My Top 12+ Kitchen Essentials for Cooking Success

The kitchen is my favorite place in the house. I love to cook and bake. But with 4 kids that are literally hanging off my arms and legs asking, “Can I have a snack?”, wondering “What’s for dinner?”, and are constantly eating because “I’m hungry!”, I need kitchen tools that are helpful and save time! In addition, I want utensils that have proven to be safe without any toxic chemicals and plastics touching the food that I am preparing for my family! With this in mind, the following are my must-have kitchen essentials.

Cooking

In my opinion, the first of the must-have kitchen essentials is the instant pot. This is by far my favorite tool in my kitchen! You can cook a wide range of recipes and even program it to start cooking at a certain time. I use mine for soups, quick and easy rice, and to slow cook meat among other things. Very convenient. Highly recommend! There are several options to choose from with varying options and costs. Click on the following images to learn more about them.

 

Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Mini Electric Pressure Cooker, Slow Rice Cooker, Steamer, Sauté, Yogurt Maker, Warmer & Sterilizer, Includes Free App with over 1900 Recipes, Stainless Steel, 3 Quart

 

 

 

Instant Pot Pro (8 QT) 10-in-1 Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice/Grain Cooker, Steamer, Sauté, Sous Vide, Yogurt Maker, Sterilizer, and Warmer, Includes App With Over 800 Recipes, Black

 

 

 

Instant Pot Duo Crisp 11-in-1 Air Fryer and Electric Pressure Cooker Combo with Multicooker Lids that Air Fries, Steams, Slow Cooks, Sautés, Dehydrates, & More, Free App With Over 800 Recipes, 6 Quart

 

 

We use Cutco Stainless Steel Cookware for all of our stovetop cooking. They are high quality and durable…we have had our set for more than 15 years! Cutco Cookware is expensive, but well worth it. If cost is an issue, then I recommend the following options which are more budget-friendly. All have stainless steel cooking surfaces without any toxic non-stick coatings. You can check them out by clicking on the following images:

 

Cuisinart 7-Piece Cookware Set, Chef’s Classic Stainless Steel Collection, 77-7P1

 

 

 

HOMICHEF 14-Piece Nickel Free Stainless Steel Cookware Set – Nickel Free Stainless Steel Pots and Pans Set – Stainless Steel Non-Toxic Cookware Set – Stainless Steel Healthy Induction Cookware Sets

 

 

 

Legend 14 pc Copper Core Stainless Steel Pots & Pans Set | Pro Quality 5-Ply Clad Cookware | Professional Chef Grade Home Cooking, All Kitchen Induction & Oven Dishwasher Safe | PFOA, PTFE & PFOS Free

 

 

Food Prep

Between caring for my children, housework, and work, I always look for the fastest and most efficient ways to prepare meals. This is why I love my mandolin food slicer! It is quick and easy to use, comes with safety gloves to protect your fingers, is made from stainless steel, and has many cutting options. It is a great time saver! You can get more details by clicking on the image below:

 

Gramercy Adjustable Mandoline Food Slicer, Mandoline Slicer for Kitchen, Mandolin, Potato Slicer, Tomato Slicer, Carrot Slicer, Onion Slicer – Stainless Steel – INCLUDING One Pair Cut-Resistant Gloves

 

 

If you prefer knives for cutting, chopping, and slicing, I recommend Cutco Cutlery. They are some of the best knives you can buy, made in America, and stay sharp for many years. We have only sent ours in for factory resharpening twice in the past 20 years. They can be a bit pricy, but they are worth the investment. If budget is truly an issue, an alternative recommendation is this ceramic knife set from Cuisinart. These knives are lightweight, easy to use, and budget-friendly. Highly recommended! Click on the image below for more details.

 

Cuisinart 12-Piece Kitchen Knife Set, Advantage Color Collection with Blade Guards, Multicolored, C55-12PCER1

 

 

As for cutting boards, there are many different materials to choose from. I prefer natural materials like wood (maple or bamboo). Don’t use glass or ceramic cutting boards…your knives will be destroyed in weeks. I personally don’t like to use plastic cutting boards either because plastic shaving can end up in the food that you are preparing. Below are five wooden cutting boards that I recommend. More information is available when clicking on the images below.

