Simple Kitchen Equipment

The Secret to a Clutter-Free Kitchen

Before I discovered the whole concept of minimalism, my kitchen was in a bad way.

As someone who writes about cooking for a living, you can imagine all the utensils and appliances I had collected over the years.

My drawers wouldn’t shut.

My cupboards were overflowing.

It was time for a change…

What did I do?

In short I had a big clean out. I went through everything.

The things I used and loved found new homes. The things I knew I hadn’t used in the last year were donated to charity or sold online. And the in between things were put in quarantine in the garage. To be revisited.

It was so much fun. And so freeing to work in my new spacious kitchen.

That was over 10 years ago. And the good news is my kitchen today is still pretty much always clutter-free.

What’s the secret to a clutter-free kitchen?

Well there are a few things that work for me. As you read through, if something doesn’t resonate with you just move on to the next idea.

1. Allocate a designated dumping space.

My Irishman is a self proclaimed ‘maximiser’. He loves things and they tend to follow him into the house at an alarming rate.

So rather than fight it, I’ve learned accept. We have one cupboard in the kitchen designated to my Irishman’s gadgets. So I just pop things in there as they appear. My kitchen stays clutter-free and he knows where to look on an ongoing basis. Everyone is happy.

For larger items, I move them into his office (luckily it’s right next to the kitchen).

2. Do it now.

This is a tip I got from Gretchin Reubin’s fabulous book, ‘The Happiness Project’. I find it helpful for keeping the whole house clutter-free. When I notice something that needs putting away I’ve trained myself to ‘do it now’.

It’s amazing how quickly you can get on top of the clutter with this one simple idea.

At first I had to make a conscious effort and literally say ‘do it now’ to myself but now it happens automatically.

3. Find a home for everything.

Unless you use something every day, it shouldn’t be stored on your kitchen counters. My exceptions for this are my air fryer and ice cream machine but I’ve decided these are worth it. It’s also helpful to think where you will keep something before you buy it. There have been things I’ve had the urge to get but have refrained when I couldn’t think of where I would keep them.

4. Edit.

Always ask yourself before you buy or when something new finds it’s way into the kitchen. ‘Do we really need this?’

By always being mindful of the things you allow into your life you can avoid the natrual human tendency towards ‘clutter creep’.

5. Keep an ongoing charity box.

If I’m not sure of the answer to question 4 or the answer is no, the item goes straight into our charity box in the shed. Then every 6 months or so I donate everything that’s remained in the box.

Occasionally I’ll change my mind about an item and it will come back into the house. But mostly this stepping stone makes it easier to let go of non essentials.

6. Have a big clean out from time to time.

Even though I’ve been following ideas 1 to 5 for over a decade, there are still things in my kitchen I know we could do without. So every now and then when I’m feeling inspired, or overwhelmed, I treat myself to a big clean out.

It doesn’t have to be the whole kitchen at once. Usually I take it one shelf or drawer at a time.

7. Try a 30-Day Challenge.

I personally haven’t done this but if you’re more a fan of a baby steps approach to change, this idea may be your best bet.

Just commit to getting of / letting go of one thing a day for 30-days. And for bonus points get a loved one to do it with you so you have the added incentive.

AND…

Remember there’s no one right path to becoming clutter-free, it’s up to you to find what works best for you. Enjoy the journey!

Kitchen Equipment Absolute Essentials

Just as a talented photographer can take great photos with any old camera, I really believe that the same is true of cooks and kitchen equipment.

So PLEASE don’t feel like you need to rush out and buy a heap of new equipment to help you become a better cook. It will cost you a lot of money and really the only way to become a better cook is to practice… get into the kitchen and just try things.

That being said, good quality equipment can make life easier and more pleasurable.

So here are my list of absolute kitchen equipment essentials to give you a place to start…

General Kitchen Essentials

This list is assuming that you’re not planning on baking OR entertaining. Just cooking for you and your family. If you’re a baker or entertainer then you might want to consider adding items from the second list below…

1. sharp knife

Cooking without a sharp knife is no fun for anyone. Investing in a good cooks knife is the first purchase to make.

2. chopping board

Nothing fancy, but big enough to be able to chop a whole bunch of kale is perfect. For carnivores, having another plastic chopping board to use for raw meat is beneficial but not critical.

3. medium frying pan with lid

Make sure the sides are high enough so you could make a small batch of soup if you feel the urge. No other pot required! Best to get one with ovenproof handles so you can start cooking on the stove top and then finish things off in the oven.

