Oven Dishes

• Casserole Dish/Bowl

A casserole dish is a deep, round, oven-proof dish used for a variety of kitchen tasks. Common dishes include stews, casseroles, and soups. Accompanying lids can keep moisture and flavor sealed in. It can also be used to make lasagnas, macaroni and cheese, and other dishes that require baking. Casserole dishes are also used for roasting vegetables, baking cakes and breads, and for heating up leftovers.
* _{a casserole dish can typically take the place of a baking sheet or sheet pan. However, glass dishes might melt or crack in extremely high cooking temperature or broiling temperatures}
* _{casserole bowls can be used as mixing bowls}

• Sheet Pan

Sheet pans are used for roasting meats and vegetables or baking pastries. They have a raised rim to hold grease or moist ingredients.
* ^{_{sheet pans are smaller but can replace baking sheets}}

• Baking Sheet

Baking sheets are wide metal pans that platform food or ingredients for baking or roasting. Typically for bread or pastries, baking sheets can also hold vegetables and thin strips of meat for roasting.

• Perforated Baking Sheet

Perforated baking sheets have holes to allow moisture to escape. They also allow grease to fall through for air fried meals and crispy vegetables.

Measuring and Preparation

• Cutting Boards

Cutting boards are wood or plastic plates for cutting, chopping, or slicing meats, vegetables, fruits, and other ingredients. The softness or texture of a cutting board prevents damage.

• Mixing Bowls

Mixing bowls come in various sizes and are used for combining solid or liquid ingredients. This can include tossing salads, stirring pancake batter, blending sauces, or marinating meat. Like measuring cups, mixing bowls can be microwavable or even oven-proof for cooking steps involving melting, boiling, or rising.
* _{mixing bowls can easily be used to serve food as well}
* _{often, regular bowls can be used to mix smaller amounts of ingredients}

• Strainer

A fine mesh net that can be used used to separate liquid from solid ingredients, like pulp from juice, sifting tea from hot water, or rinsing rice or grains.

• Colander

Colanders are perforated bowls used for rinsing produce or draining canned food or pasta.

• Teaspoon/Tablespoon Set

Used for exact measurements of ingredients that only require small amounts for taste, health, or texture. Common ingredients might be salt, olive oil, baking powders, or extracts.
* _{If specificity isn’t important, large and small spoons from the cutlery drawer roughly translate to teaspoons and tablespoons}

• Dry Cup Set

For exact measurements of solid ingredients either large or powdered, like flour, fruits and vegetables, herbs, nuts, or shredded meat.

• Liquid Measuring Cup

Used for exact volumes and an easier pour of liquid ingredients or drinks such as water, broth, milk, vinegar, or sauces. Measuring cups often come in multiples with sizes stacking from a cup to a quart. Many versions are also microwavable and can be placeholders for boiled water, melted butter, or hot soups or stews.
* _{for small portions, measuring cups can be used as mixing bowls}

• Food Thermometer

Knives

• Large/Sharp Knife

It can be used for a variety of kitchen tasks, including slicing, chopping, and dicing vegetables, fruits, and meats. It is also useful for carving and filleting fish, meats, or mincing herbs.
* _{sharp knives are typically the only large knives necessary, but for safety consider having one for meats and another for fruits and vegetables}
* _{steak knives can often replace large knives for smaller ingredients}

• Serrated Knife

These knives are designed for cutting through tougher items like bread, or slicing through items with a harder exterior and softer interior, like tomatoes or cake.

• Shears

Shears are designed to cut through tough materials like herbs, vegetables, and fish bones. They can be used to debone meat, poultry, or portion out fish. Shears can also be used to open bags, cut parchment paper, and trim dough when baking.

Cooking and Serving Utensils

• Spatula

Spatulas are commonly used for flipping, turning, and stirring food while cooking, spreading toppings and sauces, and lifting food from a pan or plate. They can also be used to scrape down the sides of a bowl or container.

• Slotted Spoon

Slotted spoons are commonly used for scooping, stirring, and straining food while cooking. They are especially useful for removing food items from boiling liquids, such as vegetables or eggs. They can also be used to serve food, such as salads, pasta dishes, and casseroles.

• Wooden Spoon/Spatula

Typically used for stirring and mixing ingredients together, such as in sauces and batters. They are great for non-stick cookware, as they won’t scratch the surface.

• Ladle

The most common uses of a ladle are for scooping, transferring, and serving soups and sauces. It can also be used to portion out and serve other liquid or semi-solid foods like gravy, stews, chili, and mashed potatoes.

• Tongs

Tongs are used to grip, move, or dish out foods that are too hot to touch, such as burger patties, boned meat, or roasted vegetables.

Baking Utensils

• Peeler

Used to take the skin off of fruits, vegetables, and other ingredients with tough skin like ginger.
* _{a carefully used knife can replace a peeler}

• Grater

A grater can shred or grate cheese, fruit, or thick skin like that of citrus. Some graters have thin slicing options as well.

• Masher

Used to mash ingredients, fruits, and vegetables, namely potatoes.

• Rolling Pin

Mostly for rolling dough, it can also crush herbs and ingredients.

• Whisk

Used for blending or aerating batters, sauces, or gravies.

Other Typical Kitchen Products