The 50 Best Kitchen Essentials

2. Pestle and mortar

“There are loads of these on the market, but you really need to choose one to suit your cooking style,” advises Lulu Grimes. “If you are planning on making curry pastes then a deep one is essential or the bits will fly out as you pound. For spice grinding you need something with an abrasive interior or you'll be there all day.My favourite came from Thailand. It’s dark brown ceramic, very deep and has a wooden pestle. You’ll find the best-value ones in Chinatown or a Thai shop.”
Where from: widely available

3.Garlic Card

There was bound to be at least one quirky Swedish gadget (our homes wouldn’t be the same without the Scandinavian way with, well, pretty much any material) and the Garlic Card is it. Basically, a creditcard sized gizmo with a serrated surface, you grate the garlic to produce a purée. Where it beats a traditional garlic press is that it rinses clean under a tap, so there’s no fiddling about with trapped-in garlic skin when you’ve finished.
Where from: Roullier White (020-8693 5150; www.roullierwhite.co.uk)
How much: £3.50

4. Cheese coop

“I hate cold cheese and my partner has a serious cheese habit so our collection lives not in a fridge – I don’t have the luxury of a larder – but in a little wooden box with mesh sides so it can breathe,” says Lulu. Similar cheese coops are available from the Fine Cheese Company, which can also supply you with lots of lovely whiffy cheese to go in it.
Where from: The Fine Cheese Company (01225 448748; www.finecheese.co.uk)
How much: £27 for a coop

5. Duralex bowls

“A set of inter-stackable clear glass bowls may sound a little obvious given that so many kitchens already have some but Paula Stain, the doyenne of olive magazine’s test kitchen, believes that they are invaluable,” says Lulu. There’s nothing worse than running out of receptacles for your mise en place, and here’s no chance of that with the Duralex nine-piece bowl set. It also comes at a great
price,” she adds.
Where from: Lakeland (01539 488100;
www.lakeland.co.uk)
How much: £16.99

6. Kitchen Aid artisan mixer

This mixer has become a design classic and, like all good design, its form doesn’t detract from its function. The 300-watt motor is powerful but near silent and the Kitchen Aid’s unique “planetary motion” is especially effective. Amazing to think it is 75 years old. “Equipment alone doesn’t necessarily make good food,”SkyeGyngell says. “We started at Petersham with very little and have gathered bits and pieces along the way. But the KitchenAid is one of the things I really value.”
Where from: The Cooks Kitchen (08708500520; www.thecookskitchen.com)
How much: £299

7. Retro Cook’s Typhoon blowtorch

“This is a bit of a toy really,” admits Sophie Conran of this pyromaniac chef’s must-have. "I gave one to my son, Felix, as he loves to make crème brûlée. It is easy to control and the shape fits securely in the hand. It is great fun to use – under careful supervision.” Just don’t stand too close to those MDF kitchen units when you switch it on.
Where from: Steamer Trading Cook Shop
(01273 487652; www.mycookshop.com)
How much: £14.99

8. Charm apple slicer 

Another good way to help you get into the five-a-day habit, this little red gadget is one of Ikea’s triumphs. Put your apple on a flat surface,
hold the slicer above it and then power down hard and, in one fell swoop, you’re left with a perfectly cored and sliced apple, though
you sometimes have to shoogle it around at the end to make sure the blade’s cut right through.
Where from: Ikea (0845 358 3363; www.ikea.com)
How much: £1.59

9. Baking parchment

“I use greaseproof paper to line my cake tins, cover my puddings, wrap my pomme de terre soufflés and to make the perfect cartouche for all the pans I have that don’t have lids – and we haven’t even begun to get round to cooking en papilotte,” says Peter Bayless. Which just goes to show that, when it comes to cooking, sometimes simple is best. If you’re worried about chemicals, Natural Collection does an unbleached baking parchment.
Where from: Natural Collection (0870331 3333;
www.naturalcollection.com)
How much: £2.95

