So you're newly single, recently moved into a new home, and you're HUNGRY.
It's been a week and your kitchen cupboard is, in a word, bleak.
Of course, you've thought of going to the grocery store, but what would be the point? You can't even remember if you have a saucepan, let alone a measuring cup and mixing spoon.
So it's back to the fast food drive-through yet again where, by now, they should know that, yes, you would like fries with that.
When it comes to stocking essential kitchen tools and equipment in a new home, being newly single isn't the same as starting out with your first kitchen.
You probably already have a few things: maybe a lasagna pan, an old plastic bowl, a couple containers with orange stains, a skillet, and some measuring spoons.
As tired and worn as those things may be, don't throw them out.
Like everything involving food, they probably have some happy memories.
Nothing will make you feel more at home than getting your kitchen up and running, so make it a priority and follow these 6 basic steps.
1.
Assemble everything you have in one spot.
2.
Record what you have on the attached checklist and highlight what you need.
3.
Make a note of specialty items you'll need.
4.
Designate cabinet and counter space with sticky notes.
5.
Put away what you have.
6.
Go shopping! You should be able to knock out the first 5 steps in 2 hours or less.
Some stores make it easier to set up a kitchen by offering a kitchen starter kit, but this isn't really for you.
You need to fill in rather than start from scratch.
1.
Assemble everything you have in one spot.
If you're still surrounded by moving boxes, be sure that all of your kitchen boxes are in the kitchen.
What you want to avoid is rounding up and unpacking all of your kitchen boxes, going on a shopping spree, then discovering a box of pans after you return home.
2.
Record what you have and highlight what you need.
Take everything out of the boxes and put it on your kitchen table (and countertops if you need more room).
Use the attached checklist to record everything that you have.
Then go through the list with a highlighter and draw a line across everything that you still need.
3.
Make a note of specialty items you'll need.
The checklist includes all the basics and a few basic extras, but there might be other things that you need/want.
For example, if you like to make cookies, you might want to add a cookie press.
4.
Designate cabinet, drawer, and counter space.
Open all of the cabinets and drawers and leave them open.
On a piece of paper, sketch out what you want to go where and think convenience first.
For example, you'll want your pots and pans close to the oven and you'll want your dishes, glasses, and eating utensils close to the sink.
Take your time on this; once you put everything away, it's going to be a hassle to rearrange things.
If your oven has a slide-out drawer for pots and pans, put things there that you rarely use, like specialty pans.
Otherwise, you'll be bending over, tugging on a sticky drawer every time you want to cook.
At least one cabinet needs to be dedicated for food only.
Mixing cooking tools and food can be surprisingly unappetizing, especially if you tend to let your tools get stained over time.
Take a lesson from grocery stores; you'll rarely see kitchenware and food in the same aisle.
Once you know where everything is going to go, close the cabinet or drawer and put a sticky note on it with the eventual contents.
You can do the same thing with counter space, although you should put as little on the counters as possible for aesthetic reasons and to preserve prep space.
5.
Put away what you have With all the hard work behind you, you'll be able to put everything away in a snap.
The trick is to be sure that everything is visible; this means taller things in the back.
Avoid putting anything small that you rarely use behind taller things.
If you do, you'll forget you have it and will end up buying another one.
For example, you wouldn't want to put a tea strainer behind a coffee grinder.
6.
Go shopping! Bring your checklist and buy the best quality you can afford.
If you opt for quality, you'll never have to buy some tools again for the rest of your life.
But you won't find affordable quality at discount retailers or high-end kitchen stores; instead consider a professional kitchen supply store.
This is where you'll find restaurant quality tools and equipment at bargain prices.
You'll leave there feeling good about everything you bought.
Being newly single can be overwhelming at times, but it can also be an adventure.
Stay busy and focus on the possibilities ahead of you.
Now that you have a beautifully stocked kitchen, make it a point to entertain regularly.
Invite new neighbors and old friends for dinner.
Take a cooking class, but be sure to buy a new apron first (who knows who you'll meet).
