You don’t need a lot of fancy equipment to get started cooking. Here’s all you need:
A stove (or even a hotplate), along with a few flat open pans called skillets (or fry pans) and a few taller pans with lids, called saucepans.
Some measuring tools. A set of measuring spoons and a 2-cup measuring cup would be nice.
Basic cutting tools include a grater, a vegetable peeler, a can opener, a knife and a cutting board.
Other basics include a colander or strainer, a big mixing spoon and a mixing bowl and…
…an apron, potholders, and a dish towel or two. Don’t laugh at the apron. Cooking gets much easier when you don’t have to worry about spatters and you can get gooey and messy and just wipe your hands on your apron!
A blender wand (sometimes called an immersion blender) is surprisingly handy for making soups and smoothies, and it’s not expensive. Trust us on this one. A microwave is also not essential, but if you have one, great.