10. Le Creuset pans

“I’m a great fan of cooking on top of the stove and then transferring to the oven for finishing and I use my Le Creuset enamelled cast-iron casserole pot for all those wonderful daubes, carbonades and coq au vin,” says Peter. “Le Creuset pans are the bee’s knees if you have an Aga,” adds Sophie. “They conduct the heat brilliantly.They are also easy to clean and practically bomb-proof – I have had my favourite pot for 23 years,” she says.
Where from: Colanders (01707 391891; www.colanderscookshop.co.uk)
How much: from £67 for a casserole

11. Kenwood electric whisk 

When it comes to hand whisks, it’s possible to over-egg the pudding, according to Lulu. “You really don’t need anything fancy. What’s essential is to ensure that it’s got a bit of power or you’ll be standing there making a huge amount of noise, while the whisk goes nowhere. The Kenwood HM320 has a lot of welly for the money.” With three dedicated speeds – for folding, mixing and whisking – and separate
dough beaters it’s also versatile.
Where from: John Lewis (08456 049049; www.johnlewis.com)
How much: £17.95

12. Cook’s mouli 

This is Sophie’s all-time favourite gadget. “I used it all the time when my kids were babies as it purées boiled vegetables brilliantly,
removing any stringy or woody bits, pips and skin. It also makes the best mash on the planet – lump-free and not at all gluey. I am famous among my kids’ friends for my mash. I am always being asked to make it for them.”
Where from: Richmond Cookshop (01202
749428; www.richmondcookshop.co.uk)
How much: £25

13.Balloon whisk

“They may be easy to find and cheap to buy, but give me a well-balanced balloon whisk and I don’t need an electricity supply to make batters, meringues or sauces,” says Peter, flaunting the power of a well-honed pair of biceps. If you want something slightly more upmarket, try the Westmark silicone version which will soon have you whipping up a storm in a pudding bowl.
Where from: David Mellor (01433 650220; www.davidmellordesign.com)
How much: £13.60

14. Eva Solo knife magnets

Right on the cutting edge of knife storage, if you don’t want to line up your personal battalion of Sabatiers in a row, or use one of those
nasty wooden blocks, throw them up on these circular, stainless steel magnets instead. Available as a set of four, each one holds one or two knives and has a non-slip rubber front.
Where from: Silver Nutmeg (01254 820478;
www.silvernutmeg.com)
How much: £37.95

15.SKK titanium frying pan

A faithful, old black frying pan is one of Peter’s favourite pieces of cookware. “I know of no better way to cook fillets of meat or fish than
to flash them in my iron pan and then transfer them straight to the oven to cook through in the same pan,” he says. They are widely available but, if you’re not sure which brand to go for, try SKK’s deep titanium frying pans. Although non-stick, you can use stainlesssteel
utensils with them.
Where from: Armorica (08456 017262; www.armorica.co.uk)
How much: from £50

16. Magimix Le Micro mini chopper

“If you want delicate flavours, it can pay to go for a small mixer,” says Lulu. “Making things like mayo, pesto and curry paste in small amounts is difficult in a large processor because the ingredients don’t always blend properly. The Le Micro mini food processor still has the powerful Magimix motor and makes short work of such tasks. Without a doubt, this is my favourite bit of kitchen kit. If you took this away from me, I’d cry.”
Where from: John Lewis (08456 049049; www.johnlewis.com)
How much: £49.95

17. Brabantia lemon zester

I am really keen on my Brabantia Lemon Zester,” says Sophie. “It is sharp, robust, well made and it feels comfortable in the hand.” Lemons aren’t the only fruit you can use it on, though; it works just as well on limes and oranges, too. Sophie says she adds ribbons of zest to salads, stews, drinks and sorbets and is “still finding uses for it. The zest is beautiful and smells incredible”.
Where from: Homeware Store (0870 609 3469; www.homewarestore.com)
How much: £3.53

