[vc_row equal_height=”yes”][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][vc_facebook type=”button_count”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][vc_tweetmeme share_via=”YinzBuy”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″ css=”.vc_custom_1606731333432{margin-top: -5px !important;}”][vc_pinterest][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]Many people enjoy the idea of cooking at home. I personally cook at home because it keeps me eating healthier than takeout. I also know that it can be intimidating to get started, especially when you’re just beginning. Luckily, once you have all the essential kitchen tools at home, everything else gets easier – I promise. Knowing these utensils beforehand will help you get started properly.
There are various utensils a home cook can choose from. This guide will help narrow down the kitchen essentials and other useful tools, depending on the kind of home cook you want to be. Based on your cooking interests, your utensil options may vary.
Read on to learn about the essential kitchen tools. We’ll start with the basic tools that every kitchen should have. It doesn’t matter whether it’s your first bachelor kitchen or if you’re a seasoned chef. Then, we’ll dive deeper into some “nice to haves” for the budding chef. Finally, we’ll talk about some of the coolest kitchen gadgets out there to help you expand your culinary repertoire. No matter what your level and needs, we’re sure to have you covered![/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
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Kitchen Tools – The Basic Essentials
There are basic kitchen tools that all home cooks will need, regardless of skill level. Some may seem obvious, yet even obvious choices come with different designs. When you know what you’re looking for in the basics, you can choose the best kitchen utensils for your needs.
What are the kitchen basic essentials? These are the standard utensils seen in most kitchens. You can get by in your kitchen with these tools alone if you must. The basics include, the following utensils:
- Knife set
- Cutting board
- Spatulas
- Frying pans
- Baking sheets
- Pots
- Can opener
- Cooking spoons and ladles
- Mixing or prep bowls
These basic kitchen tools are just that – basic. Any home cook will want all, if not most, of what has been listed so far. I’ve been cooking for many years, and I can tell you I still use all of these kitchen tools on almost a daily basis. It’s a great go-to list of essentials, particularly for your first kitchen.
Let’s dive in a little further to what to look for in each of these kitchen gadgets. You’ll find a variety of options out there, so we’ll try to help you understand what you might like best.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Knife Sets for the Home Cook
One of the most important basic kitchen tools is a proper knife set. Knife sets come in many shapes and sizes. They contain a variety of blades and suit many different cooking styles and skill levels. Most basic knife sets contain the following types of knives:
- Chefs. This type of knife is well-rounded. Chop vegetables, nuts, and herbs, from rough to a fine mince with this utensil.
- Slicing. Another general purpose knife, the slicing knife is used for long cutting needs. Most often this is carving meat, and it’s great at cutting cake too.
- Paring. A much shorter, smaller type of blade adorns the paring knife. Use for peeling vegetables in lieu of a peeler. It’s also great for cutting smaller items, like coring and slicing an apple.
- Steak. This variety of knife generally comes in quantities of 6 or 8. They’re most often used for eating by cutting your cooked food into bite sized pieces. However, they can cut softer items in a pinch as well, such as a block of cheese.
Slightly more robust sets may include other types of blades, with more specific uses, such as:
- Scissors/Shears. General purpose kitchen shears are used for cutting herbs and trimming meats.
- Santoku knife. A thick blade that is ideal for even, controlled slices. Perfect for thin-sliced meats and even vegetable rounds.
- Utility knife. Longer than a paring knife, but shorter than a slicing knife. This blade is suitable for cutting and good for an “in between” size.
- Sharpening tool. This metal rod is used to sharpen a blade that has dulled from use.
- Bread knife. A serrated blade designed for cutting delicate foods. It’s ideal for loaves of bread and soft produce, like tomatoes. It will cut using a saw motion to prevent crushing.
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What Knife Set Should I Choose?
When you’re looking for just a basic starter set, make sure it has at least the first four options we mentioned. However, grabbing a block that has more knives isn’t a bad idea either. It may help avoid having to purchase additional kitchen tools down the line and is more likely to grow along with your culinary abilities.
