Why this basket
- Food safety lines come from the Food Standards Agency: separate boards, a fridge at 0 to 5°C, sealed containers and tea towels washed on a hot cycle.
- Knife and pan choices follow Which?: a chef's knife around 20 cm, its care rules for non-stick, and the magnet test for induction hobs.
- Nine lines cover everyday cooking for one or two people; extra knives, a kettle and a toaster wait until you know you need them.
First shop
A chef's knife around 20 cm
4.6 on Amazon · 2,056 ratings · 600+ bought last month · #1 in Chef's Knives · recorded 27 Sept 2026
Limited time deal
Which? names three knives for everyday cooking, a chef's knife, a bread knife and a paring knife, and says around 20 cm is the chef's knife size that suits most people. This PAUDIN is 8 inches, about 20 cm. Which? found several cheaper knives arrived sharp and held their edge, and advises washing knives by hand.
What buyers say
Buyers like
- Arrives very sharp and cuts cleanly(6 of 8 reviews)
- Well balanced, with a comfortable handle(5 of 8 reviews)
- Comes with a blade cover for safe storage in a drawer(3 of 8 reviews)
Our summary of the 8 reviews Amazon showed on 27 Sept 2026, counted by us.
More about this pick
- Weight
- 196 g
- Material
- High Carbon Steel
- In the box
- Knife
From the Amazon listing, recorded 27 Sept 2026. Sizes are the listing's own.
Separate boards for raw meat and ready-to-eat food
DDGAO colour-coded chopping boards (4)
4.1 on Amazon · 335 ratings · 200+ bought last month · #8 in Chopping Board Sets · recorded 27 Sept 2026
The Food Standards Agency advises separate boards for raw meat, fish or poultry, for fruit and vegetables, and for ready-to-eat food. With one board, prepare vegetables first and raw meat last, then wash it with soap. In a shared kitchen, the colours make that rule easy for everyone to follow.
What buyers say
Buyers like
- Labelled, colour-coded boards that store in a neat stand(3 of 8 reviews)
- Good value for a set of four(2 of 8 reviews)
Watch out for
- Smaller than many expect, so check the measurements(2 of 8 reviews)
Our summary of the 8 reviews Amazon showed on 27 Sept 2026, counted by us.
More about this pick
- Material
- Plastic
- Pack
- pack of 4
- In the box
- Holder
- Care
- Dishwasher Safe
From the Amazon listing, recorded 27 Sept 2026. Sizes are the listing's own.
A non-stick frying pan
Tefal Titanium Essential frying pan, 28 cm
4.6 on Amazon · 472 ratings · 600+ bought last month · #1 in Frying Pans · recorded 27 Sept 2026
Limited time deal
Which? tests non-stick frying pans mostly at 28 and 30 cm. Its care advice is short: handwash before first use, cook with wooden or silicone tools, and let the pan cool before washing. If the hob is induction, try a magnet on the base before relying on any pan.
What buyers say
Buyers like
- Cooks evenly, from steak and fish to vegetables(3 of 8 reviews)
- The non-stick holds up and the pan stays looking new(3 of 8 reviews)
- Good quality for the money(2 of 8 reviews)
Our summary of the 8 reviews Amazon showed on 27 Sept 2026, counted by us.
More about this pick
- Material
- Titanium
From the Amazon listing, recorded 27 Sept 2026. Sizes are the listing's own.
Also recommended on: someone moving into their first flat.
Saucepans in three sizes
Salter Timeless saucepan set (3)
4.2 on Amazon · 341 ratings · 100+ bought last month · #4 in Pan Sets · recorded 27 Sept 2026
Three stainless steel pans at 16, 18 and 20 cm cover rice, pasta and sauces. Which? names stainless steel and cast iron as naturally magnetic base materials for induction, and suggests the magnet test: if a magnet sticks to the base, the pan should work.
