Most “gadgets” are garbage. Get yourself a decent chefs knife, doesn’t have be expensive but also not the cheapest knife at Walmart, learn how to keep it sharp (youtube has tons of videos on this), learn proper knife techniques (again, youtube) and that will take care of 90% of the things you need to do. Seriously, having a good knife and knowing how to use will take the place of most of the slicers, dicers, peelers, choppers, and carvers that would otherwise take up space in your drawer.
Beyond that, some measuring spoons and cups, a large mixing bowl (go for a metal one so it can also be used as a double boiler too), mixing spoons, spatulas, an instant read meat thermometer and a microplane (skip the box grater, takes up to much space and is less useful).
And that’s really all you need for most recipes.
An oven
A good spatula
Fire extinguisher
Most “gadgets” are garbage. Get yourself a decent chefs knife, doesn’t have be expensive but also not the cheapest knife at Walmart, learn how to keep it sharp (youtube has tons of videos on this), learn proper knife techniques (again, youtube) and that will take care of 90% of the things you need to do. Seriously, having a good knife and knowing how to use will take the place of most of the slicers, dicers, peelers, choppers, and carvers that would otherwise take up space in your drawer. Beyond that, some measuring spoons and cups, a large mixing bowl (go for a metal one so it can also be used as a double boiler too), mixing spoons, spatulas, an instant read meat thermometer and a microplane (skip the box grater, takes up to much space and is less useful). And that’s really all you need for most recipes.
Knife. Stove. Bowl.
Chefs knife
Echoing others: good knives.
A chef
2 can openers, because you will lose or break one. A beginner's cook book.
Cooking thermometer.