A big part of levelling up in adulthood has been moving past those dorm-room living habits and creating a space that we can be proud to call home. They say the kitchen is the heart of a home, so that’s the perfect place to start.

Whether you’re a seasoned home cook or still learning your way around a stove, this guide will tackle the most important accoutrements for your adult AF kitchen, without breaking the bank!  

KNIFE ESSENTIALS

 Let’s start with the basics. Knives can be pricy and daunting, but we all need to eat and they make all the difference in conquering your culinary game with skill and ease. Here’s where to start:

• 8-inch Chef’s Knife: If nothing else, you need this. An 8-inch chef’s knife is essential and versatile. It can be used for pretty much everything, so if you can, spend a bit extra and get a quality one that will last you through the years.

• Serrated knife: If you jumped on the sourdough train like us, you’ll know exactly why the serrated knife is our second-in-command. It’s a crucial kitchen tool for cutting through any bread (and even some veggies, like tomatoes, to top that bread slice).

• Paring knife: It may be small, but it’s mighty. The paring knife is for more delicate, detailed tasks like cutting, chopping and slicing fruits and veggies.

• Knife sharpener: A knife sharpener is key ­– there’s really no point in investing in a nice set of knives just to let them go dull!

• Knife rack: These beauties deserve to be displayed. You can leave the butterknives in the drawer, but make sure to pick up a magnetic knife rack or knife block for the good ones. It can serve as a nice focal point for your kitchen and protect your knives at the same time.

 PANS 101

You know you’re a grownup when all of your birthday gifts consist of cookware, but honestly, we couldn’t be happier about it. Getting rid of hand-me-down pans and starting fresh can make all the difference. Here’s where to start:

• Non-stick Frying Pan: Simply put, get one. No more burning food that’s stuck to the bottom, or leaving the pan to soak for an entire week. Whether you’re making a killer breakfast omelette, searing meats or sautéing veggies, a non-stick will make life so much easier. Just make sure you use a wooden spoon or silicone spatula, so you don’t damage the coating.

• Cast Iron Pan: It can cook steak, veggies, chicken, you name it! Need to throw something in the oven? Pop it in the cast iron and voila, you’ve got a baked dish. Can you tell we live for our cast iron skillet? You can invest in a pricier brand like Le Creuset that will last generations, or go for a more affordable (but just as great) option like Lodge. The key to the cast iron is seasoning it, which just means there’s a layer of carbonized oil that coats your pan. It prevents the pan from rusting and stops food from sticking. If you need tips on how to season your cast iron, we’ve broken it down for you here.

• Saucepan: Other than making sauces (obvi), a saucepan is great for whipping up rice, quinoa or couscous. Just make sure you have a tight-fitting lid!

DISHES AND GLASSWARE

A seriously grown-up improvement you can make is replacing your mismatched sets of plates, bowls and flatware for a matching set. If you live alone or with one other, you should start with a set of at least four dinner plates, salad plates, drinking glasses, and wine glasses. The more people you’ve got, the more you add to your set. And there’s no need to blow the budget, you can find beautiful sets at Ikea or even Value Village if you’re feeling thrifty. Bonus points if you grab a set of cocktail tumblers (we love a bar cart!).

*Pro tip: To help prevent those nasty water marks on your stemware, hand dry them right after you wash them with a clean cloth. And if you’re having issues getting those stickers off of your glasses, use a mixture of 3 parts baking soda to parts vegetable oil to rub it off!

 APPLIANCES WORTH YOUR PENNIES

Let’s get into the fun stuff. When it comes to kitchen appliances, there are a few that are really worth the money. These are our secret weapons for taking your meal prep to the next level:

• Blender: If you don’t have room for a big blender in your apartment, try an immersion or stick blender that will puree whatever you need in a pot, bowl, or smoothie cup.

• Fancy Coffee Maker: You wouldn’t want to know us without coffee, and investing in a good coffee maker is a life changer. It saves you money in the long run and creates a nice routine to get you moving in the morning.

• Instant Pot: This is the appliance that does it all. It can be a pressure cooker, a steamer, a slow cooker, a rice cooker, a sous vide! You can make risotto, steam veggies, or sauté to your heart’s desire. Best of all? You can recreate those to-die-for Starbucks egg bites in the Instant Pot’s steam mode. Total game-changer.

• Air Fryer: The air fryer has become an imperative part of our kitchen, and really, of this cultural moment. It can cook chicken, cookies, veggies, really anything you would put in the oven, but in half the time. A healthier way to speed-fry everything you can dream of.

PANTRY

Stocking up with quality ingredients and cooking staples makes all the difference in helping you feel comfortable in the kitchen. Here’s where to start:

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil: When it comes to cooking, olive oil is in well, everything. Having a good one on hand will level-up any dish. You can really taste the difference in a great quality oil when you’re drizzling it on top of a salad, pasta or bread.

• Aged Balsamic Vinegar: From dipping bread to making bomb salad dressings, this one is a must.

• Fancy Salts: Salt is a transformative ingredient and there’s a lot more out there than just your average table salt. Get some nice finishing salts for your dishes and make salt bae proud.

• A fully stocked spice rock: Create a spice rack worth showing off with a set of small glass containers from, you guessed it, Dollarama, and head to the bulk food store to stock up on the go-to spices and herbs, like Paprika, Cinnamon, Chili Powder, Basil, Oregano, Rosemary and Curry Powder.

Having the right tools can take the stress out of cooking and help you flex your culinary talents—even if you’re just starting out in the kitchen. We hope this inspires you to show your kitchen a little love. You can step away from UberEats now, we’ve got you.

Ready to take your home to the next level? Download our free must-have home essentials checklist to track what you should have room by room (along with pro laundry tips).

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