Reddit reviews Zwilling J.A. Henckels Twin Grip Colored Paring Knives, Set of 4 38194

Get a decent few knives. Think a chefs knife, a paring knife, a serrated knife for starters. Victorinox has some decently priced knives that will work fine. Avoid the Ikea Knives except steak knives, flatware, etc.

Get some pans. I'm a huge fan of cast iron--both a frying pan and a dutch oven. Don't be concerned about getting fancy French shit. Ikea ones ARE good in this case. And their nicer non-stick frying pans will serve you well. Also get a random pot for doing stuff like boiling water, sauces, etc. You don't need that much.

Do get a random sheet pan. I know you're not into baking right now, but it'll serve you well...if you need reheat something, need somethihng to put under a pot that might boil over, etc. A round baking dish (or oval one) from Ikea is also fine.

Get a few basic things:

• Some sort of hand mixer. We have KitchenAid, but frankly, it's no better, I don't think, than my old $10 KMart one. Stand Mixers are a different story and you don't need one right now.
  
• Spatulas, tongs, whisks, etc. You can go cheap on 'em, but get 'em.
  
• Have something that can process--a food processor, a blender, something. Go to the thrift store if you have to. They come in handy.
  
• I'm sure others will have more ideas.
  
  However, stay away from the "lower grades" of big names--think the shitty versions of Henckels, All Clad, etc. You're paying big bucks for a crap product based on a brand. Go cheap or go expensive or go home.
  
  And don't be afraid to get something cheap--I cooked reasonably well on REALLY crappy equipment until I could afford better and made off fine. Just get some decent stuff until you get your feet wet.
  
  If you can, scout TJ Maxx, Ross, etc. (I'm assuming you're US--if not, sorry) for lower-priced name brand goods. You can get good deals there on the cheap. You're not committed to IKEA OR fancy stuff. But I'd skip Target...unless it was for stuff like measuring spoons, etc.
  
  EDIT: Ok, I've scoured our kitchen. We have both high end (think All Clad copper core) and crappy (think IKEA). Here are the budget-friendly things I depend upon:
  
  Our Ikea oval cast iron dutch oven...I far prefer it to our Le Creuset. This will be controversial, but I find it more hardy. We also have a Martha Stewart (from Macy's) cast iron pot that is awesome.
  
  Our Ikea non-stick frying pan. Again, better than the Le Creuset or our All Clads in terms of durability. Just take care of it--no metal! Use rubber spatulas, etc.
  
  Small cheap knives--this set: http://www.amazon.com/Zwilling-J-Henckels-Colored-Paring/dp/B00005K8PF I primarily use our Shun knives for daily use but these are just fine if you're starting out. I do recommend a better Chef's knife, though.
  
  All of our minor stuff (whisks, etc.) were cheap. Don't spend more on that shit. You don't need it.
  

i find i generally only use 3-4 knives on a regular basis. my awesome Henkel chefs knife that my mom (who was a chef) bought me for christmas one year, a random serrated bread knife (the only knife I do use from a set given to me), and a decent set of paring knives like this.

Alternatively, I do not recommend getting a set, if anything go to a professional kitchen store and choose a set you might want to start collecting individually. My husband gave me this set for my birthday last year and I absolutely hate it. Every single fraking knife is serrated! Who wants a serrated chefs knife, paring knife etc?

I think I'm going to pick up a set of these.

http://www.amazon.com/Zwilling-Henckels-Colored-Paring-Knives/dp/B00005K8PF/ref=pd_sim_k_1