Stock my kitchen

[huntingdan]

Alright everyone, I'm tired of just looking around at this page and drooling over all the great food and kitchen tools everyone has. Here's the deal next June is my wedding, and I will probably be doing most of the cooking around the house It is time to start gathering things together for the wedding registry. We are looking at Williams Sonoma, a major department store, and a local place around the small town for locals that can not travel very far.

Of course I have some of the basics:
Cast iron
Cheap nonstick pans
Even though I DO have some Magnalite Pro's GHC series
A bunch of Walmart quality knives and kitchen utensils
A few Viking smaller knives (local company)
A bunch of Pyrex glass baking dishes

Aside from the Pyrex, Viking, Cast Iron, and Magnalite (probably end up giving them to family) Maybe..... I would really like to get some ideas fromt he culinary masters on here of absolute kitchen untensils you guys use everyday or frequently. No flatware, dinnerware, silverware, servingware, etc. all of this will be in my SWMBO department.

 

[thebikingengineer]

Well, non-Walmart quality knives are step zero. To my knowledge WS has Wusthoff and Shun knives (probably a few others too) and you can't go wrong with either of those if you're not the one paying. I would throw a large enameled cast iron dutch (french?) oven on as well, the biggest on you can get. You'll find yourself using it all the time.

While you're registering, put a Sous Vide system on the list. You never know.

 

[Cochese2323]

I have a few things I couldn't live without.

1. CuisinPro Silicone utensils. Specifically the tongs and the spoonula. They sell em at Williams Sonoma and they are not ridiculously over priced. $10-15 per utensil.

2. All-Clad 11" French skillet. I cook damn near everything in this unless is goes on the grill or slow cooker. Gotta get the stainless one WiTHOUT the non stick. Can sear meats better and forces you to cook with more fats (butter and oil) which makes everything taste better.

3. One really good kitchen knife. YMMV for this one. I have a Henckels 7" Santoku and a 6" Utility that do 99% of the labor for me. Could probably manage with only the 7" Santuko. Either way you need a good, sharp knife and a quality cutting board to go with it. Cutting board doesn't have to be ridiculous, just something either wood or synthetic that won't ruin your knife. A knife steel for daily maintenance is a good idea too. so maybe that is a few things in one but a good knife that you are comfortable with replaces probably 100+ crap kitchen gadgets.

Nothing grinds my gears more than SWMBO busting out a garlic press or vegetable peeler or some other crap like that. Might as well say Gillette Fusion 17 blade potato peeler.....

 

[huntingdan]

A set of knives and some good pans are definitely top of the list.

For knives I was looking at 8" or so chef knife, 6" utility knife, and 3-4" pairing knife. I do have the Viking knives too.

For pans I was looking at the All Clad but wasn't sure if it was worth the money. I do have some older cast iron Wagner and Martin, so would getting a de Buyer blue/black steel skillet out of the question?

Also keep the other stuff coming, like the silicone utensils or small appliances.

Thanks!

 

[Cochese2323]

I would recommend one or two higher quality knives over a set of knives all day. One really good knife can replace $100s of dollars of gadgets if you master it. Two or three and rule your entire kitchen.

For pans, they will last a lifetime. Williams Sonoma has a deal right now on a 2 pan set with 9" and 11" French skillet pair for $150. That's basically a free pan. I prefer the "French" style because is has higher sides. Makes it easier to flip the stuff in the pan by tossing instead of using a spatchula. (looks cool and actually works better) The 11" is great cause you can use it for frying or sauces or both. Fry your meat, build your sauce on top of the delicious goodies left from frying, then there's enough room to combine the two in the same pan.

For the utensils, you really can't loose. But $ for $, the CousinPro stuff is better quality than XOXO or Kohls stuff IMHO. I have a pair of tongs that are 3 year old, have seems more use than any other utensile in my kitchen, but are still in the best shape of anything I have.

I am by no means a pro chef, but cooking is a hobby/passion. I can truly say that cooking tools along with hunting gear and construction tools are honestly "you get what you pay for" things.

 

[_JP_]

Since all of this is coming to you as wedding gifts, some leg work on your part is needed. You'll want to ask for stuff that the others can readily find and get for you. Some stuff might be better off being purchased by yourself, such as a quality knife.

And don't forget to have a ready supply of jokes about he husband doing all of the cooking when the day comes. Some gents here might be able o help you you with that as well.

