Getting ready for Filipino cooking at home? Fortunately, you don’t need much to get started. You only need a couple of cookwares and kitchen tools and you’re on your way to cook a bunch of authentic Filipino dishes.
We’ve come up with a list to help you shop and gather everything you need for your kitchen. This list is divided into 3 sections: (1) Cookwares, (2) Equipment, (3) Kitchen Tools. We added descriptions of each to help you understand them better and we included our personal recommendations.
Cookwares
1. Kawali (Cooking Pan)
Kawali or cooking pan is the cookware you will be using most of the time. It is a deep round-bottomed pan made of steel or aluminum. With the kawali, you can already do all sorts of cooking like frying, stir frying, braising, and stewing.
2. Kaldero (Cooking Pot)
Kaldero is a deep pot or cauldron used when boiling and cooking soup dishes. Traditionally, Filipinos use clay pots (palayok) when cooking but now, metal pots are more common.
3. Steamer
Filipino cuisine has several steamed dishes and delicacies and having a steamer may come in handy. Metal steamer pots are commonly used in Filipino cooking. With this, you can already make yourself a couple of Filipino rice cakes as well as some Chinese-inspired dimsum.
4. Pressure Cooker
Having a pressure cooker is optional but we recommend that you have one especially when you love cooking tough meats. Boiling meat and some fish dishes may take up a lot of hours which can be reduced to less than an hour when you have a pressure cooker.
Equipment
5. Rice Cooker
Freshly cooked rice is a staple in Filipino meals. While you can cook rice in a kaldero or cooking pot, having an electric rice cooker will require less effort from you and ensure that you perfectly cook rice every time.
6. Ihawan (Charcoal Grill)
Ihawan or a simple charcoal grill is optional but you obviously need this when cooking grilled Filipino dishes like chicken inasal, pork barbecue, and inihaw na liempo.
7. Oven
There aren’t many Filipino dishes that would require you to use an oven. But you’re going to need one when baking Filipino breads, cakes, and pies. Aside from baking, most ovens already have a roasting feature which allows you to make roasted dishes like chicken and lechon.
Kitchen Tools
8. Knives and Chopping Board
In Filipino cooking, you will be doing a lot of chopping, cutting, and filleting. You will be needing a good set of sharp knives and a chopping board in your kitchen.
9. Measuring Tools
To easily and effectively follow the recipes here, you will be needing a weighing scale, as well as measuring cups and spoons.
10. Grater
Some dishes will require grated cheese, fruits rinds, and vegetables. It is good to have a grater at home.
11. Strainer and Colander
You will also need strainers and colanders. These tools are needed when washing your ingredients as well as in sifting and separating.
12. Cooking Utensils
Lastly, you will be needing a set of cooking utensils that will allow you to cook effectively, efficiently, and hygienically. Here are some tools you’ll need:
- Slotted and unslotted cooking spoons (wooden, metal, or non-stick)
- Tongs
- Spatulas
- Whisks
Want to add something to the list? Do you have brand recommendations? Let us know in the comments below!
You may also want to look at our guide on Filipino pantry essentials:
