Gift guide for the single professional or young couple who wants to cook their own meal with a sense of adventure.
Starting as a new cook
Most people start with hand-me-downs from parents or other family members, which saves a good chunk of money but creates a mix-match of tools. I created a list of the minimum required kitchen essentials for newbie cooks, with suggestions for upgrades. The choice is yours, but you don’t have to spend a fortune when you’re starting out.
When I first started cooking, I adapted by using the tools available, most of which were passed down to me from my mom. I didn’t care that nothing really matched, as long as I had a knife, bowls, pots and pans, spoons and spatulas to cook. But as I became more experienced, I started looking at nicer kitchen essentials available in shops and thought, why not? Check out the list I curated for newbie cooks.
Beginner’s guide of kitchen tools
This list is a beginner’s guide for the new cook who has no idea what he or she needs in the kitchen.
Knives
Take a look at this guide to kitchen knives and learn how to sharpen your knife, as previously posted on the blog.
Cutting boards
Wood, plastic, marble or bamboo? Many options to choose from. Flexible mats are handy when you don’t have a lot of storage space.
Bowls
One for veggies, one for meat, you can never have enough bowls.
Utensils
Get a bamboo spoon and spatula first, then get a whole set later because you will use each item in these sets.
Pots
These pots are heavy, but well worth their weight in mass (and money too).
Pans
Everyone needs a frying pan, but if you need something deeper that is multi-functional too, you’ll want a wok.
Serving dishes
After “slaving” in the kitchen, show off your home-cooked meal in a nice dish or platter.
Why you want to upgrade your kitchen tools
Cutting with a dull knife was a chore, but I could always manage. One Christmas my son and his wife gave us a gift certificate for Sur le Table, to go buy a good knife (his hobby is gourmet cooking so he knew what he was talking about). While walking around the store, my husband and I felt like kids in a candy store! There were so many knives to choose from, but they were NOT cheap. We went for knives in the middle range and from the first moment I used one of those knives, I was sold! That’s when I understood why professional chefs guard their knives like gold.
When more expensive is worth it
Cutting with a sharp knife just adds another dimension to food prep you won’t understand, until you’ve had the experience! The same goes for using a more expensive pot. Food cooked in an enamel pot for example, seems to cook faster while maintaining it’s crispiness and color.
Once you’re ready to upgrade, you have to look at higher priced items from a different angle. It may cause a hole in your wallet, but you won’t have to buy another knife or pot for the next 10-20 years if you take good care of them. Believe me, it’s totally worth it and you won’t regret your decision unless you absolutely hate cooking or being in the kitchen. If that’s the case, this list is not for you but that is totally okay.
Printable gift guide
Want a printable guide? Get the free printable PDF of the Gift Guide for Newbie Home Cooks here.
Tell your newbie cook to check out our blog post on the Quick and Easy Meal Plan Challenge and register for regular updates below.
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