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1. A stainless steel strainer so you can drain cans without making a total mess and without cutting yourself. The rust-resistant stainless steel won't trap odors and is easy to clean.
2. A pack of basic cooking utensils that are both durable and heat-resistant for your everyday needs. Flipping burgers? Check. Making pasta? Check. Plus, the handles are made from Acacia wood for a sleeker look.
3. A silicone baking mold, because spending all that time making egg muffins or cupcakes only to have all the bottoms rip off is way too frustrating. The molds are freezer-, dishwasher-, and oven-safe, so they're super versatile.
4. A Dash mini griddle for pancakes that'll make breakfast a total breeze. It's the perfect size for a dorm room or small apartment, and with the blue indicator light, you'll know exactly when your food is ready.
5. And a Dash rapid egg cooker, because a nutritious, hearty omelette shouldn't take an eternity to make (or be super difficult). It'll serve up hard-boiled, poached, or scrambled eggs in just minutes.
6. Heavy-duty kitchen shears that'll come apart for a full cleaning once you'd used them on meat, veggies, as a bottle opener, peeler, can opener, and nut cracker. Well, not all at once, but you get the idea.
7. A 10-piece measuring cup and spoon set, because you legitimately cannot exist in a kitchen without them. They're a staple and will be used more times than I could ever count. Plus, they'll nestle together for better storage.
8. A digital food scale with a conversion chart etched onto the top so you'll never have to ask Siri how many tablespoons are in a cup again. No one ever remembers those measurements anyway, so having a cheat sheet handy is the way to go.
9. A beginner's guide on how to cook literally anything for someone who truly is inexperienced in the kitchen. It reviews how to dice vegetables, prepare meat, cook grains, and how to build a well-rounded meal.
10. Beautiful food prints from Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat's Samin Nosrat that'll act as another useful guide on cooking basics. The illustrations show the different stages of boiling an egg and what different herbs and knife cuts look like.
11. A three-in-one slicer so you can cut apples, dice potatoes, and core mangos without overloading your kitchen drawer with unnecessary gadgets.
12. A Frywall to prevent the awful oil and grease splatter that plagues your stovetop every time you attempt to cook. The heat-resistant silicone won't melt in the pan and can be wiped down with soap and water after use.
13. Kitchen timers so you don't accidentally burn the food you worked so hard to prepare. Experienced cooks just ~know~ when they're food is ready, but hey, you're learning as you go and might as well rely on an actual clock.
14. Color-coded cutting boards, because mixing raw meats with veggies when prepping food is unsanitary! Each board provides a handy photo so you know which is which, plus they're lightweight, flexible, slip-resistant, and durable.
15. A digital thermometer to avoid undercooked meat because uh, that's a serious health hazard!! For an accurate reading, this thermometer takes four to six seconds to determine the temp and is great to use when cooking your first roast.
16. A reusable silicone baking mat that'll save you a ton of money on parchment paper, tinfoil, and flour. It's great to use when working with dough since it's non-stick. With clear measurements, any novice baker will feel like a pro when they're finished prepping their pie.
17. Collapsible strainers, because no one really has enough cabinet space to store these easily. You can rinse whatever ingredient you're using and even use the bowls to serve. Once finished, just collapse down!
18. A five-piece mini tool kit so you can finally reach allllll the way into those tiny containers when you're trying to get that last bit of peanut butter or Nutella. They're the perfect size for small prep jobs.
19. A 12-pack of air-tight containers that'll store your precious leftovers with no spills. If you've spent so much time making the food, you want it to last! The set includes five different sizes and each top has four locks for a v strong seal.
20. A six-quart Hamilton Beach slow cooker so you can make meals with zero effort. This one has a countdown clock so you can see exactly how much time is left for your meal and lid clips for zero spills.
21. A finger guard for protection while chopping veggies and other foods. The grip can be adjusted to fit different finger sizes and is made of rust-resistant stainless steel.
22. And an ultra durable, carbon steel knife set with pakkawood handles and blade guards for supreme cutting and dicing. The set includes a 3.5-inch paring knife, 5-inch utility knife, and an 8-inch chef knife.
23. An easy-to-use NutriBullet blender so you can make delicious protein shakes and smoothies quickly and efficiently. The stainless steel blades will cut through fruits and veggies with no problem.
24. A steamer basket to make steaming veggies a breeze. It'll cradle broccoli and carrots so you don't have to burn your hands when removing the vegetables from boiling water.
25. A non-stick wok so you can make delicious one-pot recipes (AKA, less pots = less cleaning). It's perfect for a stir fry and with the silicone handle, you'll never have to worry about scorching your hand.
26. A rice cooker that'll do the heavy-lifting for you come dinnertime. It'll master white or brown rice, plus oatmeal. And the steam vent cap means you won't get those annoyingly messy overflows.
27. Silicone oven mitts and pot holders so you can move pots and pans without feeling any heat. They're also great for opening tightly sealed jars!
28. A stainless steel odor remover, because regular soap and water sometimes cannot rid of icky fish, garlic, and onion smells! You can use this bar like you would a bar of soap — with water! Once finished just leave it out to dry.
29. A press to crush garlic instead of having to delicately cut the small cloves. It makes the process so much faster and even comes with a quick-peeling silicone tube and mini brush to clean the cloves beforehand.
30. An oven rack push/puller so you don't have to reach awkwardly into the oven to grab whatever goodies you just made. It's made of beech wood and has a high temperature resistance, so no, it will not burst into flames.
31. A set of stainless steel mixing bowls, yet another kitchen staple for the inspiring chef. They're dent- and rust-resistant, vary in size, and can be used for many things like mixing cake batter or prepping a salad.
32. A cell phone and tablet stand, because when you start out in the kitchen, you're definitely gonna have to reference the recipe once, twice, or maybe one hundred times to get it right. And that's okay! Better safe than sorry.
We've all gotta start somewhere!
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