It's been a week and your kitchen cupboard is, in a word, bleak.
Of course, you've thought of going to the grocery store, but what would be the point? You can't even remember if you have a saucepan, let alone a measuring cup and mixing spoon.
So it's back to the fast food drive-through yet again where, by now, they should know that, yes, you would like fries with that.
When it comes to stocking essential kitchen tools and equipment in a new home, being newly single isn't the same as starting out with your first kitchen.
You probably already have a few things: maybe a lasagna pan, an old plastic bowl, a couple containers with orange stains, a skillet, and some measuring spoons.
As tired and worn as those things may be, don't throw them out.
Like everything involving food, they probably have some happy memories.
Nothing will make you feel more at home than getting your kitchen up and running, so make it a priority and follow these 6 basic steps.
1.
Assemble everything you have in one spot.
2.
Record what you have on the attached checklist and highlight what you need.
3.
Make a note of specialty items you'll need.
4.
Designate cabinet and counter space with sticky notes.
5.
Put away what you have.
6.
Go shopping! You should be able to knock out the first 5 steps in 2 hours or less.
Some stores make it easier to set up a kitchen by offering a kitchen starter kit, but this isn't really for you.
You need to fill in rather than start from scratch.
1.
Assemble everything you have in one spot.
If you're still surrounded by moving boxes, be sure that all of your kitchen boxes are in the kitchen.
What you want to avoid is rounding up and unpacking all of your kitchen boxes, going on a shopping spree, then discovering a box of pans after you return home.
2.
Record what you have and highlight what you need.
Take everything out of the boxes and put it on your kitchen table (and countertops if you need more room).
Use the attached checklist to record everything that you have.
Then go through the list with a highlighter and draw a line across everything that you still need.
3.
Make a note of specialty items you'll need.
The checklist includes all the basics and a few basic extras, but there might be other things that you need/want.
For example, if you like to make cookies, you might want to add a cookie press.
4.
Designate cabinet, drawer, and counter space.
Open all of the cabinets and drawers and leave them open.
On a piece of paper, sketch out what you want to go where and think convenience first.
For example, you'll want your pots and pans close to the oven and you'll want your dishes, glasses, and eating utensils close to the sink.
Take your time on this; once you put everything away, it's going to be a hassle to rearrange things.
If your oven has a slide-out drawer for pots and pans, put things there that you rarely use, like specialty pans.
Otherwise, you'll be bending over, tugging on a sticky drawer every time you want to cook.
At least one cabinet needs to be dedicated for food only.
Mixing cooking tools and food can be surprisingly unappetizing, especially if you tend to let your tools get stained over time.
Take a lesson from grocery stores; you'll rarely see kitchenware and food in the same aisle.
Once you know where everything is going to go, close the cabinet or drawer and put a sticky note on it with the eventual contents.
You can do the same thing with counter space, although you should put as little on the counters as possible for aesthetic reasons and to preserve prep space.
5.
Put away what you have With all the hard work behind you, you'll be able to put everything away in a snap.
The trick is to be sure that everything is visible; this means taller things in the back.
Avoid putting anything small that you rarely use behind taller things.
If you do, you'll forget you have it and will end up buying another one.
For example, you wouldn't want to put a tea strainer behind a coffee grinder.
6.
Go shopping! Bring your checklist and buy the best quality you can afford.
If you opt for quality, you'll never have to buy some tools again for the rest of your life.
But you won't find affordable quality at discount retailers or high-end kitchen stores; instead consider a professional kitchen supply store.
This is where you'll find restaurant quality tools and equipment at bargain prices.
You'll leave there feeling good about everything you bought.
Being newly single can be overwhelming at times, but it can also be an adventure.
Stay busy and focus on the possibilities ahead of you.
Now that you have a beautifully stocked kitchen, make it a point to entertain regularly.
Invite new neighbors and old friends for dinner.
Take a cooking class, but be sure to buy a new apron first (who knows who you'll meet).
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