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How to Start a Kitchen
Considering it's been a good ten years now, I remember the day I moved into my first apartment exceptionally well. I was 19 years old, starting my second year at UC Santa Barbara, and my dad had driven me and my possessions down to the ramshackle adjoining college town of Isla Vista. We moved my boxes and furniture and clothes into the two-bedroom that I'd share with three friends for the next few years. Then we went to the grocery store.
Having lived my life thus far supported by my parents' stocked pantry or the mediocre bounty of the dining commons, I was startled to realize that I needed to begin a kitchen from scratch. I had most of the basic cooking implements I needed--a measuring cup, mixing bowls, wooden spoons, a cookie sheet, a cake pan, pots and pans for the stovetop--but I didn't have anything to actually cook.
We wound our way through the aisles of the supermarket, selecting and discarding items according to how necessary they seemed. While I got some things that I don't really consider necessities for my kitchen--Dad insisted that it was imperative that I purchase a cut-up chicken, even though I would go on to buy meat approximately five times in the following three years--mostly we agreed about what a new kitchen needs, and I left set up with a base supply.
Here are my lists of super-important kitchen ingredients, sorted by type.
Part I: Baking Goods
Part II: Dry Goods & Spices
Part III: Perishables
Part IV: The Pantry
(You can also download the complete list in .xls format. I promise it will not destroy your computer.)
My basic list will set you back around $100. (And seriously, it's totally magical that it adds up that way. I must have made a mistake.)
If you get the extended-list items as well, add another $83 for a total of $183.
And finally, I haven't figured in bevs, so the coffee, tea, whiskey, wine, and beer are all on you.
I would love to hear back from you about this list! What do you like? What's ridiculous? Which of your must-haves have I left out?
Let me know!
Having lived my life thus far supported by my parents' stocked pantry or the mediocre bounty of the dining commons, I was startled to realize that I needed to begin a kitchen from scratch. I had most of the basic cooking implements I needed--a measuring cup, mixing bowls, wooden spoons, a cookie sheet, a cake pan, pots and pans for the stovetop--but I didn't have anything to actually cook.
We wound our way through the aisles of the supermarket, selecting and discarding items according to how necessary they seemed. While I got some things that I don't really consider necessities for my kitchen--Dad insisted that it was imperative that I purchase a cut-up chicken, even though I would go on to buy meat approximately five times in the following three years--mostly we agreed about what a new kitchen needs, and I left set up with a base supply.
Here are my lists of super-important kitchen ingredients, sorted by type.
Part I: Baking Goods
Part II: Dry Goods & Spices
Part III: Perishables
Part IV: The Pantry
(You can also download the complete list in .xls format. I promise it will not destroy your computer.)
My basic list will set you back around $100. (And seriously, it's totally magical that it adds up that way. I must have made a mistake.)
If you get the extended-list items as well, add another $83 for a total of $183.
And finally, I haven't figured in bevs, so the coffee, tea, whiskey, wine, and beer are all on you.
I would love to hear back from you about this list! What do you like? What's ridiculous? Which of your must-haves have I left out?
Let me know!
Comments (7) · Post a New Comment
simon · Oh this is amazing. I'll report back on the pricing once I've acquired all this. Brilliant. Thank you thank you.
jessica · i think this is great. all the lists seem really complete!
lara · Thank you! Glad to hear it. No additions?
mct · I love that our pantry already has all of these things!
Liisa · Now I think you have to start compiling basic equipment lists.
ubergruber · This is great. I kept looking for something to add and couldn't find it. Although I think Olive Oil should be in the musts list. It is healthier than vegetable oil and way tastier. Also it can be used for salad dressings!
lara · I hear you on the olive oil. However, my thinking was that if you're going to have just one oil, basic veg is more versatile. You can't use olive oil in most cakes.
