Aisha Zakari
Having the most essential kitchen tools and equipment will make cooking efficient for you every time. Cooking, most of the time, requires simple tools that quickly get the job done. But what are the 20 kitchen tools and equipment and their uses? Although the modern market has evolved over time, there are now numerous tools and equipment, some of which you do not need. Those simple kitchen tools and equipment are all you need to prepare delicious dishes at home.
Rather than buying every kitchen tool and piece of equipment available in the modern market today, it is best to buy the simpler ones first before moving up to the more complex ones. In this article, we have created a list of the basic kitchen tools and equipment you need to help you cook in the kitchen, whether as a beginner, a professional, or a chef. With these kitchen tools and equipment, you will be able to prepare just about anything efficiently and easily.
1. Chef’s Knife
Available on Amazon, Jumia, or Vevor.
As a cook, the number one basic tool you will ever need in the kitchen is a knife. But not just any old knife, but a chef’s knife. This knife is perfect for everything: cutting, chopping, slicing, and even dicing. What makes it unique is its precision and accuracy. With this chef’s knife, you can have accurate Julianne strips, diced potatoes, and round onions every time you make use of them.
However, if you can’t afford the chef’s knife, we suggest you go for a set of other knives. These sets allow you to do everything a chef’s knife does, but if you want a high-end function knife, the chef’s knife is highly recommended.
2. Chopping Board
What’s a chef’s knife without a chopping board? This board is the perfect pair for everything: cutting, chopping, dicing, and slicing fruits and vegetables. I mean, you can’t use the chef’s knife on the kitchen counter; the chopping board is what you need.
The chopping board, also known as a cutting board, is a versatile kitchen tool that comes in wood and plastic form. Both forms perform the same function, which is serving as a medium for cutting, but when considering which form to choose, the wood form is highly preferred. The wood form does not easily chip, especially when it is of high quality. However, you should have them in sets. It also comes in different shapes, like squares, rectangles, and circles, for your preferred choice.
3. Spatula
Imagine effortlessly mixing and baking with a spatula; it’s amazing. A spatula is one of the 20 kitchen tools and equipment, and its uses include flipping, mixing, baking, and scraping food. Spatulas come in two forms: the wooden form (for cooking) and the plastic or silicone form (for baking).
Spatulas mix both wet and dry food, making them a versatile tool that comes in handy every time. The amazing thing about the plastic or silicone spatula is that it comes in different vibrant colors for you to choose from.
4. Ladle
How do you serve your delicious dishes to your guests and friends? A ladle is the answer! Ladles are one of the most efficient kitchen tools that make dishing out and serving dishes easy. Ladles come in different forms, such as plastic, stainless steel, wood, and even silicone. The silicone ladle is the best one to choose from, as it provides heat resistance when serving dishes to guests and friends.
5. Whisk
Available on Amazon, Jumia, or Vevor.
While you may use spoons and forks, a whisk is ten times easier, quicker, and more efficient when whisking eggs and mixing other ingredients. The main use of a whisk is to mix, whip, and beat both wet and dry ingredients when cooking or baking. Most of the time, it is picked up to whisk eggs as well as pancakes. From mixing to whipping and beating, you can never go wrong with a whisk. It is a must-have in the kitchen of every home.
6. Peeler
While knives can be handy, a peeler is easier and more efficient. Imagine effortlessly peeling potatoes or carrots with a peeler; it is quicker and works magic for you. A peeler is time-conserving as it saves you time and makes cooking and its preparations much quicker and faster for you.
7. Tongs
If you are one of the people who wants to quickly flip or move food in a frying pan, you should get a tong. Tongs are used to flip and move big pieces of food in the frying pan, which saves you from getting burned. The tong has an extended handle, which keeps you away from the flames and hotness of the pan.
Tongs come in stainless and silicone types; it is best to choose the silicone type so they don’t melt easily when in use. Alternatively, the stainless steel tongs make a good choice as well.
8. Colander
The colander, sometimes called a drainer, is a lifesaver in the kitchen. The colander is one of the 20 kitchen tools and equipment, and its uses include draining and washing food items easily. Every kitchen needs this for draining water out of pasta and washing away dirt or dust from fruits and vegetables. Most colanders come with short or long, extended handles for easy usage.
9. Measuring Spoons
Gone are the days when you had to use your eyes to measure ingredients like salt and pepper. Thanks to measuring spoons, our worries are gone, and you can easily and precisely measure ingredients into dishes. Owning measuring spoons is vital, and it keeps your dishes from being too salty or not having enough salt in them.
This tool comes in handy as it comes in various sizes, like tablespoons and teaspoons, for you to choose from. The best thing about this kitchen tool is that the spoons come together in a bundle, so you can easily keep them together without worrying about one going missing.
10. Measuring Cups
Similar to measuring spoons, you need a measuring cup for accurate measurement and precision. Some recipes require a cup or two of water or milk, and some require three. This is where the measuring cup comes in handy. Measuring cups work for dry ingredients as well, such as flour, sugar, milk, cornstarch, etc. The measuring cups come in various sizes, like ½ cup, 1/4 cup, etc., but the standard kitchen cup you will need is the Pyrex cup, which offers all the sizes mentioned earlier.
11. Mixing Bowl
Available on Amazon and Jumia.
The world of the kitchen and cooking is all about art and science. To make a dish, you must always measure accurately and mix properly until the ingredients are well incorporated. Mixing bowls provide you with space to work and accurately incorporate ingredients, both wet and dry. That is why you need a mixing bowl in your kitchen.