You’ll find that knife sets range greatly in price as well. Very basic starter sets like this Farberware one will run you under $20. The German-designed Henkels, meanwhile, will set you back nearly $250. The difference is largely in the quality of the blades and the longevity you can expect from the set. Personally, I have a middle of the road Emojoy knife set coming in at about $65. It has everything I need, is affordable, and I’ve been using it for years with no complaints.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Choosing the Right Cutting Boards for Your Kitchen
It is important for home cooks to keep cutting boards handy. A cutting board is used so that you’re not cutting directly on the countertops. Doing so will dull the blades quicker, and may even create chips in the blade. It can even cause permanent damage to your counters – no thanks!
That’s why I reach for my cutting board every time I’m preparing food. Cutting boards are made of various materials, though the most popular are:
- Plastic
- Wood
For beginner home cooks, plastic is usually the best option. While wood is a good material, it can erode with overuse. Plus, they’re harder to clean which tends to make them less sanitary. In my house, if it can’t go in the dishwasher, I don’t buy it. Plastic cutting boards aren’t as beautiful aesthetically, but are tough, and most are dishwasher safe. Always check manufacturer specifics to make sure, or you risk warping the board.
No matter what type of board you choose, it’s always recommended to get two. One is designated for meats, and the other for “everything else”. This helps avoid cross contamination. Alternatively, choose an option such as this wood board with quick change mats. You’ll get a wood board, with plastic sheets that can be assigned to different foods. They’re easy to clean as well![/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Why Spatulas are Essential Kitchen Utensils
Spatulas are a crucial utensil for any home cook. In fact, I have at least seven of them in my own kitchen. They come in various shapes and sizes, with different uses depending on the style. Spatulas can be made of various materials, usually the following:
- Plastic
- Metal
- Rubber / Silicone
- Wood
The broad, flat type of spatulas are made for flipping burgers and stirring or breaking up meats. These are most often metal or a rigid plastic material, due to the weight of the foods they work with.
The other type of spatula looks more like a “blade” on the end of a vertical handle. This style is used for scraping materials out of containers and pots, preventing waste. A flexible material is best here, so you’ll most often see plastic or silicone being used.
Plastic spatulas are the best option to start for home cooks. They’re easy to clean (hello dishwasher), making them sanitary. They also won’t damage non-stick surfaces in your pans when cooking, like metal can. For your bowl and jar scraping needs, a silicone set is a versatile option. A few different shapes can be very helpful, depending if you’re scraping mayo from the container or a mixing bowl of cake batter.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
You Need Frying Pans in Your Kitchen
Good frying pans are an essential tool for a home cook. Most commonly, these pans range from 8” to 12” diameters. Having a number of differently sized frying pans is helpful for cooking a variety of foods. The most common frying pans are:
- Metal skillets
- Non-stick
Metal skillets are usually made of stainless steel or cast iron. These materials are best suited for cooking proteins, usually for searing. Some home cooks may prefer stainless steel over cast iron for general use, as they require less maintenance. Cast iron is good for more intricate searing methods such as blackening.
Non-stick frying pans are useful for cooking products that stick to regular frying pans easily, such as eggs. These frying pans are also fine for general use, as long as you bear in mind that they are delicate. The non-stick material is sensitive to the kitchen tools you use while cooking. As stated above, do not use metal utensils when cooking with a non-stick pan. Metal will scrape the non-stick coating away over time, eliminating that aspect of the pan.
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Baking Sheets for the Home Cook
Not every item can be cooked properly on a stove. Baking sheets are a necessity when it comes to cooking with your oven. Having different sizes of baking sheets is also helpful, as they are used for cooking anything from proteins to deserts. I keep a pair of large ones for baking cookies, so that I can rotate batches through the oven. However, I also have a mid-sized one that I use for roasting veggies or making a quick sheet pan dinner with fish or chicken.