18.Wooden spoons

“Wooden spoons are essential in any kitchen,” advises Skye, presumably meaning for stirring rather than spanking. “They make a much nicer connection with food than metal spoons – and are indispensable in terms of feeling when things are ready, such as crème anglaise, warm butter sauces and scrambled eggs.” Cheap as (wood) chips, they’re one utensil that even the most impoverished chef should be able to get their hands on.
Where from: widely available

19.Stiletto tart server

If it’s time your cake slice was tarted up, this shoe-shaped version may be the answer. It’s actually more of a kitten heel than a stiletto
but, hell, if you cared that much you’d be buying the real thing, not serving cake with it. One of Graham & Green’s bestsellers, it comes
wrapped up in a gift box. It is also made from sturdy stainless steel and the magnetic heel is easily whipped off to make serving easier.
Where from: Graham & Green (0845 130 6622; www.grahamandgreen.co.uk)
How much: £15.75

20.All-Clad Saucepans

“I first came across these at the Roux scholarship competition,” says Sudi, flaunting some pretty impressive credentials. “Handling one made me really appreciate the difference between a decent pan and an extraordinary – if scarily priced – one the heat conductivity
is so much better with the latter, which gives you far more control over your cooking. I’m particularly partial to All Clad’s beautifully
curvaceous sauciers.”
Where from: Fabstuff (0800 458 5448;
www.fabstuff.net)
How much: sauciers from £135

21. Magimix Cuisine Systeme 4100

“I use this food processor almost daily. It’s wonderfully useful for everything from making parmesan pastry and kneading dough to
puréeing soups,” says Sudi. Sophie agrees.
“I givemy Magimix top marks for all round. It has loads of different bits to grind, grate, chop, purée, knead and is even a fantastic juicer. The last thing I made in it was a delicious salsa verde to go with fish, bunging in great bunches of herbs, anchovies, capers and olive oil.”
Where from: BE Direct (0870 787 7867; www.be-direct.co.uk)
How much: £179.99

22. Potato ricer

“I’m on holiday at the moment and, having bent two dining forks and given myself an almost permanent groove in the side of my finger, it has become obvious howmuch I miss my potato ricer,” says Peter.“Not only for making mashed potatoes, but also a host of other purées.” Sudi agrees. “Apotato ricer looks like a giant garlic press and it gives truly unctuous lump-free purée.”
Where from: John Lewis (08456 049 049; www.johnlewis.com)
How much: £15

23.Made in England Rolling Pin

“My chef’s knives are my most treasured possessions but, after them, life would be very difficult without a wooden rolling pin,” says Peter. A good rolling pin can do away with the need for a pasta-rolling machine and I find it also does a stout job of both bashing out chicken fillets and of crushing ice.” If you really want to make your mark, splash out on Kathleen Hills’s fabulous Made in England version.
Where from: Thorsten van Elten (020-7388
8008; www.thorstenvanelten.com)
How much: £34

24. Bliss Equilibrium kitchen scales

“I’m not great at measuring by eye and, for pastry and desserts, accuracy is important so kitchen scales are a necessity,” says Skye.
“This is cheeky because they were designed by my big brother, Sebastian, who gave some to me for Christmas a couple of years ago, but I love the Bliss Equilibrium scales,” says Sophie. "They have gorgeous chrome curves and the pebble weights are beautiful and tactile.”
Where from: Scales R Us (0870 751 3326; www.scales-r-us.com).
How much: £76.99

25. Mauviel Cuprinox copper bowl

“A Mauviel copper egg-beating bowl is a culinary trophy-object of both beauty and practicality,” according to Sudi. “I use mine for whisking up a mean froth.” Or, alternatively, just polish it until it gleams and leave it placed somewhere eye-catching around the house as an objet d’art.
Where from; Cooks Paraphernalia (01923450743; www.cooksparaphernalia.co.uk).
How much: from £31

