I often visit different friends’ homes around the world (whom are not in the food industry) and when I cook for them I notice that many of the basic ingredients that are needed for proper cooking are missing from their kitchens. If you want to know what are things every chef should have check out our exclusive list. Not having the basic ingredients when you cook is like being a great mechanic without the correct tools for the job or a surgeon without the correct instruments for a surgery…which can result in disaster.
Knowing exactly what types of grocery or food items you should always have on hand in your kitchen allows you to streamline your shopping and be more efficient with your time when are in the supermarket. Most importantly, with just a few basic items, you can make dozens of delicious meals and you’ll always be prepared to whip together a meal at any given time. Every chef want to have these items.
Every chef must have Herbs, Spices & Oils
Fresh herbs such as Basil, Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano, Sage and Italian Parsley (growing on your balcony, patio or garden) are probably the single greatest contributors to flavor in your dishes. Fresh spices should always be added towards the end to maximize their flavor.
Salt
A staple in nearly every dish. I would carry 2-3 types of salt in your kitchen so that you can have it in different forms for different applications:
- Sea Salt or Pink Himalayan in a grinder for finishing
- Kosher Coarse Salt for marinades or rubs
- Table Salt for making breads and many applications to add salt in a soup etc.
Pepper
Always needed and must be in a grinder as it releases the maximum flavor! Do not purchase pre-ground pepper. You can purchase the whole peppercorns, but I would stick to black.
Sugar
Plain sugar is needed at all times for different sauces, breads, doughs and/or dressings. I also prefer to use honey many times in lieu of sugar.
Butter
I would always buy unsalted; my pick is KerryGold or an artisan real butter. Butter should and could be used to saute steaks and most cooking applications when mixed with olive oil.
Olive Oil
At all points in time and I would only use Extra Virgin Olive Oil; that applies to all the guidelines as written about in my previous post about olive oil.