Topic: Must haves in the kitchen?

[RedndWhite]

Okay,

I am a pretty young guy and just recently moved out on my own. And I like to eat good, healthy food, but I have no idea what to stock my kitchen, fridge and pantry with.
The amount of cook books I have are to the roof, utensils galore, and counter space heaven, but I cannot figure out the right ingredients to stock up with, so I am a (hopefully) simple thing.

What should I have in my fridge and pantry?

What I have right now:
- Few things of canned tomatoes (whole)
- big thing of spaghetti
- 2.5kg bags of flour and sugar
- rolled oats
- a fridge top freezer filled with steaks, ground beef, and pork chops
- fridge with 2 4L things of milk that I cruse through in a week

And a thing of spicy seasoning salt. OH! and a red onion. And a small thing of ginger.

[YvanF]

I always have lots of fresh vegetables in my fridge, and cook with lots of garlic, ginger, lemons, etc. Not all at once but you get the idea. With that stocked freezer of meat that you have, this will be a good start. Balance out the meat to veggie ratio. Oh and I cook a lot with rice. Basmati and jasmin as my favs.
Cheers

[Brightwhite]

Subscribed for mama to type.

[pistachoo]

You can get a spice rack at Costco for $20-30 that already has spices in it

Also, since rice was mentioned above: if you like rice, get a rice cooker. $30 at T&T or similar place. Put rice, water. Cover. Push button. Wander off.



edit:

- Smash garlic cloves with bottom of heavy frying pan against cutting board (easier then cutting everything up)

[RedndWhite]

You can get a spice rack at Costco for $20-30 that already has spices in it

Costco would require a membership that I do not have... But that sounds like something I would use on a frequent basis. And I live far away from a Costco.

[pistachoo]

I am sure other places sell something similar... maybe Superstore?


(I have this one: http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11503456)

[RedndWhite]

edit:

... My way is easier to clean.

I am sure other places sell something similar... maybe Superstore?


(I have this one: http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11503456)

I shall have to make a run to SuperStore. After working at that place for three years, one would think I would if something similar would be carried.

[pistachoo]

... My way is easier to clean.

rofl... granted! But then you are washing the same pan twice: once after smooshing your garlic, and again after cooking in it.

[GrantC]

... My way is easier to clean.

Not as easy as using the side of your chefs knife.

[pistachoo]

Not as easy as using the side of your chefs knife.

You do this to crush the garlic, Grant? I use this technique to peel it, and then shove it in the garlic press. 


...of course, there's also this:





Actually, that site might be just the resource you need, OP: http://www.theperfectpantry.com/inventory-of-ingredients-in-the-perfect-pantry.html

[Zaider]

A good knife.

Seriously. Not from Sears. Not from Ikea.

I have these:



and



Hand-made japanese steel.

If you're going to be doing a lot of cooking, be safe and get a nice knife. Sharp knives go where you tell them. There are no surprises with the knife slipping off your tomato and cutting your hand.

As for getting ingredients... instead of trying to pick and choose random things that you might need, I would look at your recipes and pick some things you want to make. Go out and get the ingredients. Then, you'll start accumulating spices and condiments as you go. As a bonus, they'll be things you like, rather than things that we like.

I always have tomatoes, eggs, butter, garlic, onions, bread, milk, cheese (cheddar, mozza and goat cheese... probably a nice blue cheese as well).

If you've got plenty of counter space, go out and buy 3 nice glass jars that can seal properly. Fill them with pasta and leave them on your counter. Its a decoration, and a better way to store it than a cardboard box.

[RedndWhite]

Actually, that site might be just the resource you need, OP: http://www.theperfectpantry.com/inventory-of-ingredients-in-the-perfect-pantry.html

.... Awesome. That really helps.

Zaider, where do you get those sharpened?

[pistachoo]

When you buy a good knife, you buy a good knife-sharpening... thing.  ... ?  I have a sharpening thing for my good knives.

[Zaider]

Zaider, where do you get those sharpened?

You go back to the place you bought them and get them to sharpen them. I bought mine from Knife Wear in Calgary (Inglewood). They're really great. Really knowledgable. Most of them have been professional chefs and a few have gone and apprenticed in Japan under knife-makers there.

When you buy a good knife, you buy a good knife-sharpening... thing.  ... ?  I have a sharpening thing for my good knives.

I have a cheap-ish knife sharpener but I dont use it on my good knives. Those need to be sharpened using a series of water stones. I have a honing rod for the good knives but it doesn't sharpen, just removes the burrs etc.

