How to Stock a Small Kitchen with Everything You Need
Even if you have a small kitchen and a small budget, you can still save money by stocking it efficiently.
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You Will Need
- Basic pantry staples
- Multi-purpose cookware
Steps
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Step 1
Start with the basics
Start with your pantry. Buy only what you think you'll use on a regular basis. Look at the ingredients of your favorite dishes in cookbooks and see which items show up the most.
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If you're a beginning cook, stock up on a few basic spices and condiments to experiment with flavors.
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Step 2
Acquire pots and pans
Choose pots and pans. A large, aluminum-core skillet and a preseasoned cast-iron skillet cover searing, sauteing, and frying, and can go from stovetop to oven. A sturdy saucepan serves as the perfect pot for sauces, rice, and veggies, while a stockpot handles pasta and soup. For roasting and baking, pick up a jellyroll pan.
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Stack pots and pans inside each other for storage, or just keep them on the stove if storage space is at a premium.
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Step 3
Acquire utensils
Cover the utensil basics: a wooden spoon and a heatproof spatula, a sturdy spatula for flipping, a pair of tongs, a ladle, a rasp grater, a vegetable peeler, and a whisk. A chef's knife can handle the work of several specialty knives.
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Step 4
Limit appliances
Be selective with appliances. How much do you cook, and what can you do by hand? A toaster oven takes up little space but is a great multi-tasker. If you drink coffee every morning, consider a single-cup maker.
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Step 5
Dishes and flatware
Unless you entertain often, four settings of basic dishes, glasses, and flatware should do the trick. Save the espresso cups and oyster forks for when you get a bigger place!
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Did you know? In 2008, Russian archaeologists unearthed Stone Age utensils made of bone and decorated with geometric patterns that were likely considered magical by their creators.
