Perhaps you’re moving into your first place and are facing the daunting task of setting up a Kitchen so you can start cooking for yourself. Alternatively, maybe you’ve been out on your own for a while, but the ease and convenience of take-out were overpowering. Whatever your reason for ignoring the culinary arts, it’s never too late to equip your kitchen with the right tools. A properly equipped kitchen makes it much easier to create delicious meals, so use the following list to ensure you have all the basics.

1. Pots, Pans, and Skillets

There’s nothing quite as frustrating as trying to cook with old pots and pans. Not only does food stick and burn, but the pans themselves are usually stained, unsightly, and hard to clean.

Rather than fight with pots that only make cooking a chore, make sure your kitchen has the best cookware sets you can afford. Made of quality materials that won’t stick and clean easily, a good set of pots and pans is a must in every kitchen.

2. Spatulas, Spoons, and More

Too many spatulas and spoons? There’s no such thing! From small to large and slotted to not, it’s vital to have a variety of these utensils to handle any dish you might make. Here’s a list of tools that every aspiring chef must have on hand to reach their culinary potential

• Ladle
• Slotted spoon
• Whisk
• Rubber spatula
• Metal spatula
• Locking tongs

3. Things that Grate, Slice, and Mash

Any aspiring chef would be lost without a good knife, but there’s more to food preparation than merely cutting and chopping. A trusty knife is an excellent start, but the following items all have their place in any fully equipped kitchen.

• Vegetable peeler
• Serrated bread knife
• Paring knife
• Potato masher
• Microplane grater
• Lemon press
• Garlic press
• Kitchen shears
• Grater
• Chef’s knife

4. A Can Opener

A can opener is one of those tools you just can’t live without. There are many varieties of can openers, and it depends on your personal preference and budget as to which one best suits your kitchen.

Choose from manual or electric models, as well as ones that cut inside or outside of the can. A word of advice: the ones that cut outside the can produce a smoother edge that won’t allow the lid to fall inside.

5. A Corkscrew

If you’re not a wine drinker, a corkscrew is one of those things you don’t think you’ll ever need. However, should your best friend show up with a bottle of wine to celebrate your big promotion, you’ll wish you had one. Don’t be caught without this small but essential kitchen tool – even if you never buy wine yourself.

6. Measuring Cups and Spoons

You may be able to eyeball measurements for your favorite recipes, but when it comes to trying new things, you’ll want to be sure you’re measuring all the ingredients accurately.

All measuring cups are not created equal. There are measuring cups for both liquid and dry ingredients. Be sure you have both types in your kitchen, as well as a set of measuring spoons, too.

This list should give you a good head start. If you’re just moving into your first place, the above items can help you begin stocking your meals prep area with the proper tools. If you’ve been settled for a while but there are cobwebs in the kitchen, add the above items to your kitchen arsenal, so you’re prepared to create an array of delightful dishes for all your friends and family.

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