Setting up a kitchen

So, you’re wanting to setup your first kitchen with some quality items? This list is a good place to start!

Knives

You could get by with only a chef’s knife, but I’d highly recommend getting a ~150cm petty knife to go with a 210cm chef’s. You could also switch the chefs to a santoku if you do more vegetable work than meat.

Budget

• Chef’s: Victorinox Chef’s $75
• Paring: Victorinox Paring $10

Upgrade*

• Chef’s: Tojiro DP Chef’s $150 | OR | Santoku: Tojiro DP Santoku $120
• Petty: Tojiro DP Petty $90

No-fuss Enthusiast*

• Chef’s: Takamura R2 Gyoto $280
• Petty: Takamura VG10 Petty $150

* If you’re going with any of the “Upgrade” or “Enthusiast” picks, definitely pick up a quality Japanese whetstone like the Imanishi Bester 1000 $99.

Finally, get the largest, thickest chopping board you can find and store, preferably end-grain wood, but cross-grain (standard) wood is fine too.

Dan’s Collection

[Maker | Steel | Style | Length]

• Takamura | R2 | Gyoto | 210mm
• Tojiro DP | VG-10 | Petty | 150mm
• Moritaka | Aogami Super | Long Nakiri | 180mm (my personal favourite)

Must Haves:

• Prep Bowls $22
• 26cm Fry Pan, Carbon Steel $50 (Wait for a sale)
•  If you have gas, then a carbon steel wok is amazing $40
• Cast iron frying pan $25
• Dutch Oven $35
• Small stainless steel pot
• Scale $10
• Pyrex Measuring Jug
• Teaspoon/Tablespoon measures
• Wooden spoon/spatula – Won’t scratch the dutch oven.
• Fish spatula $20 – This is one of the most useful kitchen items and pretty much the only thing I use to flip meat.

Extras:

• Cup measures (if you bake)
• Stainless steel stock pot
• Sieve $20
• Tongs $8 – I find I can get by with the wooden spoon and spatula most of the time, but tongs can be useful.
• Ladle
• Peeler $10 – If you do a lot of veg prep, a peeler can be handy.

In progress…