In the last post, I talked about the approach to nutrition and the principles of grocery shopping.

I will talk about these two important points, and today I will start with the dishes. This will be especially relevant for those who are moving to a new apartment or country and are starting from scratch.

TL; DR. If you don't want to read a long post, you can immediately check out the list of everything you need for the kitchen: Kitchen Purchases.

Cookware

You don't need a lot of cookware to make almost anything and there is a list of essentials in your kitchen.

Pans

Types of pans: Non-stick, steel, and cast iron each have their pros and cons.

Personally, I prefer steel and cast iron for their durability and heat retention, though availability varies by country. For instance, in Singapore, I had to buy non-stick pans due to the lack of steel options.

Buying more pans isn’t necessary as you’re unlikely to use them all, and they take up space.

Budget: Don’t buy pans cheaper than $30-40. Cheap pans, especially non-stick ones, often wear out within a year of active use, some even in six months.

Pots and Saucepans

Pots and saucepans will not be an issue, you can buy almost any, even the cheapest ones. The large pot is necessary for soups, broths, and blanching vegetables.

In the saucepan, you can make small portions of soups, boil eggs, make sauces/caramel, etc. If you're choosing between buying a second pot and a saucepan, choose the saucepan. It's more convenient to cook porridge or sauces in a saucepan where a whisk or spatula is needed because it has a handle you can grip and stabilize.

A cast iron pot, or Dutch Oven, is an amazing piece and a significant upgrade for your kitchen! You can make soups, stew meat, and vegetables, and even bake bread and meat in the oven with it. Thanks to its thick walls, it retains heat well, creating a "mini-oven"—everything seems to taste better. It's a powerful game-changer.

If you decide to get the Dutch Oven, there is no need to buy expensive brands like Cuisinart. I got mine at the Chinese supermarket for just $30, and it works perfectly.

Knives

Knives are always a hot topic in culinary communities.

I’ll say one thing: it doesn't matter how expensive the knives you buy are, the important thing is that they are always sharp.

I sharpen mine with a Whetstone. For most recipes, you don’t need molecular precision; a well-sharpened Chef's knife or Santoku Knife is sufficient.

If you're not a restaurant chef, a series like IKEA +356 will do just fine.

Cutting Boards

You should have at least three cutting boards for different purposes.

People tend to underestimate the usefulness of large boards and end up cutting everything on small ones. Buy a large board, and you'll immediately start enjoying cooking a lot more!

I prefer large wooden boards for cutting vegetables and plastic boards for meat and fish (they don't absorb odors and are easier to clean properly).

Make a designated small board for cutting fruits or cheeses. It’s not a very pleasant experience when an apple or mango tastes like onions or garlic.

I’ll probably state the obvious, but please don’t cut raw meat, bread, and vegetables on the same board to avoid infections and contamination.

Mixing Bowls

Large bowls are perfect for mixing salad greens with dressings and making various types of dough, and you won’t have to worry about splashing ingredients all over the kitchen.

Here are examples of my favorite IKEA bowls. Similar ones are available on any marketplaces, like Amazon or Aliexpress.

They are lightweight, so if they fall from your hands, they won’t damage the floor or your feet, and they are very cheap.

I have two of each size: 28 cm, 20 cm, and 10 cm (for mixing small portions of sauces). If you’re not as obsessed with cooking as I am, having one of each size will be sufficient.

Sifter or Colander?

Sifter!

But with a coarse mesh. Something like this:

Kitchen Utensils

Please don’t get the cheapest ladles or silicone ladles, since they are often made from soft material, bend easily, and are very inconvenient to use.

Baking Trays and Dishes

The medium one is great for roasting meat, fish, or potatoes, while the small one is good for a small portion of vegetables, casseroles for a few meals, or frittatas for breakfast.

