There are millions of kitchen tools and gadgets, but just like everything else, less is more.
Well-curated, functioning tools and equipment make everyday cooking easy, efficient, and enjoyable, even on a stressful day.
In addition to the regular items that most people have, here are my top 12 kitchen tools I can’t live without, and how I used them to save time and effort.
They not only minimize time (waiting, prepping, cooking as well as clean-up) but also potential mess and safety hazards.
Disclaimer: The following list includes Amazon Affiliate links.
Immersion/Stick Blender
- Especially great for pureed soups. You can stick this right into the pan and puree even when the liquid is hot without any mess. Also make delicious homemade mayonnaise, hummus, Japanese carrot dressing, etc. in a minute.
- I recommend one that comes with a mini-chopper. (For small jobs like making pesto, so much easier to use and clean than a bigger multi-piece food processor.)
- If your kitchen doesn't have a power outlet near the stove, etc. where you might be using your stick blender, consider going cordless.
Toaster oven (or front-loading air fryer)
- Choose one that's large enough to allow a round or square 10” (25cm) baking pan, ideally with a convection feature.
- No need to pre-heat, or even if you choose to do so, it’s much quicker than with a regular oven, saving total baking/roasting time and gas/electricity. (And keeps your kitchen cooler in summer!)
- Or choose a front-loading air-fryer, like the Instant Pot Vortex (image above -- comes with a rotisserie for a small bird.)
Vegetable peeler
- There are "I" shaped and "U" shaped peelers. The "I" shaped is safer and more maneuverable as it can be used like a paring knife. Use it as if you are using a knife, especially when you are peeling things like an apple.
- High quality ones with ergonomic handles are so much easier to use. I love mine with a dual head with blade cover for safety and space-saving -- one side is normal, the other side serrated (for soft things like a tomato).
- You can also use it to shave vegetables thinly: add to salads, use as a wrap, or quick style stir-fry.
- Peeled veggie skins can be air-fried for healthy snack!
Microplane grater
- Grates everything finely--ginger, garlic, nutmeg, chocolate, citrus rinds, etc.
- A must for grating hard cheeses like Parmigiano Reggiano or Pecorino Romano. It grates so fine and fluffy like snow, you need less cheese for the same flavor boost.
Oven-proof skillets/pans (Minimum 400F/200C including the handles)
- Save time by cooking something on the stove then sticking the pan directly into the oven. Great for frittatas, tarte tatin, etc.
- Best if it has cool handles so that you can minimize the chance of burning yourself (plus time to look for the oven mitts!)
- Ideal if one of the pot lids fits the skillet as well (or get a one-size fits all lid)
Oven-safe dishes/plates (Minimum 400F/200C)
- Make an individual portion dish like onion gratin soup, lasagna etc. and stick directly into the oven. Serve directly from the same dish to save time and clean up.
- If you just need to make for one or two people, you can even bake it in the toaster oven.
Mesh tea infusers with handle
- Super handy for flouring meat, vegetables, etc. (saves a lot of flour and less mess!) Mine lives inside of the flour jar permanently!
- Use a separate one for flour and tea so that your cake won't smell like strong tea!
Mesh colanders and strainers
- Drains liquid a lot more effectively and keeps the food inside, even small or thin things like Angel Hair Pasta.
- Choose colanders with an elevated foot so that the drained water in the sink won’t touch the food inside.
- The one above is ideal for use in an instant pot because of the wider bottom and the handle, especially for homemade broth (dump in all the bones, veggies, and water inside, then when it's done, just pull the basket out and toss the solids. Super easy!) Have them in different sizes for different uses.
- Consider having both stand alone version with an elevated foot (small, medium and large sizes) and those with a handle (small, medium and large sizes for sifting flour, straining miso into soup, etc.)
Spider strainer:
- Great for scooping anything out of deep water or oil: beans, dumplings, vegetables, fried food, short pasta and gnocchi. Check hardware stores in Chinatown for the best selection and price.
Tongs (assorted sizes)
- For mixing salads, grabbing spaghetti, and of course for grilling.
- Look for the auto-locking version. If you tend to use them on non-stick surfaces, make sure they are made of silicon for high temperature cooking (400F/200C).
- Try at the store before you buy and make sure they work well. Some are much easier to use than others.
Kitchen shears
- Cut food right where you are without a cutting board, even inside of a pot or a bowl - great for crustaceans, chicken bones, chives to cellophane noodles.
- NOTE: Don’t use them for kid’s craft projects or paper! It will dull the blades!
Electric kettle
- Not just for tea, but it's much faster and handier to bring water to boil than on the stove (pasta anyone?) I like to always keep some hot water nearby when I cook to adjust the moisture level.
- This one comes with a keep warm mode plus 6 presets with different temperatures for different types of tea.
Food processor
- Indispensable for chopping and slicing large amounts of foods, as well as making pizza, pasta and bread dough. For smaller amounts or to shave vegetables very thinly, I use a Benriner slicer (mandolin) instead.
- I recommend a simpler machine that can store all the parts inside like the one in the image... If you leave it on your countertop, you can use it often to make something quickly, instead of having to search all over for the various parts.
There you have it!
What are the kitchen tools or equipment you can’t live without? Let me know and why.
Have fun Kitchen Wizarding!
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