4. a shallow bowl per person

A shallow bowl is most versatile for eating pretty much everything. No plates required!

5. cutlery for each person

You could get by with a set of chopsticks and a spoon or a knife, fork and spoon. Whatever works best for you.

6. a glass per person

A large tumbler for water. And for wine drinkers allow yourself a nice wine glass as well.

7. can opener / can opener

You might be able to get away without these. However if you find yourself buying cans that aren’t self opening or wine bottled with corks, then you’ll need these.

Baking & Entertaining Essentials

1. big appliances

A dishwasher (unless you are some zen master dishwashing fan), an oven (preferably electric fan-forced), a stove top (preferably conduction or gas) and fridge with a freezer.

2. pots

If I was being super minimalist I could limit my pots to just one – my 28cm cred enamel coated cast iron Le Creuset. It’s perfect for everything from boiling pasta to slow cooking a batch of lamb shanks. I can’t tell you how much I love it.

But only having one saucepan can be very limiting if you want to boil some spuds for mash to go with your lamb shanks so I think it’s reasonable to have another pot.

I have two smaller le creuset pots (20cm and 24cm) and a very small (2 cup) stainless steel saucepan that I use for warming milk and poaching eggs. And then a very large stock pot (the largest one I could buy at the time) for making bone broth, stock, kombucha tea and yoghurt. Or if I’m cooking for a big crowd.

3. roasting pan

You really only need one, but I actually have 6 (not very minimalist!). My favourite ones are the while enamel pans that came in a set of 3. These can also be used for dishes like lasagne or moussaka saving the need to invest in a separate dish. I also have 2 rimmed baking trays that came with my oven.

You can also use your roasting pan to bake scones or cookies – saving you buying a separate cookie sheet. However if you bake a lot of cookies, I have 2 cookies sheets which are useful for fitting more cookies in the oven.

4. whisk

For egg whites or whipping cream. Although serious bakers should consider investing in a stand mixer such as a Kitchen Aid to make life much easier.

5. spatula / egg lift

For getting food out of the frying pan (more versatile than tongs I find).

6. microplane grater

For anything from chocolate to cheese or for finely grating nuts.

7. strainer

For draining veggies or pasta.

8. loaf pan

In terms of cake tins, a loaf pan is the bare minimum I could get by with. It can be used for loaves of bread, any type of cake or even making terrines. I did toy with including a tart tin but you could just make a rustic crostata without one.

9. digital kitchen scales

Anyone who even thinks about baking once and a while should invest in a set of digital kitchen scales. The are fairly inexpensive these days and are so much more accurate and not to mention quicker than messing around with cups and spoons. Non bakers could probably do without.

Kitchen Equipment Nice-to-Haves

1. knife sharpener

While you could outsource your knife sharpening, I highly recommend investing in a set of Furi sharpening fingers – the easiest and most effective sharpening system I’ve ever used.

2. an electric kettle

I was tempted to put this in the essentials but you can always boil water in a saucepan so I resisted. Brilliant for cups of tea and boiling water for pasta etc when you’re in a hurry. For non-tea drinkers with lots of time to spare it’s not worth it.

3. a food processor or stick blender

You can live without one but they can make life a lot easier – and make purees possible. These days I use my stick blender for making everything from mayonnaise to pesto.

The food processor takes up much more space but is excellent for slicing or grating large amounts of vegetables or cheese. Or for making cauliflower rice.

4. a stock pot

I love homemade stock and really enjoy having a big pot on the simmer while I do other things on a lazy Sunday afternoon. It also comes in handy when cooking for a crowd. If you’re not a stock maker, you can easily live with a normal large saucepan.

5. utensils

If I don’t have tongs I use a normal fork or a spatula (egg flip) to turn things but tongs can be useful especially for the BBQ when you don’t want to puncture your meat. A vegetable peeler can make things a heap quicker but I tend to leave the skins on which is why I’ve left it in the nice-to-have sections. A good veg peeler can also take the place of a mandoline for cutting fine ribbons for vegetables.

I’m a big fan of lemon zest. While you can use a microplane to do the job, I prefer the clean little strips you get from a lemon zester. Serving spoons are a more civilized option for when you have guests, although not critical as you could always get people to use their own cutlery or even better their fingers.

6. serving platters

I’m a fan of serving things in the middle of the table so everyone can help themselves but this isn’t essential as you could always serve straight from the frying pan or pot.

