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Old 07-20-2003, 09:51 PM   #1 (permalink)
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Moving into an apartment - what will the kitchen need?

Hey all. I'm moving into my first apartment on August 15, and I want to know what I should stock up the kitchen with in terms of equipment and spices. At the moment I have a hodge-podge of pans and utensils from various relatives, and a complete (but rather cheap-looking) knife set that my grandparents gave me.

So what are the starting essentials for a young cook who doesn't want to subside on take-out and microwavable dinners?
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Old 07-21-2003, 06:29 AM   #2 (permalink)
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Location: Midwest
http://apartments.about.com/library/.../aa012901b.htm

I looked at this list for you and noticed it was a bit over-the-top for my tastes. I think you can make a nice go of it with less than this list recommends. There are other pages for basic pantry stuff, that can be cut down significantly for just you.

On the flip side, this list is comprehensive and you can pick and choose what you need off it.

Good luck.

Last edited by gov135; 07-21-2003 at 06:31 AM..
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Old 07-21-2003, 07:43 AM   #3 (permalink)
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Damnit I love this board.
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Old 07-21-2003, 10:08 AM   #4 (permalink)
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Get a decent knife sharpener for the cheap ass knives. I like the two position ceramic rod system that puts a 45 degree hone followed by a 22 degree hone.

When you can afford it, get a professional knife. You will be amazed at the simple joy of a very sharp blade.
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Old 07-21-2003, 11:32 AM   #5 (permalink)
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Location: Wellington, New Zealand
Decent *wood* chopping board. Plastic breeds infections, a good wood one is much healthier.

Herbs and spices will depend on what you like to cook. For me, basil, rosemary, oregano are staples. Basil can be grown indoors in a pot easily enough if you want fresh - stick a plant on a windowsill in the kitchen and just pull leaves off when you need them. Keep it watered and don't denude it.

Good stocks of onions and cloves of garlic. Keep 'em in the dark and they'll last nicely.

Wine makes sauces better. Again, depending on the sauces, grab a cask of red and/or white wine. Casks are best because the wine can be a cheap wine, and a cask will keep indefinitely without becoming vinegar.
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Old 07-21-2003, 05:01 PM   #6 (permalink)
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Peetster nailed it on the head-a good knife will change how you feel about cooking. Get a non-serrated forged blade, and it will serve you well for many, many years. If not, remember you can't sharpen those 'ever-sharp' knives, as they're actualy micro serrated.

The rest of equipment I'd suggest depends on your budget, what you like to eat, and how many people you'll cook for most nights.
Assuming you cook for 1 most of the time, I'd say get a non-stick sauce pan and 12"-14" skillet, a cutting board is essential if you like veggies. For meat I've become really keen on these plastic cutting mats-quite cheap, use em 5-6 times and toss em. Get a casserole dish/pan of some sort, cheese grater, a strainer, some wooden spoons, some cheap stainless steel bowels of assorted sizes, and a sheet pan. Shop smart, shop s-mart, and you can pobably get most of it without the knife for 40-60 dollars. You should be able to make most things with that stuff, although it might be a pain in the ass not having enough pans to do everything at once. Also, don't make the same mistake that gets made over and over and over whenver someone gets their first apt: take care of your kitchen supplies.

Spices and the like are going to be completely dependent on what you like-I'd suggest taking a bit to look at what you like to eat, and go from there. The only pitfall I can think of here is vanilla-don't buy the imitation vanilla. ever. period.

Good luck in the new apt!
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Old 07-22-2003, 12:16 AM   #7 (permalink)
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Toaster Oven. Can't forget about the toaster oven.
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Old 07-22-2003, 06:32 PM   #8 (permalink)
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Location: University of Maryland
Where should I go to hunt for a good knife? I'll probably be able to use most of what grandma gave me, but as an Eagle Scout I simply can't go on without the proper tooling.
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Old 07-22-2003, 06:58 PM   #9 (permalink)
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High end knives you'll probably need to go to a kitchen store. There are some really good deals on ebay at times, although I just browsed and didn't see anything outstanding tonight. Target, I think, carried a line of knives endorsed by martha stewert...never used one, but have heard they aren't terrible, and are well below the high end price tag.
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Old 07-22-2003, 07:00 PM   #10 (permalink)
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Forgot to mention how important it is to remember that a knife has two parts, the blade and the handle. For instance, I've got very long fingers and large hands in general, so a lot of so'called ergonomic handles are trash for me.
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Old 07-24-2003, 01:44 PM   #11 (permalink)
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Hrm... anyone know of any kitchen stores in the DC/Metro Area?
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Old 07-24-2003, 02:40 PM   #12 (permalink)
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Location: North East
I would reccomend haveing a good plate set, I know it sounds corny but a good dish set throws together any dinner night you have together.
I recommend Fiesta Ware.
They come in 1 plate mug and sm plate set, they are different colors (each set)
You can pick one or 2 sets of differnet colors and start your collection.
They are good quality and everyone loves them.
You can mix up the colors and such.