I’m not a fan of glass baking dishes. They are usually slippery, and heavy, and must be placed in a cold oven to reduce the risk of cracking. Utilitarian metal dishes have worked best in my kitchen “wardrobe” and can withstand abrasive and harsh cleaning methods.

And if you bake muffins or cakes, get a 20 cm springform pan.

Blender and Scales

Choose any blender within your budget. 800W of power will be more than enough. Just make sure it has the three essential attachments: a whisk, a blade, and an immersion wand. You will use these three attachments, while the rest are mostly marketing gimmicks that will just occupy space in your kitchen.

Scales are a must-have! They are a highly underrated kitchen tool. Everything will turn out much better if you start weighing ingredients, especially for desserts. Don’t get IKEA scales—they are super annoying and unreliable.

Tableware

Serving Plates

You will want to cook and eat at home more often if you have beautiful serving dishes. You don’t need a lot of plates for this; a basic set is enough if you make it multi-functional.

I love it when home-cooked meals look like restaurant dishes! To achieve that, I plan what types of food I will use the plates for, and consider the design and color of the dishes I already have at home. I even have a photo album on my phone for this purpose.

New plates and the ones you already have must match each other

Dinner Plates

Classic dinner plates with a 25 cm diameter. Yes, they are large, but you don’t need to fill them with food.

Salad/Dessert Plates

Classic salad plates with a 20 cm diameter. They are also great for serving desserts.

If there are 2 people in your household, 4-6 of each type of these plates will be enough, even considering guests. To avoid monotony, you can choose 2 sets in different colors, but make sure they match each other.

Bowls and Soup Plates

I don’t buy separate soup plates; instead, I choose deep bowls that are multifunctional and suitable for soups, dips, and appetizers.

For example, something like this:

Serving Plates

These are large, flat, or deep plates for serving big dishes like whole fish or salads.

One flat plate and one with high edges will cover most of your needs. It’s even better if these plates are oven-safe, so you get two benefits in one.

For a basic set of serving dishes, try to choose natural tones. Matte and slightly textured finishes look very elegant and give a restaurant-quality appearance to anything you serve on them.

Vintage German or English dishware with floral patterns requires a good eye for successful combinations. It’s more challenging than working with minimalist, monochromatic designs. Let bright dishware be your next round of purchases, once you know what you typically cook and what kind of presentation effect you’re aiming for.

Cups and Glassware

Everyone has their favorite big, colorful mugs, and many more mugs gifted by friends and colleagues. But to make your breakfast look impressive and amazing, try to make sure that all your plates, dishes, and mugs complement each other.

Glasses are great to have even if you don’t drink alcohol. It’s wonderful to enjoy homemade lemonade or just mineral water from them.

4-6 universal glasses will be more than enough.

If you live in Europe, visit the flea markets in your city. You can find truly amazing glassware for very little money. That’s how I brought my favorite glasses from Berlin to Singapore.

Textile

Tea towels (why on earth are they called that?) are our basic kitchen towels. It’s best to get cotton or linen ones that absorb moisture well. 2-4 pieces are enough. One pair in the wash — the other in use. I recommend not skimping here and buying good ones. These towels from HM have lasted me for 2 years and still look as good as new.

I love textiles and recommend having at least one tablecloth in your arsenal. It greatly changes the mood of a meal and beautifully complements the food you cook.

I put out a tablecloth and light candles for no special reason, even if I’m just having ordinary dumplings or an omelet. It works!

If you decide to get a tablecloth, choose a solid color and preferably neutral tones, such as dark gray. It will likely contrast well with your dishes and won’t show stains from wine or other colored liquids.

Kitchen Shopping List

I’m sharing my kitchen shopping list that I created when I moved. I categorized the items by urgency: what you need right away and what you can buy in the coming weeks/months.

📌 Kitchen Shopping List

Most of the items were bought at IKEA, and the entire list cost $360. Over the year, I only purchased additional serving dishes and textiles.

Here are a few more of my photos for inspiration. This shows how the same plates can look different with various foods.