Buying kitchen equipment for every cook

Whether you’re planning to stock your own kitchen or are buying kitchenware for someone else as a gift, you may know to start with our basic guide to Buying Kitchenware, which includes the essentials:  plates and cups and flatware, pans and knives.  But what else do you need? This is also a great time to select the finest extras and gadgets to make the job that much more enjoyable. It helps if you know what kind of cook you’re buying for, too.

Kitchenware for everyone

A must for every kitchen is a good set of measuring spoons, measuring cups, vegetable peelers, whisks and mixing spoons. Can openers, mixers, blenders and food processors are essential to any kitchen and serve many purposes. If you are short on space, consider an under-the-cupboard can opener, or consider getting a small utility cart for added storage for those appliances that may be used less frequently. Appliances come in a wide variety of colors and styles, and so the choice is really yours as to which works the best with your décor.

Kitchen Carts

For the pastry chef

If you’re a baker or are buying gifts for someone who loves to bake, consider the newest line of silicon bakeware. This wonderful array of flexible products comes in an assortment of styles, colors and shapes for any chef’s kitchen. Products range from measuring spoons to cake pans and oven liners, and the assortment of colors will match any pastry chef’s desire. Don’t forget the silicon+rolling+pin and cookie cutters to make each creation extra special, too. If you prefer the more traditional metal pans, there should always be a 13×9 cake pan (many recipes call for these), two 8-inch or 9-inch cake pans, muffin tins and specialty pans such as bundt and loaf pans always come in handy, too. There are many specialty cake-baking books available for fancier tastes, too. Whether you opt for silicon or metal bakeware, each has its own benefits, but remember if you choose darker pans, these actually require lower oven temperatures and today’s cake mixes have baking temperatures and times right on the box so you can’t make a mistake.
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For the short order cook

Busy lives mean cooking for the family can be rushed. When looking for cookware and gadgets specifically for quick meals, consider items that are safe for use in microwaves and dishwashers and can stand up to the test of time, too. Pyrex offers a great selection of bakeware and measuring implements that can stand the heat in any kitchen. And, don’t forget those special gadgets that make special meals a breeze, too, such as waffle irons and griddles, too. Many of these have special coatings that prevents build up of grease and food, and can wipe clean with a good hot soapy sponge. And for a quick way to prepare roasts and stews that require a greater amount of cooking time, no kitchen is complete without a slow-cooker or Crock Pot. These are now designed for families of all sizes from 1 to 20 people. Just place the roast or stew in the cooker, set the timer and go! These generally are made from porcelain or glass, and when you’re ready to clean up, the liners come out of the electronic base for easy washing by hand or in the dishwasher.
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For the new cook

This is one of the greatest opportunities to set the tone for a new kitchen and to get it off to a great start. Measuring cups, casserole and serving dishes, toasters and other small appliances such as a food processor will make any new cook’s job that much easier. There are plenty of great cookbooks featuring items from soups to nuts, and are a welcome addition to any kitchen. There are so many to choose from for the novice and many come will full-color pictures of the finished product.
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For the kitchen with decorator flare

It is great to have a well-coordinated kitchen to prepare fabulous home-cooked meals in, and having the best designer colors to choose from makes it just that much better. Consider stainless steel gadgets and appliances, or maybe red, blue or green appliances to accent a black or neutral-toned kitchen. And, don’t forget new bakeware and gadgets trimmed in the same tones, too as a personal accent. Kitchen towels and potholders also come in a wide variety of decorator colors and add that perfect accent to your kitchen’s décor, too. Cutting boards are great for protecting your countertops from bacteria and scratches, and there should be a paper towel holder on hand for quick clean ups for those unexpected spills.
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For gadget fans

So electrics are more your thing? The George Foreman electric grills have been popular for years. Some more “exotic” or specialty items might include a quesadilla maker or a chocolate fountain for dipping strawberries. Rice cookers take the guessing out of making the perfect rices and sandwich grills make perfectly-browned grilled cheese to eat with the soup from your favorite stock pot. The varieties just keep coming. Make your own french fries and corn dogs in the professional deep fryers available. They’re much sturdier, safe and easier to clean than the models from just a few years ago; and when you need something cool to wash the fried foods down with, the margarita maker or martini maker provide delicious adult beverages.
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