Budget Friendly Essentials for Every Kitchen
As an avid home chef, having the tools I need is critical for me. If you’ve been following my blog, you know that I recently left my home in the state of Georgia to move to Colombia. Moving to a new country wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be and one of the things that made it difficult was that I had to start from scratch on all of my kitchen essentials.
There is a saying that you don’t know what you have until you lost it and honestly, not having my regular kitchen supplies definitely made me appreciate the small luxuries that I grew up with. Luckily, I have been able to find the essentials that I know and love thanks to Amazon.
*I do want to state that I do have affiliate links for all items that I have written about in this post, but you are in no way obligated to purchase any of my recommendations. If you do choose to purchase from my affiliate link, I do earn a small commission but it does not in anyway affect the price of the item for you.
Budget Friendly
I personally think that keeping your budget in mind is most important when recommending essentials. As a home-chef, I don’t always have the opportunity to buy the most expensive products, so I have researched what items are the best quality while still being budget friendly. I will not recommend a purchase for you that is not already in my kitchen, or something that I would purchase for myself.
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Essentials
1. Sharp Knives
Speak with any chef, professionally trained or home-chef, and they will tell you that the most important item in their kitchen is a good set of sharp and durable knives. Throughout my life I have had a few different sets of knives, but my favorite is the McCook Steel Knife Set. While this product may be a pricier option, it is worth every cent. This 15 piece stainless steel knife includes not only a sturdy wooden knife block, but it also has a built in knife sharpener.
These knives are built for comfort and efficiency. These full tang blades have a balanced and comfortable handle, designed specifically for comfort. I don’t think there is a single kitchen essential that I recommend more than this knife set.
2. Cutting Boards
While there is a current debate regarding whether you should use wood, plastic, or glass cutting boards, I personally prefer to use a wooden chopping block for my fruits and vegetables, and a plastic cutting board for meat and chicken. The reason I use a plastic board for my meats is due to the easy of cleaning.
For both wooden and plastic cutting boards, I prefer to use a cutting board with a built in juice channel for less mess. When it comes to wooden cutting boards, I highly recommend the Ironwood Gourmet End Grain Board. This board is gentle on your knives for regular use as to keep them sharp longer, and the acacia wood is more durable and won’t splinter like bamboo boards.
When it comes to plastic cutting boards, the Empune Plastic Cutting Boards are an easy pick for me. They have the built in juice channel for less mess as well as silicone edges to prevent movement during use.
3. Stainless Steel Cooking Utensils
While any utensil is better than none, I prefer to have stainless steel utensils for their durability, and ease when cleaning. I highly recommend the Avador Stainless Steel Kitchen Tool Set . This 10 piece set not only has your regular perefed spatulas, as well as stainless steel tongs, whisk, potato masher, and stainless steel holder for all your utensils.
4. Silicone Spatulas
While I usually search for stainless steel items, it is always important to have a set of silicone spatulas so you can properly care for your non-stick pans. I really like the Astercook 6-Piece Silicone Spatula Set on Amazon. This 6 piece set includes 5 different spatula sizes as well as a basting brush which is such an underrated item! This set is such a great option if you’re looking for a silicone spatula set and all under $10.
5. Measuring Cups
For me, there are two types of measuring cups that I use. Both of the listed items I prefer for their ease and durability. One is Stainless Steel Measuring Cups and Spoons set that I use for small amounts of ingredients or dry ingredients. The other type of measuring cup that I use are the Pyrex Glass Measuring Cups. I prefer these for larger quantities of ingredients and liquids because I generally end up with less mess.
6. Mixing Bowls
Mixing bowls are an essential part of any kitchen, especially if you are baking! I really enjoy a great set like the Premium Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls on Amazon. This set includes 5 mixing bowls with airtight lids. I really like this set because it has a non-slip silicone base, easy clean and dishwasher safe, but also super budget friendly!
7. Hand Mixer
If I can recommend any mixer, it will always be a KitchenAid. This brand is known for their durability and functionality. My personal dream is to have a pink stand mixer by KitchenAid. While a stand mixer may not be a necessity in your home, I believe that every kitchen should at least have a KitchenAid Hand Mixer to create delicious cakes, creamy mashed potatoes, and so much more!
8. Kitchen Scissors
A good set of kitchen scissors are an essential in my kitchen. If you have a knife set, then you may already have a pair of good kitchen scissors, but if not, I highly recommend the KitchenAid Kitchen Shears. Their durable stainless steel blades are sharp, rust resistant, and easy to clean!
9. Baking Pans
Whether you’re baking cookies or roasting vegetables, good baking pans are a necessity in any kitchen! I really like Leonyo Non-Toxic Stainless Steel Bakeware Set for their affordability and durability. This 9 piece set includes 2 round cake tins, 1 square cake pan, bread loaf pan, 3 sizes of baking sheets, and a large cooling rack.
10. Glass Storage Containers
Storage containers are a very important part of food preparation. If you’d like to read more about meal prepping tips, click here! I have really enjoyed Pyrex Glass Food Storage Containers. I always choose glass containers as I find them easier to clean and durable over time.
11. Colander
I personally make a lot of pasta in my house so a Colander is very important to me. Of course, I always prefer stainless steel if it’s available. This 3QT Stainless Steel Colander on Amazon is a great pick and under $10!
12. Thermometer
I honestly surprise myself with the amount of times I have found myself actually using a kitchen thermometer. While you might use a thermometer regularly if you cook lots of meets, it is also important for making sure you have the perfect temperature if you are a baker like me. I think the AMMZO Digital Thermometer is a great option as it is budget friendly, easy to use, and waterproof!
13. Mesh Strainer
If you’re making teas, sifting flour, straining juices, or even cleaning oil, the ELEEN Stainless Steel Fine Mesh Strainer is incredibly helpful! This 3 piece set is easy to store, rust resistant, and comes with 3 different sizes all while remaining cost efficient.
Thank you for reading! I really hope that you found this post helpful. If you have any suggestions, please leave me a comment below!
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