The 12 Essential Kitchen Tools You Absolutely Need
The best kitchens aren't bought all at once—they're built, gradually and lovingly, over the course of a lifetime. But you have to start somewhere, which is where this handy guide to the absolute essential kitchen tools comes in. We've put together a list of the 12 things that will set you up to cook (almost!) everything you could possibly want to make as a beginner cook, from seared steak to roasted veggies to chocolate chip cookies, all for $275. (This whole set would make a preeeeeetty nice gift, just sayin'.)
A caveat: You may notice that this list is conspicuously missing a few key things—a can opener, say, or a whisk or a wooden spoon or tongs. That's because, if you ask us, those are things that you'd be better off picking up at a thrift store or dollar store if you don't already have them—whatever you end up with will work, which is all you need them to do at this point. The things on this list, on the other hand, are pieces of equipment where quality really, really makes a difference. Having a decent chef's knife, or a big enough cutting board, or a couple of sturdy pans will not only make cooking for yourself easier and more efficient but more fun too.
There will be plenty of opportunities down the road to make affordable incremental kitchen upgrades, as well as times when you want to splurge (or ask someone else very nicely to splurge for you) on the kinds of fancy-schmancy pieces of equipment that will open up whole new worlds of culinary possibilities. But for someone just getting their bearings in the kitchen, we think these 12 essential kitchen tools are a really, really solid place to start.
You don't need an expensive knife set full of a bunch of blades you'll never use. To start, you need only a sturdy, well-balanced 8" chef's knife, which is exactly what you'll get with this little number from Victorinox. Just don't let your roommates put it in the dishwasher, please.
In our dreams we have giant beautiful end-grain butcher blocks covering every surface of the kitchen. But until we win the lottery, a basic wooden cutting board large enough that we can prep a whole meal's worth of ingredients without having to transfer them to little bowls will do just fine.
Ideally, you'd have a separate plastic cutting board exclusively for meat in addition to that big wooden one. But until that day comes, you can get a couple of thin plastic mats that fit over your primary cutting board for just a couple of bucks, allowing you to perform messy tasks like slicing raw chicken without contaminating the surface beneath—clutch for when you don't want to clean your cutting board five times in the process of making dinner.
This may be the most expensive thing on our list, but we promise that it's worth its weight in gold. A thick-bottomed, stovetop-to-oven enameled cast-iron Dutch oven makes everything from simmering chili to braising chicken adobo to boiling pasta water feel like an absolute dream. This is your Do Everything Pot, and while we absolutely love the fancy ones made by the legends over at Le Creuset, this one from Lodge is every bit as effective and a fraction of the price.
Whether you're searing steak, roasting chicken thighs, or just frying a couple of eggs, having a sturdy stainless-steel skillet—not one of those flimsy plastic-handled aluminum joints— in your arsenal makes a world of difference. A pan like this one from Tramontina is heavy enough that it conducts heat evenly, meaning no random burn-y hot spots.
A proper rolled-edged sheet pan will last you for your entire life and won't warp in the oven like the thin jelly roll pan that the people who used to live in your apartment left under the broiler when they moved out. Roast vegetables on it. Bake cookies on it. Make pizza on it. The only thing better than a good half sheet pan? Two of them.
Having a bunch of simple metal mixing bowls that stack together neatly is key to keeping your kitchen prep tidy and organized. Use them for all your cake mixing and salad tossing needs.
If you're reading this there's a good chance you're more comfortable following recipes than you are freestyling it in the kitchen, which means you're going to need a set of metal measuring cups and spoons. Could you spend a lot of money on a set? Sure. But a cheap metal set will get you where you're going.
Why would you need this if you already have a set of measuring cups and spoons? Well, because those other ones are for dry stuff like flour and sugar, and this bad boy is for liquids like water and milk. This one made by Pyrex is classic, practically indestructible, and microwave-safe.
Don't let the name fool you: This sturdy sharp-edged metal spatula is good for everything. Use it to serve lasagna, scrape up all the crispy bits from the bottom of the pan, flip meats—like we said, everything. It can even work as a whisk for things like eggs and whipped cream in a pinch.
Whether you're straining stock, draining a can of beans, or washing rice, a fine-mesh strainer is invaluable. This set of three different sizes has a ton of utility: Use the larger one like a colander and the smaller ones the same way you would use a spider or a slotted spoon for pulling pasta or pieces of vegetables out of hot liquid.