What buyers say
Buyers like
- Good value for a three-pan set(4 of 8 reviews)
- Feel solid and wear well with regular use(3 of 8 reviews)
Watch out for
- The steel handles can get very hot on the hob(3 of 8 reviews)
- They do not stack neatly, and the pile wobbles(2 of 8 reviews)
Our summary of the 8 reviews Amazon showed on 27 Sept 2026, counted by us.
More about this pick
- Size
- about 35 x 27 x 16 cm
- Weight
- 2 kg
- Material
- Stainless Steel
From the Amazon listing, recorded 27 Sept 2026. Sizes are the listing's own.
Silicone utensils that spare the non-stick
NileHome silicone spatula set (4)
4.6 on Amazon · 3,510 ratings · 2K+ bought last month · #1 in Spatulas · recorded 27 Sept 2026
Which? says metal utensils scratch non-stick coatings and to use wooden or silicone ones instead. The listing describes four one-piece silicone spatulas with a steel core, which covers stirring and scraping.
What buyers say
Buyers like
- Soft enough to leave non-stick pans unscratched(5 of 13 reviews)
- Very easy to clean, by hand or in the dishwasher(9 of 13 reviews)
- Sturdy and weighty in the hand rather than flimsy(8 of 13 reviews)
Our summary of the 13 reviews Amazon showed on 27 Sept 2026, counted by us.
More about this pick
- Material
- Silicone, Stainless Steel
- Pack
- pack of 4
From the Amazon listing, recorded 27 Sept 2026. Sizes are the listing's own.
A fridge thermometer
Suplong digital fridge thermometer
4.4 on Amazon · 12,991 ratings · 2K+ bought last month · #1 in Fridge Thermometers · recorded 27 Sept 2026
The Food Standards Agency says a fridge should run between 0 and 5°C and that a fridge thermometer is the best way to check, once a week. This digital one keeps a maximum and minimum reading, per the listing, so a warm spell shows up even if you missed it.
What buyers say
Buyers like
- Clear display with big numbers, readable at a glance(7 of 13 reviews)
- Readings are accurate and match other thermometers(7 of 13 reviews)
- Can stand on a shelf, hang from a rack or stick by magnet(4 of 13 reviews)
Watch out for
- The odd unit is a dud or stops working after the first battery(2 of 13 reviews)
Our summary of the 13 reviews Amazon showed on 27 Sept 2026, counted by us.
More about this pick
- Weight
- 41 g
- In the box
- Thermometer, English Manual, white box
- Care
- Do Not Soak
From the Amazon listing, recorded 27 Sept 2026. Sizes are the listing's own.
First week
Sealed containers for leftovers and raw meat
Sistema Klip It Plus 1 L containers (3)
4.4 on Amazon · 5,262 ratings · 600+ bought last month · #1 in Container Sets · recorded 27 Sept 2026
The FSA says to cool and cover leftovers, get them into the fridge within one to two hours and eat them within 48 hours. Raw meat belongs in sealed containers on the bottom shelf. These three 1-litre tubs are leakproof and airtight, per the listing.
What buyers say
Buyers like
- Clip shut to a tight seal that keeps liquids in(5 of 13 reviews)
- Hold their shape through the dishwasher and microwave(4 of 13 reviews)
- A handy one litre size that holds a fair amount(4 of 13 reviews)
Watch out for
- The lids take practice to clip fully shut(2 of 13 reviews)
Our summary of the 13 reviews Amazon showed on 27 Sept 2026, counted by us.
More about this pick
- Size
- about 18 x 15 x 15 cm
- Material
- Plastic
- Capacity
- 1000 ml
- Pack
- pack of 3
- In the box
- Container
From the Amazon listing, recorded 27 Sept 2026. Sizes are the listing's own.
Price: we have checked it on 6 days; Amazon showed a discount of 10% or more on 6 of them, including today.
Freezer bags
by Amazon freezer bags, 3 L (15)
4.7 on Amazon · 2,058 ratings · 4K+ bought last month · #1 in Food Bags · recorded 27 Sept 2026
The FSA says to cool warm dishes before freezing and to wrap food well in freezer bags or freezer wrap. These are 3-litre bags with glide locks, per the listing, a size that suits a single portion of batch cooking.
