Here are few inexpensive but effective kitchen tools to get you started. These will definitely make cooking easier and more enjoyable!
A Vegetable Peeler
When I was working in a kitchen, aside from a sharp knife and a Sharpie for labeling, a Y-peeler was the most important tool I carried around. You've read why we think the Y-peeler is the best: It works for both lefties and righties, and the wider handle makes for a more comfortable grip. The Y-peelers from Kuhn Rikon, our recommended model, also have carbon steel blades, so they stay sharper for longer, and come three to a pack for roughly $10.Measuring Spoons
Precise measurements are essential in many, if not most, recipes. While we often suggest using a scale to get accurate weight measurements, you'll still need measuring spoons for small doses of leavening and seasonings—most scales aren't accurate enough for those. These little ones are especially useful because the handles are magnetized, allowing them to stay nested together in a drawer. This way, you won't have to waste precious time rummaging around because the quarter teaspoon has inexplicably disappeared.
Recommended: Stainless steel measuring spoons from Prepworks by Progressive
A Paring Knife
In the kitchen, bigger isn't always better. Sometimes a small knife is just what you need—when you're peeling onions or garlic, say, or mincing shallots. (It's also useful when you need to take a sneaky sample of fresh-from-the-oven brownies.) We did some testing to find the best paring knife, and this one came out on top. It's nice and sharp, has a comfortable grip, and should fit any budget. We don't recommend you lick it after you test those brownies, but what happens in your kitchen stays in your kitchen.
Recommended: Victorinox 3.25-inch paring knife with straight edge, spear point
A Fine-Mesh Strainer
A fine-mesh strainer has a multitude of uses, from removing the aromatics in creamy soups to poaching eggs and getting pesky seeds out of freshly squeezed fruit juice. A really good strainer will also be rust-resistant and dishwasher-safe, and have hooks on its rim so that it nests snugly over bowls and pots. We like this one, which also has a heat-safe handle—no need to worry about scorching your hands as you drain spaghetti.
Recommended: OXO Good Grips 8-inch fine mesh strainer
Wire Racks
Growing up, I assumed that wire racks were used exclusively for cooling just-baked chocolate chip cookies (and, in the process, slowly torturing me). It turns out that they're good for much more than that. First, they're ideal for resting meats, especially when placed over a half sheet pan to catch any drippings. If your goal is shatteringly crunchy baked chicken wings, resting the meat on a wire rack before you cook will provide even air circulation and help to dry out the skin, ensuring it crisps up nicely in the oven. Buy a set of two 10- by 16-inch racks, and they'll quickly become some of the most essential tools in your kitchen.
Recommended: Baker's Secret 10 x 16-inch nonstick cooling rack
Rimmed Baking Sheets
Aluminum sheet pans, often called rimmed baking sheets, are the MVP of restaurant kitchens, and will be the MVP of your kitchen, too. Use them for a variety of sweet and savory cooking projects, from baking cookies and roasting veggies to cooking a whole chicken. Half sheet pans are most common, but you can also find them in quarter sizes, which are great for holding modest quantities of ingredients, or baking a smaller batch of cookies (just kidding—no one wants that).
What do you think of these inexpensive kitchen tools? What are some of your favorites? Share your suggestions in the comment section below!
Article Source: Serious Eats
Photo Source: Various Brennemans
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