1. A GOOD KNIFE SET - this includes a large straight blade, a large serrated, a paring knife, a few "steak" knives. this isn't optional. seriously, you can hurt your wrists and cut yourself if you use dull, cheap knives! invest in a quality set because it will last you so much longer (thus wasting less), and you'll save time and pain because the knives do a lot of the work for you. if you don't know what to look for, try to find a "forged" blade as opposed to a "stamped" blade. they are stiffer, are often more balanced in weight. for whatever reason, stamped blades almost always come on wooden handles, so steer clear of those.
i recommend:
cutco.com
wusthof.com
fdick.com
fallkniven.com
swissarmy.com -> cutlery
jahenckels.com
wessermeister.com
ontarioknife.com/oldhickory.html
2. A TOASTER OVEN - regular toasters don't allow you to toast whole sandwiches, mess with your food mid-toast, or make shrinky-dinks! and to put something small in an oven is a huge waste of non-renewable resources. you can find one at a thrift store for cheap. see if you can plug it in to test it before you buy.
3. A GOOD SET OF POTS AND PANS. some people flip out (pun intended?) about teflon, but i feel like it's... ok?? i mean, as long as you don't put the pan on super high heat or use metal utensils on it, the teflon won't flake off into your food, or so it seems. so, for the sake of convenience, i condone teflon thus far. i can be swayed. anyway, you should have 1 big and 1 small pan. as for pots, you can survive on 2. in fact, it's more efficient to use a properly sized pot-- if you are cooking something small in a big pot, it takes more gas to heat the pot and cook your food. make sure they have well fitted lids and plastic handles! if you have/get metal handles, i recommend sewing an insulated cover because those things get HOT. a dishcloth works, too, just a little inconvenient in the heat of the moment (pun intended!). either way, be careful not to set the towel/cozy on fire.
4. A WOODEN SPOON - won't get hot when stirring a hot pot, the long handle prevents burns, safe on teflon, and easy to clean. i don't have to tell you not to put it in the dishwasher because you shouldn't be using one anyway.
5. A RUBBER SPATULA - good for scraping bowls clean (less waste and cleaning!), mixing, and stirring. if you're using it on a stove, make sure it's something that's been on low heat or cooling (heated plastic is toxic!) like rice.
6. CERAMICS - one of everything: a big and small plate, a pasta plate (plate/bowl hybrid), a 1/2 cup ramekin or bowl, a 1-cup bowl, a larger bowl, a mixing bowl. ceramic, because plastic can't be microwaved and is weaker. ceramic will last. they are never in short supply at thrift stores and asian markets.
7. SPICES - essential for a cheap/veg diet. they make any food taste good (within reason). though it's way cheaper to buy them in bulk, they're harder to keep organized that way. try labeling tupperware and/or putting a riser in the back of the cabinet so no one gets neglected. more on how to use them later.
8. A FOOD PROCESSOR - if you're lucky you'll find one at the thrift, but if not, the small kitchenaid ones (generally for 1 person) are $20 and have very few, easy-to-clean parts. only drawback is it's new and made by a giant, irresponsible corporation. any suggestions for alternatives? this thing is an absolute must! hummus, smoothies, soup... mmm... blenders, though easier to come by, don't yield the same results, especially when you're making thicker stuff like hummus.
9. A STOCK OF BULK GRAINS, LEGUMES, NUTS, SEEDS - they last indefinitely, so if you leave for long enough that you'd be coming back to an empty kitchen, these staples will always be there for you. best place to get them is your local co-op or organic grocery. don't know what to get? try:
-brown/white/wild rice, amaranth, quinoa, cous cous (bulgur), oats, grits, pasta, millet, barley. *remember, whole grains = healthier = less processing = fewer fossil fuels used in production.
-black beans, chick peas/garbanzos, lentils, kidney beans, white/navy/canellini beans, pintos, black eyed peas, split peas, pigeon peas.
-almonds, peanuts, walnuts, cashews, pecans, pistachios, hazelnuts, chestnuts, brazil nuts, macadamias. you probably noticed these are generally pricey. i recommend, since a lot of corporate grocery stores have started carrying bulk foods, labeling them as peanuts and doing self-checkout.
-sesame, poppy, sunflower, pumpkin, flax.
