Kitchen Tool Essentials: Upgrade Your Cooking Game with These Must-Haves
Upgrade your cooking game with these must-have kitchen tool essentials. Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned chef, having the right tools can make a world of difference in your culinary adventures. From cutting and chopping to mixing and baking, these essential kitchen tools will streamline your cooking process and elevate your dishes to a whole new level.
Imagine effortlessly slicing through vegetables with a high-quality chef’s knife or effortlessly whisking up a fluffy omelet with a sturdy whisk. With the right tools in your arsenal, you’ll not only save time but also achieve professional-quality results.
In this article, we’ll explore the top kitchen tools that every home cook should have. From versatile kitchen gadgets to reliable cookware, these essentials will make you feel like a pro in the kitchen. So, whether you’re prepping a quick weeknight dinner or hosting a dinner party, make sure you have these kitchen tool essentials on hand. Get ready to upgrade your cooking game and unleash your inner chef.
Knives: The foundation of every kitchen
When it comes to kitchen tool essentials, knives are the foundation of every kitchen. A good set of knives can make all the difference in your cooking experience. There are several types of knives that every home chef should have in their collection:
1. Chef’s Knife: This versatile knife is a must-have in any kitchen. With its wide blade and sharp edge, it’s perfect for chopping, slicing, and dicing a variety of ingredients.
2. Paring Knife: This small knife is ideal for precision tasks such as peeling, trimming, and intricate cutting.
3. Bread Knife: A serrated bread knife is essential for slicing through crusty bread without crushing it.
Investing in high-quality knives is crucial for both safety and efficiency in the kitchen. Look for knives made from stainless steel or carbon steel for durability and sharpness. Remember to keep your knives sharp by regularly honing and sharpening them.
Having a knife sharpener on hand is also a good idea to maintain the edge of your blades. With the right knives, you’ll be able to tackle any recipe with ease and precision.
Wüsthof Knives
Wüsthof Classic Knife Block from Williams-Sonoma is a pricey investment – but one that you’ll use every single day. This knife set has everything you need! Personal recommendation: This knife set was a wedding gift, and we’ve used them daily for 18+ years!
Faster than a knife for Chopping…
Slicer, Dicer, Chopper & Spiralizer
This $25 Slicer, Dicer, Chopper gadget handles the work of a sous chef – julienne, chop, spiralize, and slice vegetables with one swift push. This is the BEST when you’re chopping veggies for fall soups (and summer salads and hash browns and everything else…)
I am queen of kitchen gadgets. Some go untouched (ugh, spiralizer, I had such grand intentions!) However, others I use surprisingly frequently. For instance, we’ve had the same pots & pans, knives, and even the same measuring cup since we got married a decade and a half ago. If you’re looking for gifts or just to find some items that make dinner prep a little easier and faster, here are the best kitchen gadgets worth buying.
Meal Prep Tips
Whether you’re a seasoned meal prep pro or just getting started, these tips can help make the process more efficient and enjoyable:
- Plan Ahead: Take some time to plan your meals for the week. Choose recipes that are easy to batch cook and can be stored well. My FAVORITE meal planning app is Paprika, which saves all of your recipes, creates grocery shopping lists, and build out a meal calendar.
- Invest in Quality Tools: Having the right kitchen gadgets can make meal prep much easier. Consider investing in items like a good set of knives, measuring cups, and storage containers.
- Batch Cooking: Cook large quantities of food at once and portion them out for the week. This can save time and ensure you have healthy meals ready to go.
- Stay Organized: Keep your kitchen well-organized to streamline the meal prep process. Label containers, keep frequently used ingredients within easy reach, and clean up as you go.
- Variety is Key: Prepare a mix of proteins, vegetables, and grains to keep your meals interesting throughout the week.
- Embrace Freezer Meals: Some dishes freeze well, so consider making extra portions to store for future busy days.
- Use Time-Saving Gadgets: Kitchen gadgets such as a food processor or immersion blender can significantly cut down on prep time for certain recipes.
By following these meal prep tips and utilizing the right kitchen gadgets, you can streamline your cooking process and make it easier to stick to your meal plan. Happy prepping!
As always, Good Taste Guide uses affiliate links to shop our recommendations.
Cool Kitchen Gadgets Worth Buying that make meal prep easier (and make great gifts, too!)
1. Best Measuring Cup
This measuring cup, a wedding gift from cousin Dorothy, recently caused a little tiff with my husband because he uses it every morning to measure his smoothie, which means it’s pretty much always in the dishwasher. It has the measurement on the inside so you can measure easily while you pour.
2. Corn Remover
This little gadget takes corn off the cob in seconds. You can pick it up in a grocery store (Lowe’s? Publix?) but it’s also available on Amazon.
3. Taco Stand
Makes taco nights a little more fun and keeps your tacos standing.