26.Braun KSM2 coffee grinder

Making coffee from whole beans doesn’t have to be a grind, so long as you get the right equipment. “I’ve got a coffee grinder I’ve had for years, and that my mother had before me,” says Lulu, adding that the blades are undiminished by time. “I use it for both coffee and forgrinding spices, which sometimes makes for rather fragrant coffee.” Want to follow suit? The Braun KSM2 is simple and elegant.
Where from:Empire Direct (0870 120 1122; www.empiredirect.co.uk)
How much: £17.99

27. Hand meat mincer

“One of our party of holidaymakers mentioned pâté the other evening and although the local boucherie can provide all the necessary raw ingredients, I declined the request to make some because I didn’t have my faithful Spong hand mincer with me,” says Peter. "It makes a much better job of mincing meat for ragout, saucisson and pâtés than any modern electric machine,” he adds.
Where from: for Spong, try ebay. Alternatively, London Bar & Kitchen (01923 802088; www.londonbarandkitchen.com) does a modern equivalent for £23.25

28. Easy tongs

“I find kitchen tongs essential for turning and picking up food,” says Sudi. As does Skye. “I use mine for turning things, lifting things out of hot water and for quickly stirring lentils and beans, before turning them on their sides and scooping them onto a plate,” she says. “You don’t need anything fancy,” adds Lulu. “The metals ones are brilliant for barbecues and the ones with rubber tips are good if you use nonstick pans. You can afford several pairs.”
Where from: Divertimenti (0870 129 5026; www.divertimenti.co.uk)
How much: from £2.95

29. Faringdon Collection BBQ matches

“These are not technically kitchen equipment, but they certainly come in handy when I’m cooking,” says Sophie. “I use them to light loads of candles, to relight the Aga or boiler if the pilot light goes out and, of course, to start the BBQ. Because they are so long and burn quite slowly they have found a permanent place in my batterie de cusine.”
Where from: Dexam (01730 811811; www.chasseur.co.uk)
How much: £1.50, minimum order 12

30. Mermaid baking tray

“A heavy baking sheet that doesn’t twist as it heats up, and then ping food back at you as it rapidly cools and twists back, is important
and will save you much frustration,” says Lulu. “I prefer the anodised ones as they don’t overcook the bottoms of things.” These ones by Mermaid are just that, they are also easy to hand clean and will never rust.
Where from: Bettys By Post (01423 814008; www.bettysbypost.com)
How much: £24

31. Braun Multiquick MR6550 MCA hand blender

“One of the fewelectrical devices I’d hate to live without is my Braun stem blender,” says Peter. “I use it for foaming up sauces, liquidising
vegetables for soups and sauces and making instant fruit smoothies.”Sophie is similarly impressed. “I generally use mine for puréeing soups, which I make at least once aweek, as you can just plunge the wand into the pan and, hey presto, lovely soothing soup.”
Where from: Argos (0870600 2020; www.argos.co.uk)
How much: £49.99

32.ISI Thermo Whip 2470

“Pretentious though it is, being able to add a modish cep foam (espuma) to a risotto adds a definite wowfactor when you are entertaining,” promises Sudi. “They resemble an old fashioned soda siphon and you simply insert cartridges of liquid nitrogen to “charge” them. I was given mine by the chef John Campbell of the Vineyard, who also sells them at the hotel.”
Where from: Pennine Tea and Coffee (08002985211; www.pennineteaandcoffee.co.uk)
How much: £51.50

33.Zirconium ceramic knives

“My favourite knife is razor sharp, ceramic, and possibly the item that I both use the most and get most pleasure from,” says Sophie. “Mine was brought back from Japan by a lovely friend and it still slices and chops with precision after five years. They make great gifts but, if you give a knife, the recipient has to buy it from you; the saying goes that, if they don’t pay for it (5p usually does the trick), the knife will sever your relationship.”
Where from: Japanese KnifeCompany (0870 240 2248; www.japaneseknifecompany.com).
How much: from £49

