While most people are into the latest technology in smartphones, laptops, cameras, gadgets…You name it. I am more of a kitchen stuff fanatic! There is just something about kitchen gear that highly excites me. Whenever I walk into a kitchen store, it’s like an adrenaline rush! My heart starts racing & I feel like a kid in Candylicious 😉 Not that I am a compulsive shopaholic, but rather a logical shopper, when it comes to costing. A subject in chef school & a skill you will learn with experience in the kitchen. I must admit growing up I did have one other weakness beside cheesecake & Iced-coffee…Wait for it…A kitchen WHISK! I know right? Weird! Somehow every month I couldn’t help myself but always get the newest version of a whisk.

These days more than ever before you can buy really affordable kitchen gear & it’s great in a way, for anyone. Whether you’re a beginner cook or a devotee, with all the essential equipment in the kitchen, you can get the cooking job done in no time, no matter what your budget is! On the other hand due to cheap quality items out there, we tend to spend on things we could really do without. My advice is rather save up for the best quality products required for you to be an efficient & successful cook! Trust me, it will totally be worth scrimping & saving on, especially when it comes to things like knifes, frying pans, food processors, wooden chopping boards…etc. Not only will it be saving you more money in the long run, but also time & ingredients as the quality of your food will turn out great the first time round.

Here is a bare minimum of what you will need to whip up that storm:

• Knives: 30cm chef’s knife, 15cm carving knife, 15cm serrated knife & a small paring knife(I use victorinox knives in my opinion it’s the best, well worth it, I have been using it every day since my chef school days & is still as good as new)
• Extra-large good quality non-stick frying pan
• Griddle pan
• Set of thick-bottomed sauce pans (small, medium, large)
• Good sturdy baking pans
• Mixing bowls (prefer the stainless steel doesn’t stain)
• Wooden spoons
• Metal whisk
• Speed peeler
• Potato masher
• Ladle
• Plastic Spatula
• Scale
• Sieves (one fine, one coarse)
• Large colander
• Thick sturdy wooden chopping board
• Small plastic chopping board
• Salad spinner
• Measuring jug
• Measuring cups
• Measuring spoons
• Box grater
• Food processor
• Mixer (hand mixer or counter top depends on your style)
• Metal tongs
• Rolling pin
• Tin opener
• Good quality cooking pots
• Pestle and mortar (perfect for grinding & crushing spices, herbs etc.)
• Blender

I probably can go on for days…Hopefully this post gives a basic understanding to kitchen must haves  &  works best for your cooking style.

Chef Tasneem Saith