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If you’ve been following CNET’s coverage over the past few years, you know we’re big fans of it Meal kits. We tested dozens to find our favorite items in all categories, including… Ready-to-eat meals, Vegetarian options and Best budget picks.
Although I don’t use meal kits every week, especially during busy seasons in my life or when I find myself in need of new recipe ideas, they are the perfect solution for me. With pre-portioned ingredients delivered right to my door, it’s so easy (and dare I say, fun?) to get dinner on the table every night. Plus, as someone who’s not the most experienced home cook, meal kits have given me the confidence I need in the kitchen and practice perfecting delicious dishes on a regular basis.
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Although meal kits come with most of the items and ingredients you need, there are a set of must-have staples and cooking tools that will make your meal kit journey as smooth as possible. Here’s everything you should have before you get started.
Since you still have to prepare meals, there is some slicing included in each meal kit. Whether it’s onions, leeks, potatoes, or a batch of bok choy, you’ll need a steel chef’s knife to complete most meal sets. This is it Our top picks.
A cutting board goes hand in hand with a chef’s knife, so it’s another must-have. Personally, I prefer wooden cutting boards, but it’s nice to have a small plastic cutting board on hand when you need to chop up raw meat or coat it with condiments. With a plastic cutting board, the juices won’t leak onto the board like they do with a wooden cutting board, and you can put it directly in the dishwasher when you’re done. This is it Our picks for the best cutting boardswhich includes both options.
In my opinion, one of the best parts about meal kits is that many of the meals require minimal effort, making them perfect for busy individuals, new cooks, or anyone who simply doesn’t enjoy spending hours in the kitchen. Since there’s often an emphasis on meals that take less than 30 minutes to prepare, we’re seeing more skillet recipes (my favorite) just pop everything in the oven for 20 to 30 minutes, then serve. these These are the ones I personally use, but really, any kind will do.
However, not all meals are stir-fry meals, so you’ll still need a frying pan when cooking stir-fries, meats, or other recipe ingredients on the stove. You can decide between Non-sticky, Ceramic or Stainless steel Depending on your preferences. Or, if you’re looking for a complete cookware set, here we have it Favorites.
Many of the recipes I’ve tried use rice or pasta as the base, so you should have another bowl, unless you plan to avoid these types of meals altogether (which I don’t recommend because they’re usually delicious). You can have one bowl if necessary, but I recommend having a couple in different sizes.
I use the Caraway cookware set – CNET’s Choice for Best ceramic cookware – which includes a pot, frying pan, Dutch oven, and sauté pan.
In theory, you could use the aforementioned bowl as a mixing bowl if you’re in a pinch, but I highly recommend investing in a mixing bowl, or a set of them, to make your life a lot easier. My mixing bowls also double as popcorn bowls, leftover holders, and more, so I definitely think they’re worth the money.
This is nice to have, but not essential since you can technically peel potatoes, carrots, and other produce with a knife, but a peeler is a safer option, especially if you’re new to the kitchen.
During my meal kit journey, I also noticed that quite a few recipes called for the zest of one lemon to help kick up the flavor. You can use a dedicated lemon zester or a fine cheese grater for this step, but whatever you do, don’t skip it. It adds a lot more flavor than you might expect.
When cooking meat, especially poultry, I like to err on the side of caution and use a Meat thermometer To ensure it reaches the correct internal temperature before serving. This is one of the tools in my kitchen that I use weekly, if not daily, and it’s also great for summer BBQs.
As you become more experienced, you may feel when the meat is done, but undercooked chicken and pork are not something you can play with if you are new to cooking.
Many meal kit recipes suggest lining the baking sheet with aluminum foil to make clean-up easier. This isn’t essential, but if you want the easiest cleanup, we recommend keeping a roll of aluminum foil on hand. Additionally, if you have leftovers, you can use the same aluminum foil to wrap them.
Read more: One culinary pro named the three knives every cook should own. Can you guess them?
Salt, pepper, cooking oil and butter
Although meal kits come with most of the ingredients you need, they usually don’t include these four essential items, so be sure to visit the store and get them before cooking dinner. this Modern olive oil It’s a great option, but if you want to know which oil is right for different cooking situations, take a peek at our site Cooking oil guide Which covers all the bases.