Also this will be expensive but I recomend a food processor.
It is a great tool if you want to eat healthy or save money in th elong run.
you can make recipes with cheap ingrediants using it.

So if a relative with some money is offering you a gift tell em you want that.

Also get a decent cutting board..
also for like 2 dollars you can get one of those wire cheese cutters with a handle.
Those are good because you can buy blocks of cheese for like 4-7 dollars and it comes out to a lot more cheese for the money then buying slices.
You can cut your own slices. (trust me it is worth it)

Get tooth pics...and I'll tell ya why.. one of the cheapest but yummy hor dourves to make guests is ham scallion and creamcheese roll ups.
getting some coldcut ham, cut it in strips, mix the creamcheese and scallions in a bowl mix it good. then take the mix and place in middle of the ham strips and roll. use th etooth pics to hold together.
I love those damn thngs and they make great finger food for guests pretty cheap!

when i think of more stuff ill post it for ya. I have to eat dinner now lol.
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Old 07-24-2003, 05:14 PM   #13 (permalink)
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Location: North East
Alos I wanted to say I loved to cook when I had my first apartment, somehow it made the whole apartment worthwhile.
Now my wife does most of the cooking,
But I remember loving to cook, I used to cook all of my meals.
I remember using the oven a lot.
Make sure you have a good cookie sheet, no not to make cookies but for heating up french fries and home made pizza bagels and such.
Also I had a great supply of girls coing over with my first apartment. You sound like you arte younger, girls your age love to have a guy cook for them, thats where the fiesta ware from above comes handy.
SOmething that a lot of people don't realize but a good steak is a great aphrodisiac, no i cannot explain it, you wouldn t think it would be , but it works.
learn how to make a good steak practice on your self first lol.
And cheap wine,
I recomend Gato Negro its a cheap but very good Brazilian wine.
these little things at a young age will totaly keep your bed filled.

I'll feel stupid if you say your 30, if you are, you prolly know all this already sorry.

Oh!!!!!!!!!! another thing get a cool clock for your kitchen.

You will also need a strainer for pasta. and peas and such.

also if you think you will have times that you will be raaly financially strapped in the future get your self some cubbard stuffers.
Peanut butter, Jam etc.
everytime you go shopping always and I mean always pick up a box of basta.
You can usually find cheap ones for like 79cents.
I know you will be tempted but beware of powdered mac and cheese, YOU HAVE YOUR OWN APARTMENT , you deserve better, if anything get rama noodles and make sick recipes, anything is better then powdered mac and cheese.
I highly recommend Annies mac and cheese its good stuff.

adobe poultry seasonig is god and you can also use it in soups.

well ill post when i think of some more tips and shit..
good luck man
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Old 07-25-2003, 08:07 AM   #14 (permalink)
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I'm turning 21 in November, so all your advice is very much appreciated.

I'm already reasonably good at making a steak. I recently found a brand of portabello mushrooms and sauce called Phillips or something; all you have to do is microwave them (it says you can also saute them, but having done both the microwaving creates a far more powerful flavor) and serve. They make a great bed to put a nicely grilled steak on.
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Old 07-25-2003, 08:48 AM   #15 (permalink)
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My knife of choice is the Global 5" Chef's Utility Knife.



Shop anywhere you want for them, but I found a decent price here: http://www.metrokitchen.com/store/d-...&search=glchfs
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Old 07-25-2003, 01:12 PM   #16 (permalink)
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Depending on your budget...Get a set of Henkel or equivalent knives(12" chefs, 4"-5" paring, 12" serated bread, a stiff and a flexible filet knife)...A sharpening Stone and a wand. These knives will last you a lifetime...Make sure the rivets on the handle go straight thru the tine of the blade. Most good knives are stamped Made in Soligon Germany.

Next get a set of pots...Do not buy "nonstick"...Less expensive pans are made of spun aluminun and work just fine (they do need to be "broken in", that is the first time you use them you need to heat a little oil in them at very high temperature and this seals the aluminum.

If you can spend more buy the "calaphon brand"...Created for chefs, they are excellent heavy bottom pots that distribute the heat evenly(these are considered middle of the road price wize)...You need a 12"-10" saute, 10 qt pot, 4qt sause pan, 8qt all purpose chef pan, and a roasting pan with rack. If you bake you will also need cookie sheets and a few cake pans.
Tea pot or coffee pot?

