You don’t need to be a master chef to cook show-stopping Italian food like a pro — you just need the right cooking utensils. Didn’t your father always say ‘Use the right tool for the job’? So stock your kitchen with these Italian cooking essentials, head to the farmer’s market for fresh, local ingredients and whip up an Italian food feast for the whole family.
Pasta Pot
Number one on the list has to be a good pasta pot and number two would naturally be a sauce pan or pot (depending on how big your dinner crowd usually is).
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Wooden Spoons
Okay, so wooden spoons aren’t essential for cooking Italian food but they’re easy on pans and they add to the ambience. It’s just not the same stirring a big pot of sauce with a plastic spoon.
Pasta Maker
You can find a basic pasta maker for under $50. Once you’ve made your first batch of homemade pasta you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it. It helps to have a pasta drying rack as well.
Ravioli Stamp & Pasta Rolling Pin
Kids go crazy for ravioli and they’re a great way to sneak some veggies into their meals. Even better, you can make loads of ravioli with seasonal stuffing and freeze it to enjoy all year round.
Pizza Stone
Pizza is another super kid-friendly Italian food. Pizza stones aren’t just great for making a crisp, chewy crust — you can use them for any crusty bread you want to bake. And don’t forget a quality pizza cutter. Even better, try out a Star Trek Enterprise pizza cutter.
Ladle & Spaghetti Server
You’ve got to be able to serve up that pasta and sauce!
Dessert
Every Italian chef needs to have a good panettone in their arsenal. You don’t even need a special pan, just a set of inexpensive Panettone Papers. There are some truly gorgeous pizzelle makers out there and they’re a perfect dessert for holidays and special occasions. And cannoli forms are a must.
Stovetop Espresso Maker
If you don’t want to invest in an expensive espresso machine, keep a traditional stovetop espresso maker on hand for an authentic post-meal brew for your guests.
Corzetti Stamps
Corzetti pasta is a more advanced undertaking but corzetti stamps are absolutely beautiful if you really want to go deep into Italian food.