7. water filter

Unless you are lucky enough to have your own rain water tank, a water filter is an economical and environmentally friendly alternative to buying bottled water.

8. salad spinner

Years ago I would have included a salad spinner in the essentials, but these days there are so many prewashed leaves available you could easily get by without one. This does limit the types of leaves you can use so for anyone who is serious about their salad, I’d recommend investing in a spinner.

9. storage canisters

For years I just stored everything in its original packaging with a rubber band or a peg to seal but there was always the odd moth infestation that kinda grossed me out so I invested in glass canisters. My favourites are these ones from Ikea. Not only do they make my pantry look more stylish, they keep ingredients fresher and protect from pesky moths.

10. containers for leftovers

You could pop foil over your plate or leave leftovers in the saucepan but this could be a pain when you want to cook something the next day. I have a few Pyrex dishes with plastic lids which I love for many reasons.

They look good, they seal properly so you can be sure your lunch will make it to work, they are glass so you don’t have to worry about plastic leeching into your food AND they are oven proof so you can pop them straight into the oven to reheat things. And they’re freezable too. Brilliant.

11. cake tins etc

I included the loaf pan in the critical list, but when it comes to nice-to-haves, I could cull my tin collection down to a 24cm (9in) round cake tin with a removable base and a 28cm (11in) tart tin with removable base. Muffin lovers are allowed a muffin pan.

12. a BBQ

As an Australian, I’m really tempted to include a barbie in the essentials but I have managed to live without one from time to time. We actually have two. My Irishman’s Kamado Joe charcoal BBQ and a gas burner with a cast iron griddle plate that I use for weeknight BBQing. The gas burner also doubles as a heat source for my wok.

13. mandoline / spiralizer

I love my v-slicer for making shaved vegetable salads. Like this shaved cabbage. You can also use it for shaving vegetables to make alternatives to pasta, however I now use my spiralizer for things like that.

If you’re a low carb fan or just want to eat more veggies, a sprializer is worth investing in for spiralized zucchini noodles alone.

14. slow cooker

I bought my slow cooker for slow cooking meat which we then barbeque. Brilliant for things like brisket and pork shoulder.

I also use it for steaming anything I want to steam. And for cooking my chickpeas and beans.

I occasionally use it for a weeknight meal, but because I work from home if I’m doing a slow cooked dish, I generally prefer the superior flavour of the oven.

15. air fryer
My Irishman got our air fryer a few years ago and then decided he liked the results of his oven chip more. So it spent some time out in the shed. Then a few months ago one of my Joyful Cooking students requested some air fryer recipes so I found a space in the kitchen and haven’t looked back. I’m now finding it’s my go-to over using the oven for quick weeknight dinners.

16. ice cream machine

It’s no secret that I LOVE my ice cream. And for years I was happy making luscious creamy ice cream without a machine. But last year I decided to treat my Irishman to one for his birthday and I’ve pretty much made ice cream once or twice a week since then.

17. stand mixer
Guess what Santa is (hopefully) bringing me this Christmas! Definitely not something you need unless you’re seriously into baking.

Kitchen Equipment Things I Avoid

1. microwave oven

I’ve gone with and without a microwave over the years and I’ve decided that while it can be helpful for defrosting things at the last moment and possibly melting chocolate, that’s not enough to justify all the space they take up. I haven’t had a microwave since November ’08 and haven’t missed it one bit. But if you’re using yours every day by all means give it pride of place.

2. knife sets

While they can look totally styling, and it can be handy to have a couple of good knives in the house if there’s more than one of you cooking at a time – there aren’t many people that actually need 7 knives of varying sizes. Save your money and invest in one excellent sharp cooks knife for each cook in the house and spend the rest on a good sharpening system – like the furi fingers. If you’re a fan of rustic sourdough loaves, a bread knife is the only other one you’ll need.

3. bread machine

This trend should be well and truly past but I can’t imagine there are many people out there who actually get much use out of their bread machine. If you have an oven and a pair of strong arms to knead you have everything you need to make excellent bread – and it won’t be in a weird square tall loaf shape.

4. rice cooker

OK OK. If you’re cooking rice once a week or more – skip this point. But for the rest of us what’s wrong with a good saucepan with a lid.

5. pasta maker

I am guilty here. I go through phases making pasta but it’s never more than once every 6-12 months. If I had my time again I’d be struggling to justify my shiny, Italian designed pasta machine. Fresh pasta is pretty readily available to buy now and it’s not that expensive. If I feel like making ravioli I could always use chinese wanton wrappers or cut down some fresh store bought lasagne sheets to size. And if I really wanted to channel my inner Italian nonna – I could always use a rolling pin or make something designed to be formed by hand.

