held immersion blender/mixer - got this for Christmas last year...never knew how handy these things were!
* My Themopen instant read thermometer
* Digital kitchen scale
* Set of good measuring cups and measuring spoons


Probably forgetting something I use all the time, but that's all I can think of...wow, that list is longer than I woulda thought!

Red

 

[thegreatmc]

My amazon wishlist gets bigger every week. I personally like glass mixing bowls. Less likely to react to acidic foods. A microplane is very handy for zesting citrus rinds. Rubber spatulas to scrape the bowls clean, a spice grinder, and most importantly high quality knives.

 

[ak1]

Double oven. The few times a year I need it, I really need it.

 

[venture]

Three or four good knives.  A good cutting board.  A very few good cooking vessels. Tongs, spatulae.

It could be I could live well without most of the other things I love to use?

Good luck and good smoking.

 

[bluewhisper]

OK, a side track - what about making a temporary kitchen, like for a camping trip? Or you guys doing commercial Q gigs?

I run my "gray crate" stuffed with a kitchen kit like pots, pans, cutting boards, utensils, soap, etc. It makes a single item that I can plan into loading the car for a trip.

Some accessories required. Fire sold separately.

 

[mdboatbum]

Three or four good knives.  A good cutting board.  A very few good cooking vessels. Tongs, spatulae.

It could be I could live well without most of the other things I love to use?


Good luck and good smoking.

You make a very good point. Bluewhisper's comment on camping essentials sort of sums it up as well. Knife, some sort of cutting board, cast iron skillet and a pair of tongs and I could cook enough food over a campfire to keep a few people alive.

 

[smokesontuesday]

6" Chef's Knife

Bamboo Cutting board

Tongs

Cast Iron Skillet or Dutch Oven

We're in business over a camp fire.

At home the list is longer:

12" Slicing knife

8" Chef

Paring Knife

Decent set of measuring cups/spoons

Pepper/Salt Mills

Cast Iron Skillets

Cast Iron Dutch Oven

Wooden spoons

Decent turners

 

[cal1956]

I think this list will depend on what kind of cooking your doing more than anything

 I am always tinkering with copying some well known restaurant foods /sauces

so a good digital scale is something I have to have, but for others they might not need one at all