Five Kitchen Tools, and Why the Rest Can Go

Most cooking needs far fewer tools than most kitchen drawers hold. These five cover nearly everything day to day.

• A good chef’s knifeOne sharp knife does almost all of the chopping. A sharp blade is also safer than a blunt one, because it slips less. Keep it sharp and wash it by hand.
• A wooden spoonFor stirring, scraping and tasting. It won’t scratch pans and doesn’t get hot.
• A heavy panCast iron or a thick-based pan holds heat evenly, which helps with searing, frying and slow cooking. Cast iron also goes into the oven.
• A citrus juicerLemon juice finishes so many dishes that a simple hand juicer earns its place.
• Measuring cups and spoonsEssential for baking, where proportions matter more than in most cooking.

Everything else is a matter of what you cook. A gadget you use every week is worth having. One you use twice a year probably isn’t worth the drawer space.