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Kitchen Essentials List for Any Kitchen

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A Kitchen Necessities Checklist for a Well Stocked Kitchen

Buy these kitchen essentials for a well-stocked kitchen. Find out what kitchen utensils and tools are essential, whether it's your first apartment or you just need some additional gear.

Read reviews of kitchen gadgets and tools. Also, check out college dorm kitchen essentials like combination hot plates & toaster ovens, compact dorm microwaves, and more.

These kitchen necessities also make great housewarming gifts or wedding gifts, or would be a welcome addition to the first kitchen of an off-campus college student.

Whip your kitchen into shape with these top kitchen gadgets and kitchen essentials.

Photo: Enclume Shelf Pot Rack, available at Amazon.com

Buy College Kitchen Essentials

College Dorm Essentials for Sale

Best Place to Buy Dorm Gadgets

This 3-in-1 space-saving gadget includes a toaster oven, a 6-inch dorm griddle, and a coffeemaker.

Maxi-Matic EBK-200 Elite Cuisine 3-in-1 Breakfast Station 4-Cup Coffee Maker, White

Amazon Price: $30.00 (as of 02/23/2012)

College Student Kitchen Necessities for Sale

Buy College Dorm Room Gadgets

Heading to college or back to school? Stock the dorm room with a Presto Pizzazz Pizza Oven, a Dorm Refrigerator, a hot plate, 12 cup coffee maker and dispenser, and a compact microwave that meets most college dorm maximum watt requirements.

Buy the Cuisinart DCC 1200 Coffee Maker Online

Like many people, I can't function without my morning coffee. While Starbucks is a lovely (and expensive) treat, I often need a cuppa joe before I even get out the door, which is where a coffee maker comes in handy.

The coolest thing about this one from Cuisinart is that it can be programmed to make wake-up coffee. You set a time for it to automatically turn on in the morning and start brewing, and it dings when done.

The Cuisinart DCC 1200 has its own water purifier, and it notifies you when it needs cleaning. It really makes home brewing easy.

Cuisinart DCC-1200 Brew Central 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Black/Brushed Metal

Amazon Price: $70.99 (as of 02/23/2012)

Apartment Cookware Essentials for Sale

Stainless Steel 12 Inch Skillet for Sale

Buy Essential Cookware on Amazon

This popular all-purpose pan can fit a 3 lb. chicken or steak. With a stainless steel surface and exterior surrounding an aluminum core, this high-quality pan heats evenly and performs well for multiple cooking tasks.

Cuisinart MCP22-30H MultiClad Pro Stainless 12-Inch Skillet with Helper

Amazon Price: $55.00 (as of 02/23/2012)

Buy the Best Cast Iron Skillet

Cast Iron Skillet for Sale Online

Cast iron skillets are a timeless choice for frying and stove top cooking. This one comes pre-seasoned, and at a budget-friendly price.

Lodge Logic L10SK3 12-Inch Pre-Seasoned Skillet

Amazon Price: $18.99 (as of 02/23/2012)

Cuisinart Chef's Classic Stainless 4-Quart Saucepan for Sale Online

Essential Cookware to Buy

A well-constructed 4 qt. sauce pan like this one by Cuisinart will meet your everyday cooking needs. Use it for things like oatmeal, pasta sauce, boiled eggs, soups and vegetables. Watch the video below to learn more about the Chef's Classic line from Cuisinart.

Cuisinart 7194-20 Chef's Classic Stainless 4-Quart Saucepan with Cover

Amazon Price: $48.24 (as of 02/23/2012)

Cuisinart Chef's Classic Review

Buy Essential Kitchen Items Online

Where to Buy Kitchen Tools

Keep the tools handy that you will use every day. A countertop kitchen crock that holds your most often used kitchen tools will save you time and space.

1Kitchen Shears

Wusthof Come-Apart Kitchen Shears
Amazon.com
Sharp kitchen shears get the job done and can be easily taken apart for cleaning. Use these to open food packages and to cut food.
2Microplane Grater

Microplane Grater
Amazon.com
A microplane grater is much easier to use than a box grater. Plus, it allows you to grate right over your pan or plate. Use it for ginger, lemon zest or to add touch of parmesan cheese over your pasta dishes. One of Alton Brown's recommended kitchen gear items.
3Whisk

Norpro 3 Piece Stainless Steel Balloon Whisk Set
Amazon.com
Use the big whisk for pancakes, the medium for eggs, and the small one for sauces and homemade salad dressings.
4Tongs

Oxo Good Grips Locking Tongs
Amazon.com
Dishwasher-safe steel tongs that lock in place, which is an ideal feature for resting it while cooking and for easy storage.
5Kitchen Crock

Le Creuset Stoneware Utensil Crock
Amazon.com
Store your frequently used kitchen tools in a beautiful countertop kitchen crock, like this popular Le Creuset crock, available in an assortment of bright, beautiful colors to match your kitchen decor. Fill it with the kitchen tools you'll use every day.

