Cooking should be a delight, effortless, but a delight as you take a range of ingredients, and like science, bring them together through fire or ice, and voila dinner. But cooking can be rather complicated too. Using a blunt knife to slice through raw salmon is a task, using a non-grip mixing bowl will prove almost impossible when it comes to folding through your puddings’ wet ingredients, and using any old pan to fry up an expensive cut of porterhouse just won’t do. If you are a bit skint and can’t justify spending money in your kitchen, just get these top ten items, the rest you can pick up next time you are at Ikea.

*Handy hint – Sales are the best time to pick up expensive kitchen ware. Most cookware and utensils can be found for half their usual price, and the investment is worth it. You can buy Tefal pots and pans, a Le Chasseur casserole dish for reduced prices and a great knife set for a fraction of what it’s worth. So keep your eye out when the stocktake sales come around again and buy up big for your kitchen.

A good knife set

A good knife set is always the best place to start. As many chefs will tell you, the knife is the absolute tool of the trade. It will cover all your cutting, chopping, slicing, dicing, hacking and ‘turning’ vegetable needs. You will also need to invest in a good sharpener to keep your chef tools ready for action.

Non-stick pots and pans

Try cooking porridge in an ordinary non non-stick pot and see what happens. Then cook porridge in a non-stick pot and you will understand why it makes sense to spend a bob or two on non-stick pots and pans. It makes cooking and cleaning so effortless. Pots and pans are at the heart of every kitchen so don’t skimp in this area, get a good quality set.

Measuring cups and spoons

Measuring cups and spoons are paramount when following a recipe to give you accuracy in the measurement of ingredients. And the beauty of these wonders is that you can get creative. A bit of your personality can come out when buying measuring cups and spoons. Whether it’s the colour you choose, glass or plastic or even a babushka doll set of measuring cups – whatever tickles your fancy and whatever goes with your kitchen.

Baking pans

You may not fancy yourself as a baker, someone who whips up a cake at the drop of a hat, but baking pans are an essential in any kitchen. They aren’t just for cakes, a muffin tin can provide you with a hearty sweet snack or a feta and spinach muffin for lunch. These can help you out if you feel like baking some bread, making a small pita, or a tiny pie. Think outside the box and you will be surprised with what you can come up with.

Chopping board

Just like knives, you need a good chopping board. A good chopping board won’t go old and won’t break on you. Good quality chopping boards have a grip that will leave your old chopping boards behind. Always use a wet tea cloth under your chopping board to make sure it doesn’t slide around on your benchtop when cutting up your ingredients.

Mixing bowls

Mixing bowls are versatile. From mixing a big cake recipe to tossing together a massive potato salad, the mixing bowl can then double as a salad bowl. Try and find mixing bowls with lids as they are a great way of storing large quantities of food and transporting them. Think of that the next time you put cling film over a salad on the way to a picnic and it leaks all over the backseat of your car!

Graters

A good quality grater is a kitchen essential. If you don’t believe me, then think about how many times you use a grater in cooking. Need grated cheese for your moussaka topping, the stir-fry recipe calls for grated ginger, making a coleslaw and you need grated carrot, nutmeg for rizogalo? The uses are endless. Try and find a four-sided grater so you have more choice in the size of the grated pieces. Also, find a grater with a strong handle and grip.

Peelers

You don’t have to break the bank with this purchase but a good quality peeler does go a long way. Think about how many times a week in winter you peel potatoes – for soup, mash or roasting – and you will get it. And you will need one with an ergonomic handle to make your job in the kitchen that much easier.

Colander

Colanders aren’t just for pasta, they can be used for rice, for washing lettuce, and vegetables. If you want something cleaned through, a colander is your kitchen must-have.

Spice rack

Greeks use an abundance of dried (and fresh) herbs and spices in their cooking so a versatile spice rack is a must. You can even make your own by labelling old jars.