A well-equipped kitchen is very important for any home cook. There are so many gadgets and cooking tools out there to choose from, it is tempting to get a lot of them. However, some of these items are very specific and can only do one job. With limited space in the kitchen, we need to shop smart and only get the most useful and practical tools. Here is a list of my top five utensils every kitchen should have.

1. Good quality Chef’s Knife

Every chef will tell you that the most important piece of equipment you can own if you want to be a good cook is a good quality chef’s knife. This is the one tool that is worth your investment. A knife is the most used utensil in the kitchen because almost every dish you make involves some cutting, chopping and slicing. A good chef’s knife should feel good in your hand, as some chefs would say, the knife should be an extension of your hand.

Choose a chef’s knife that does not feel too heavy and is well-balanced in your hand. The grip should be comfortable and you should be able to rock the knife back and forth with ease. Make sure you always keep your knife sharp as cutting with a sharp knife is much safer than cutting with a dull, cheap knife because it is less likely to slip and cut you. If you are on a budget, there is no need to buy a whole set of knives. Get one good chef’s knife and you will be able to cut, dice, slice and filet with it.

2. Wooden Spoons and Heat Proof Spatulas

I like using wooden spoons and heat proof spatulas (usually made from silicone) when I cook as these are gentle enough tools that won’t scratch the surface of your pots and pans. They are also great for mixing batters when you want to bake cakes and cookies. And spatulas are great for lifting and flipping foods such as fish. Get a spatula with a thin front edge rather than a thicker one so that it can easily slide under the food.

3. Sieve

A good durable sieve is a very important tool in the kitchen. It helps you strain your cooked pasta and boiled vegetables, allows you to make smooth sauces and soups and also sifts your flour to get rid of the lumps. Sieves are made of a fine wire mesh with a long handle. I prefer the ones that are made entirely of metal, even the handle. A good sieve should have a hook on the side so that it can rest on the rim of a pot or bowl.

4. Good quality frying pans

For beginner cooks, nonstick skillets and frying pans are great tools to get you started cooking in the kitchen. But make sure to never use metal utensils on nonstick pans as this will scratch the nonstick surface. For more advanced cooks, stainless-steel frying pans and skillets are wonderful to have because aside from being able to cook on the stove tops, you can put these pans in the oven. Make sure the pan handle is also stainless-steel and not coated with plastic if you want to put your pans in the oven. A good size frying pan is a 30cm wide pan (12 inches). It is wide enough for a one-pan supper dish but also good for pan searing steaks or making frittata for brunch. Make sure you invest in some good quality frying pans and ones that feel good in your hands (nothing too heavy and with a good grip handle) as they can last you a very long time.

5. Electric Scale / Measuring Cups and Spoons

Cookbooks and online recipes are created (hopefully) so that you can cook the dishes as close to what the authors intend their dishes to taste and look like. This is where correct measurements of ingredients come in. Proper and precise measurements are extremely important if you love to bake. Therefore, it is worthwhile to keep one set of measuring cups, measuring spoons and a liquid measuring cup in your kitchen as all recipes will give you some sort of measurement and you will have to know how to get them right. Do consider investing in an electric scale as well as a lot of the cookbooks out there these days give measurements in weight (usually grams). If you are like me, who likes to create your own recipes, having the correct measurements for your recipes is extremely crucial!