What You Actually Need in Your Kitchen

Moving out can be scary.

The first thing you realize while planning the move is how many things
you use on a regular basis that you’ve always taken for granted.

You never think about a spatula until you’re standing in the middle of Bed, Bath, & Beyond buying things for your new
apartment. The good news is you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on accessories for
your kitchen. Here’s a list of what you actually need in your kitchen.

Prep Work
Things you’ll need for doing the prep work include knives, peelers, cutting boards, and lemon squeezers. You’ll probably want to get a can opener and an electric mixer too. You may want to invest in other items, depending on your lifestyle. If you like to enjoy a smoothie before an early morning run, make sure you get a blender. If you’re an expert chef, get a grater and food
processor. Consider buying a salad spinner if you enjoy a nice salad for lunch. If you find yourself wondering if you really need something, the chances are you don’t. The last thing you want to do is waste money on things that will only be collecting dust in your kitchen cabinets.

Cooking & Baking
Whether you’re a novice cook or a world-renowned chef, you’ll end up cooking or baking at some point. For cooking, you’ll need skillets, saucepans, a steamer, and a toaster oven. If you’re anything like the average college student, you definitely want to get a microwave. You’ll be needing it for most of your cooking. Baking only requires a handful of products. Measuring cups and spoons, baking sheets, muffin tins, mixing bowls, and baking dishes are all things you should add to your shopping list. Some items you’ll need to assist you in the baking and cooking
process include oven mitts, Ziploc bags, storage containers, spatulas, serving spoons, a whisk, and a thermometer.

It doesn’t matter if your kitchen is big or small. There are simply some things you don’t need in
your kitchen. Here’s a list of some of those unnecessary items.

 Crockpot – They’re heavy, bulky, and not worth the handful of times you’ll actually use it.
 Excessive Serving Sets – Sure, you love to host. However, if you ever need more than six
plates, spoons, forks, and knives, disposable utensils and plates will suffice.
 Espresso Machine – You won’t be using it enough to justify the amount of counter space it
takes up. The odds are you pass at least one coffee shop on your way to school, so stop
there for the occasional espresso.
 Stand Mixer – These are just another thing that takes up space, and if you have a small
kitchen, it’s already cramped enough without having to find a place to store this large and
expensive product. Get a handheld mixer instead. It’s cheaper and easier to store.

This list of dos and don’ts should get you started, but whether or not you should buy certain
items really depends on your routine. If you make linguini from scratch every Friday night, buy
yourself a pasta-making machine, but if half of what you eat comes from frozen meals, don’t
worry about the luxury products and only buy the necessities.

Buy what you know you’ll use,
and furnishing your kitchen will be a piece of cake (no pun intended).

About the author:

Kate Graham is a Sociology student attending Carroll Community College. In the spring, she plans on transferring to the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where she will major in Sociology and Spanish with a minor in English. She lives in Carroll County, Maryland, where she works at three different libraries. When she’s not working, she enjoys writing screenplays, performing at open mics, and posting on her YouTube channel.