All, Kitchen + Bar, Living
The Beginner’s Guide to Setting Up Your Kitchen
After college, we found ourselves moving around almost every year or so. New leases. New apartments. New cities.
And, while our mom (shoutout to Andrea) always shared the importance of hacking a well-stocked kitchen, we didn’t always get it together in time.
But, there are few things more frustrating than getting halfway through a recipe before realizing you don’t have a key ingredient or essential tool. And, so, we made it our mission to follow our mom’s example by stocking up on all the necessities. We’ll break it down for you.
Pack the Pantry
If you’re anything like us, your weekday schedule is probably packed. It’s not always easy to find time to go grocery shopping and prepare meals every night. (That’s why we’re a big fan of meal prep.) But, there’s plenty you can do if your pantry is well stocked with nonperishables. Here are a few of our favorites:
- Oats
- Flour
- Sugar
- Coffee and/or tea
- Lentils
- Canned and/or dried beans
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Dried pasta (Anna loves the Jovial brand for a gluten-free swap)
- Nuts
- Granola
- Peanut or almond butter
- Jelly and/or jam
- Honey
- Olive oil
- Vegetable oil
- Canned tuna
After you pack the pantry, it’s time to stock the spice cabinet. Start with the essentials:
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Oregano
- Chili powder
- Paprika
- Cumin
- Cinnamon
If you’re really starting from scratch, then you may need some cooking and baking essentials. To start, focus on the fundamentals. (Don’t you wish you could have a registry every time you move? We know we do.)
- Stock pot
- Sauce pot
- Non-stick frying pan
- Baking sheet
- Oven-safe cooking dish
- Oven mitts
- Knife block with: Butcher’s knife, serrated knife, and paring knife
- Cutting board
- Salad spinner
- Can opener
- Garlic press
- Citrus squeezer (underrated, but essential)
- Coffee maker or French press
- Spatula
- Wooden spoon
- Dry measuring cups
- Liquid measuring cup
- Measuring spoons
We want to know: what kitchen essentials can you not live without? Share with us on Instagram @casadesuna.
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