I’m a single girl who loves to cook, though since I’m single, I have yet to be “showered” by my aunts and grandmothers and family friends with a fully equipped kitchen. So I’ve had to make do with hand-me-down pots and pans and questionable knives. But there are a few budget-friendly buys that I use all the time and without fail. Here are my faves – all affordable, all awesome.
Bialetti 3-piece Pizza Stone Set
I love making homemade pizza, and this comes with a pizza cutter!
ExcelSteel 3-piece All Purpose Strainer Set
I use them for straining (of course), rinsing things and they’re perfect to use as sifters when I’m baking!
King Arthur Bowl & Dough Scraper
This bowl scraper is so cheap and so essential. It gets everything out of the bowl. I could go on, but how much do you want to hear about a bowl scraper. Just know – it works like a dream.
Microplane Classic Series Premium Zester/Grater
Lacy wisps of Parmesan perfect for sprinkling, citrus zest for all the stuff that calls for some sort of citrus zest (I feel like there’s a lot!) – this is the tool to get it done perfectly.
I can’t say enough about my Silpat. It makes any baking sheet non-stick, eliminating the need for parchment paper or cooking spray. So it’s economical, too!
Cusinart Pro Classic 7-cup Food Processor
Now, I know this is kind of a splurge – but without my food processor, I wouldn’t be able to make salsa, quickly grate cucumber for this potato salad, chop up ginger finely enough to make homemade ginger ale. This might be the best kitchen splurge I’ve ever made.
What are your favorite kitchen gadgets you’ve scored on the cheap? Anything you’ve splurged on that you love?
I splurged on knives. A quality knife set will last years and years and years, as long as you don’t put them in the dishwasher and don’t let them get dull. With knives, I’m a firm believer in “you get what you paid for.”
The side of the bowl scraper is actually what I use to smooth out the icing on the sides of cakes. I hate uni-taskers.
Oh, and don’t buy pots and pans that are not oven safe or have teflon. You may, someday, find a recipe that calls for a broiling after it’s been sauteed in a pan, or whatever. Do you really want to dirty up another dish to put it in the oven? Heck no. Just put the pot/pan in there. Just remember to use an oven mitt to get it out. As for the teflon, it will flake over time no matter what the people on tv say (no one wants to eat the teflon), and it shouldn’t go into the oven. If it gets too hot, it will emit fumes that I’m sure are not safe to breathe. This PSA is now over.
And forget the pizza stone. Just buy an unglazed quarry tile from a building supply store. They’re like $1 – $2.