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Probably one of the most appreciated skills a person can have as an adult is being a good cook. Whether it’s for a special occasion or everyday for the ones in your life, we pride ourselves on our ability to cook an appetizing, visually appealing meal. The time and effort put into just a half hour, daily event can show a lot about the person preparing it.

How important is it to own the right kitchen tools? Have you ever tried to build a book shelf with a butter knife? It could be done, but at what cost in time and skinned knuckles? It’s far easier to have the tools you need right from the start. You will save time and a little skin by having what you need to get the job done.

The first thing you should do is; think about what kind of food you normally eat. Like any other job, if the task is one you enjoy, the work will be enjoyable. When the task is more enjoyable then the outcome will be more favorable. If you are a staunch vegetarian, maybe a BBQ set isn’t for you, however nice grilled carrots might sound. Really brainstorm over the type of cooking you are predisposed towards. Don’t put yourself through a meat grinder, but do a little soul searching.

Now that you’ve thought over what kind of cooking you prefer to eat, let’s look at how to get the tools you’re going to need. I suggest that you go to your local bookstore and buy a cook book. Every recipe will tell you what tools you will need to properly cook the dish. For the very basics you can find cooking tools in your local department store, the mall, or even in the grocery store. For bigger, more exotic purchases, I recommend the internet. There is a large selection of kitchen ware on the net and the prices are competitive when you compare quality. I wouldn’t buy a coffee grinder on the internet, but a new 12 piece knife set with cherry wood handles? Absolutely!

There are some basics you might want to already have on hand: I suggest a large glass measuring cup and metal measuring spoons. A solid knife set and a couple of plastic cutting boards are definitely a must. Rubber-tipped spatulas for scraping from the bowls and measuring cup and wooden spoons for pan cooking. Wooden spoons are very much recommended because they will not heat up as fast as metal spoons or melt like plastic ones. An apple peeler/corer is recommended for peeling vegetables and fruits. For fresh spices I you will need a grinder or mortar and pestle. Some food processors come with different attachments ranging from dough mixer to juicer and even a meat grinder attachment for sausage making. Unless you plan on cooking for the Waltons, there might not be a need for one of those monsters. A small processor will do and they can be found all over the internet.

Aside from what’s on the box there are literally millions of things you can do with just a simple paring knife. Fresh radishes become crowns for garnishment and added roughage. With just a few twists of a peeler and you have a nice apple ribbon on the side of your homemade apple pancakes. The two main things are to think healthy and think fresh. Fresh black pepper from the pepper grinder is preferred for cooking. The same can be said for ginger root and especially garlic. A good food processor can help with a lot of this and really cut down on time spent mincing and dicing. Fresh will always be better.

Remember that cleaning up and taking care of your new tools is important too. Use a small hand scrubber or bottle brush to get into the nooks and crannies. Make sure what you are putting into the dishwasher is dishwasher safe. There has been a lot of good kitchenware ruined because of dishwashers. So make sure you know if the item you are putting into the dishwasher can handle the heat of the dry cycle and never put any electrical appliance into it. Also, a good idea for storage is to install an upright sliding shelf in some under-counter space. It will save you time and the dangers of having a “catch all” drawer full of sharp objects.

The main cooking tool is you though. Remember, your cooking skill is just that-a skill. It’s acquired through practice and patience. Good luck and go cook something!

Zeeman Haus enjoys writing articles online on a variety of subjects. You can check out his latest website on Slicer Meat which discusses various meat slicers on the market and which one might be an option for you and your family.