People get into cooking for all sorts of reasons. Whether it’s a love of good food, an outlet for creativity, or survival (because we can’t live on chicken nuggets and Taco Bell alone), having the right tools can help a new cook be more successful much quicker.
If you have a new chef to shop or this holiday season – or someone that’s just beginning to build their kitchen – these are some of my favorite items.
WÜSTHOF Classic 5″ Santoku Knife
Wusthof are my favorite knives and my go-to brand when one needs replacing. A santoku knife is very versatile and can be used for many things, making it an excellent first knife. I like the 5″ version because I have small hands, but they make a 7″ version as well.
Wood Cutting Board
For a long time, I was not a fan of wood cutting boards. Turns out, I just didn’t know how to care for it properly! During a cooking class last year, the chef sprayed her cutting board down with diluted vinegar between uses and wiped it clean. Now I have one that lives on my counter. Not only is it pretty, I love that it’s always there, ready to go.
Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven
I’m all about things that have multiple uses in the kitchen, especially if you are just starting out or have limited space. Perfect for stews, chilis, soups and roasts, I also use mine for anything that needs boiling — potatoes, pasta, even bags of rice! My favorite dutch oven actually came from HEB, but this similar one on Amazon has great reviews.
Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker
Yes, this is a pricier gift. But for someone who is just learning to cook – or anyone that doesn’t have a lot of time to cook – a sous vide is a game changer. The hands-off ability to cook to perfection makes it an easy learning curve as well as a time saver.