They come in plastic, stainless steel, and glass forms. Depending on your choice, all forms are great choices, but the glass form is the best choice. You must be careful, though, because one mistake and it clashes all over the place and may injure you if broken. Another unique thing about the glass mixing bowls is that they serve as bowls where you can dish out food for guests and friends.
12. Pans
Available on Amazon and Jumia.
Pans are the most essential kitchen tool that serves as a medium for frying your food. Frying is another part of cooking that is done in the kitchen. A pan is mostly used to fry food ranging from meat, vegetables, fries, eggs, etc. Every household needs a pan, but households must own and go for non-stick pans. A non-stick pan keeps your fried food from burning and sticking to the bottom of the pan. There are other varieties of frying pans, like aluminum, stainless steel, and iron, but the best choice to go for is a non-stick pan.
Other types of pans are saucepans, sauté pans, skillet pans, and wok pans, which all offer different purposes. The pans come in different sizes and shapes depending on what you want; there is a pan for you.
13. Pots
Available on Amazon and Jumia.
Similar to pans, pots are an essential tool you must have in the kitchen. I mean, you can’t cook without having either a pan or a pot. If you are one of those people who like to cook, you need a pot. Pots help you cook and make stew as well as soup. Similar to pans, pots come in various forms, like aluminum, stainless steel, and even non-stick as well.
They also come in various sizes and designs. The amazing thing about pots is that you can use them to fry, roast, and boil food as well. This makes them a versatile kitchen tool and piece of equipment to own.
14. Kitchen Thermometer
Available on Amazon and Jumia.
Quite often ignored, a thermometer is one of the 20 kitchen tools and equipment, and its uses include measuring the temperature of food and knowing what temperature to use in cooking or baking food.
A thermometer comes in three basic types:
1. Digital thermometer
2. Oven-safe thermometer
3. Deep-fry thermometer
Depending on what you may need a thermometer for, the digital thermometer is one of the best essential kitchen tools to have.
15. Blender
Available on Amazon, Jumia or Vevor
The blender is an easy and convenient kitchen tool that is used to blend just about anything—smoothies, fruits, milkshakes, vegetables, tomatoes, etc. It is easy to clean as well and comes in handy. If you go for a high-end, functioning blender, it can also blend beans and nuts to a fine consistency.
If you are looking for something quick and easy, the immersion blender is what you need.
16. Kitchen Scale
Available on Amazon and Jumia.
Cooking is all about accurate and precise measurements; once you do this, you get every recipe right every time. A kitchen scale does not guess; it gives you precise and accurate measurements all the time.
The kitchen scale comes in different forms; some use batteries, and some do not. It is best that you choose a scale without batteries for accurate and precise measurements and weighing.
17. Grater
Available on Amazon and Jumia.
Grater is another kitchen tool needed in the kitchen, especially if you are one of the people who don’t play about garlic, ginger, lemon zest, and dishes packed with aroma and flavors. A grater is a small tool, with a high-end function that offers precision and fineness when ingredients are grated. If you must own one, consider getting a microplane grater; it is easy, quick, and efficient to use with no hassles.
18. Oven
Available on Amazon, Jumia, or Vevor.
Cooking involves heat, and the oven is one of the sources of heat, especially for bakers. An oven is mostly used for baking cupcakes and cakes; as well, you can roast and grill chicken, potatoes, and cheese in the oven. Whether you want to bake, roast, or cook, the oven is the best option for you as it allows you to cook and bake a variety of dishes.
19. Can Opener
Available on Amazon, Jumia, or Vevor.
Small but mighty! A can opener is a kitchen tool used for opening cans like canned beans, canned tomatoes, etc. Although it can also be used for opening bottles and jars, if you must choose a can, opt for a high-end can opener that is easy to handle.
20. Stove
Available on Amazon, Jumia, or Vevor.
Without a stove in the kitchen, you cannot cook. The stove is the most important kitchen tool one must have, either a gas type or an electric type. The stove is used for cooking, boiling, frying, etc. of various food items. The amazing thing about stoves is that they allow you to cook on slow, medium, or high heat, depending on what you want. Overall, the stove serves as a medium for cooking with heat that is right for every dish.
Final Thoughts
If you are looking into getting kitchen tools, use this guide to choose and know the 20 kitchen tools and equipment and their uses. When choosing from this list, it is best to have a scale of preference for what tool and equipment you most desire. Remember, it’s important and efficient to have these in your kitchen, but if you are on a budget, you can start by buying a stove, pans, pots, measuring cups and spoons, knives, a cutting board, and a spatula.
Also, you must take care of these tools and clean them regularly to ensure safety when dealing with food.
FAQs
What are the major equipment used in the kitchen?
The major pieces of equipment used in the kitchen are stoves, ovens, pans, and pots. blenders, measuring cups, and spoons. They are mostly used to cook and whip up dishes for guests, friends, and loved ones.
What are kitchen tools example?
Some kitchen tool examples for cooks and chefs are spoons, spatulas, tongs, ladles, and peelers. For bakers, whisks, rolling pins, mixing bowls, measuring cups, and spoons are essential.
What are the seven 7 materials of kitchen tools and equipment?
Most kitchen tools and equipment come in copper, aluminum, iron, stainless steel, plastic, glass, earthenware, and clay.
