The 10 Essential Items of Kitchen Gear for a New Home

Longingly staring at an empty kitchen? Equipment experts Lisa McManus and Hannah Crowley have got you covered.

In their new book Kitchen Gear: The Ultimate Owner’s Manual, Lisa and Hannah guide you in great detail through all things equipment related. Included are practical tips and real-talk advice for how to fully optimize your kitchen. 

But first, let’s get you stocked up on the top 10 essential items you should start with. Or as Lisa and Hannah like to call it, the “capsule kitchen.” 

The following capsule kitchen tools allow you to cook the widest variety of recipes possible using the least amount of gear. If you have limited space or are just starting out, stock your kitchen with these basics to provide a solid foundation for your future cooking endeavors.

This is the most versatile knife in our kitchen, used for everything from mincing herbs to chopping vegetables to doing basic butchery (think breaking down a chicken or filleting a fish). Look for a knife with a sharp, gently curved blade that’s lightweight and comfortable to hold.

A cutting board provides a stable surface for all your prep work, keeps your counter clean, and helps prevent your knife from dulling too quickly. Boards made of either wood or plastic are fine—the choice depends on what you prefer. Plastic boards can be used for all types of food, but steer clear of using raw meat on a wooden one.

Accurately measuring ingredients is important in all cooking. We prefer sets of measuring spoons that come with a ⅛-teaspoon measure (not all do). And even in a pared-down capsule kitchen, you should have a set of dry measuring cups as well as a liquid measuring cup. Because yes, it matters which one you use.

A mixing bowl is used for everything from whisking together a vinaigrette to melting butter to stirring together cake batter. A good bowl should be so steady, durable, and comfortable to handle that it goes almost unnoticed while you work.

Despite the specificity of its name, the thin metal edge and subtle curve of a fish spatula actually make it the best all-purpose spatula for flipping food. Look for a spatula that’s easy to hold with a pronounced curve. The extra leverage allows you to flip foods such as pancakes, eggs, and home fries with ease.

A silicone spatula is your best friend for all things mixing, stirring, and scraping. Its flexible, slightly rounded head is built for getting right into corners. A good silicone spatula should feel like an extension of your arm. It should be firm enough for scraping and scooping and tight enough to fit into the corners of your bowls.

Tongs let you securely grab hot foods with ease. We use them to turn and transfer large roasts, toss and portion pasta, and manipulate fiddly pieces such as dumplings or vegetables. Look for tongs that have scalloped, uncoated features. You also want them to be easy to use and not cause any pain in your wrist from the tongs’ tension.

An instant-read thermometer tells you when your food is done, when oil is hot enough for frying, when meat has reached its ideal doneness, when pie fillings are set, and more. Find an instant-read thermometer that has a good handle, indicates the temperature quickly, and is easy to read.

Skillets come in a variety of different materials, all of which have their own properties. A cast-iron skillet is a versatile choice for everything from searing a steak to shallow-frying to oven-roasting to baking. A seasoned cast-iron skillet is also naturally nonstick.

Dutch ovens do it all. You can use them for boiling, braising, searing, frying, and baking. Use one to boil pasta, make corn on the cob, cook up a batch of soup, develop fond, make a one-pot dinner for the whole family, and bake bread. You can even turn one into a makeshift steamer or panini press.