These Are the First 10 Kitchen Items You Need When You Move to a New Home
This is everything you'll need for your first week in a new place.
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Building your home kitchen from scratch is easier said than done. When I packed my bags and moved from my New York City apartment to the west coast, I decided to donate and sell most of my stuff and start all over. New pots and pans, shiny tongs, a fresh set of silverware. And while schlepping zero boxes of kitchen items was ideal, moving into an empty kitchen wasn’t.
I’m still accessorizing my new digs — a set of measuring cups here, a set of chip clips there — but I quickly learned buying the basics first can make the moving process a lot easier. Whether you're leasing an apartment or buying your very first home, here are 10 kitchen items that will make Week 1 in your new place a lot easier.
If your new countertops could talk, they’d probably say, "We could use a wipe down." Sure, your new place might look freshly cleaned, but it’s a good idea to wipe down all surfaces before you add appliances or food to them. When it comes to your cleaning supplies, it turns out that it’s very easy to be green. Take Target’s signature cleaning brand, Everspring. Not only does the line feature bio-based, recyclable and natural materials, it also boasts an array of lovely scents like lemon and mint.
As someone who didn’t have a dishwasher for five years straight, I know the value of a good sponge. When it came to buying sponges for my new kitchen, I immediately ordered Scrub Daddy’s sponges straight to my new front door. Made with a special FlexTexture material, the sponge changes texture when exposed to different water temperatures. This option becomes firm when exposed to cold water, and if you want a softer sponge to wipe up soggy sauce stains, simply dampen it with warm water.
It doesn’t matter if you’re ordering takeout night after night or christening your space with your very first home-cooked meal, every kitchen needs a set of silverware. Sure, the Internet is flooded with different types of silverware, but I immediately gravitated toward this set from O.C.E. Available in several colors, this set’s matte finish looks incredibly fancy. But in reality? You can buy a set on Amazon for under $30. Best of all, O.C.E’s silverware is dishwasher-friendly, so you don’t have to wash every utensil by hand after a dinner party.
A house is not a home until you pick up some plates and bowls. If you want to bring some style to your dining room table, check out this set from Gibson Home. Not only is the stoneware material lightweight and durable, it's also available in several fun colors such as gray, red and teal. In other words, it’s a refreshing upgrade to those basic white plates.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a budding home chef or only know your way around a box of macaroni and cheese, every kitchen needs some pots and pans. If you’re on the hunt for quality set without spending a small, this option from AmazonBasics will get the job done. Not only does this non-stick set distribute heat evenly, but the cool-touch handles will keep you from scorching your hands. For just $40 for eight pieces, this set is a solid place to start and upgrade later.
I’ll be honest, I didn’t think I would get much use out of FineDine’s mixing bowls when I first added them to my e-cart. However, they’ve proven to be an integral part part of my day-to-day routine. At first glance, this pick seems like any other set of nesting bowls you’d use to mix some cookie dough. But thanks to their airtight lids, I also use them to preserve leftovers. Whether I’m whipping up orzo for a dinner party or mixing olive oil into my popcorn, at least one of these bowls are in use at all times.
Just because you're unpacking boxes, doesn't mean you need to turn to bags of chips and pre-packaged snacks. Grab a colander so you can rinse some berries for a healthy snack or make some pasta for a quick, simple dinner. This option has extendable handles that can sit nicely on your countertop, so you don’t have to juggle a colander in one hand and a pot of macaroni in another. Yes, it can be that easy.
As far as I’m concerned, a productive day cannot begin without a large (okay, extra-large) cup of coffee. Instead of going to my local café every morning, I picked up Black+Decker’s coffee maker. Not only does it save money and time waiting in line at a café, but I can also program this machine to brew coffee at a specific time. You'll want this convenience after late nights of unpacking.
Nowadays, a Brita pitcher is a staple in most people’s refrigerators — and for good reason. Decked out with a discreet filter, this pitcher is designed to eliminate significant amounts of lead, chlorine, copper and other contaminants that are secretly lurking in your tap water. And water is a necessity no matter how long you've lived at your home.
Confession time: I didn’t start my entire kitchen from scratch. There were a few odds and ends I packed with my as I moved across the country. One product that has been invaluable on both coast? Get It Right’s (or GIR) Internet-famous spatula.This option is made with a non-toxic, BPA-free silicone that can withstand heat up to 550 degrees F, so you won’t have worry about scorching your hand as you stir that pan of ground turkey. Plus,this spatula is a happy medium between flexible and sturdy, making it perfect for mixing stir-fry and scrambled eggs.
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