4. Apple Slicer
This is one of those must-have kitchen gadgets you didn’t know you needed until you have it. This handy apple slicer punches out perfect slices in seconds.
5. Lemon Squeezer
I never knew squeezing lemons and limes (see: the easiest margarita recipe) would require a gadget, but WOW. We use this all of the time. It holds the seeds and makes squeezing a lemon or lime a million times easier. Pro tip: buy lemons and limes from costco and keep in pretty bowls for decor + cooking / cocktail-making.
6. Skinny Measuring Spoons
Amazon delivered these to our house a few weeks ago (funny how that happens? They just keep sending packages to our house 🤷♀️) And these measuring spoons are great to fit in little jars. Plus, the dog chewed our other set and I had an incomplete set – like a 1/4 tablespoon and a teaspoon left.
7. Chop it like its hot
Cut up spaghetti or chicken with a few quick chops for your kids — or make a restaurant style chopped salad with these chopping scissors. The double blades cuts up everything quickly into small pieces.
8. Scraper / Chopper
Scoop up sliced veggies, garlic etc. from the cutting board mess-free while you’re cooking. I usually use one big cutting board so this handy tool lets me scoop it all up and move to the pot without lifting the large cutting board which can be clumsy!
9. Glass Storage Containers
This Snapware set from Costco is incredibly useful. The glass has such a substantial feeling, stacks well together in the refrigerator, and you can even use to heat your food in the oven or microwave.
10. Slicer, Dicer, Chopper & Spiralizer
This $25 gadget handles the work of a sous chef – julienne, chop, spiralize, and slice vegetables with one swift push.
11. Pancake Dispenser
For perfectly round pancakes. Pour the mix into the top, and squirt out the batter through the bottom.
And a few more cool kitchen gadgets worth buying (and one cookbook recommendation!) …
12. BEST YEAR-ROUND COOKBOOK
Williams-Sonoma One Pot of The Day Cookbook • Amazon
This is a massive collection (365 recipes, to be exact) of recipes featuring seasonal ingredients and styles – and easy to make during the week, using one pot. I have used this again and again and my favorites include braised chicken with beer and root vegetables, chicken pot pie, and savory beef stew in the crockpot. We use our Le Creuset pot (my absolute favorite) and our crockpot for most of these.
13. GET THE SCOOP
Make perfectly round cookies without getting batter ingrained in your fingernails with this mini scooper. Brilliant.
14. GET SO FRESH AND SO CLEAN. CLEAN.
Williams-Sonoma Dish Soap, Hand Soap & Lotion Set, Fleur de Sel • Williams-Sonoma
This makes an excellent gift. For me, please. The scent is fresh and pretty, and the soothing color and classy William-Sonoma label make this soap collection appropriate for powder rooms and kitchen.
15. BLEND SOUPS THE EASY WAY
Cuisinart CSB-75 Smart Stick 2-Speed Immersion Hand Blender, White • Cuisinart
Rather than awkwardly dumping steaming hot soup from a large pot into a small blender to purée, this will take the blender to your pot, which is a much easier way to get that perfectly blended soup.
16. POUR YOUR PART OUT
OXO Good Grips® Angled Measuring Cup • OXO
The Oxo Angled Measuring Cup is my go-to measuring cup because the measurements are printed on the inside of the cup, so you can easily pour and get the correct measurement without having to do the balancing act of pouring while holding the cup in the air to get the precise amount.
17. A LITTLE CHOP ’N GRIND
Cuisinart DLC-2A Food Processor, Mini Prep Plus • Cuisinart
For cooks that need to speed up food prep, this little food processor will chop up veggies, dips, sauces, and salads in seconds – and is machine washable! This is what I use to make my favorite bring-to-work lunch – chicken wrap with chopped greens and Goddess dressing.
18. THAT TONG TA-TONG TONG TONG
OXO Good Grips 9″ Tongs by OXO • OXO
Seems like a dumb addition to a list since every kitchen probably has a pair of tongs – but sometimes, one pair just isn’t enough. Metal tongs are useful for sautéing something like chicken that needs flipped, tossing a salad, picking up something you don’t want to touch (like raw chicken), and turning roasting veggies.
19. SALAD DRESSING MIXER
Chefn Chef’n Emulstir Salad Dressing Mixer • Chef’N
I like to make vinaigrette, and this little gadget stirs, blends and stores the salad dressing.
Foodies, read next:
- how to make the crispiest grilled cheese (and the wine to pair with it!)
- the best meal planning app that will get your organized: save recipes, add to your calendar, and create a grocery shopping list
- a cheap meal prep container is kind of like a bento box, so you’ll have lunch ready to take work
- fancy picnic lunch recipes, so you’re work lunches are less boring
- The whole family will love sheet pan nacho night
More cool kitchen gadgets + cookbooks:
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