Kitchen Utensils Buying Guide

There are many different tools out there to choose from, and the tools you select will have a huge impact on your preparation time in the kitchen. You'll want to stock your kitchen with the basics first and then add in specialty kitchen tools later.

The Basics

Every kitchen needs different kitchen tools, but there are a few basics that no kitchen should be without. When you are stocking your kitchen utensils, start with these essentials so your kitchen can function at its best:

• Can opener- This is by far one of the most used item in any kitchen. From soups to beans, even fine cooking requires a can opener now and then. And what good is a well-stocked kitchen if you can't open a single can? Many upgrades have been made with can openers. Most feature "comfort" handles and an easier turner. If strength is something you lack, there are also electric can openers that do the job for you.
• Vegetable peeler- Peeling vegetables is frustrating and difficult with a knife--not to mention dangerous! Peel carrots and potatoes in no time with a safe and handy peeler.
• Spatula- Using a fork to flip foods is dangerous and inefficient. You wouldn't want to try flipping pancakes without a spatula!
• Grater- Slicing the cheese is easy. Grating it presents a problem without one of these handy kitchen gadgets. (You can grate more than cheese; try grating carrots, potatoes and other vegetables.)
• Mixing spoons- When you stir foods in non-stick pans with metal utensils, you scratch the non-stick coating off. The right mixing spoon helps prolong the life of your pans.
• Cutting boards- Cutting boards keep your counter tops knick-free and your knives sharp. Stock your kitchen with enough cutting boards to separate your meats and vegetables to prevent spreading germs.
• Mixing bowls- Unless you're cooking in very small amounts, foods are too hard to mix in a soup bowl. Mixing bowls are available in a variety of sizes, and many new mixing bowls even feature non-slip feet.
• Colanders- Rinsing your vegetables is easier if they can drain and dry. Also, using a lid to drain foods like pasta is messy, and splashing hot water hurts.
• Hot pads/Oven mitts- Save foods from being burned while you search for a kitchen towel to use in the oven. And if you've ever burned your hand through a flimsy towel, you know that kitchen burns are not fun! New hot pads are made out of silicone to really protect your hands.
• Whisk- This is the tool you need for fluffier eggs, light-as-air cakes and lump-free sauces.
• Masher- True, forks can mash potatoes, but do you have that much time? See how the texture of your potatoes can improve with a masher. (Think smoother.)
• Serving utensils- Slotted spoons, tongs, large forks, ladles: serving food is difficult without them.
• Measuring cups/Measuring spoons- You could try to guess your measurements, but there are things that need to be exact. (Pie crusts with too much salt aren't very tasty.)
• Quality knife set- Don't waste your money on poor quality knives! Good quality, sharp knives are worth it.
• Kitchen shears- Every kitchen needs a good pair of kitchen shears to cut bone-in meats, bacon, and chicken, or just to open that bag of frozen peas.

Specialty Kitchen Tools

Specialty kitchen gadgets are added bonuses that speed up prep time by creating shortcuts. If you are serious about cooking, or just experimenting with new recipes, these kitchen tools will make the job easier.

• Ceramic peelers- Keeps vegetables and fruit from bruising in the cutting process.
• Thermometer- Check doneness in meats and make candies with a handy thermometer, including digital for all you cooking techies.
• Mini food chopper- Chop onions and garlic without getting stinky yourself. These are excellent for making homemade salsas.
• Pasta machine- Nothing beats the taste of fresh, handmade pasta. A pasta machine is much easier than trying to cut fresh made pasta by hand, and they shorten the time it takes to roll out and cut your pasta.
• Mortar and Pestle- Grind fresh and dried herbs easily with this ancient apothecary tool. (These date back to at least 1550 B.C.)
• Mandolin slicer- This tool is the secret to perfectly thin sliced potato chips and julienne vegetables. With a mandolin slicer, your vegetables will be uniform, ensuring consistent cooking time.
• Ice cream scoop- In some kitchens, this tool is an essential! It saves your spoons from certain hard-ice-cream related destruction. Keep one around to use as a cookie dough scooper when you bake.
• Zester- Zesting citrus and making garnishes with a zester is much easier than using a knife!
• Kitchen timer- No more burning food or guessing how long your food has been cooking! While many microwaves have a timer, keeping an extra one around will save you when you are timing more than one or two things.
• Nutcracker- Fresh nuts on a salad or baked into a dessert adds wonderful flavor. But don't even think about cracking a nut with your teeth, unless you really like going to the dentist!
• Kitchen scale- If you're on a strict diet, this is the item for you! Exact food measurements save guesswork later.

Browse the kitchen department and decide which cooking essentials you need and want. And stop worrying about only buying your top two choices. This is Overstock.com: we have great deals so make a list and stock your whole kitchen!