All The Postpartum Kitchen Equipment You'll Need

There isn’t any particularly specialized equipment beyond what basic Chinese cooking calls for, but here is a list of necessary items and an online affiliate link as well for you. 

• Wok; I really like this wok. It is easy to clean, has given me the best wokhei of my life, and is inexpensive. Don’t pay more than $40 for your wok. That would shame everyone’s ancestors. 

• Lid for wok; this might seem obvious but many woks don’t come with one and you need it for cooking and steaming! Buy a glass one or one with some glass, so you can see what’s happening inside. This will cost you about the same amount as the wok, annoyingly. (Or buy this one that comes with a lid!)

• Steamer rack; just a metal one from the commissary that fits into your wok will do, this should cost about $15. If you really want to splurge, you can also buy one of those claws that lifts your steaming pan, about $10. 

• Steaming pan; again, a plain stainless steel one (this is a 6 pack but you can use them for camping) from the commissary that fits into your wok will do, this should cost about $15. 

• Chef’s knife; there is a lot about knives out there so I won’t delve into it. But in case you need a recommendation, I prefer the 8” Shun Chef’s Knife for its shorter length, which is easier to use at my height. Remember, buy it for yourself. Gifting or receiving as a gift a knife is said to cleave the relationship! Why, yes, I did buy my ex a bread knife. Sorry not sorry.

• Glass food storage containers; I always portioned food into servings complete with rice and blanched vegetables because parents often don’t eat at the same time in the first three months after birth, so having microwaveable meals that didn’t require any assembly was highly convenient. Because they are so heavily used, in and out of the freezer, refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, I strongly recommend glass containers over plastic. 

• Optional: 2L clay pot for Black Vinegar Pork Knuckles and Eggs (see Recipe in Week 3); this is a traditional mainstay of 坐月, and requires a dedicated clay pot as the vinegar will corrode any metal or non-stick surfaces and also needs to be kept and reboiled for 4-6 weeks. You can gift the pot to another new parent afterwards! 

• Optional: pressure cooker; I like my 8 quart Instant Pot because congees and soups can be offloaded to it, freeing up space on my stove and attention in my mind. Set it and forget it! I do recommend a large one because you’ll often be dropping an entire bird or several pork bones in it, alongside liquid for a soup. Try to borrow one for the postpartum period, if you can. Or look on your local Craigslist or FB Marketplace for used options. Just make sure the pressure valve works. 

• Optional: food processor; this will save you a bit of time in food prep. Again, try to borrow one for the postpartum period, if you can. Or look on your local Craigslist or FB Marketplace for used options.  
  
  

With the above, you should be well-prepared for postpartum cooking! For 3-months worth of traditional Asian recipes from breakfast to bone-broth soups and herbal teas, check out our Tangerine Peels Postpartum Recipe Course.