Chuck Hughes’ 3 Must-Have Kitchen Essentials

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 A Chef’s Knife

Good news: you don’t need to invest in a professional set of kitchen knives. “You only need one good knife in the kitchen and it should be a chef’s knife,” says celebrity chef Chuck Hughes. “Even if you buy a lot of knives, you’ll probably turn to your favourite one knife.”  Chefs’ knives come in different sizes, big and small, but the key to picking the best one for you is picking the knife you feel most comfortable holding, he says.

Also, think of it as an investment. You’ll want to spend anywhere from $75 to $100 on a chef’s knife. According to Hughes, other knives that cost less are often of a lesser quality. “It may be expensive, but a good chef’s knife will literally last a lifetime”, he says. Remember to always keep your knife sharp, because the sharper the knife, the less likely you are to accidentally cut yourself.

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A Cast Iron Pan

After a great LG oven, your next big kitchen investment should be a great cast iron pan, says Hughes. Cast irons can be used on the stove or inside the oven and they rarely ever break, he explains. “The more you use a cast iron, the better it gets. My mom has pans she’s had for 30 or 40 years and they’re absolutely amazing.”

Be sure to follow Hughes’ number one tip for cast irons: don’t ever wash them. “Just wipe it down and you’re good to go.”

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A Cutting Board

A firm, stable cutting board is essential because you need a place to work in the kitchen and cut all of your produce, Hughes says. Whenever you use a cutting board, he suggests this cooking hack: place a wet paper towel or wet rag underneath our cutting board so that it stays still and doesn’t move while you’re using it.  This will make chopping your food so much easier and safer.