7 Must‑Have Kitchen Items Every Home Cook Needs

The kitchen can be a safe haven for many people. Therefore, having an adequately stocked kitchen with a variety of items that make cooking easier is a necessity for any aspiring home chef. The moment you have the appropriate items at your disposal, the entire process of cooking is transformed from an unpleasant task into an enjoyable, creative outlet. 

Petty Knives

If you want to improve your cooking game, you have to get used to the handy petty knife. The petty knife, in the world of Japanese knives, is more or less like a paring or a utility knife, only with a little more character and flair. The petty knife has a blade length that ranges from 120 millimetres up to 150 millimetres, making it slightly larger than a paring knife but significantly smaller and more agile than a large chef knife or a gyuto.

The petty knife is intended for those delicate cooking tasks that require a high level of precision. The blade, although very short and slender, provides the cook with a tremendous amount of control. You will find yourself reaching for your petty knife when you have to peel an apple, devein some prawns, or shave some silver skin off a piece of meat. 

The petty knife is also your best friend when it comes to “off the board” cooking, like hand-peeling a piece of ginger or preparing some garnishes for your next dinner party. The petty knife, despite its diminutive stature, is surprisingly useful on the cutting board too, handling shallots, garlic, and citrus fruits.

The petty knife design is often similar to its bigger relatives. It can have traditional Japanese wa-handled designs, which are octagonal and lightweight, or Western-style designs, which have a bit more weight and are familiar. The blades are made of high-carbon steel or stainless steel alloys, which are honed to an extremely fine and sharp edge. The blade is thin, so it can cut through fruits and vegetables with minimal friction, so herbs and fruits are sliced instead of squished.

It is very important to take good care of your petty knife if you want to use it for a lifetime. Never place this knife in the dishwasher because the heat and strong detergent will damage the handle and dull the edge of the knife. Wash the knife by hand with warm, soapy water and immediately dry it with a soft cloth. 

Mandolin

The secret weapon for achieving professional-level consistency in your vegetable preparation is a mandolin. This device enables you to slide vegetables across a fixed blade to achieve perfectly uniform slices, matchsticks, or julienne strips. If you’re making a potato gratin, a crisp apple slaw, or thinly sliced radishes for a salad, the mandolin will help you achieve perfectly uniform pieces of vegetables. 

It’s not just a matter of aesthetics; perfectly uniform pieces of vegetables cook simultaneously, which is important for the texture of your final product. Most mandolins come with adjustable thickness controls, allowing you complete control over your ingredients. 

Grater

The simple tool of the grater is far more versatile than the average person might expect. Whilst a good box-style grater is a staple for shredding cheddar or even mozzarella cheese, a fine rasp-style grater is an essential tool for modern cooking. 

It’s perfect for zesting a lemon, grating fresh ginger to a paste, or even sprinkling a pasta dish with a fine grating of Parmesan. It’s also ideal for grating whole nutmeg or even garlic cloves for a flavour boost without the chunky texture.

Cutting Board

A good cutting board is the basis of all cooking. A cutting board serves to protect your countertop and, more importantly, your knives. Timber cutting boards tend to be the most popular for amateur cooks, as they treat your knife blades with respect and have natural antibacterial qualities. 

If you’re selecting timber, opt for an end-grain construction. Alternatively, if you plan to be working with raw poultry products, such as chicken or fish, consider using a heavy-duty plastic cutting board, as it can be placed in the dishwasher for sanitising.

Bowls

You can never have too many bowls in your kitchen. A set of nesting stainless steel or glass bowls is necessary for everything from whipping up eggs and marinating meat to tossing large salads. While useful for mixing, it is also beneficial to have smaller bowls to utilise the practice of “mise en place,” which is the practice of preparing all your ingredients before cooking.

Blender

A good blender is a versatile tool that goes beyond the simple morning smoothie. A high-speed blender is a powerful tool that can grind even the toughest ingredients into a smooth soup, a vibrant pesto, or a nut butter. If you enjoy making your own sauces or emulsifying your own dressings, this tool is a necessity. 

Rice Cooker

The rice cooker is an indispensable appliance in many Australian kitchens. While it is true that rice can be cooked on the stovetop in a pot, the rice cooker cooks rice to a perfect fluff every time with absolutely no supervision needed. It frees up a stovetop burner and eliminates the chance of burnt rice on the bottom of the pot.