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The Kitchen Essentials Checklist
The 12 things every first apartment needs.
The list every first apartment needs, and nothing it doesn't. If it isn't here, it can wait.
One good chef's knife
8-inch, high-carbon steel, comfortable in your hand. Skip the block of fifteen — you'll only ever use two.
A heavy-bottomed pan and a small saucepan
Stainless steel or cast iron for the pan, any decent brand for the saucepan. That's 80% of cooking.
A cutting board that's actually big enough
Small boards make prep miserable. Get one you can lay a whole vegetable on comfortably.
Basic measuring cups, spoons, and a scale
A cheap kitchen scale is the single biggest upgrade to cooking anything baked.
Storage containers that stack
Match the lids. Match the sizes. Your future self will thank you every week.
Everything else is a want. This list feeds you well for years.