Just as a mechanic wouldn’t work on a car with nothing but a wrench, and a woodworker couldn’t make a bench with nothing but a table saw, a cook needs multiple tools at their disposal to be able to perform a wide variety of kitchen tasks.
When just starting out, choosing the right tools can be daunting. Sets of cookware and knives can run hundreds of dollars, and if you don’t know what you need, the gadget wall at the kitchen store can be a bit overwhelming.
My rules of thumb when it comes to tools are simple: start with the basics and build up from there. Buy the best quality tools that you can afford and also the best tools for you, because owning the most expensive chef knife in the world means nothing if it is uncomfortable for you to hold.
And keep your eyes open for useful tools to build on the basics. I don’t recommend buying a bunch of tools that are only good for one purpose, but at the same time, I never met a kitchen tool that I didn’t like.
