Kitchen Must Haves

I have been suffering from a cold for the past week so I haven't been in the kitchen very much unless it was to heat up some soup. I apologize for the lack of cooking posts, but am going to take this opportunity to write a post about my favourite kitchen products, and what I think every basic kitchen should have.

Here goes:

A Good Chef''s Knife:

Photo courtesy of www.macknife.ca

Also known as a French knife, a good quality Chef's knife is the basis for all cooking. I would recommend a knife in an 8 - 10 inch range. There are so many great brands out there so test them out and see which one feels the best in your hand. In order to get the best use out of your knife, it is important to keep it sharp. Get it professionally sharpened every few months and purchase a honing steel to maintain it's edge between sharpening. A good qulaity, sharp knife will guarantee easier prep and believe it or not is actually safer than using a dull knife!

A Large Stainless Steel Frying Pan:

Whether you are searing a beef tenderloin or scrambling some eggs a stainless steel frying pan is perfect for various uses. Look for a pan with an aluminum core to help evenly distribute the heat.

An Enameled Cast Iron French Oven:

Not just pretty, a French oven can withstand high temperatures which makes it perfect for on top of the stove as well as in the oven. French ovens are a necessity when braising and slow cooking. Although they may be on the pricier side, a good quality one will last a lifetime, and can even be passed down from generation to generation.

Plastic and Wooden Cutting Boards:

If you own a glass or stone cutting board put  it aside to use as a display board for cheese and antipasto. These types of boards, ruin your knives, and stone can hold on to bacteria if not properly sealed. The softness of plastic and wood is perfect for maintaining your knives sharpness, as well plastic boards can be placed in the dishwasher to make sure they are perfectly sanitized. I keep my plastic boards for use with raw and smelly foods like meat, fish and garlic and use my wooden boards for vegetable prep. Wash your wooden boards by hand with soap and warm water.

Useful Appliances:

It is very easy to get carried away with appliances. I have found myself with a cupboard full of appliances like an ice cream maker, waffle iron and rice cooker. Although I love them, they have very limited uses. I am fortunate enough to have the cupboard and basement space to store them when I am not using them, but if you are limited on space try to limit your appliances to these three: a hand blender, a food processor and a hand mixer. These appliances have multiple uses and will help speed things up in the kitchen. A hand blender is great for pureeing soups right in the pot and making smoothies, a food processor is the perfect tool to grate cheese or whip up a quick dip and a hand mixer is the ultimate tool for baking.


If you live in the GTA a great place to purchase these, as well as other great products is Nella Cucina. Located on Bathurst just north of Bloor this place is a mecca of restaurant and kitchen supplies (and I'm not just saying that because I work there!)

Nella Cucina
876 Bathurst Street
Toronto, Onto
M5R 3G3
416.922.9055
www.nellacucina.ca