Baking sheets are most commonly made of metal, though you can find stone and ceramic as well. Aluminum is a top choice, since it distributes heat well during cooking. There are non-stick baking sheets available, though standard aluminum baking sheets are just as good for general use. Simply coat them with butter, oil, or pan spray to replace the effect the non-stick coating provides. Alternatively, line them with parchment paper, aluminum foil, or a silicone baking mat instead if you don’t want the extra washing.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Pick the Perfect Pots
Cooking pots are essential to the home cook for boiling pasta, or making sauces and soups. They are found in similar materials to frying pans:
- Stainless steel
- Copper
- Cast iron
- Non-stick
Much like frying pans, different materials are good for different cooking methods. Stainless steel is perfect for boiling, while non-stick pots keep your sauces from adhering. Keeping a variety of cooking pots with different materials will help here.
Having different-sized pots handy is also useful. Recipes will often require pots of a certain size (measured in quarts), so having the properly sized pots will make for a better cooking experience.
I also love multi-functional pots such as this one with a built-in strainer. I use this type for pasta and potatoes, saving me from having a separate colander.
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Add a Can Opener to Your Kitchen Utensils
Many staple cooking products come in cans, and not all cans have convenient pull tabs. There is very little more frustrating than reaching for a can that you cannot open. That’s why keeping a can opener handy is important for a home cook.
Can openers can be simple or complex. Basic handheld can openers are great, but will require more muscle than their automatic counterparts. Automatic models such as the Kitchen Mama electric can opener work on their own at the push of a button. No matter what style you choose, investing in a decent can opener is an asset to any kitchen.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Different Choices in Cooking Spoons and Ladles
Spoons and ladles come in an assortment of shapes and sizes, and are a staple tool for home cooks. These kitchen utensils are made from various materials, the most popular being:
- Plastic
- Silicone
- Metal
- Wood
Plastic or silicone spoons are usually the best choice for beginner home cooks. I personally use silicone, for a few reasons. They come in a variety of colors, have incredible heat resistance, and are dishwasher safe. Some, however, may prefer metal or wooden material. Olive wood is a popular spoon material for home cooks, for example.
Ladles for soups and sauces are most often found in plastic, silicone, or metal. You won’t generally see wooden ones, though there are of course exceptions. Choosing a versatile set like these Nessie ladles allows you to have different sizes on hand for any dish!
As with any kitchen utensils, remain aware when using metal spoons and ladles in non-stick pots and pans to prevent scraping the non-stick material.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Every Home Cook Needs Mixing and Prep Bowls
Mixing and/or prep bowls are another versatile, well-used kitchen staple. They’re used for a variety of kitchen tasks and therefore available in multiple sizes. Use them for mixing cake batter, preparing a salad, seasoning diced vegetables, marinating meat, and more.
Most often, you’ll find bowls available in two materials:
- Stainless Steel
- Plastic
While wooden bowls exist, they’re less popular as they’re harder to clean and maintain. Choose a versatile set that meets your needs. I like nesting sets that can be stored stacked inside one another for space saving. I also like having lids, so I don’t need to fight with plastic wrap to secure the contents.
For metal mixing bowls, a non-skid base keeps your bowls from sliding around. Personally, I prefer plastic mixing bowls instead. These are both microwave and dishwasher safe, which only expands the things I can use them for.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Kitchen Tools for the Budding Chef
There are many kitchen tools that are not immediately essential, yet are still helpful to keep. These items tend to go beyond just the basics. Many home cooks may not think of these items right away, but will likely want to invest in them once the recipes start getting more adventurous. Various items of this nature include:
- Ricers
- Zesters
- Thermometers
- Blenders
- Mixers
- Food Processors
These items are meant for specialized uses in the kitchen. Having any of these kitchen tools available will help home cooks prepare a wider variety of food types. They’re a great way to get more adventurous in your cooking, helping you add utensil versatility. As soon as I have a kitchen with more space and storage, I always want to add new, interesting kitchen gadgets to see what I can create![/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Use Ricers for Smoother Food Textures
Ricers are small tools designed to “rice” certain food items. It achieves this by pushing cooked food through a number of small holes. It’s a manual press, using a flat foot to drive the food out the bottom.