Buy a colander, short and long tongs, a few wooden spoons of various lenths, long handled fork and a few ladles (2oz & 4oz)a few metal long handled spoons(a solid, a slotted and one with holes), two turners (one longer for fish etc. and a normal size one for eggs and burger sized foods)a potatoe peeler, a small and a long whisk, a cheese slicer, a strainer, a potatoe masher, a set of measuring spoons, a set of measuring cups, a small & a larger bowl scraper, a few metal bowls for mixing...two can openers (one for pucturing the tops, the other for removing the tops)...also a wine bottle opener

Buy plates etc. at garage sales or clearance sales(eclectic is in!)...Buy the "Joy of Cooking" Get saran wrap, aluminum foil, zip lock bags, some cheese cloth(this keeps the spices and herbs from getting into your soup or gravy)
Spices should always be kept in jars with tight lids...most better brands already come this way, fresh is always better.

This is a good start for a kitchen, much can be bought on line or restaurant supply houses...Good equiptment lasts a lifetime and makes cooking fun.
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Old 07-25-2003, 04:42 PM   #17 (permalink)
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If you have a lot of cash to spend, get a set (or just one) of ceramic knives. A 4.5 inch blade will cost you about 40 bucks but

1. They look like toys until you feel the hone--these are the sharpest knives you will ever have.

2. Ceramic is harder than steel (7 on the mohs scale to about 5 for steel) so it will stay sharp for a long time.

<img src="http://www.kyoceratycom.com/FineCeramics/images/PIknives_ming.gif">

Kyocera (yes, the cell phone company) sells them on the website.
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Old 07-26-2003, 12:11 AM   #18 (permalink)
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Rice cooker. Whatever meal you're going to cook, you'll need a starch. Rice is cheap, and you don't need to peel it, but if you cook it on the stovetop you have to keep an eye on it, and I don't know how many pans I've burned over the years. Rice cookers are near fool-proof, plus you can make a bunch of rice in advance and heat it as necessary for whatever meal you're doing. You can get one for under $30.

I like to keep a lot of pre-cooked rice around for fast meals -- you can heat it and throw any leftovers or canned stuff you have on top: chili, beans, meat, veggies. You can always do fried rice in a hurry, or make a quick veggie stirfry and throw it on the rice. It's not high-class cooking, but it's good Bachelor Chow.
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Old 07-26-2003, 06:39 AM   #19 (permalink)
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Oh and a veggie steamer, is a good idea, you can get em for cheap. they go in the bottom of the pot.
The vegetables sit on the , while the water boils under them.
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Old 07-26-2003, 12:58 PM   #20 (permalink)
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Two words....Hot Sauce. That is all
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Old 07-26-2003, 01:58 PM   #21 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally posted by Peetster
My knife of choice is the Global 5" Chef's Utility Knife.
Ahh, Global knives. So pretty. So sharp.
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Old 07-29-2003, 04:03 PM   #22 (permalink)
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Location: Here and there and everywhere
You should get a George Foreman grill... I know it sounds stupid but you can make so many dishes on it plus you can have the grill feel.

And always, I MEAN ALWAYS, have a blender on hand.
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Old 07-29-2003, 06:55 PM   #23 (permalink)
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I'm getting a stovetop grill that covers the stove burners, or at least I was supposed to get one via Ebay.

Blender. Yeah, I need one of those.

Lemme guess; you're from TGW aren't you?
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Old 07-29-2003, 07:55 PM   #24 (permalink)
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Hey DR. I'm moving into an apartment too, so I'm very interested in this thread.

For a store, I'd recommend just going to Target. They'll have pretty good stuff pretty cheap.

If not, just go to your nearest mall and look around, as most'll have a kitchen/housewares place.
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Old 07-29-2003, 08:15 PM   #25 (permalink)
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I'm hitting up IKEA tommorrow with mom to get the basics (pots, pans, etc), and I'll prolly convince her to hit up Target and whatnot as well.
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Old 07-29-2003, 08:25 PM   #26 (permalink)
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Yeah, Ikea is definatly a great place. I forgot we have one in CP now...
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Old 07-29-2003, 08:33 PM   #27 (permalink)
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Location: somewhere....
A few good knives, a medium size pot with a cover, a frying pan, salt, pepper, bbq sauce, basil, garlic powder, and a microwave.... that'll get anyone by....

