Kitchen Essentials Kit
Everything You Need In One Starter Set
Do you know anyone who just moved into their first real apartment? Right now they’re probably busy outfitting their kitchen, and they most likely need a little help. Although the basics will do, you don’t want to waste hard-earned money on tools that are either flimsy or overpriced. We’ve done rigorous equipment tests so that we can recommend the best in kitchen gear that won’t break the bank. This set contains what they need to start achieving success in the kitchen every time.
Pair it with our Essential Knife Kit and they will have a fully stocked kitchen to take on the world.
"Worth its weight in gold for the practical cook who wants to feel confident about putting good food on the table."
— Detroit News
Review Winner
Kitchen Tested
Easy to Use
Durable
Giftable
This Set Includes:
Cook Along with Bridget and Julia
Enjoy mastering a new recipe while tuning in to and following along with new episodes of America’s Test Kitchen with all-new recipes. Every recipe that has appeared on the show is in this cookbook, along with the test kitchen's indispensable notes and tips. You’ll also find a shopping guide that shows what ingredients the ATK Reviews team recommends so that you can re-create the exact dish you see on your screen.
New and Improved Shopping Guide
Enjoy mastering a new recipe while tuning in to and following along with new episodes of America’s Test Kitchen with all-new recipes. Every recipe that has appeared on the show is in this cookbook, along with the test kitchen's indispensable notes and tips. You’ll also find a shopping guide that shows what ingredients the ATK Reviews team recommends so that you can re-create the exact dish you see on your screen.
A Simple Citrus Peel
Hold a citrus strip horizontal, pith side facing you, near the surface of your cocktail. Pinch the zest to express oils onto the cocktail and then rub the outer edge of the glass with the peel.
This Kit Includes:
OXO Good Grips Non-Stick Pro 12" Open Frypan
Nordic Ware Baker’s Half Sheet
OXO Good Grips Utility Cutting Board
Vollrath Economy Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls, Set of 3
Matfer Bourgeat Exoglass Pelton Spatula
Matfer Exoglass Spoon
The Ultimate Meal-Prep Cookbook
Review Key:Good Fair Poor
Winner
OXO Good Grips Non-Stick Pro 12" Open Frypan
Capacity
Durability
Ease of Use
Nonstick Ability
The cooking surface was slick, both when new and after extensive use, and food never stuck. It’s one of the lightest models we tested, so it was easy to lift and maneuver, but it was also sturdy and resisted denting. All of our testers liked its wide, comfortable handle. Like every other model, its surface became scratched when we used a knife as if to cut a frittata, but it otherwise held up well.
Style: PTFE nonstick
Cooking Surface: 9¾ in
Induction Compatible: No
Oven Safe to: 430°F
Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Weight: 2.40 lbs
Winner
Nordic Ware Baker’s Half Sheet
Baking
Warping
Handling
Roasting
Rack Compatibility
Everything prepared in this sturdy, warp-resistant sheet cooked appropriately and evenly. Best of all, our new favorite is a few bucks cheaper than our old winner.
Material: Aluminum
Cooking Surface: 16 1/2 x 11 1/2 in
Weight: 1.6 lbs
Winner
OXO Good Grips Utility Cutting Board
Stability
Durability
Ease of Use
Ease of Cleanup / Maintenance
This thin, lightweight plastic model was easy to hold and lift but was also stable on the counter thanks to its grippy rubber sides. It’s dishwasher-safe, and while it got a bit scratched by the end of testing, it was otherwise intact, resisting warping, cracking, or staining and retaining no odors. Testers liked cutting on its textured plastic surface and appreciated that one of its sides had a small trench for collecting juices from roasts or wet foods.
Materials: Polypropylene, TPE
Dimensions: 10.5 x 14.9 x 0.3 in
Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Weight: 1 lb 8.5 oz
Winner
Vollrath Economy Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls
Durability
Ease of Use
Performance
The broad, shallow shape of these inexpensive bowls put food within easy reach and allowed for wide turns of a spatula. These were also the lightest bowls in the lineup—the combined weight of all three that we tested was less than 1 1/2 pounds— allowing us to comfortably lift, scrape, and pour.
Material: Stainless steel
Weights: 4 5/8 oz (1 1/2 qt); 6 1/8 oz (3 qt); 8 7/8 oz (5 qt)
Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Winner
Matfer Bourgeat Exoglass Pelton Spatula
Durability
Ease of Use
Performance
Our former favorite triumphed again. Made from a resin/fiberglass composite, this fish spatula had a relatively thin, smooth head that was long, narrow, and provided ample room for picking up food. Its straight, moderate-length handle brought our hands close to the action and was fairly comfortable to grip, if a little slicker than we preferred. Just don’t leave it on a hot pan—it melted at 450 degrees.
Material: Exoglass (resin/fiberglass composite)
Melting Point: 450 degrees
Handle Length: 5.5 in
Head Thickness: 1.8 mm
Average Head Dimensions: 2.35 x 5.75 in
Average Head Surface Area: 13.5 sq in
Weight: .1 lbs
Winner
Matfer Exoglass Spoon
Baking
The Exoglass spoon cannot entirely replace the wooden spoon, which we still find useful when trying to gauge the consistency of sauces via the "coating the back of the spoon" test (the slick surface of the Exoglass makes this more difficult) and to scrape up fond (browned bits) from the bottom of a pan (flat-bottomed spoons are the best choice here). But they also don't have the drawbacks of wooden spoons— which must be washed by hand, have a tendency to absorb odors and colors, and can split over time after repeated soaks in water. So we're holding on to our wooden spoons, but we wouldn't mind adding an Exoglass spoon or two to our utensil drawer.
Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Weight: .1 lbs
ATK
The Ultimate Meal-Prep Cookbook
Durability
The secret to meal planning is simple. You just need a plan. But for many home cooks making “the plan” isn’t easy. There are so many factors to consider, such as curating your meals days in advance, getting all the ingredients you need in a single grocery run (while saving money), avoiding food waste, and having the time to prep the ingredients. There’s also the issue of having good recipes to begin with. Some recipes claim they can be made ahead but fall short of your expectations once prepared.
Recipes: 130+
Pages: : 320
Format: Softcover
Item Number: CQ36
A Simple Citrus Peel
Hold a citrus strip horizontal, pith side facing you, near the surface of your cocktail. Pinch the zest to express oils onto the cocktail and then rub the outer edge of the glass with the peel.