| There are many reasons why people do not have | | | | There is a distinct difference between measuring |
| an adequately stocked kitchen for cooking. Some | | | | wet ingredients and dry ingredients. A liquid |
| people are just starting out in their first | | | | measuring cup that holds 2 cups and is |
| apartment or house. Some people are starting out | | | | microwave safe is an essential item to have. |
| as a newly married couple. Some people just | | | | Measuring cups come in both plastic or glass form. |
| never step foot in their kitchen to cook food. | | | | In addition to the cup, a set of dry measuring |
| Each of these groups however may have a | | | | cups are also important to have for cooking and |
| change of heart and know have no idea where to | | | | baking. There are some measuring cups that have |
| begin. | | | | measurements for both wet and dry ingredients. |
| The following list is a good start for any bare | | | | Electric Mixer |
| kitchen. It can serve as a good reference for gift | | | | There are many occasions where an electric |
| giving purposes. Whatever the reason, a bare | | | | mixer is a necessity, especially when baking. |
| kitchen is not too hard to fill up sufficiently in | | | | Electric mixers tend to last a long time provided |
| order to produce professional looking dishes. It is | | | | they are well cared for and used properly. |
| recommended that you don't go crazy when first | | | | Whisk |
| starting to gather items. What one person | | | | Some recipes will require mixing by hand and a |
| considers indispensible, another may consider a | | | | whisk is an excellent tool for this task. A whisk |
| waste of money. Purchase the main elements of | | | | also comes in handy for making fluffy omelets. |
| your kitchen and then gradually add to the | | | | Slotted and Whole Spoons |
| supplies over time for the most cost-efficient plan. | | | | These are great for stirring and serving foods. |
| Let's get cookin': | | | | You may want to get several sizes and shapes. |
| Set of Mixing Bowls | | | | Many times they come in packs of three or more |
| It is best to have various sizes of mixing bowls. | | | | and are always useful around the house. A ladle is |
| Consider purchasing a good, quality set that will | | | | also a good choice if you make a lot of soups and |
| last for some time to come as mixing bowls can | | | | sauces. |
| always be put to good use. Having more than one | | | | Pots and Pans |
| bowl is also important because many recipes will | | | | Quality, non-stick pots and pans are great to start |
| require the mixing of more than one item. With | | | | out with. You can often get an entire set to |
| several bowls on hand, you do not have to keep | | | | satisfy most basic cooking needs. A sauce pot |
| washing out one bowl. | | | | and a medium sized frying pan are the basic |
| Set of Spatulas | | | | components you need but you can also invest in |
| Having different sized spatulas on hand will be | | | | a larger spaghetti pot for making soups and other |
| very useful. The spatulas can be simple rubber | | | | recipes. |
| spatulas or the more expensive silicone ones that | | | | Baking Pans |
| can be used to mix ingredients or scrape bowls. | | | | For basic baking needs, you can probably get |
| Knives | | | | away with a muffin pan, a cookie sheet, a 9'' |
| A kitchen should have a good set of quality | | | | round cake pan, and a rectangular 9''x 13'' cake |
| knives and include various sizes such as a paring | | | | pan. |
| knife, a butcher's knife, and a set of steak knives. | | | | You can slowly build up your cooking and baking |
| Wooden Spoons | | | | supplies as time goes on and you become more |
| Wooden spoons are convenient for mixing | | | | familiar with what you need. There is no right |
| ingredients that are cold or hot. Wooden utensils | | | | brand to purchase and many times it will come |
| are a good investment because they are | | | | down to personal choice when you are buying but |
| relatively inexpensive and if cleaned and stored | | | | investing in good quality supplies that do not need |
| properly, they will last for a long time. | | | | to be replaced often is probably one of the most |
| Measuring Cups | | | | cost-effective ways to start setting up a kitchen. |