It’s most often used for veggies or starches, creating some of the smoothest mashed potatoes you’ll ever have! Many recipes also call for a ricer to create casserole toppings. Remember, if you smash the veggies into smaller bits, they’re easier to hide from your picky kids too.
Keeping a ricer will enable home cooks to be versatile for various recipe needs. Some models even have interchangeable discs that allow for different shapes and sizes of food output. If you enjoy casseroles, mashed potatoes, or other oven baked dishes, you’ll love adding a ricer to your kitchen arsenal.
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Add Zing with Zesters
Many recipes will require zest rinds from certain foods, most notably citrus fruits. It’s an important tool for a baker and a cocktail aficionado to have on hand, though you’ll use it in general cooking as well. I subscribed to one of those home meal delivery kits for a while, and the zester was probably my most used utensil! The primary produce used for zesting is:
- Lemons
- Limes
- Oranges
Zesters come in many sizes, depending on what you are zesting and how it needs to be zested. Many standard zesters come with single-hole rows, while others are designed more like graters.
While each type will zest your fruits, they will produce a different size shaving depending on the holes. I use the standard type myself as they’re inexpensive and get the job done. However, I also keep an actual grater on hand for bigger jobs. It all comes down to preference and what you most often make with it.
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Thermometers are Essential Kitchen Utensils for the Home Cook
Cooking thermometers are an important kitchen utensil to have available. They’re most often used for cooking proteins, as meats need to be cooked to a certain temperature for food safety.
Let’s take poultry for example. Poultry (such as chicken) needs to be around 165℉ in its center for it to be fully cooked. If the temperature is below that, then it is undercooked. You never want to eat undercooked chicken as it can lead to sickness, such as Salmonella.
A quick jab with a thermometer is an easy way to put your mind at ease about your cooking. Just stick your meat thermometer into the thickest part of your protein, or nearest to the bone to check the temperature. The one I use even has the recommended cooking temperatures printed on the outside of the sleeve so I never forget.
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Blenders are the Perfect Kitchen Gadget for Fun or Healthy Foods
Blenders are another versatile tool that make a great addition to your kitchen utensils. Of course, you can make a mean margarita with one. However, they’re also great for pureeing soups and sauces to make them smooth. They’ll also open up a world of smoothies and other fun drinks to create and explore.
There are a few different types of blender to consider:
- Stick
- Portable
- Countertop (freestanding)
A stick blender is a small, handheld blender that can be placed directly in the cooking pot. It’s perfect for use in making silky smooth soup! Portable blenders are a compact unit, perfect for small space situations. The blended mix is easy on the go, making it ideal for protein shakes at the gym, breakfast smoothies, and more. Countertop blenders are designed to pull out the real power. These crush through ice for mixed drinks, but can handle the other tasks their small counterparts can as well. In fact, I use mine for blending applesauce![/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Every Aspiring Home Baker Needs a Mixer
Mixers are good for, well, mixing. They’re an alternative way to combine ingredients that can save some serious hand strain. Most commonly, mixers are the kitchen gadget you’ll turn to for creating bases like dough. If a home cook likes making pizza or homemade bread, a mixer enables the creation of fresh dough.
They also excel in the world of desserts. From mixing cake batter, cheesecakes, to cookie dough, a mixer is incredibly useful. Since they also spin much faster than your hand can, you can turn out whipped cream or meringue toppings in no time.
You’ll predominantly find mixers in handheld or stand varieties. The main difference is the amount of attention you’ll need to pay. Handhelds need to be manually moved around and held up. The stand mixer does all the work for you – just dump your ingredients in and let it go.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Speed Up Your Meal Prep with Food Processors
Food processors are another versatile and useful kitchen tool. Different forms of chopping blades fit into the unit to allow a lot of functions. You can use these to make salsa, hummus, nut butters, and all kinds of delicious items. I’ve also used it to shred cheese and zucchini. The blade will help bring together pasta and pastry dough too. It brings a lot of functions into one package.
