Every home cook has to start some where. In my first kitchen, I had a pot, a pan and two plates.. everything else I either found at thrift stores or was handed down from family members. This is all to say, you don’t need much to make a good meal – but certain kitchen staples make it much easier (and more fun)!
Kitchen Basics
Knives
There are a few basic kitchen items you’re going to need to get started. The number one thing I will recommend is to get a really good, sharp chef’s knife. This is the one thing I recommend splurging on, as a good quality knife will last a lifetime (well, maybe not a life time but definitely a long, long time). I love buying knives from knife wear – this company is Canadian and they have TONS of selection & fantastic customer service. Here is the link to the knife I use, however there are many others that I’m sure are great. I’ve had my eye on this guyoto knife as well.
If you’re not into spending so much on a knife, this one from Amazon is a perfect knife for those on a budget, and has rave reviews. Realistically, as long as you take care of the knife properly it will work well for you.
Cookware
I absolutely love these Rock brand nonstick pots & pans from Canadian Tire. I have also been eying this beautiful cookware set – it’s so aesthetically pleasing, cooking never looked so good 😉 The steamer is a nice addition, although a steamer is more of a “nice to have” item, not necessarily a must have.
If you’re only going for the bare necessities (any Junglebook fans here?), then I recommend one large pan (good for stir-fry’s, soup & pasta sauce and can sill be used for pancakes & scrambled eggs) and one medium sized pot. Bonus points if they’re oven safe!
Bakeware
You’re going to need a cookie sheet. Hands down the most often used item my in my oven! Do you call them cookie sheets or baking trays? Now, one important thing when choosing bakeware is to make sure it’s heavy – any thin products are going to warp under high temperatures.
I also recommend picking up a muffin pan, and a cake pan if you plan on reallly getting into baking. To be honest, I still don’t own a cake pan.. only because I much prefer cupcakes! I often use cake recipes and just bake them in my cupcake tin.
One last thing – you are going to want a 9×9” baking dish. I highly recommend a glass or ceramic one, as they are muuuuch easier to clean! This dish will be great for everything from baking cinnamon rolls to making chicken. It’s nice to also have a 9×12” version for meal prepping, if that’s your style.
Small Appliances
Every home cook (or baker) NEEDS a kitchen aid stand mixer. If you can’t fit it in your budget, try searching on Facebook marketplace for one! There are great deals on these second hand. Alternatively, you can get a good hand mixer – this is a life saver if you plan on baking. You can thank me later.
Having an espresso machine at home is also super valuable if you’re a coffee drinker (ahem, addict) like me. I have the Breville BES840XL and I love it! I would definitely buy the one with the bean grinder if I was able to go back in time, however. A friend of mine has the Smeg machine and it’s super cute! These machines are expensive but they are definitely cheaper than Starbucks everyday.. and they’re awesome second hand purchases as well.
Gather With Kate 
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