6. toasted sandwich press

When I was in college I had a little Breville toasted sandwich maker in my room and pretty much used it every day. I found that there was usually something in the uni dining room that could be half edible if put between a couple of slices of bread and given a whirl in the ‘jaffel’ maker. Roasted vegetables were a big favourite. I’d also use it to ‘fry’ an egg on the odd occasion. Since then I’ve hardly used one. If I want to make a toasted sandwich I employ my trusty frying pan and cook one side at a time, squashing down as I go. I find that toasted sandwiches may take a little longer this way but are just as delicious – even a little crispier because the steam is escaping as you cook – not being trapped.

7. any other ‘single purpose’ small appliances

Juicers, deep fryers, hot dog warmers, popcorn makers, milkshake machines, chocolate ‘fountains’. No explanation needed really.

8. wok

I dis own a wok and loved it. But these days I use my large frying pan for stir frys. Of course, if you are cooking lots of Asian food a wok might be a better option than a frying pan. Buy a cheap carbon steel wok – this is the one situation where the cheap option is much better!

9. griddle pan

Before I had a BBQ I got myself one of those cool cast iron pans with the ridges in the middle. I know some people swear by them but I always found myself with a kitchen full of smoke waving a tea towel in front of the the fire detector. I’m pretty sure I didn’t use the griddle pan ever again once I had the BBQ option. Sold the poor thing on ebay. Great decision.

10. saucepan sets

I used to have a 3 saucepan set with a matching pasta cooker sized pot and a larger stockpot. HOwever they were never the right size. So I got rid of them. I think you’re much better off buying saucepans individually so you only have the ones you love and need.

11. cake tins and tart shells in every shape and size

Along with little ramekin-like pots, and white plates and wine glasses this is probably my weakest link in the minimalist kitchen.

12. anything that is only to be used on ‘special’ occasions

I grew up with multiple dinner sets and crystal glasses that were only used on a handful of occasions. Life is too short people. If it’s good enough for Christmas day it should be good enough for a random rainy Tuesday.

13. mortar & pestle

Call me a mad scientist but I loved owning a mortar & pestle as much as I love saying ‘mortar’ and ‘pestle’. The truth is that it mostly used to hold the matches and didn’t get used often – so I got rid of mine.

14. anything purely ornamental

Useful kitchen equipment can be beautiful and decorative in its own right – I love my jar of stainless steel utensils sitting on the windowsill. But it’s a working display.

15. expensive coffee machines

When we moved to the country and would no longer be in walking distance of my favourite cafe, I was fully planning to invest in a proper coffee machine and grinder. Luckily I discovered the Aeropress before laying out thousands of dollars and giving up all that bench space.

16. single use utensils

Apple corer, egg frying rings, lemon juicer, nut cracker, strawberry dehuller… there are thousand upon thousands of little kitchen gadgets that may make life a little easier every now and then but in the scheme of things aren’t worth the clutter. Although I do own (and love) me cherry pitter!

17. electric carving knife

My mum gave me one years ago but, I found I usually couldn’t be bothered digging through the drawer to find the blades and the base and put it all together and just use my cooks knife to carve.

18. multiple sizes of wine glasses

Sure, it can be nicer to drink white wine from a smaller glass, or even go crazy with different shapes for different grape varieties – fun for a restaurant but not essential at home. I’m on the path to having a set of champagne flutes (just because I’m a big sparkling fan and drinking it out of normal wine glasses just isn’t the same) and a set of wine glasses that are on the bigger red wine side but I still have some stray white glasses but their days are numbered. I’m looking at a dozen of each because I sometimes have that many guests but you could just have enough for each wine drinking member of the household.

19. paella pans

They look so cute, but seriously, unless you are Spanish or desperately trying to become so, a large frying pan will do the trick.

20. tajine dishes
I used to have a whole set of tajine dishes I picked up in Morocco but haven’t missed them once since I donated them. I now make my tajines in my Le Creuset dish and they’re still just as delicious.

Your Home Play

1. Make the decision to kit out your kitchen with quality not quantity.

2. If you don’t have a good quality knife, make a plan to invest in one when you can afford it.

3. Decide which lessons from this training would be the most beneficial for you to take one. And get a plan to make it happen!

4. Share your insights in the comments below…