Cooking at home and taking care of your own meals instead of eating out and getting takeout every night is a good change to make for so many reasons. You can save money, improve your health, learn new skills in the kitchen, impress your family and friends, and feel so much better about yourself. However, to really take it to the next level and become a great home cook, you might need to level up your kitchen. Working with one single old pot that your mom gave you 10 years ago isn’t going to cut it!

Here are a few exciting ways to level up your kitchen when you start getting into cooking for yourself. 

Appliances

Getting some new appliances to help you out in the kitchen isn’t essential, but can be really useful and might save you money in the long run. Depending on what type of cooking and eating you do, you can decide which types of appliances will work best for you.

If you like to make cooking simple and easy, an instant pot or a slow cooker can help you whip up nutritious meals with minimal effort. If you enjoy baking, a stand mixer and some basic baking equipment can change the game. And if you entertain guests often, you might want to invest in a great quality coffee machine from Caffe Tech to become a home barista and impress your friends. 

Gadgets

Kitchen gadgets are something to be wary of. Homeware companies will make you believe that you need every new kitchen gadget on the market, but any home cook worth their salt will tell you that this isn’t true. 

Items that serve only one obscure purpose are probably not necessary to hoard in your kitchen. Avo-savers, apple peelers, coconut shavers, banana slicers and egg cookers clearly all serve one purpose – the names tell you this. Having a million different odds and ends that help you perform basic tasks aren’t really necessary.

Slice your bananas with a knife, boil your eggs in a pot and peel your apples with a regular peeler. Your storage space and bank account will thank you for it. 

Knives

Many people don’t realise the impact of a great knife set. Working with sharp, durable and good quality knives can make preparing your own meals quicker and easier and even limit the mess you make. 

Good knives are for life, and this is definitely a kitchen item worth investing research and money into. Just a few good knives will be enough: a paring knife, a bitchers knife, a chef’s knife and a few other basics will have you set for years to come. On top of this, purchasing a proper knife sharpener will help you maintain your knives. 

Storage

Spending more time in the kitchen means you will accumulate more stuff and that means you’re probably going to need some extra space. Getting savvy with your kitchen storage is an important step to take in levelling up your space. 

Organise your kitchen by making sure that every item has a dedicated place and try to categorise all your items. This will help you to feel more organised when you’re cooking, keep pests away and will also preserve the life of your products because they won’t be haphazardly thrown into cupboards. 

Invest

When it comes to home cooking, there are three things you want to invest in: quality items, quality ingredients and time.

Buying more expensive, good quality kitchenware like roasting dishes and pans will pay off in the long run. Investing in items like this will make cooking easier, and you can rest assured that you won’t be buying a new set of pans six months down the line. 

Investing in quality ingredients is another expense you’ll thank yourself for. Delicious food comes from delicious ingredients and this will nourish your body too. Remember that your health is your wealth.

Finally, investing time in your cooking journey is important. You might feel frustrated or impatient when you don’t nail every recipe every time, but keep in mind that everybody has to start somewhere. Have patience with yourself and don’t give up when you’re struggling with learning the ropes in the kitchen. Take your time and your skills will improve with practice.

The Bottom Line

Assessing your own needs when it comes to your kitchen is an important step to take. Don’t feel pressured to buy tools and gadgets you won’t really use, but allow yourself to invest in the items that you know will really help you on your journey. 

John M