Best instrument

When I moved into my first apartment, my kitchen was a sad sight and mostly included a collection of second-hand plates, glassware, cookware, and utensils from the local thrift store. I needed an essential kitchen tools guide, but the internet wasn't available back then. So I forged my way through the best I could, and eventually what started as a collection of odds-and-ends turned into a full-on, well-stocked kitchen.

With so many products on the market, it's hard to know what are essential kitchen tools and what you might only use from time to time. Below are the essentials for any starter kitchen, items that I use in my own home kitchen every day, or at least once a week.

What this list includes: Tools and utensils that are needed in an every-day, well-stocked kitchen.

What this list doesn't include: Cast iron skillets, sheet pans, baking dishes, storage containers, paper towels, and equipment such as smoothie blenders and food processors.

1. KNIVES

Every kitchen needs three knives: a Chef's knife to do the bulk of your cutting, a serrated knife for cutting bread, and a paring knife for slicing or mincing smaller items. You can buy a knife block that has all of these, or you can opt to mix-and-match.