No kitchen is complete without the right equipment. In order to easily prepare all your favourite recipes, you really need to have suitable kitchenware that adapts to your needs.

There is now a huge range of kitchen equipment on the market, but not all of it is essential in all kitchens. It’s important for you to assess what you need and what you will frequently use before rushing out to buy pans, crockery and knives in all sizes, and whether some of them will simply clutter up your kitchen cupboards and drawers.

Here at Jaype, we want to help you equip your kitchen so that you can have everything that you need to prepare dishes simply, while also enjoying the experience and sheer pleasure of cooking.

Cutting and peeling utensils

Using the rights knife for cutting and chopping makes such a difference. So, what you need in you knife set is: a chopping or chef’s knife, which is the most versatile one when it comes to cutting and slicing meat, fish and vegetables; a paring knife for more exact cutting; a peeling knife for peeling fruit and vegetables; and a serrated knife for cutting bread. There are also many other types of knives available depending on your needs, such a ham knife, carving knife or chopper. And, along with your knives, you will also need a good chopping board to protect your kitchen work surfaces and knives when chopping. Wooden boards are the strongest, while plastic ones are easier to clean and cheaper to buy. It is always recommendable to have at least two chopping boards at home, one for meat and fish and another for bread, fruit, vegetables and cheese.

Another useful cutting utensil that you will need are scissors. There are special scissors for different food such as fish, fowl or pizza, but you can also opt for a basic model with multiple functions.

A good grater will be a very practical utensil for grating different food such as cheese, chocolate, vegetables or dried fruit. In addition, there are more utensils for cutting, peeling. chopping and mincing such as peelers, special cutters, mandolins etc.

Cooking utensils

There are some absolutely essential pieces that you’ll need to cook food: frying pans, saucepans and casserole dishes.

Make sure that you have at least two different-size frying pans in your kitchen. To calculate the sizes, keep in mind just how many people you generally cook for. Plus, a small frying pan is always useful as an extra pan or for reduced amounts. Non-stick pans stop food from sticking and are great for gentle cooking. However, it is important to keep your pans in optimum condition by hand-washing them and using wooden or silicone spatulas to prevent scratching, and not place them on high temperature heat. Iron or stainless-steel pans are much better for cooking that requires intense heat.

An alternative good option to use is a wok, which is a deeper pan that allows you to boil and steam as well as fry food. The higher sides distribute the heat more uniformly, so that the food cooks faster and retains its flavours.

Another essential is a big cooking saucepan in which you can make stews and soups, or boil pasta or rice. And then you’ll need a smaller saucepan for things like boiling an egg or making sauces.

Apart from pans and large or basic saucepans, you may want to add other pots to your kitchen such as a pressure cooker, a casserole dish, a paella pan, a grilling pan, grills for other food or an electric frying pan.

Each of these pieces has different specific features suited to cooking certain foods. You also need to ensure that they are right for your cooker’s system, e.g.: gas, vitroceramic or induction.

We also recommend you buying a saucepan set so that you have a complete range of pans. Don’t forget to make sure that you choose pieces that suit your requirements.

If you like steam cooking, we recommend you getting a silicone pouch for microwave use. This is a perfect way to cook in a healthy and simple way.

Serving and dining utensils

What matters most with meals if that they taste good, but nice presentation will make you meals much more appealing. Choosing your crockery depends on both your taste and use. We recommend you having two sets of crockery at home, one for everyday use which is practical and easy to clean, and another more delicate and elegant set for special occasions.

You will also need a couple of serving dishes for food. These containers are handy for preparing and serving both hot and cold dishes and can be glass, porcelain, stainless-steel or acrylic.

And don’t forget to have a few different bowls, as they’re useful for serving particular meals like soups or salads, but are also practical for mixing ingredients, beating eggs or making sauces.

Other utensils

Another kitchen essential is a colander for when you are cooking pasta or vegetables. We recommend that use stainless-steel as it last longer than plastic.

You will need spoons and ladles to stir and serve soups, stews or sauces, and these can be wooden, plastic, nylon or stainless-steel. Slotted spoons and spatulas are great for handling, turning over, draining and serving food.

A measuring jug or cup is advisable so that you can correctly measure ingredients such as liquid, flour, sugar etc.

For desserts and baking, Jaype has a great range of utensils, from moulds to rolling pins, baking trays and brushes and spatulas and piping sleeves.

You will also find a variety of unusual utensils that give your kitchen an original touch, such as a fun pineapple corer or potato-peeler.

Jaype stocks all the best brands to equip your kitchen with. We boast a wide range of quality products to adapt to every type of kitchen.

We also supply kitchen equipment to the hotel and catering industry. Please ask one of our staff to help you select the most suitable utensils for your restaurant or hotel business.