Amazon/So Yummy
At the age of 34, I’m still a renter — as are many people in my age range. I’ve been renting without parental support since around 2008, and every dwelling I’ve chosen has been slightly better than the last. Back in 2009, I had a small place in a small city in Pennsylvania that was…not glamorous. My shower was a couple feet away from my living room and leaked constantly, there was a weird space that literally served no purpose in the layout, and to top it all off: The only actual tool I had in my kitchen was a barely-working can opener.
Naturally, things started progressing as I got older. Each place was an improvement from the last and offered a little more kitchen space (and I finally got around to upgrading that can opener). With that, I learned more and more how to make meals other than canned soup or quick sandwiches. I started looking online for new recipes to try, and by then, was cohabitating with the guy who’d become my husband. He also had (and still has, lucky me) an interest in cooking, and was interested in experimenting with various types of ingredients. Ever make beef jerky with a room fan? We have.
In the last few years, we’ve figured out exactly what we actually need to create delicious, creative dinners every night. Even though our pantry is still stuffed with novelty kitchen appliances, we know which ones are important enough to earn a top spot on the counter.
And hey, if you’re much younger than that, there’s no harm in getting ahead of the game. If you’re older than 30, no judgement! We all curate our homes at our own pace and budget.
A cast iron skillet is a must-have for any budding home chef. All you need to do is learn how to take care of it (you can’t pop this in the dishwasher) and it can last you a lifetime. It’s also ideal for meat. Sure, other pans are important, but a cast iron pan shows you’re serious. It holds a lot of food, too.
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If a lot of your recipes include garlic and cheese, Microplane graters are key. They also take up a lot less space than a box grater and are easy to transport, if you’re cooking a big dinner at another location. They’re helpful tools that’ll get a ton of use.
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Consider buying a big, square version. That way, it won’t get pushed to the back of the fridge and forgotten. Water is really important, and cold, filtered water is simply hard to refuse. It’s also a great way to refill bottles of water to help reduce environmental waste.
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They’re also the key to making soups, cream sauces, dressings, and even homemade mayo. They’re easy to use and light to carry, so they’re not as bulky as a standard blender. Really, an important thing to remember in your 30s is to keep your kitchen simple and clutter-free.
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But here’s the truth — a sharp knife is actually a safer knife since you don’t need to use as much force, which may cause slips. In your 30s, you should be treating your tools the right way.
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Pepper is a go-to spice that you can literally find anywhere. Being able to grind your own will make you realize why, exactly, it’s so popular. With just a little bit of time, you’ll never trust pepper that isn’t freshly ground. (It has a different taste, I swear!)
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Toaster ovens take up a bit more room but offer up an even toast as well as a place to bake some quick food, if your regular oven is already in use. Even better, you can see the toasting process in action, saving yourself from some severely burnt toast.
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(Well, unless you try with your teeth. That method might leave you with an expensive dental bill.) But being able to master a waiter’s style corkscrew proves you’re no longer 21.
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Sous vide refers to vacuum-sealing food in a bag before you cook it in a water bath at a precise temperature. So, this little gadget is on the pricier side, but when you taste your first sous vide steak, it’ll be worth it. Throwing something in the sous vide before work is the best way to come home to a properly cooked, delicious meal. No fire required.
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Listen, I’m not talking about fine china. I’m talking about a proper set of knives, forks, and spoons that match and aren’t made of plastic. If you’ve been hawking plastic cutlery for years to avoid this purchase, that’s impressive. Plastic is great for days before a big move or an outdoor picnic. But by the time you’re 25, it gets to be a little inconvenient (and not great for the environment). Ditch the plastic cutlery entirely by 30 and you’ll be happy you did.
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When you’re in your 20s, you’d have no problem drinking wine out of a red Solo cup. But when you reach 30, you’re probably not really into the idea of getting drunk off wine. (Since hello, that hangover gets so much worse with age.) Instead, you’re interested in enjoying a glass to complement your dinner. If you have people over, it’s nice to have the correct amount of glasses and the right ones for the type of wine you’re serving.
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