34.Olivewood cheeseboard

If you’re a fan of fine cheese, you might as well have something equally discerning to serve it on and this little number is ideal. “Seggiano supplies gorgeous, tactile, gnarled olivewood cheeseboards as well as producing olive oils,” says Sudi. Unusually the boards are sold by the kilo so, even though the company does mail order, it’s worth heading along to the shop and making your preferred choice in person.
Where from: Hamish Johnston (020-7738 0741; info@hamishjohnston.com)
How much: from around £10

35. Mauviel Durminium roasting pan

“I bought my new oven to fit my monster roasting tin,” admits Lulu. “It’s amazing how small some modern ovens actually are on the inside and, if you like entertaining, then you really can’t live without a tin that will take a big joint of meat. Heavy duty is what you want – and you’ll have to pay for it – but remember that it isn’t just for the Christmas turkey.”
Where from: Headcook (01692 405984; www.headcook.co.uk)
How much: from £63

36. Magimix Le Glacier ice-cream maker

Making ice cream is one kitchen task that really benefits from modern technology. “You can make really good granitas, when fruit is perfect, without an ice-cream maker. But I love custard-based ice creams and smooth sorbets as well, so I would be lost without mine,” says Sudi. It’s not just a summer dessert either, she adds. “Our Le Glacier gets plenty of outings in the winter for freshly made delicious blood-orange or rumand-Malaga-raisin ice creams.”
Where from: www.amazon.co.uk
How much: £39.97

37. Digital probe

This no-nonsense gadget is something every self-respecting cook should keep close at hand, according to Sudi. “Battery-operated digital probes are great for testing meat temperatures. Especially when you are cooking at fashionably slow and low temperatures,” she says. Keep an eye on the temperature and you’ll end up with “a wonderfully tender and aromatic roast”.
Where from: Hansens (020-7351 6933; www.shoppingathansens.co.uk)
How much: £17.50

38. All-purpose peeler

The world is divided into two types of preferred potato peelers, according to Lulu. “I’d always choose a U-shape above a straight version as I find them much quicker at the job,” she says. “A cheap metal one will work for years if you treat it nicely, or, for an extra few pence, you can get one with a plastic handle. I take mine on holiday with me, I’m so attached to it.”
Where from: Lakeland (01539 488100; www.lakeland.co.uk)
How much: from £1.40

39.Magnetic memo strip

These long, pink magnetic strips are perfect for displaying recipes and invitations as well as photos, according to Sudi. Bright and fun but not too girly, they’re the perfect antidote to kitschier kitchen accessories – and an excellent choice if you’re getting to the stage where you never want to see a Cath Kidston polka dot or cabbage rose again.

Where from: Heal’s (020-78967555; www.heals.co.uk)
How much: £10

40. Non-stick pans

“Non-stick pans make easy work of browning meat and they are great for reheating dense sauces,” says Skye. “I layer mine between dry dish clothes so that they don’t get scratched.” If you want to go the whole, non-stick, hog, Scanpan’s Classic five-piece titanium non-stick cookware set includes a frying pan, 16cm and 18cm covered saucepans, a 26cm stewpot and a 28cm ridged grill-griddle.
Where from: Silver Nutmeg (01254 820478; www.silvernutmeg.com)
How much: £329

41. Siemens nespresso coffee maker

With styling by Porsche, this is the “crème de la crème of coffee machines”, says Sophie, adding that the proprietary capsule system makes it very simple to use. “I had one delivered the other day and Felix, my 12-year-old son, and I got to play with this fantastic gadget. The buttons and lights and foam nozzle make it very Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”
Where from: John Lewis (08456049049; www.johnlewis.com)
How much: £699

