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These are my kitchen essentials I use weekly in my from scratch kitchen! It can be hard to know what exactly you need getting started on your from scratch journey. I have tried to narrow it down to exactly what you need to start cooking from scratch.
I am by no means a perfect minimalist but having a small home I do try to keep things as minimal as possible. This can be difficult when you cook most of your food from scratch. In a world where there are gadgets and gizmos for everything cooking related try to think simply.
Do you actually need a biscuit cutter or could you use something else? What actually happens if you have to spend a few extra minutes dicing vegetables versus using a fancy dicing tool?
These are questions a from-scratch, real food making homemaker asks herself!
Our grandmothers did not need all these “things” and neither do we. It is completely possible to start making real food without needing everything society throws on a commercial.
That being said, there are some things that truly do make life so much easier! I have to believe that if my great grandma had access to a stand mixer back in the day she would have taken full advantage of this tool. I am in no way saying we should not make the best use of our time, just that we should know the skills to do without them.
That is why I have broken down this list of kitchen essentials into two categories: what is essential and what is convenient.
Items in the convenience category are beyond nice to have but if you are just starting out they are not necessities. You can totally make bread without a stand mixer! Learning how to cook from scratch is daunting enough without feeling overwhelmed in the budget department.
My Everyday From Scratch Kitchen Essentials
Here is a list of things I use frequently throughout the week in my kitchen.
1. Cast iron skillet.
This is a must for me! There are so many benefits of cast iron. I love that you can buy one piece and it will last generations. Such a money saver! (For a reel on how to season cast iron go check out @littlewifeinthewoods on Instagram.)
Practical Uses: Frying meat and veggies, baking pies, biscuits.
2. Bread Pans
One of the easiest ways to start your real food journey is to learn how to make your own bread! Starting with a loaf of fresh bread is so simple and a sure way to have you hooked on from scratch cooking. Whether you start with yeast bread or want to dive into sourdough you will need a good set of loaf pans. Only one is necessary but I highly recommend purchasing two since most recipes make two loaves. Having two is definitely more convenient!
The cheapest bread loaf pans are the metal ones at your local Walmart. However, I find that ceramic and glass are much better options! The dough rises faster and more evenly in glass vs. metal. Below are a few of my favorites!
Practical uses: all loaf breads (banana, pumpkin, sandwich loaf)
3. Casserole dish
Another multi-functional must-have is a casserole dish! There are so many great meals you can make (and store!) in a casserole dish. I recommend getting one with a lid, again for convenience.
Practical uses: baked pasta dinners, casseroles, cobbler, brownies.
4. Basic sheet pan/baking set
If you are starting to bake a lot from scratch you would do well to purchase a baking set. It does not have to be fancy or expensive, just something basic to get you started. A good set should include a couple sizes of baking sheets, a muffin tin, and a pie plate.
5. Mixing Bowls
Another from-scratch kitchen essential is a good set of mixing bowls. Some sets come with four or five bowls, personally I find I can do just fine with two. I prefer using ceramic, stoneware, or glassware to plastic. They last longer and do not have all the nasty stuff!
6. Utensils (spoons, spatulas, etc.)
A basic utensil shopping trip is a necessity! Here is a shopping list of all the basics that will get you started…
- Wire wisk
- Two wooden spoons
- tsp/tbsp measuring set
- glass measuring cup set (photo/link below)
- spatula
7. Emulsion blender
Another must have (that I did not realize was a must have) is an emulsion blender. This is an easy essential if you want to make your own mayo, or mix up whipped cream and coffee creamers! Mine has definitely been well worth the investment!
Convenience Items and Non-Essentials
Here are a few non-essential items I use in my kitchen for convenience…
(Click the highlighted items for links!)
Stand Mixer– definitely not necessary, but soooo helpful to have! I recommend learning the process of bread making completely by hand so you have the skill set but if you are making bread every few days investing in one of these will help you save quite a bit of time. Mine is a cheaper off-brand but works great!
Food Processor- A food processor is a great thing to have on hand for easily chopping lots of veggies for dinner dishes or making your own fresh salsa. It is worth the extra storage room for sure. The good news is you do not have to buy the most fancy or expensive one. I think ours came from Walmart and it has lasted several years now.
Crock pot– There has been a lot of controversy lately about crockpots and chemical leeching. I do not use ours very often but I have found it is nice to have on hand for busy times or for carrying food back and forth to church or other functions. Regardless of where you stand on the toxic burden of crock pots they are extremely helpful.
Dutch oven– Again, not completely necessary but as you begin to dive into things like sourdough, or even just to make a good soup (without a crockpot) you will find that a dutch oven is a great investment.
I hope this list has been helpful! What items would you add to the list of kitchen essentials? Comment below! If this post was helpful please hit the like button and share with a friend!
