getting yourself kitted out

When shopping for kitchen equipment, you’ll find that most cookshops and department stores have all these high-tech pans with glass lids, removable handles and so on, but most of the time they’re actually not very good. Just try to get yourself a minimal amount of decent sturdy kitchen equipment. Have a look in some professional kitchen shops — you’ll be surprised to find that they don’t charge over-the-top prices, as they have to stock no-nonsense inexpensive equipment.

Here are a few of the things I couldn’t live without:

• large non-stick frying pan
• large porcelain or stainless steel casserole
• some heavy, thick-bottomed saucepans — large, medium and small
• a couple of pairs of metal tongs
• wooden spoons
• thick, sturdy wooden chopping board — spend a bit more and it should last you a lot longer
• small plastic chopping boards, for meat and fish — small enough to fit in the dishwasher
• olive oil drizzlers
• medium-large pestle and mortar — from all good stores and supermarkets
• food processor — these save time and are a good investment
• knives: 30cm cook’s knife, paring knife and bread knife to get you started
• stainless steel fish slice, slotted spoon, ladle and whisk — don’t use plastic ones
• speed-peeler — cheap as chips and really handy
• 2 or 3 good sturdy roasting trays — the thicker the better so they won’t kink in the oven
• salad spinner — good ones only last a year, so buy yourself a cheap one
• electric scales
• a couple of sieves, fine and coarse
• measuring jug
• string
• metal box grater
• rolling pin
• cake tins
• wine rack