42. Henckels Four Star cleaver

“These are brilliant for heavy jobs involving meat,” says Lulu. She does add, however, that, if you want to keep them sharp, you should steer away from slicing too many bones. “They’re equally useful for vegetables with attitude such as celeriac, swede and pumpkin,” she adds. “Choose cheap from Chinatown or go posh with Henckels’sFour Star version.”
Where from: Culinaire (01293 550563; www.kitchenknivesdirect.co.uk)
How much: £64

43. Ham-carving kit

“I don’t personally have one of Brindisa’s special ham stands andcarving knives, but I could easily aspire to having one – along with some Joselito Ibérico Bellota ham,” says Sudi. Though the company sells all those components separately, if you want to go the whole hog, it also does a ham carving kit. This includes a stand, two knives and an 8kg leg of on-the-bone Teruel Serrano ham.
Where from: Brindisa (020-7713 1666; www.brindisa.com)
How much: £165

44. Bamboo steamer

Sky-scraping electric steamers may be all the rage, but how often do you really get round to plugging the thing in? Instead, invest a few pence in a bamboo steamer, keep it stowed neatly away and just use it as required. Bamboo absorbs water vapour, helping to keep your veg crunchy rather than soggy. Muji does a good three-tier version, or look out for them at Chinese supermarkets.
Where from: Muji (www.mujionline.co.uk)
How much: £8.95

45. Hitachi FPR1 food processor

“Much to the horror of traditional Italian cooks, I find that blitzing flour and eggs with a touch of salt and olive oil in a food processor makes perfect pasta every time,” says Peter. “At home, my Hitachi does it in seconds, as well as turning out savoury biscuits. What’s more, it manages the finest slices of vegetables without taking off the tops of my fingers like the old mandolin used to.”
Where from: Currys (08706097493; www.currys.co.uk)
How much: £99.99

46. Global knives

“Good knives are a crucial component of any kitchen,” says Skye. “Everyone has their own personal favourites – mine are Global knives.Tome, they just feel comfortable to use.”Made in Japan, to unique design, they offer more precision than a samurai’s sword, with edges that grind steeply to a point and hollow handles, which are then filled with sand to create good balance.
Where from: Cooks Knives (01877 339900; www.cooks-knives.co.uk)
How much: from £49

47.Egg Perfect

Don’t know how to boil an egg? No one ever need knowif you grab yourself an EggPerfect. Plonk them in the pan along with your eggs and this egg-shaped gizmo changes colour as your eggs cook, gradually crossing from soft, through medium to hard. When the colour reaches the level of hardness you’re looking for, whip put your eggs, run them under the cold tap to stop them cooking further and they should be perfect.
Where from: Lakeland (01539 488100; www.lakeland.co.uk)
How much: £4.99

48. Standard Remoska Electric cooker

This little cooker from the Czech Republic prompts almost universal raise. Essentially a pan with an element in the lid, it cooks most things an ordinary oven does – from roast chicken and lamb chops to cakes, scones and jacket potatoes. The Remoska’s compact size also makes it the perfect travel companion and because it only uses a tiny amount of electricity it’s a greener kind of gadget.
Where from: Lakeland (015394 88100; www.lakeland.co.uk)
How much: £79.99

49. Original Chinese ginger grater

“A traditional bamboo ginger grater is far more effective than a metal grater and is good for galangal, too,” says Sudi. Made from eco-friendly bamboo, it reduces ginger – and any other root for that matter – to a mixture of finely shredded zest and paste. Better still, it also separates out all the stringy bits for you.
Where from: The Spice Shop (020-7221 4448; www.thespiceshop.co.uk)
How much: £4.50

50. Solid-oak chopping board

Fans of the newstyle of plastic chopping boards, the ones you can fold into a chute to tip whatever you’ve chopped into a pan, may disagree but, for Skye, “a good solid wooden chopping board feels so much nicer to cut upon than plastic or Corrian. I hate the thinness of the plastic versions, and the jarring feel they give when you chop or cut on them”. We like this solid-oak version from Ecocentric.
Where from: Ecocentric (020-7739 3888; www.ecocentric.co.uk)
How much: £65