Kitchen Essentials: Must-Have Tools for Every Home Chef

When it comes to deciding on “Kitchen Essentials,” there are endless combinations of the things a chef needs to do their job. Setting up a kitchen is such a personal project, and every person, every chef, has their favorites. It’s easy to say that everything in a kitchen is essential for one reason or another, but when we pare it back to the “must-haves”, a few things stand out. 

This is a list of ours.

Kitchen Essentials

Cookware and Equipment

1. Stand Mixer 

For anyone who loves to bake or needs to mix ingredients thoroughly, this is the holy grail of baking. This KitchenAid stand mixer is our favorite for its powerful motor and versatile attachments. This will change your life and you’ll have it forever. A worthwhile investment that we can’t recommend enough.

2. Food Processor 

A food processor is a game changer. It makes quick work of chopping, slicing, and grating. We use it to make hummus, marinades, pestos, chimichurri, salsa, and more.  This Cuisinart food processor is powerful, durable, the perfect size, and easy to use with just two settings. Once you own one, you’ll realize how much easier it makes every recipe.

3. Stainless Steel Pan 

A high-quality stainless steel pan is essential for searing, sautéing, and deglazing. This All-Clad stainless steel pan heats evenly and is built to last a lifetime, making it a worthy investment for any kitchen.

4. Sheet Pans 

Sheet pans are incredibly versatile and can be used for roasting vegetables, baking cookies, organizing a recipe and roasting off a quick sheet-pan dinner. This set of heavy-duty aluminum sheet pans is durable, heats evenly, and is easy to clean.

5. Dutch Oven 

A Dutch oven is perfect for slow-cooking, braising, and making soups and stews. We recommend the Le Creuset Dutch oven for its superior heat retention and beautiful design. It’s a versatile piece that can go from stovetop to oven to table.

Kitchen Tools

6. Basic Knife Set 

A good knife set is the foundation of any kitchen. The three most essential knives are a chef’s knife, a paring knife, and a prep knife. This knife set includes a 3.5″ Paring Knife, a 5″ Prep Knife and  7″ Chef’s Knife, all at a reasonable price, ensuring you have the right tool for every cutting task.  

7. Cutting Board 

A reliable cutting board is crucial for food prep. We like this maple wood cutting board for its durability and ease of cleaning. It’s gentle on your knives, will last forever if properly cared for and provides a large surface area for chopping and slicing.  

8. Mixing Bowls 

Graduated mixing bowls are a kitchen staple, used for everything from mixing ingredients to serving salads. This 10 piece set of glass mixing bowls includes a wide range of sizes, stacks for easy storage, and makes mise en place a breeze. 

9. Food Storage Containers 

Keeping ingredients and leftovers fresh is key to a well-organized kitchen. We’ve tested many different containers over the years, and these airtight food storage containers are by far our favorite! They’re airtight, leak-proof, durable, stackable, microwave safe, and the bases are even oven safe! 

10. Measuring Cups & Spoons

While a pinch of this and a pinch of that can often be a great way to cook, accurate measurements are crucial for successful recipes especially when it comes to baking. This set of pyrex liquid measuring cups are stackable and microwavable, and the oxo measuring cups and spoons are precise, easy to clean and store, and super durable. Don’t forget, you need a set for dry and a set for wet.  These get used every day. 

Honorable Mentions

11. Microplane 

A Microplane is a must-have for grating cheese, zesting citrus, and getting garlic to melt into recipes. This microplane is incredibly sharp and durable, making it an essential tool for adding the perfect finishing touch to your dishes.  We love the comfortable handle on this one. 

12. Immersion Blender  

An immersion blender is perfect for making soups, sauces, and smoothies directly in the pot or container. We recommend this Breville immersion blender because it’s powerful, easy to use, and easy to clean.

13. Rice Cooker

Do you need a rice cooker? Most people say no, until they get one. Cooking rice perfectly every time is effortless with a rice cooker. It even keeps your rice warm until you’re ready to eat! The AROMA Digital Rice Cooker is a simpler and affordable option, while the Yum Asia Sakura Rice Cooker offers a variety of cooking functions, making it a versatile and a high-quality choice.

14. Mandoline

A mandoline is ideal for slicing thinly and uniformly to maximize textures for recipes like slaws and salads where thinner is better.  This adjustable mandoline offers multiple thickness settings and a safety guard for ease of use.

By equipping your kitchen with these kitchen essentials, you’ll be well on your way to cooking like a pro. Each of these tools has been chosen for their quality, durability, and versatility, ensuring they will be valuable additions to your kitchen for years to come. Let us know your favorite tools in the kitchen in the comments.  Happy cooking!

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