Home ∘ Next Lesson ➡️
<aside>
</aside>
One of the first things you need to do as you begin your cooking journey is get yourself some basic equipment. As I’ll continue to emphasize throughout this course, I like to focus on kitchen minimalism. You do not need a bunch of fancy equipment to cook well— you can adapt based on what you have available. I’ve cooked some of my favorite meals at campsites and Airbnb kitchens where I had just a few random pots and pans. This limitation forces you to get creative.
A well-stocked kitchen simply requires that you have enough equipment to perform the most basic cooking tasks— cut, boil, fry, roast, etc. That can be accomplished with very few pieces.
I do recommend seeking out the highest-quality cookware you can afford, since the best products will last you a long time and are worth investing in. Even more importantly, I recommend focusing on versatile, multi-purpose basics instead of big cookware sets. You’ll have less clutter in your kitchen, you’ll get more usage out of what you own, and you’ll be able to spend more money on a smaller number of high-quality pieces.
This lesson breaks down what I consider to be those pieces of cookware. I’ve included both an ultra-minimalist kitchen guide (where to start if you’re brand new to this and want the bare minimum basics), as well as a more comprehensive guide that covers all of your bases while still taking a minimalist approach.
<aside>
</aside>
If you are brand new to your cooking journey, start with the following basics. This set of equipment covers probably 95%+ of what you need to do on a day-to-day basis. I’ve offered recommendations for brands that strike a nice balance between quality and affordability, but you can check out the expanded Brands & Recommendations section below for more information and options for each of these.