What are your *essential* cooking tools? Bare-bones only!

- stock pot
- normal sized pot
- bigger pan
- knife
- spatula
- ladle
- cookie sheet
- wire mesh strainer

Oh man. I am going to suck at this because I love my tools. I'll limit myself to 5.

1. Dutch Oven
2. Sharp Knife
3. Mortar and Pestle
4. Food Processor
5. Whisk

1. cast iron skillet
2. medium saucepan
3. WHISK!
4. metal spatula
5. cutting board and my trusty santoku, freshly sharpened of course

honorable mention: metal mixing bowl, strainer

I suspect all different definitions of "bare bones" here. For me:

Utility knife & chopping block
Wok
pyrex measuring jug
rubber spatula
Steamer

Mobile phone
Take-out menu

- lecreuset cooking pot (the big, round and fairly deep ones with a lid that can be used on the hob or in the oven)

- kitchen devils all purpose knife

- something hygienic to cut foods on (separate ones for veggies and meat)

- wooden spoon

- spatula

can't think of anything else... except a microwave for reheating leftovers, and containers and a fridge for keeping leftovers in and a fridge-freezer for food storage... but none of that is actual cooking (IMO reheating stuff =/= cooking)

---

now for my palaeoanthropology nerd answer (you wanted the bare bones and absolute basics...):

- dry wood and dry kindling for the fire

- flint and iron pyrite to start the fire

- flint hand axe or similar for butchering the meat

- flint tool for whittling green sticks to make skewers

- large flat stones to heat in the fire and use as a surface to cook food on

Mobile phone
Take-out menu

haha sounds like my ex! Literally had NO dishes except beer glasses and my own wine glasses.

Sorry I just noticed you wrote TOOLS, I'm gonna have to change my answer...standby (that was disrespectful and I did not mean it like that at all)

Okay when I cook, which is seldom these days I use the following very very often

Large saute pan
Toaster oven
Stove
Oven
Stoneware baking sheet
Food Chopper
"Everything" knife. (one knife that cuts everything).
Chopping board

Heat. All other things are optional.

Pot
Skillet
Ladle
Spatula
Knife
Mixing bowls
Measuring cups/spoons
Whisk
Spoon

Mine:

- cast iron skillet
- wok
- medium-sized stainless steel saucepan
- big stainless steel saucepan
- cook's knife
- spatulas - 1 flat wooden, 1 steel with slats
- roasting pan

bonus:
- garlic press
- skimmer

I would add cast iron dutch oven and a 16 - 24 quart stock pot and remove the garlic press as its not needed just a gimmick

outside of that minor change, this is all that is needed period if you cant cook something with this equipment you do not belong in a kitchen imo! ;p

Kitchen scale
Measuring spoons
Non-stick frying pan
Non-stick saucepan
Chef's knife
Knife sharpener
Cutting board
Large spoon
Bowl

OR sometimes in place of the non-stick pans: crockpot

I'm single and cook only for myself. Lets see, for my daily meals I use the following in actual meal preparation:

small or medium cast iron pan
medium pot with lid
skinny plastic spatula
utility knife
fork
spoon
measuring cup
coffee grinder
coffee press
ETA: ** Toaster! ** I just moved, and I was all sadface with my non-toasted bagels until I unpacked my toaster.

I wouldn't consider it essential for cooking, but I am very grateful that my roommate has a kitchen scale. I never imagined how often I would use it!

I love how so many people here are also fans of cast iron.

Large pot and small pot, with lids. Sharp large knife, cutting board. Spatula. Can opener. I could make that work.