Kitchen Tools and Equipment You Really Ought to Have

1 Make sure you have a little electric vegetable chopper, the size that will handle 1 cup of ingredients at a time.

2 Don’t try to cook without a good paring knife that’s sharp (and holds its edge) and fits in your hand.

3 Almost as important—a good chef’s knife (we always called it a “butcher” knife) with a wide, sharp blade that’s about 8 inches long, good for making strong cuts through meats.

4 You really ought to have a good serrated knife with a long blade, perfect for slicing bread.

5 Invest in at least one broad, flexible, heat-resistant spatula. And also a narrow one.

6 You ought to have a minimum of 2 wooden spoons, each with a 10-12 inch-long handle. They’re perfect for stirring without scratching.

7 Get a washable cutting board. You’ll still need it, even though you have an electric vegetable chopper (#1 above).

8 A medium-sized whisk takes care of persistent lumps in batters, gravies, and sauces when there aren’t supposed to be any.

9 Get yourself a salad spinner.