Alton Brown Kitchen Essentials Checklist

Kitchen Necessities for Purchase

Alton Brown's Gear for Your Kitchen
Amazon.com

Equip your kitchen with tips from Food Network host Alton Brown. Below are a few of Alton's kitchen gear recommendations.

1Infrared Thermometer

Raytek ST20XB Handheld Infrared Thermometer
Amazon.com
Perhaps Alton Brown's favorite kitchen tool of all, his trusty infrared thermometer. On his cooking shows, we always see Alton use this "toy" to test the temperature of the pan before adding ingredients.
2Unicorn Magnum Plus Pepper Mill

Unicorn Magnum Plus Pepper Mill
Amazon.com
Expert-tested, Alton Brown approved, and with a lifetime guarantee.
3Chef'n EzSqueeze One-Handed Can Opener

Chef'n EzSqueeze One-Handed Can Opener
Amazon.com
Alton Brown's ergonomic manual can opener.
4Lodge Pro-Logic Pre-Seasoned 7-Quart Dutch Oven

    Lodge Pro-Logic Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron
    Dutch Oven
    Amazon.com
Pre-seasoned cast iron dutch oven, with a self-basting cover. Once you get one of these, you'll find yourself using it to cook everything.
5Oxo 32480 Good Grips Salad Spinner

Oxo Good Grips Salad Spinner
Amazon.com
One of the most fun kitchen gadgets to use. The Oxo Salad Spinner can be operated with just one hand. Use it to dry spinach, lettuce (so that the dressing adheres better and to prevent wilting), and fresh herbs.

Kitchen Tools on Amazon

Basic Kitchen Necessities Checklist

Here are the kitchen measurement tools every kitchen needs: measuring spoons, measuring cups, and a 2-cup measuring cup for liquids.

Dry Measuring Cups
I'm a big fan of stainless steel measuring cups. They look nicer and they're studier, so they last longer. The handles won't break and the measurement imprint won't wear off over time. These are for dry ingredients only.

Liquid Measuring Cup
You need a good measuring cup for liquids, like the Pyrex Prepware measuring cup below. If you're adding chicken broth, milk, oil, or reserved pasta water to a dish, this is what you need to measure it. Pyrex measuring cups are heat-proof, and the 2-cup size is tall enough that you could do some of your mixing right inside of it if you wanted to.(Remember, use this for liquids only. Measurements for dry and wet are not the same. Dry ingredients should be measured in separate, dry measuring cups, above.)

Buy Nonstick Cookware Online

Kitchen Essentials: Cookware

Get reviews of the best nonstick cookware and electric griddles.

1Electric Griddle

Top Electric Griddles

Get electric griddle reviews of the top brands. Cook your favorite restaurant-style breakfast or Sunday Brunch at home with an electric griddle. Compare top griddles from Cuisinart, Presto, Wolfgang Puck, George Foreman, and more. An electric griddle heats evenly, has lots of capacity, and keeps your stove top free for other cooking tasks.

Photo: Presto Cool Touch Griddle, available at Amazon.com
2Nonstick Stove Top Griddle

Stove Top Nonstick Griddles

If you prefer to do your cooking on the stove top, then check out this selection of stove top griddles, including double burner griddles, cast iron griddles, and nonstick eco griddles.

Photo: All Clad LTD Nonstick Griddle, available from Amazon.com
3Eco Friendly Nonstick Cookware

Eco Friendly Cookware
If you want the easy cooking and convenience of nonstick cookware, but are concerned about PTFE and PFOA, shop this selection of Telflon-free, healthy, safe, eco-friendly cookware sets from brands like Cuisinart, Scanpan, and Safepan.

Photo: Safepan Eco Nonstick cookware, available on Amazon.com

Fun Kitchen Gadgets for Sale Online

List of Kitchen Essentials

Where Can I Buy Kitchen Essentials?

Here are more basics you'll need for your kitchen:
Mixing Bowls
Baking Dishes
Cookie Sheet
Good Set of Knives
Colander

Kitchen Essentials List for Thanksgiving

Kitchen Necessities List for the Holidays

Make sure you have a roasting pan or electric roaster oven, fat separator for gravy, and a pie pan for your holiday cooking.

Where to Buy Kitchen Essentials Online