Essential Tools for a New Kitchen

Dear Vixen,
I'm going to a wedding soon. The couple is not registered at a department store. They have not lived together and are setting up house for the first time.

They have asked for basic kitchen equipment. HELP! I don't cook and I have no idea what to get them. What does every kitchen need?

May
Los Angeles, CA

Dear May,
If the couple has absolutely nothing, then basic is the way to go. Here is my list of essential items all kitchens need. I use all of them almost every day:

Good Quality Knives:

A 9 or 10" chef knife, a 3 or 4" paring knife, a 10" bread knife and a 8" boning knife are all must haves. As for quality and type... I use only high-carbon stainless. This is the best quality you can buy. It will last a lifetime, but require sharpening every now and them. If you buy high-carbon stainless, you should also get them a steel to go with them (it's used to straighten the blade).

If the couple is NOT into cooking, you may choose to go with a good quality stainless knife instead. High end brands now make stainless steel knives that are very affordable. The blades are VERY strong and will hold an edge for a long time, but once they are dull, they cannot be sharpened and will most likely just be thrown away. However, this would take 10-15 years of periodic use.

For more advice on knife selection go to: Learn2 Choose a Knife

Large Stainless Pasta Pot: Everyone needs to boil water which makes this simple item a necessity. A good gift idea are the sets which include a pot, lid and removable strainer. This makes pasta a breeze. Make sure the pot is as heavy as possible (Copper bottom is good, aluminum core is great too, basic thin stainless won't cook as evenly or last as long.)

Frying and Sauté Pans: Frying pans have the squared up sides, sauté' pans have the curved edges. A small non-stick sauté for omelettes; a medium non-stick for small stir-fries; a large frying pan for cooking in lots of oil or long slow braising. A few others as needed by the household (a family of 6 needs mostly huge pans, a couple of two can get a away with only one large one for large events). Make sure all frying pans have lids, you never know when you'll need one.

There is a great range of affordability in pots and pans. If you expect them to get lots of use (cooking 4-7 nights a week), invest in heavy gauge aluminum (similar to Calphalon brand). If the couple doesn't

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