The biggest choice in picking out a food processor is capacity. The bowl is rated to hold a certain number of cups of food, and that’s what you’re limited to. If you’re only cooking for a couple people or limited on space, an 8-cup may be ideal. For batch cooking, large families, and those who entertain, a 10 to 14-cup would be a better choice.
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Kitchen Tools for Modern Cooking
Once you’re more comfortable in your cooking or start to have more space in your kitchen, you’ll likely look to branch out. You could jump right in to playing with your food and learn more about molecular gastronomy. If you’re not ready to get that involved, there are a variety of modern kitchen appliances that offer time saving alternatives or unique cooking methods to explore. This opens up a world of new flavors, recipes, and creations.
Here are some of the most popular modern kitchen tools, favored by home cooks:
- Air fryers
- Crockpots
- Instant pots
- Dutch ovens
- Sous vide cookers
- Smokers
These are all household sized appliances that are readily available to the home cook. While you can certainly get by day to day without them, they all offer unique and different cooking methods. If you’re looking to expand your cooking tools arsenal, these are the way to go.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Air Fryers are Ideal for Cooking Frozen and Other Foods
Air fryers are fairly new to the scene, but have taken the world by storm. They are, at heart, a small but powerful convection oven. While they may operate like an oven, they cook food with a similar consistency to deep frying in oil. The difference here is that air fryers use little to no oil in cooking.
Their rising popularity is largely attributed to the enjoyment of fried foods with less fat. You’ll use little to no oil in cooking, yet produce a golden, crispy result. As an added bonus, there’s no pesky oil disposal to worry about during cleanup!
These great little fryers are perfect for home use. You’ll find a range of different capacities available. There’s compact units, such as this 3.2 quart space saving option. We love this Ninja Foodi dual basket option, with an 8 quart total capacity. I cook burgers in one side and fries in the other at different temperatures, and they finish at the same time. Air frying has become so mainstream, it’s even available in air fryer kitchen ranges now. Maybe put that on my list for the next major appliance upgrade. For home cooks who like deep frying without the mess (or health concerns), an air fryer is certainly a useful kitchen appliance to use.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Crockpots Let You Cook Your Meals All Day
Crockpots are designed for slow cooking. If your schedule is crazy like mine, I love to pop dinner in, and let it cook itself all day. It’s a versatile kitchen appliance that can be used for:
- Roasts
- Chicken
- Ribs
- Soups
- Casseroles
- Cake
- BBQ (like pulled pork)
- Dips
- And much more!
Slow cooking with a crockpot makes meats more tender, getting that “fall off the bone” effect easily. It’s also not as prone to drying out the meat, so you can truly “set it and forget it”. I like bringing a crockpot to parties and potlucks too. It’s a great way to bring a hot dish that stays warm, and you can serve right out of it. If you are a home cook who enjoys slow-cooked meals, then a crockpot is a must-have![/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Instant Pots Combine Kitchen Gadgets into One Useful Appliance
The instant pot is a fun kitchen gadget that combines a pressure cooker, slow cooker, and more into one unit. It brings techniques that a restaurant chef would use into an easy to operate home device. They’ve achieved great popularity with home chefs due to their versatility. Here’s just some of the great things you can do with an instant pot:
- Steam rice
- Sauté vegetables
- Slow cook anything
- Make homemade yogurt
- Sterilize containers
- Cook eggs
- Bake a cake
- Create soup or broth
- Prepare oatmeal or porridge
- Perfectly cook beans and tough grains
- Sous vide
- Whip up a side of mac and cheese
- Much more!
Since the instant pot utilizes pressure cooking technology, it’s also capable of cooking very quickly. With the contents under pressure, meats can go from frozen to slow cooked tenderness in a fraction of the time. It can be an incredibly handy gadget to add to your kitchen arsenal.
