Over the years I’ve spent a lot of time in the kitchen making meals for my family and trying new recipes. And I’m always looking for the latest kitchen gadgets and utensils to make meal prep easier and faster. So, whether you’re just learning your way around a kitchen or you’re ready to audition for Top Chef, this list of must-have kitchen items will make it easy and enjoyable to whip up your next meal!
1. Silicone Kitchen Utensils
I swear by all of my silicone kitchen utensils! Nothing sticks to them so they are super easy to clean. Make sure your kitchen utensils list includes a spoon, spatula and whisk.
2. Kitchen Turntable (Lazy Susan)
Great for organizing spices and condiments.
3. Spoon Rest
Keep your countertops clean and neat. I keep one on each side of the stove.
4. Mini-Food Processor
The perfect size for whipping up sauces and marinades or chopping onions. Plus, it doesn’t take up much space.
5. Cutting Board
This one even has a slot for your cell phone so you can see your recipe while you prep.
6. Pizza Stone
If you love homemade pizza as much as my family does, you should try this pizza stone. Use it in the oven or on the grill to make pizza like a pro!
7. Pizza Cutter
Because it’s so much easier cut pizza with a pizza cutter!
8. Citrus Press
The easiest way to get the right amount of fresh squeezed juice for a cocktail or recipe.
9. Knife set
This color-coded knife set includes every knife you need in your arsenal plus a few cutting boards and kitchen scissors.
10. Zester
I prefer a fine zester this one because it gives off a nice fine zest that disappears in your recipe.
11. K-Mini Single Serve Keurig
Perfect if you have limited counter space or prefer a minimalist look in your kitchen.
12. Ninja Professional Plus Blender
This blender does everything! It comes with several attachments including a 64-ounce food processor bowl perfect for blending sauces, purees and chopping. Plus, it comes with 2 24-ounce cups and a blade for making single serving of your favorite smoothie or frozen drink.
13. KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer
I literally hugged my kitchen-aid mixer when it finally arrived! It’s a baker’s dream—especially when you catch it on sale.
14. Tongs
After dropping a piece of chicken in hot grease one too many times, I invested in several pairs of silicone kitchen tongs. And now I use them just about every time I cook.
15. Measuring Cups and Spoons
A must to accurately measure all of your dry and wet ingredients.
16. Mixing Bowls
I love a pretty, functional set of mixing bowls and these do not disappoint.
17. Can Opener
If you’ve ever cut your finger on the sharp edge of a can, you’re going to want to get this can opener. It has 5 opener functions that let you open and remove can lids without touching, open crown cap and screw top bottles and jars. It also opens tricky ring-pull lids.
18. Vegetable Peeler
Having a struggled with a subpar peeler a time or two, I can tell you that keeping a nice sharp peeler in your kitchen utensil arsenal will definitely save you time and stress.
19. Cake/Pie Server
Slicing and serving the perfect piece of cake or pie is so much easier when you use a cake/pie server.
20. Potato Ricer
This is the kitchen utensil you didn’t even know you needed. I discovered it by chance and my mashed potatoes have never creamier. Just drop your cooked potatoes in the basket and squeeze. Super easy and no more lumpy potatoes.
21. Meat and Turkey Baster
No more wondering what’s in the bulb of your baster. This one comes with a small brush for easy cleaning and it’s dishwasher safe.
22. Meat Thermometer
Now you will know if the turkey is really done!
23. Meat Mallet
Use this to flatten chicken breast or tenderize meat.
24. Ice cream Scoop
Scoop the sweet stuff with ease with this ice cream scoop. The ergonomic design takes the pressure off your wrist as you scoop so it requires less effort.
25. Garlic Peeler
You will not realize how much time you were wasting trying to peel garlic until you get a garlic peeler. It eliminates the tedious process of removing the skin from cloves of garlic.
26. Silicone Storage Bags
Use these dishwasher and freezer safe bag to store soups, sauces and more.
27. Apple Corer and Slicer
I like this one because you can knock out the whole apple in one motion.
28. Ladle
A ladle is a must-have when serving liquid dishes like soups, stews and punch.
29. Nutcracker
I usually buy nuts unshelled or chopped and generally use my nutcracker for crab cracking.
30. Rolling Pin
The classic rolling pin gets an upgrade! This adjustable rolling pin features a pastry-width measurement guide to ensure an even thickness throughout.
31. Kitchen Scissors
I reach for my kitchen scissor when I need to open food packages, trim the fat from meat, cut up whole a chicken or trim fresh herbs.
32. Silicone Basting and Pastry Brush
A basting brush will help you effortlessly glide liquids like marinades, sauces and butter over meats and pastries.
33. Microwave Popcorn Popper
A healthier alternative to bagged popcorn, this popcorn popper lets you make fresh popcorn without oil. You can even re-pop all those stubborn kernels left in the bottom of the bowl. It’s also BPA-free, dishwasher safe and collapsible so it doesn’t take up any space.
34. Air Fryer
This air fryer is a game changer! Super easy to use and produces crispy, crunchy fries, chicken and more. You get all of the flavor without the fat.
35. Griddle/Grill
An indoor grill is great for making pancakes, bacon, burgers, chicken and so much more. The large cooking surface lets you cook your bacon, eggs and sausage at the same time or a batch of pancakes faster than ever.
36. Grease Bags
I’m guilty of letting a pot of grease sit on my stove for days until an appropriate container becomes available so that I can dispose of it. But with these grease bags I can toss it as soon as it cools.
37. Silicone Dish Gloves
Great for you or your teenaged daughter who will only wash dishes with gloves—or is that just mine?
38. Air-Tight Storage Containers
When I re-organized my kitchen pantry, I used air-tight storage containers to give it a neat appearance and keep all my dry goods nice and fresh.
39. Slow Cooker
You can use your slow cooker to make everything from soups to to desserts. Just add your ingredients, set your time and your dish will be ready by the end of the day.
40. Copper Frying Pan
Nothing—and I mean nothing sticks to this pan. And you won’t find a pan easier to clean!
41. Produce Savers
The cutest little airtight containers to keep onions, lemons, tomatoes and other produce fresh.
42. Cast Iron Pan
The design and weight of a cast iron pan allows for it to heat evenly and maintain a high temperature. Perfect for frying, searing, baking or knocking out an intruder (emo). Take care of it properly and it will last forever.
43. Silicone Baking Mat
Silicone baking mats are re-usable, flexible, non-stick and very easy to clean.
44. Rub Away Stainless Steel Bar
This stainless-steel bar removes the smell of onions, garlic and other odors from your hands like magic.
45. Pie Pocket Press
Anytime I have leftover chili or chicken pot pie filling, I use it to make pie pockets. I freeze them and pop them in the oven for lunch. I also make my daughter’s favorite honey apple pie pockets. You can use to make empanadas as well.
46. Pie Crust Shield
Keep your pie crust from overbrowning and reduces edge spills.
47. Stainless Steel Straws
Sip on your favorite drink and save the planet at the same time!
48. Pastry Blender
So much easier to use than a fork when trying to work a solid fat like butter or shortening into flour when you are creating dough. You can also use it to cut other things like eggs for egg salad or avocados.
49. Stick Blender
A stick blender lets you blend soups, sauces and other ingredients right from the pot or bowl, eliminating the need to dirty another appliance.
50. Colander
Use it to drain water from pasta, fruits and veggies or to steam veggies.
Happy Cooking!
Be inspired,
