So many people ask me what kitchen tools and cookware are must haves in the kitchen. While I seem to own way too many kitchen items (shhh, do not tell my husband I said that), I do think there are some must have kitchen tools and cookware that every home cook should have in their kitchen.
Kitchen Tools
- Wooden Spoons– Perfect for sautéing foods and stirring soups and sauces. They work on any type of pot or pan and they will not scratch your cooking surface.
- Tongs- Select a style of metal tongs with scalloped tips for a firm grip on foods, as well as a metal tong that has rubber at the end. Rubber tipped tongs are better for any non-stick surfaces or pots and pans that scratch with metal. Tongs are used for turning meats and vegetables, as well as serving foods. You can never have too many in my opinion, I may have half a drawer of them.
- Rubber Spatula- Look for a sturdy enough spatula to get through though things like dough or batters, but flexible enough to get in to jars to scoop things out. I like to use these for eggs and when I am baking.
- Stainless Steel Ladle- Look for a large “bowl” which will make it easy to serve soups and stews.
- Metal Spatula- A thin metal blade will allow you to get under foods like cookies, pancakes, and breaded chicken cutlets. A medium length blade works the best and is the most versatile.
- Fish Spatula- If you are a fish lover and make fish at least once a week, this is a must have in your kitchen. I have to say that I actually use mine for more than just fish, so it really is a win.
- Slotted Spoon- Pick a sturdy stainless steel slotted spoon. This is used for when you want to get food out but reserve the cooking liquid.
- Metal Serving Spoons- Stainless steel serving spoons in various sizes are needed in every kitchen. Whether you are simply having a family dinner or entertaining, a few of these are a must have.
- Whisk- A wire whisk is great for whipping eggs or for emulsifying salad dressing.
- Measuring Cups- I personally like to have a set of stainless steel measuring cups that can be put right in the four or coconut sugar bins, but I also like having the glass measuring cup for all of my liquids that need to be measured out.
- Measuring Spoons- Oval or rectangle shaped measuring spoons fit best in most spice jars.
- Chefs Knife- Look for an 8-9 inch black with a sturdy handle. There are many brands that are reasonably priced but this is one thing you do not want to skimp on. A good knife is important when it comes to being not only efficient in the kitchen but also the quality of the blade helps when it comes to cutting and chopping.
- Paring Knife- A small knife that is 3-4 inches and is great for intricate jobs like deveining shrimp or cutting citrus.
- Serrated Bread Knife- A serrated bread knife that is at least 8 inches long and has a long handle is best for cutting your breads and also is great for cutting tomatoes. Using a serrated knife to cut tomatoes works best and will not tear the tomato skin as as you cut in to it.
- Kitchen Shears- Look for a good pair with a fine tip and large handles. I also like kitchen shears that come apart so that they can be well cleaned. These are great for opening food packages, cutting herbs, or raw chicken when you a lazy and do not feel like cutting it.
- Garlic Press- I personally do not sure a garlic press, there is something so satisfying to me to crush and minced the garlic with a good knife, but my husband loves a good garlic press. Fresh garlic is always the way to go (yes, that means stop buying the garlic in the jar and already minced) and a garlic press will peel and crush it for you, making this a great time saver.
- Vegetable Peeler- This tool is not only great for peeling vegetables but also for peeling potatoes. Look for one that has a wide base so that is is sturdy. I have a lot hate with peelers, I just cannot seem to find one that I love, so I think I must have three sitting in my kitchen drawer.
- Can opener- Look for a can opener that will easily open cans and has a smooth edge to prevent yourself from cutting yourself.
- Colander- Great for draining potatoes you have boiled, pasta, or rinsing any type of fruits or vegetables.
- Blender-Although blenders come in all different price ranges, this is something that I did splurge on. I personally love my Vitamix. I use my blender used for smoothies yes, but when I boil cashews to make my dairy free sauces, this is key to getting it smooth and creamy. Worth the investment, we have had ours for over ten years.
- Food Processor- This is a kitchen item that does not have to be very pricey. Food processors are great for slicing and chopping large amounts, but also come with attachments for shredding vegetables. You can make nut butters, guacamole, dips, salsa and more in the food processor. I think I use mine this most when it come to making deviled eggs.
- Large Wood Cutting Board- This gets constant use in my kitchen, in fact I own three different size wooden cutting boards and love them. Use these to cut all your vegetables and fruits and cooked meats.
- Raw Meat Cutting Board- So I currently have two plastic cutting boards that I use for all of my raw meat needs. These can then go right in the dishwasher and you do not have to worry about cross contamination. With that being said, I am trying to get rid of all of my plastics in the kitchen- so I will be changing this at some point once I find a good alternative.
Cookware
- Stainless steel 8 inch skillet– This size skillet is perfect for cooking eggs or for sautéing vegetables for two.
- Stainless steel 12 inch skillet- For me, this is a go to in the kitchen. Anything can me made in this, from sautéing vegetables, to browning meatballs, or making a frittata.
- Stainless steel 3 quart saucepan- Just the right size pan to make pasta sauce, barbecue sauce, or heat up some leftover soup.
- Stainless steel 8 quart stockpot- Yes, of course this is great for boiling your grain free pastas, but also for boiling potatoes, making large batches of soup or chili.
For those of you that want to splurge, anything Le Creuset. Kidding, not kidding. OK so for this I will say that I LOVE my Le Creuset. I use all of my pieces and love the versatility as well as the fact that these pieces will last your lifetime and in fact, they come with a lifetime warranty. So, I thought I would at least list out some of my splurge items for those of you that cook more.
- Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast Iron Oval Gratin Baker- I use this for so much. From baking vegetables in it, to “cheesy scalloped” potatoes, baked apple crisp, or to roast a pork tenderloin.
- Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast Iron 5 quart Braiser- This is most definitely my most used. I pan sear in this, do a whole roasted chicken in this, fry chicken cutlets, make one pot meals, this list goes on. It is worth every penny.
- Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast Iron 5.5 Quart Dutch Oven- This is great for making stew, chili, soups, and short ribs. This size is great for up to about 6 people and will be a go to in your kitchen. If you have a bigger family or entertain often, then I would recommend
I know this list is quite big, but take the time to see which of these items you already own and then make a list of what you want to add to your kitchen over time. Having a well stocked kitchen does not happen over night and you may even find your own items that are not on this list that you just cannot live without!
XO, Kristin