also, load up on Totino's frozen pizzas, usually about 4 for $5.... 9 minutes freezer to plate, then just fold it in half and eat, you don't even have to use a knife !!!
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Old 07-29-2003, 08:36 PM   #28 (permalink)
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Location: somewhere....
I also agree with the rice cooker above. You just turn it on before you head out , and when you get back, you have perfect rice. Great to set it before you go to the bars, once you are home, just pour some sauce on the rice and wolf it down... really reduces the hangover the next day !!!
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Old 07-29-2003, 08:45 PM   #29 (permalink)
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My goal is to get away from the typical frozen food/chinese takeout fare that I had in the dorms, and actually start enjoying some quality food. I love frozen pizza as much as the next guy, but can it really hold a candle to grilled sirloin on a bed of sauteed onions and marinated portabello mushrooms?
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Old 07-30-2003, 12:05 AM   #30 (permalink)
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I used to live off fast food and TV dinners. Then I got an apartment and was ecstatic about having my own kitchen, so I cooked steaks, pork chops, etc, etc. all the time. And it's cool that I learned how to cook. But then I got lazy and relapsed into getting takeout all the time.

I think I'm going to give a crock pot a try. Sounds appealing to dump a bunch of meat and stuff in there, go to work, and have a nice meal waiting when I get back.
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Old 08-02-2003, 12:29 PM   #31 (permalink)
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I just moved across the country where I knew NOONE and had a completely empty apartment. I moved with only what was in my small lil Mazda and so I had to buy all my kitchen type stuff when I got here.

Hope this helps ya a bit!

Appliances I have since purchased: George Foreman Grill (LOVE IT!!!) $20
rice cooker $12
blender $20
microwave $70

Other Crap I Bought (I don't remember prices on most of this...)
NICE knife set (I don't remember how much this cost...)
non-stick pan set $40 NEW @ Goodwill (trust me. GET NON-STICK. You will appreciate not ever having to scrub!!)
Cutting board - wood is best
Can Opener $12 (I got a really good quality one at Target - Michael Graves Design I believe it was)
Various utensils you KNOW you will use (I LOVE OXO brand - costs a bit more but the larger gripped handles rock)
Stainless-steel collander $8
Dishes $40 for 8 place setting (I'd say get cheap like I did because chances are the dishes you buy at 21 aren't the ones you'll like when you are older and/or married)
Glassware $15 (for a 30pack from Target)
Small NON-STICK cookie sheet $3 @ Big Lots (GREAT PLACE for just starting out...)
Pizza Pan
Ice Cube Trays if your freezer doesn't have an ice maker

Food Staples:
Vinegar
Flour
Sugar
Spice-rack (cheaper than individual spices....but who knows if you'll ever use celery salt!??)
Non-stick spray
Rice (for that rice cooker)
Salt & Pepper

And of course there's more stuff, but those are the immediate eseentials I got.

I highly reccomend the George Foreman Grill simply because you can make ANYTHING on it and all you have to do to clean it is gte a wet paper towel and wipe it down. Plus what takes 20 minutes to make on the stove takes 5. Seriously. I don't know how I've lived without it! (Dear god, I should be on the friggin infomercial!)

Last edited by ktthequeen; 08-02-2003 at 12:31 PM..
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Old 08-02-2003, 12:48 PM   #32 (permalink)
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Location: Here and there and everywhere
Just remember that when you cook stuff for yourself that you don't have to cut the recipe way down. Make the recipe for 2 or 4 and freeze the rest for lunches or snacks.... and yes I'm from TGW.
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Old 08-04-2003, 08:35 PM   #33 (permalink)
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how about a lodge 12" cast iron pan for 99% of stovetop work, and a wok for stir-frys and soups...

and a 10" teflon egg pan ONLY FOR EGGS, and never let soap touch any of them!
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Old 08-04-2003, 09:49 PM   #34 (permalink)
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I would have to list the essentials as: a good chef's knife (the rest of the set can wait till later, but buy an expensive henkels or wustof for the chef's knife, will serve you well), a cast iron wok (i do almost everything in mine, even non-asian), a set of cast iron pans (little bit of work to season, but three skillets for $15 is hard to beat and they last forever), and a rice cooker (if you get a decent one you can make rice or steam vegis in it). Other than that, just start teaching yourself to cook interesting things; if you want some italian, middle eastern, or asian recipes to impress a girl drop me an email ( kingmm@purdue.edu )
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Old 08-09-2003, 08:19 AM   #35 (permalink)
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Hey for the pots go to QVC and order a set of there pots. I really like them. As for the other stuff buy as you need...
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Old 08-09-2003, 10:10 AM   #36 (permalink)
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I'm not ready to drop down $100 for a chefs knife just yet; know any in the $20-$30 range that could serve me for a few years until I get my feet wet?
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