| By :
Mark Etinger
The average kitchen is full of food and utilitarian objects designed for making home life more pleasant. That said, here are the top ten non-food items you must have in your kitchen. 1. Garbage Bags: This may seem obvious, but if you're doing serious cooking, you need serious trash bags. Plus, larger gallon garbage bags are a great way to easily dispose of your recycling. 2. Cleaning Supplies: This includes a sponge, steel wool, an all-purpose cleaner, and paper towels, of course. 3. Coffee Mugs: A set of six is usually enough. The same goes with your other cups. 4. Knives: The basic kitchen knife set includes a two inch paring knife; a four inch utility knife or trimmer, perfect for cutting tomatoes and other small fruits; a vegetable knife for dicing and mincing onions and the like; a carver, a ten inch knife for cutting meats; and a butcher knife for hacking frozen foods. A Santoku knife is a Japanese addition found in many kitchens of today - it has small indentations to allow food to fall away from the knife after being cut. Chicago Cutlery, Wusthof and Henckels are good brands to invest in. 5. Spatula: You may want a number of spatulas, but the one you will use most often is a silicone stirrer. A flat spatula comes in handy also. 6. Kitchen Shears: Scissors that open and allow you to cut chicken and vegetables are very useful. Many come with teeth on the inside of each handle which makes cracking nuts or crustaceans a cinch. 7. Pepper Mill: Fresh ground pepper is a romantic addition to any meal. It adds a little bit of spice when you need it. 8. Cheese Grater: The kind with a handle may be your best bet. You can use it to grate cheeses, nutmeg, ginger, and even garlic. 9. Salad Spinner: A salad spinner allows you to cut back on the amount of paper towels you use, and enjoy dry salads more frequently. 10. Measuring Cups and Spoons: Good measuring cups make baking and cooking new recipes a piece of cake. Choose a durable, collapsible sort. 11. Oven Mitt: A good oven mitt and towel are important to have lying around. That way when things get hot, you won't burn. 12. Peeler: Although the skins of vegetables are nutritious, they aren't very tasty. Especially when it comes to raw carrots and potatoes, you'll want a peeler. These twelve items will be a good start to any kitchen. If you have any more ideas about kitchen essentials feel free to add them to the list. So go out there and get cookin', good lookin'!
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