What buyers say
Buyers like
- Thick and sturdy rather than thin and flimsy(7 of 13 reviews)
- The zip seals firmly and keeps food fresh(4 of 13 reviews)
- Good value, on a par with pricier bags(6 of 13 reviews)
Our summary of the 13 reviews Amazon showed on 27 Sept 2026, counted by us.
More about this pick
- Material
- Polypropylene (PP)
- Capacity
- 3 litres
- Pack
- pack of 15
From the Amazon listing, recorded 27 Sept 2026. Sizes are the listing's own.
Tea towels you can wash hot
Olivia Rocco cotton tea towels (5)
4.4 on Amazon · 1,497 ratings · 1K+ bought last month · #2 in Hand Towels · recorded 27 Sept 2026
The FSA's student guide says dish cloths and tea towels should go through the washing machine on a hot cycle. With five cotton towels, some are in use while the rest are in the wash.
What buyers say
Buyers like
- Absorbent terry cloth that dries dishes well(5 of 13 reviews)
- Wash well and keep their colour(6 of 13 reviews)
Watch out for
- Smaller than a standard tea towel, and a touch smaller after washing(4 of 13 reviews)
- The looped cotton can snag and pull threads(2 of 13 reviews)
Our summary of the 13 reviews Amazon showed on 27 Sept 2026, counted by us.
More about this pick
- Material
- Polyester
- Pack
- pack of 5
- Care
- Machine Wash
From the Amazon listing, recorded 27 Sept 2026. Sizes are the listing's own.
Can wait
- A kettle and a toaster. Check the inventory first: some lets and halls include them, and Loughborough's halls, for example, supply both.
- A bread knife and a paring knife. Which? lists them as the other two everyday knives; buy them when you find a job the chef's knife does badly.
- A knife sharpener. Which? found several of the cheaper knives it tested arrived razor-sharp, so sharpening can wait until the edge starts to drag.
Skip it
- SkipMetal utensils for non-stick pansWhich? says metal scratches the non-stick surface; wooden or silicone tools do the same job.
- SkipA big knife block setWhich? names three knives for everyday cooking. Start with those and add only what you find you miss.
Quick questions
Do I need separate chopping boards for raw meat?
The Food Standards Agency recommends it where possible: one board for raw meat, fish or poultry, one for fruit and vegetables, and one for ready-to-eat food. With a single board, prepare vegetables first and raw meat last, then wash the board with soap before anything ready to eat goes on it.
What temperature should a fridge be in the UK?
Between 0 and 5°C, according to the Food Standards Agency. It recommends checking with a fridge thermometer once a week, and storing raw meat, poultry and fish in sealed containers or their packaging on the bottom shelf.
How long can I keep leftovers in the fridge?
48 hours. The FSA says to cool cooked food, cover it and put it in the fridge within one to two hours, then eat it within 48 hours or freeze it. Defrost frozen food in the fridge and use it within 24 hours of it fully defrosting.
Will my pans work on an induction hob?
Try a magnet on the base. Which? says that if a magnet sticks, the pan will likely work on induction, and suggests buying pans marked induction-ready. It names stainless steel and cast iron as naturally magnetic base materials.
How many knives does a first kitchen need?
Three, says Which?: a chef's knife, a bread knife and a paring knife. A chef's knife around 20 cm suits most people, and Which?'s tests found several cheaper knives arrived sharp and held their edge. Wash them by hand; Which? warns dishwasher heat can dull edges and warp handles.
Sources: Food Standards Agency: Why avoiding cross-contamination is important (checked 26 September 2026); Food Standards Agency: How to chill, freeze and defrost food safely (checked 26 September 2026); Food Standards Agency: Student guide to food safety and hygiene (checked 26 September 2026); Which?: How much you need to spend on a kitchen knife (17 Sept 2026) (checked 26 September 2026); Which?: How to buy the best induction hob pans (checked 26 September 2026); Which?: Best non-stick frying pans, care advice (checked 26 September 2026); Loughborough University: What to pack for halls (checked 26 September 2026).
