Setting Up A New Kitchen
(or refreshing an older kitchen)
No matter who you talk to, opinions vary on what they consider “essential” items in their kitchens. However, most agree that the right “tools” always make the job easier.
When setting up a new kitchen (for your first home, at a new cottage, or simply refreshing your kitchen after years of use), do your best to opt for “quality” rather than “quantity” -- buy the best items you can comfortably afford.
Quality items will end up costing you less in the long run, since they have to be replaced far less often than their poorly made counterparts. While everyone has their favourite kitchen tools, most would agree that the following items should be found in a well-stocked kitchen:
KITCHEN ITEM |
OUR PICK |
KITCHEN ITEM |
OUR PICK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8” Chef’s knife | Mac Knife | Cutting board | Epicurean |
| Paring knife | Wüsthof | Coffee maker | Keurig or Bodum |
| Bread knife | Wüsthof | Toaster | Krups |
| Food thermometer | CDN Proaccurate | Grinder | Danesco |
| Measuring cups | Sleekstor Collapsibles | Blender | Krups |
| Measuring spoons | Cuisipro | Food processor | Cuisinart |
| Tongs Cuisipro | Cuisipro Commercial Quality | Wine glasses | Riedel |
| Vegetable peeler | Chef’N Palm Peeler | Flatware | Henckels |
| Colander | Sleekstore Collapsible | Dinnerware | Gordon Ramsay or Denby |
| Rubber spatula | Cuisipro Silicone | Casserole/Baking dishes | Emile Henry |
| Whisk | Cuisipro | Stock pot | Le Creuset Cast Iron |
| Slotted spoon | Cuisipro | 10” frying pan | Swiss Diamond |
| Sheet pan/cookie sheet | Chicago Metallic | Pots & pans | Gordon Ramsay Cookware |
| Can opener | Zyliss Lift & Lock | Salt & pepper grinders | Peugeot |
| Oven mitts/pot holder | Kitchen Grips | Mixer | Cuisinart Stand Mixer |
| Spatula/turner | Chef’N Flipper | Mandoline | OXO Good Grips |
| Clay Bakers | Romertopf or Schlemmertopf | Bake Forms | Kaiser Bake Forms |