 

[Cochese2323]

Cobgrats BTW. I forgot to add I got married two weeks ago. Registering for high dollar items ($100+) was quite unfruitful for me, but my family/friends could be much different from yours. I registered for everything from napkin rings to a $300 Japanese chef knife. Luckily i didnt get any napkin righs, but I also didn't get my knife. The best part is, you can always being stuff back and get whatever you......I mean your new wife wants

And Jon is right, PM me if you need some jokes

 

[ouch]

I would recommend one or two higher quality knives over a set of knives all day. One really good knife can replace $100s of dollars of gadgets if you master it. Two or three and rule your entire kitchen.

This.

Ditto for the cheap pans. You can get some reasonably priced Lincoln Wear-ever pans that will last for many years.

 

[YetiDave]

For me a cooking thermometer (give yourself an excuse to buy a thermapen!) and spice grinder are absolutely essential

 

[mretzloff]

This.

+1

You will rarely ever need all of the knives in a set, so, for the same price, a high-quality chef's knife, along with a medium- to high-quality pairing knife and bread knife, should cost you about the same, but be much better for the money.

Ditto for the cheap pans. You can get some reasonably priced Lincoln Wear-ever pans that will last for many years.

Jay, you always recommend these, and I always see chefs use these in restaurants, but are they comparable to skillets that cost significantly more? Is their nonstick coating safe?

 

[Mad Man]

The lads above have your knives and pans sorted so...

I adore some of my bigger Le Creuset cast iron/enamel "ovens"; I can do a big batch of pasta sauce, or a small roast or osso bucco in my 28cm or 30cm (wider/deeper) pots with lids.

Also get a couple of really good Microplane graters, ONLY use glass for your Mixing bowls and get a seriously HD old-school hand held potato masher.

 

[Mad Man]

Oh...wire whisks - best you can get; the flimsy gauge ones fall to bits.

 

[BigBull]

I'm on the new set of knives. Above mentioned name brands are definitely top notch quality and there are plenty nice knives out. If your looking to acquire alot of things, going more baseline might be appropriate - only you can decide that.

At the least, I'd recommend you get a top end block of J.A. Henckels.

 

[ouch]

Jay, you always recommend these, and I always see chefs use these in restaurants, but are they comparable to skillets that cost significantly more? Is their nonstick coating safe?

I never tried their nonstick.

 

[maxman]

Knives:
One good one is worth more than a drawer full of lousy ones. Until you use a good knife you won't know what you're missing.

Pots and Pans:
I use Paderno pots and the special of the week pans. The pots will last forever, the pans....well... they work for a while, but I wish I'd spend the money on one or two good ones.

Misc. Utensils:
Some things can be cheap. My dollar store silicone spatulas, pot scrapers and spoons are every bit as good as the other expensive ones. Peelers, graters and such I would buy nice ones. The cheap ones are frustrating at best.

Now, no piece of equipment is any good if you don't know how to use it. Luckily I married a Chef. She has shown me many tips over the years. Even some I didn't ask for

Oh...wire whisks - best you can get; the flimsy gauge ones fall to bits.

Just come to my house if you want to see dollar store whisks in action. They fall apart the first time you use them.

 

[WickedSwde]

Laguiole Steak knife set is nice. Some really good kitchen knifes are awesome to have Gyuto, Petty, Nakiri and a breadknife). Don't forget a potatoe press

 

[maxman]

One of the best knives I have is an IVO from Portugal
It takes a wicked sharp edge.

Yet you never hear anyone talk about them.....

 

[huntingdan]

Sorry guys, I guess I wasn't using the correct terminology. When I was referring to a set of knives, I was referring to buying them seperately. I see what you guys are saying. I've always told and bought people nice knives, but haven't bought any for myself, Go Figure!

I don't know about the Sous Vide idea, reminds me of the old Taco Bell days. I will definitely look into buying the better quality misc. tools.

Any smaller appliances that you use a lot, like a food processor, or something that can have multiple uses? Something that will be used not anything to specific like wafflemaker or panini press. Right now can only think of mixer and food processor.

Thanks for everything so far, I will definitely be back to get some ideas on specific brands. As far as going for the expensive items, I have no clue whether or not the will show up, but never know what can happen if I put it on there.

 

[BigBull]

We have a Cephalon waffle maker from Williams and Sonoma that get used every weekend. Love it. She also loves her Cuisinart mixer...I'd recommend a Nespresso machine cuz I'm a coffee junkie. If your looking at a Panini press, check out the Cuisinart one simply because it comes with seperate plates and can be used for multiple things.

 

[Cochese2323]

Get a decent blender too. Always fun to do blender drinks once in a while.