10. LOTS OF CLOTH TOWELS - NEVER use paper towels again! find the less fluffy, more natural fiber (more absorbent) "tea" towels. these can be used to wipe messes, to pick up hot things, as insulators, and even outside the kitchen.
as for the built-in stuff, a good kitchen should have:
-AMPLE COUNTER SPACE - and keep it clear and clean! if you don't have much, you can build, borrow, barter, or buy one of those cutting board table things, just make sure the height is comfortable and it's stable enough to cut on safely.
-A WINDOW - seems silly or obvious but windowless kitchens exist! and they suck! aside from providing a natural light source, they're great for growing herbs, watching goings on, cooling pies, you know.
-LOTS OF RAISED CABINETS - putting things in cabinets keeps your stuff clean and when they're at eye-level they are less likely to get dingy or house mice. you can also attach things like toaster ovens to the bottom of them to free up counter space. HOWEVER, if you're short or messy (or both), raised cabinets can get disorganized fast. i recommend putting in additional shelves so everything's easier to see. if your kitchen doesn't have many, see if your landlord is willing to put more in or if s/he will let you build one. [anyone know how to build a cabinet? i'll post it!!]
-PLENTY OF DRAWERS - my current house has 1 drawer. ONE! it's a nightmare! with 11 people's stuff clogging it up, it's... ugh. having 2 or more drawers can, again, keep dust off your tools, free up counter space, and allows you to separate them by category. in my last house, the categories were: stuff that can hurt you, misc., wooden spoons & spatulas, eating utensils. if you don't have a lot of drawers, find a good place to put in some nails or hooks to hang stuff. or consider giving away a few things or putting repeats in a box outside the kitchen! i mean, how often do you use your pastry cutter? do you really need 4 bottle openers?
-A GAS STOVE - it's more efficient that electric because the flame is in direct contact with the pan, heating it more quickly, and COAL-FREE.
-A BRIGHT LIGHT - don't wanna hurt yourself! don't forget to use energy efficient bulbs! sometimes your dear landlord will pay for them; it's worth asking.
a few things outside the kitchen that i find absolutely necessary:
-A TOOL KIT - new or used, frankenstein or matching set, as long as they are good enough to get the job done, having tools comes in handy for someone who can't even really fix stuff! this includes but is not limited to: hammer, screwdriver (both types), adjustable wrench, set of allen wrenches, pliers, a few nails, good scissors, strong glue, rubber bands, exacto knife, sand paper, measuring tape.
-A SEWING MACHINE - like a good set of knives, it will last for so long and save you time, frustration, and money in the long run. for me, the best investment i've ever made. even though i don't buy clothes new, i've saved so much money by using clothes i already have to make different and/or better-fitting clothes. sewing is just a great skill to have. i bought a singer curvy with swiftsmart threading system and it's ridiculously easy! it runs about $300. with sewing machines, you get what you pay for, really. singers are great machines. if you're good with machines or like a challenge, feel free to try one of the vintage ones at a thrift store. or, if you can't afford it right now, ask your partner, best friend, sibling, or parent-- whoever you'll be around for a long time-- if they want to share the cost.
-MILK CRATES - seems obvious or silly, but these plastic baskets come in handy for everything. right now i have 6: 2 turned sideways on top of another as a book shelf, 2 stacked upside down as a chair, and 2 holding sewing supplies. they're the perfect size because no matter what you put in them, it won't be too heavy or awkward to carry when you're moving, then when you settle in, they're furniture! they can also be zip-tied together to make bigger shelves, a coffee table, stools, etc. procure them behind grocery stores and gas stations... but be slick about it-- look on the side of one and you'll see why.
-ALTERNATIVE CLEANING SUPPLIES - i'll elaborate on this later, but this includes white vinegar, baking soda, salt, soft rags (t-shirts), and scratchy ones. there's absolutely no need to spend money on crazy, harsh chemical cleaners, even the "natural" kind when these 3 things can clean just about anything.
what i ate yesterday:
1. pretzels, chips, hummus, sunflower seeds. total cost: $0.50 (1/4 bag of purchased pretzels, the rest dumpstered or given by roommate going on tour)
2. homegrown tomatoes and cucumber on everything bagel with cheese and hummus. total cost: $0.32 (1/2 purchased bagel, cheese given by roommate)
3. local peach! from a farm share delivery
4. tea concoction: green tea, ginseng, thé mariage noir, homegrown mint. total cost: free
5. homegrown tomatoes!
6. leftover rice with farm share cucumber, pickled ginger, coconut milk, red chili paste. total cost: ~$0.50 (ginger, coconut, chili paste purchased)
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