A Kitchen On The Cheap

The New York Times on the bare minimum one needs to provision a kitchen - for $300.

In Toronto, you could go to :

• Nikolaou

• Nella

• Dinetz

The list:

• 8-inch, plastic-handle stainless alloy chef’s knife for $10
• Instant-read thermometer $5
• 3 stainless steel bowls $5
• Sturdy tongs: $3.50
• a sturdy sheet pan
• plastic cutting board
• Paring knife $3
• Japanese mandoline for $25 (for thin, even slices or a real julienne)
• $4 can opener
• vegetable peeler
• colander
• a small, medium and large cast-aluminum saucepan (total: about $30) - just not the awful wafer thin sets of stainless or aluminum ones sold in big-box stores.
• medium nonstick cast aluminum pan (10-inch; $13)
• a large steep-sided, heavier duty steel pan (14-inch; $25)
• single lida skimmer (for removing dumplings or gnocchi)
• a slotted spoon
• a heat-resistant rubber spatula (replacing the classic wooden spoon)
• a bread knife (good for crusty loaves and ripe tomatoes)
• a big whisk
• food processor (12-cup capacity)
• salad spinner
• Microplane grater
• coffee and spice grinder
• An immersion blender
  
• A whetstone or a decent steel

What not to Get!

• BREAD MACHINE You can buy mediocre bread easily enough, or make the real thing without much practice.
• MICROWAVE If you do a lot of reheating or fast (and damaging) defrosting, you may want one. But essential? No. And think about that counter space!
• STAND MIXER Unless you’re a baking fanatic, it takes up too much room to justify it. A good whisk or a crummy handheld mixer will do fine.
• BONING/FILLETING KNIVES Really? You’re a butcher now? Or a fishmonger? If so, go ahead, by all means...
• WOK Counterproductive without a good wok station equipped with a high-B.T.U. burner.
• STOCKPOT The pot you use for pasta will suffice until you start making gallons of stock.
• PRESSURE COOKER It’s useful, but do you need one? No.
• ANYTHING MADE OF COPPER More trouble than it’s worth, unless you have a pine-paneled wall you want to decorate.
• RICE COOKER Yes, if you eat rice twice daily. Otherwise, no.
• COUNTERTOP CONVECTION OVEN, ROTISSERIE, OR “ROASTER” Only if you’re a sucker for late-night cooking infomercials.