The team from He Said, She Said, countdown the top 5 must have gadgets for the kitchen.

If you are really serious about actually enjoying your cooking experience, and let's face it, it is something you have to do almost everyday, you have to commit to some basic supplies. You can't be a virtuoso if you don't have the proper instrument, and you can't be a great cook unless you have the following:

1. A sharp, quality knife
Invest in a good sturdy chef's knife , one that fits you well. It is your most versatile, important tool and will do the majority of the work. And contrary to popular opinion, keep it really sharp. Dull knives cause more accidents than sharp ones.

2. A large thick wooden cutting board
Oil it first to prevent staining, and place a wet paper towel underneath it to secure it. As you can see we are now beginning to build a work station were we can construct our masterpieces.

3. A medium to large size saute pan
You can use it for stir frys, pastas, soups - if it has a steel handle you can use it to bake things in the oven. It will become your conduit to fabulous cooking.

4. A great quality olive oil
for cooking and making sauces and salads. You will find once you start using olive oil in cooking, you will get obsessed and start trying oils from all sorts of different regions - not just Italy, but Spain, Greece, Portugal, Turkey etc.

5. Flavour enhancers
This can be chopped ginger, garlic, curry paste etc - things you can get at your local supermarket that are ready to go and can be added to give your everyday meals a twist. Soy sauce, Tamari, Salsa, Coconut milk - all these ingredients can give an everyday hamburger, stir fry or pasta a whole new personality. Shop in ethnic stores and try some of these very delicious and inexpensive condiments. It will be fun - you will discover your international gourmet.