Useful tools to create a wide variety of dishes!




- 1 10 – 12 inch frying pan. A versatile, durable heavyweight pan with a heatproof handle. Treated properly, cast iron can be a wonderful non-stick surface, but if you do buy a non-stick coating, replace the pan as soon as it shows signs of wear.
- 2 cup small saucepan with lid for sauces and single serving sized preparations
- 1-2 qt saucepan with lid for dinner-sized portions of rice and starchy vegetables
- 3qt saucepan with lid for soups, steaming vegetables, larger batches for leftovers
- 1 gallon pot for boiling pasta, seafood, corn on the cob, etc.
- 8-9 inch square or rectangular baking pan
- 9×13 deep-sided casserole baking pan or casserole dish
- Set of nesting mixing bowls
- Set of nested measuring cups, set of measuring spoons
- Graduated 2 cup liquid measuring cup
- Wooden spoons or heat-resistant plastic spoons
- 1 metal slotted spoon
- 1 Rubber or Heat-Proof Silicone Spatula
- 1 flexible, wide and strong heat proof metal or plastic spatula for hot foods
- 1 wire whisk
- 1 good quality chef’s knife
- 1 good quality paring knife
- 1 vegetable peeler
- 1 serrated slicer
- Cutting Board at least 18” across, made of high grade plastic or wood. Replace cutting boards when they start showing signs of deep grooves from repeated cuts.
- 1 colander (strainer) If space is tight, a hand tool that is held up against a pot for straining can be useful.
- Individual-sized casserole dishes or deep soup bowls that can go into the oven
- Individual portion-sized storage containers. Choose sturdy containers with tightly-sealing lids, preferably ones that can go from freezer to lunchbox, or even into the microwave. Doubling your recipe? Make 4 servings, eat 2, store 2!
- 2 Hot pads, 2 dish towels, scrub brush, dish drainer, hand soap
- Helpful to Own:
- 1 microplane for zesting and fine grating
- Meat mallet
- 1 heavy-duty rolling pin
- Scoops (assorted: ice cream, sm, med, large, 1 oz, etc.)
- Heavy-duty can opener
- Set of graduated funnels
- Tower Grater (or Box Grater, or Flat Grater)
- Tongs
- Ladles
- Kitchen shears
- Honing Wand/ Sharpening Steel
- Clamshell steamer basket
- Graduated fine-mesh strainers
- Muffin pan (metal or silicone)
- Pie plate
- Loaf Pan
- Large covered roasting pan (Dutch Oven or Turkey Roaster)
- Lid gripper/Jar Opener
- Digital scale for weighing baking ingredients and portion control
- Food Thermometer, Oven Thermometer, Refrigerator Thermometer
- Electric Appliances: Blender, Food Processor, Toaster, Mixer