You can cook a meal with a fire, a pot and a stick, but no doubt, having some essential equipment can make cooking easier, faster and more fun.
The following are must-have conventional kitchen tools for preparing heathy meals at home:
Slice and Dice: Basic knives include a serrated knife, a 9-10 inch-long chef’s knife and a paring knife. Cutting boards keep your counters safe and help avoid cross contamination. Keep two, one for raw proteins and one for cooked foods and produce.
A Pinch of This: Measuring spoons and cups help ensure the right amounts of each ingredient and help to control portions.
Mix and Marinate: Utensils such as tongs, a few wooden spoons, ladle, slotted spoon for draining, heat resistant spatula, bowls and a vegetable peeler are essential.
Sear and Simmer: Nonstick pots and pans allow you to cook with less fat.
Roast and Whip: Bake ware and hand mixers for healthy casseroles, roasting lean meats and light desserts are a plus.
Reuse and Reheat: Storage containers help to make leftovers into a simple next day lunch.
Slow Cooker: Use everyday ingredients to make soups, stews, chili and other easy meals that almost make themselves.
“You don’t have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces, just good food from fresh ingredients.” Julia Child