With a little bit of experimenting, you’ll have a time-saving tool that can prepare a variety of foods. Every time I forget to take the meat out of the freezer, I reach for an instant pot instead of ordering takeout! We even found this Star Wars Stormtrooper Instant Pot to add a little Force to your kitchen décor!
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Dutch Ovens are the Unsung Kitchen Essential for the Home Cook
Dutch ovens are a kitchen utensil that combines the concept of a frying pan with a pot. They allow you to sear meat, and then pop it right in the oven. In fact, it’s great for soups, stews, frying, braising, caramelizing, and more.
The heavy material of a Dutch oven makes it suited for both stove top and oven usage. In fact, we love it so much we’ve created an entire guide on why you need a Dutch oven in your kitchen arsenal.
It’s a great choice for a versatile piece of kitchen equipment that can fill a lot of “niches” in your cooking repertoire.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Use Sous Vide Cookers to Get Perfect Temperature Meats
The process of using a sous vide cooker requires vacuum sealing your food. After sealing, the item is placed in water where it will slowly cook to a specific temperature.
These cookers have gained increasing popularity due to their ability to deliver perfectly cooked meats. Since the sous vide will keep the water temperature consistent, it results in a uniform cook. With finicky meats or seafood that can easily be overcooked, a sous vide is a great way to avoid this.
If you’re in the same boat as I am, you don’t want to watch over the pot for hours as your food cooks. Luckily, there are sous vide units equipped with Bluetooth technology. Simply pop it in, and monitor the progress from your smartphone. Now, that’s cooking innovation!
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Enjoy Barbeque Flavors Anytime with Meat Smokers
Smokers are popular tools for home cooks who love to barbecue. Most smokers are usually kept outdoors, though there are some in-home options as well. If you want to learn all about getting started with a meat smoker, check out our guide on meat smoking.
This innovative kitchen tool slow-cooks using smoke over several hours, giving your BBQ that perfect smoky flavor. While it’s most often used on meats, it’s possible to smoke cheese, vegetables, and other foods too.
Smokers specialize in the “low and slow” cooking method, creating that same fall off the bone effect you get with a crockpot. The difference, however, is the use of wood chips to impart a variety of different smoky flavors. For any home cook interested in a perfect BBQ experience, cooking with a smoker is a major plus.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Other Specialized Kitchen Appliances
These one-off specialty appliances typically perform one or two functions extremely well. Enjoy a few links to our reviews and favorite unique appliances and tools!
- Owning a kitchen scale provides you invaluable information on your cooking and diet. We reviewed the best smart kitchen scales and determined our favorites in various categories.
- With this Bear Greek Yogurt machine, you can quickly make yogurts, cheeses, and even fermented wine!
- Prove that you’re the very best with this Pokémon waffle maker!
- A Rollie egg cooker lets you quickly transform your egg breakfast into new and exciting flavor combinations
- For multiple eggs at once, the Elite Cuisine egg cooker handles poached, hardboiled, deviled eggs, and more!
- Coffee lovers will enjoy this Retro Smeg coffee grinder to grind their favorite coffee beans
- With a Revolution smart toaster, making perfect breakfasts become a breeze!
- Use a Rozmoz bread machine to create French bread to pizza dough, and everything in between
- Kids (and some adults) hate crust. No more slicing around sandwiches when you can quickly remove bread edges with this sandwich decruster and sealer.
- When you need egg yolks, the Yolkfish egg separator ensures you grab the yellow goodness with one squeeze!
- Make woodfire pizzas outside with this Bertello outdoor pizza oven as seen on Shark Tank!
- Use this motorcycle beer can chicken stand to grill dinner with style!
- Enjoy the same grill flavor without facing the elements thanks to this infrared, smokeless indoor grill
- When it’s time for dessert, you’ll be glad you own this 2qt ice cream maker from Cuisinart
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