Kitchen "starter kit"

mamaoba · 7 June 2006 at 10:18AM

I want to give my little sister a Kitchen starter kit in August to help her and her boyfriend cook ol' style. It'll be her birthday pressie. I've already passed on my copy of Cas clarke's grub on a grant and a book from http://www.budgetmeals.co.uk

Now I need to sort out equipment - doesn't all have to be new. This is where I'd really appreciate your help - what for you would constitute a "starter kit", for ol' style cooking? My other sister and I are doing this by a combi of passing on what we have but don't need and by saving up.

My list so far:-
Tesco measuring cups and spoons
Heavy frying pan
Muffin pan
Silicon roasting pan
Cookworks 3.5l slow cooker when it comes round at argos for a tenner.
Basic saucepan
Value tupperware

bargainaddict · 7 June 2006 at 10:23AM

good chopping knife! I got a fab one in tesco. Can opener. I have a steamer pan I use all the time, the sort with a big pan on the bottom I do spuds in and the top one for other veggies.

What a brilliant idea, I wish someone had done this for me when we started out. Hope you have lots of fun putting the kit together.

nic82 · 7 June 2006 at 10:31AM

How about...

wooden spoons
spatula
kitchen tongs
baking trays
potato masher
a few basic herbs
pizza cutter
mixing bowls (Tesco does a set of three white plastic ones, all different sizes. They're very sturdy and are cheap too)

All these things you can pick up pretty cheaply at Tescos and Asda. Ikea also do a good range.

I'll be back later if I can think of some more things.

rchddap1 · 7 June 2006 at 10:33AM

One thing that I keep meaning to buy myself (and never seem to get around to) is some basic flat trays for the oven. The amount of times I run short because I'm doing a load of biscuits or some HM chips and don't have enough space for everything.

I would also suggest that you could get a basic folder, some plastic pockets and then fill it will some of the recipes from this site. All depends on how much she knows already, but HM chips, spag bol, muffins, etc...

This is something I intend to do for my step daughter this year. She's going to be 17 and is always on about trying to get better at cooking. I think its time that I gave her a hand with a few basic ideas.

Spendless · 7 June 2006 at 10:37AM

corkscrew and bottle opener;)

nic82 · 7 June 2006 at 10:41AM

If your sister will be getting straight into cooking (as opposed to keeping the items for a while until she gets her own place, etc.), then how about buying some basic ingredients to go with some of the recipes rchddap1 suggested?

Not necessarily mince or vegetables, etc but perhaps things along the lines of SR and plain flour, value/smartprice chocolate, mixed fruit, etc (e.g. ingredients to make HM biscuits and cakes).

If your sister has a sweet tooth, then HM cookies and muffins will probably be a great way to start the OS way of life and most of them aren't difficult to do. Hopefully this will ease your sister into the OS way of thinking and then want to tackle main meals, etc.

Nic

nic82 · 7 June 2006 at 10:42AM

Spendless wrote:

corkscrew and bottle opener;)

Can't believe I forgot that one. Somehow I've ended up with three in my kitchen drawer. I only moved in three months ago!!!

Ticklemouse · 7 June 2006 at 10:51AM

potato peeler
oven gloves
tea-towels
kettle, maybe toaster (you can get some good sets quite cheaply)
set of matching mugs
pin/notice board and/or fridge magnets - invaluable

filigree_2 · 7 June 2006 at 10:53AM

A few plastic chopping boards, I think Tesco have economy ones for less than £1
Pyrex dishes for casseroles, lasagne etc
Pyrex measuring jug
Weighing scales
garlic crusher (if they like garlic!)
Potato peeler
nice bottle of wine to go with the corkscrew :beer:

nicki_2 · 7 June 2006 at 12:10PM

Salt & Pepper mills or shakers (Matalan - £8 for tall pepper mill and salt shaker)
Utensil Pot for all the spatulas, wooden spoons etc
Timer
Grater
Ikea do a great set of tupplewear style boxes from "lunch box" sized to really small which are great for leftovers but for organising other things as well (I keep confetti in a couple of small ones and I've recently organised my sewing box with some other ones out the set) - Pruta 17 piece set £3.99 ( here )

Off the top of my head thats all I can think of that hasn't already been mentioned. HTH

FTB83 · 7 June 2006 at 12:54PM

When we first moved in, the things we forgot that we never realised were so essential were a cheese grater, vegetable peeler and garlic press.

I did so much of my kitchen shopping at Woolworths - it's great for good quality but cheap utensils, and also for budget cutlery, pans, baking trays and other bits and bobs. Ikea was great for budget crockery, and Argos for other bits and bobs.

Good luck, what you're doing for your sister is lovely, I'm sure it will be massively appreciated.

Oooh, one more thing, make sure you stock up on freezer bags...I make many batches of food and have bags of soup, mince etc. in the freezer - a quintessential part of cooking old style! :j

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Kitchen "starter kit"

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