If I Had to Start Over, I’d stick to these Essential Kitchen Tools
I started out my early adulthood as a terrible cook. Actually, we could trace that back even further when my mom would entrust me with baking cookies only to have half of them turn out nearly burnt. After a while she just had me mix them up while she baked them herself.
When I met my husband, he had a kitchen timer. Genius. Why had no one in my home ever thought of setting a timer to remind us when the cookies were ready to come out of the oven?
These days, most of us have timers built into ovens or microwaves so having a stand-alone timer is not really necessary. So are many of the other gadgets I’ve accumulated over the years as I tried to improve my cooking.
Garlic peeler and presses? Nah, just use a chef’s knife.
Pickle claw? Um, really cool looking and fun but totally unecessary.
Folding omelet pan? Nope. Just use a non-stick skillet.
Even a food processor, which I though was so essential sits in the cupboard for months at a time.
So what is essential? Here is my list of kitchen essentials.
You can find a shoppable version of this list at my Benable profile.
A good Set of Pans
I waited too long to invest in a good set of pans. I had been gifted a set early on and felt guilty about getting rid of them in favor of the All-Clad set I had been drooling over for years. Finally after 24 years, I splurged. I got the D3 Basic set and then supplemented it with a few different sizes of non-stick frying pans, also by All-Clad. No regrets other than not doing this sooner. I feel like these will be my forever pans.
A good Set of Knives
You can spend a lot on a knife set, but J.A. Henckels has an entry level set of knives that doesn’t break the bank. I have had this basic set for years and with a little touch up with the included hone every now and again, it still does a great job. A basic set should at minimum include a chef’s knife, a paring knife, and a serrated knife (for cakes and breads).
A set of Cutting Boards
I love a gorgeous bamboo cutting board as much as the next person, but for everyday cooking I want something I can throw in the dishwasher. I am a stickler for food safety and I like running my cutting boards through the high heat power wash. Especially if raw meat was involved. A set of polypropylene boards in different sizes, with a non-slip grip fit the bill just right.
Multi-purpose Small Appliances
You can make a case for one tool, one job, but when you have limited kitchen space or budget, appliances that do double (or triple) duty are a great solution.
One essential is a blender. We use this nearly daily for smoothies or frappes. On the other hand I rarely use my food processor. Fortunately Ninja now offers a set that has both blender and food processor attachments included.
The second essential is my Cuisinart Air Fryer. Which also is a little oven. And a toaster. And a broiler. And a warming oven. And a convection oven. So, even though it does take up a little counter space, it gets used daily for various functions.
Essential Utensils
Measuring spoons and cups are essential, but I don’t have a particular attachment to any one brand.
I do however have an attachment to my OXO Vegetable Peeler. I got one as a wedding gift and after 20 years, one day it disappeared. Forced to use an older non-OXO peeler set me quickly looking to replace my OXO. Yep. It’s that good. Easy to hold, smooth cutting.
Another utensil I wouldn’t want to be without is a silicone spatula. Every tried to scrape all of the batter out of a bowl? This will do it efficiently and thoroughly. Plus, it is heat safe so you can use it for stirring stuff in a hot pan. And best of all, throw it in the dishwasher.
Salad Spinner
They say bagged washed greens don’t need to be washed, but I like to anyways. A salad spinner allows you to wash in the bowl, rinse and drain, and then spin them dry. I have tried many over the years but I keep coming back to the OXO, which I think was one of the originals in this space.
You can find a shoppable version of this list at my Benable profile.
