What Cooking Supplies Do I Need for My New Kitchen?
Whether you are moving into a mansion or your first apartment, everyone needs cooking supplies. And though budgets may differ, the basic equipment remains the same. You will need cooking utensils, small appliances, cookware, flatware and dinnerware.
Flatware and Dinnerware
Okay, it’s true. Most people don’t consider dinnerware or flatware to be cooking supplies. After all, you don’t really cook with them, you eat with them. But since flatware and dinnerware are such an essential part of the dinning experience, we choose to include them.
As you are undoubtedly aware, dinnerware includes all dishes, bowls, and cups, while flatware includes all utensils that are used during the meal. Your options here are virtually limitless. You can purchase mismatched dollar a piece dinnerware at a local thrift store, or expensive antique china at a fine boutique. There are also a number of options when it comes to flatware, which is available in affordable metals like stainless steel or pricey ones like sterling silver.
Cookware
Now we come to the real cooking equipment. Anything and everything that you use to cook, fry, boil or steam on top of a stove is officially classified as cookware. That includes pots, pans, and Dutch ovens of all shapes and sizes. But not all cookware sets are equal, even if they include the same equipment.
The most important thing to consider when shopping for a cookware set is the metal. Most of these sets are available in copper, steel or aluminum. As you might expect, each of these metals have their own specific strengths and weakness. For example, copper is an extremely good conductor of heat, but it is also quite expensive. On the other hand, steel is quite affordable, but it is not a very good conductor of heat. It is up to you to decide which cookware fits into your cooking equipment budget.
Cooking Utensils
This category is easily the largest one as it includes everything from a butcher’s knife to a rolling pin. Really, cooking utensils are anything that you use to do any kind of cooking. That could be a wooden spoon, a ladle, a measuring cup, or a whisk. But when you are searching for indispensable cooking equipment, you should begin with the items you know you will use. For example, you can’t cook without a measuring cup, cutting knifes or a stirring spoon, so you must be sure to include them on your list. After that there are literally hundreds of specialty items from pizza slicers and cheese graters to grapefruit knives and potato peelers. Just make sure you buy a spatula! You can’t cook eggs without one.
Small Appliances
These cooking supplies allow you to prepare meals much more quickly. They include blenders, food processors, toasters, coffeemakers, and toaster ovens. There are also dozens of food specific appliances that can be purchased at any major department store. Small appliances range in price from affordable to quite expensive, and since they frequently are on sale at department and cooking stores, make sure you look around a bit and find the model you want with the features you need. 
Kitchen Supplies