Next on my list is a small paring knife. But they're not cheap....

[JimmEh]

I get loads of recipes online, it's an endless resource.

also, a garlic press is where it's at!!!!! get one you will not be disappoint.

[pistachoo]

You go back to the place you bought them and get them to sharpen them. I bought mine from Knife Wear in Calgary (Inglewood). They're really great. Really knowledgable. Most of them have been professional chefs and a few have gone and apprenticed in Japan under knife-makers there.

I have a cheap-ish knife sharpener but I dont use it on my good knives. Those need to be sharpened using a series of water stones. I have a honing rod for the good knives but it doesn't sharpen, just removes the burrs etc.

My mom has a water stone she got from her father. I would steal it but I don't know how to use it very well (yet)...

I get loads of recipes online, it's an endless resource.

I like epicurious.com -- you can save favourites to a 'recipe box' if you make an account.

[bigdl]

Zaider I think I have the same knife as yours.  (the first one) I love knife wear such a awesome store.

[Zaider]

Zaider I think I have the same knife as yours.  (the first one) I love knife wear such a awesome store.

Mine is slightly different than that... but I couldn't find it on their site. Same shape, slightly different finish.

I took their Knife Use Course several months ago. Girlfriend bought it for me... an entire morning of learning proper technique and cutting various things using their high-end knives. Highly recommend it.

[THE EDJ]

Beer. Good beer.

[RedndWhite]

Beer. Good beer.

That took WAY too long to come up.

Sad, but cheap story, I haven't gone through a 6pk of beer yet. I've been going through the beer thread and I've come to decide I need to walk across the street and get some New Castle and some Heineken.

[hands..off]

I always stock up on pasta sauces, ground beef (you can portion and freeze easily), and chicken breasts.
So easy to throw in the oven and are nutritious and delicious. (Plus leftovers for lunches )

Also, you can get roasts for decently cheap. Throw it in the slow cooker all day and theres endless varieties of spices to use!

My ultimate must-have though is Frank's Red Hot.
I literally put that sh*t on everything.

[RedndWhite]

I always stock up on pasta sauces, ground beef (you can portion and freeze easily), and chicken breasts.
So easy to throw in the oven and are nutritious and delicious. (Plus leftovers for lunches )

Also, you can get roasts for decently cheap. Throw it in the slow cooker all day and theres endless varieties of spices to use!

My ultimate must-have though is Frank's Red Hot.
I literally put that sh*t on everything.

I do not believe I have chicken yet. *adds to list*
Have, let's see here, 3 roasts chillin in the freezer.

Nutritious and delicious?!?! That can co-exist?

I find FRH to have a weird taste. The janitor where I used to work gave me this recipe to make my own stuff... Just gotta find it. Then he gave me Valentine (pronounced Valenteen) stuff.

All I can say, Mexicans are awesome cooks.

[THE EDJ]

That took WAY too long to come up.

Sad, but cheap story, I haven't gone through a 6pk of beer yet. I've been going through the beer thread and I've come to decide I need to walk across the street and get some New Castle and some Heineken.

You don't have to drink a lot (I don't), but when I do I like to enjoy it, which why you will always find an assortment of various micro and craft brews in my fridge.

Other kitchen must-haves:
A good heavy frying pan (doubles as a means for self defence)
A big bottle of hot sauce (it goes on everything, my favorite is Tapatio if you can find it)
Cattle Boys BBQ sauce (best BBQ sauce ever)
A good spice rack (that comes stocked!)
Epicurious.com (because good recipes)
Bacon (because bacon)

[RedndWhite]

You don't have to drink a lot (I don't), but when I do I like to enjoy it, which why you will always find an assortment of various micro and craft brews in my fridge.

Other kitchen must-haves:
A good heavy frying pan (doubles as a means for self defence)
A big bottle of hot sauce (it goes on everything, my favorite is Tapatio if you can find it)
Cattle Boys BBQ sauce (best BBQ sauce ever)
A good spice rack (that comes stocked!)
Epicurious.com (because good recipes)
Bacon (because bacon)

Guess its my classmates bothering me (some of dem have gone through 4 or 5 flats O.o )

Where would one find that Cattle Boys BBQ sauce? I've heard that name before, so I'd like to give'r a shot.

I thought of bacon, 5 packs of the stuff, from me. My roommate, he brought 3 packs.

[snakeman]

5 packs of bacon and 8 litres of milk a week?! If you're not 300 lbs you're gonna be soon