Essential Kitchen Tools | Basics with Babish

Essential Kitchen Tools

• Chef’s knife: The presenter’s example is an 8-inch Wüsthof Ikon Classic, but comfort, balance, and fit matter more than brand or price. Grip the knife at the heel, with your thumb on one side and a finger on the other, rather than holding only the handle. This provides more control with less wrist effort. The Wüsthof Pro Line is mentioned as a less expensive option.
• Stainless-steel sauté pan: Choose a heavy, balanced pan made from 18/10 stainless steel. Food sticking is not necessarily a problem; it can be useful in cooking. All-Clad is described as a premium option, with Tramontina as a less expensive alternative.
• Nonstick skillet: The featured T-fal Professional skillet is 12 inches and oven-safe to 400°F. Its thermo-spot indicator turns solid red when the pan is properly preheated, helping cooks learn when it is ready.
• Instant-read thermometer: Use one to check when steak or chicken is done rather than relying on finger-poking tests. The presenter recommends a read time of under four seconds. The Thermapen is featured as a more expensive example.
• Oven mitts: Choose mitts with individual fingers for better handling of hot cookware.
• Saucepans: Stainless steel is generally preferred. A high-walled saucepan has less surface area and evaporation, making it useful when you don’t want a sauce to reduce too much. Use a wider pan for thick sauces and reductions.
• Mixing bowls: Sturdy, dishwasher-safe bowls with a pouring spout are recommended for their versatility.
• Cutting board: Choose the largest stable cutting surface your kitchen can accommodate. The presenter’s example is a 15 × 21-inch board. Undersized, unstable boards can make prep frustrating.
• Seasoning tools: Keep kosher salt in a pinch bowl so you can see and feel how much you add. Use a pepper mill with an adjustable grind. Freshly cracked pepper is praised for its taste, smell, and appearance.

Method and Preparation

There is no recipe or cooking demonstration in this episode. The advice focuses on choosing and using basic kitchen equipment, including preheating a nonstick pan until its indicator turns red and using a thermometer to check doneness.

Presenter and References

Presented by Andrew Rea (Babish) on Binging with Babish / Basics with Babish. The episode references Squarespace, an upcoming Basics episode on sauces, and a planned Twitch cook-along.