 

Bamboo Cutting Board Set of 3, Wood Cutting Boards in Large, Medium & Small Size, Organic Wooden Cutting Boards for Kitchen, Vegetable & Meat Cutting Board, Cutting Board with Juice Groove & Handles

 

 

 

Hiware Extra Large Bamboo Cutting Board for Kitchen, Heavy Duty Wood Cutting Boards with Juice Groove, 100% Organic Bamboo, Pre Oiled, 18″ x 12″

 

 

 

ROYAL CRAFT WOOD Extra Large Cutting Boards for Kitchen Meal Prep & Serving-Bamboo Wood Cutting Board with Deep Juice Groove – Charcuterie & Chopping Butcher Block for Meat – Gadgets Gift (XL 18×12″)

 

 

 

Bamboo Cutting Boards for Kitchen [Set of 3] Wood Cutting Board for Chopping Meat, Vegetables, Fruits, Cheese, Knife Friendly Serving Tray with Handles

 

 

 

GREENER CHEF Organic Bamboo Cutting Board Set of 3 with Lifetime Replacements – Wood Cutting Board Set with Juice Groove – Wooden Chopping Board Set for Kitchen, Meat, Vegetables and Cheese

 

 

Scissors are another helpful tool to have in the kitchen. Check out my favorite by clicking on the image below.

 

ONEBOM Kitchen Shears 2 Pack, Multi-Function Kitchen Scissors Heavy Duty Sharp 304 Stainless Steel, Sliver Apartment Kitchen Accessories Cooking Shears for Chicken, Meat, Fish, Poultry(Sliver)

 

 

Mixing

Handheld mixers are a nice addition to any kitchen. Why a handheld mixer? It’s simple and easy to use, faster than a whisk and doesn’t take up a lot of space. Click on the images below to learn more about the handheld mixers that I recommend.

 

Hamilton Beach 6-Speed Electric Hand Mixer with Whisk, Traditional Beaters, Snap-On Storage Case, White

 

 

 

Mueller Electric Hand Mixer, 5 Speed with Snap-On Case, 250 W, Turbo Speed, 4 Stainless Steel Accessories, Beaters, Dough Hooks, Baking Supplies for Whipping, Mixing, Cookies, Bread, Cakes, Silver

 

 

I have two sets of mixing bowls in my kitchen. One set is just stainless steel. The second set is also stainless steel with silicone bottoms. My kids like the silicone bottom mixing bowls because they don’t slide around as much when mixing. Check out my mixing bowl recommendations by clicking on the images below.

 

HOMEARRAY Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls Set (Set of 6) – Polished Mirror kitchen bowls, Nesting Bowls for Space Saving Storage, Ideal For Cooking, Baking & Serving, Food Prep & Salad Prep.

 

 

 

Umite Chef Mixing Bowls with Airtight Lids, 6 Piece Stainless Steel Metal Bowls, Measurement Marks & Colorful Non-Slip Bottoms Size 7, 3.5, 2.5, 2.0,1.5, 1QT, Great for Mixing & Serving

 

 

Measuring cups are a must-have in the kitchen. I prefer the clear glass measuring cups as it is easy to see how much liquid is in the cup and they are easy to clean. Click on the image below to see more information about my recommendation.

 

Pyrex 3 Piece Measuring Cup Set, Includes 1, 2, and 4 Tempered Glass Liquid Measuring Cups, Dishwasher, Freezer, Microwave, and Oven Safe, Essential Kitchen Tools

 

 

If you like to make smoothies, you will need a blender. Our Nutri Bullet works great for grinding coffee in addition to making smoothies! Check out my recommendations by clicking on the images.

 

Hamilton Beach Power Elite Wave Action Blender For Shakes and Smoothies, Puree, Crush Ice, 40 Oz Glass Jar, 12 Functions, Stainless Steel Ice Sabre Blades, 700 Watts, Black (58148A)

 

 

 

nutribullet Personal Blender for Shakes, Smoothies, Food Prep, and Frozen Blending, 24 Ounces, 600 Watt, Gray, (NBR-0601)

 

 

Utensils

Utensils are a must-have in any kitchen. There are a “ton” of different kitchen utensils available…spatulas, tongs, ladles, corkscrews, pizza cutters, slotted spoons, etc. I prefer either silicone or stainless-steel utensils. I personally try to avoid plastic utensils as the plastic chemicals, when heated, can leach into your food. Here are my kitchen essentials for utensils. Click on the images below to find out more information about each set.

 

Home Hero 54 Pcs Stainless Steel Kitchen Utensils Set – Nonstick Stainless Steel Cooking Utensils Set – Heat Resistant Kitchen Essentials & Metal Kitchen Gadgets (54 Pcs Set with Utensils Holder)

 

 

 

Silicone Kitchen Utensils Set, 16-Piece Silicone Cooking Utensils by Deedro, Heat Resistant Kitchen Tools Set with Holder, Nonstick Spatula Kitchen Gadgets for Cooking & Baking, Gray

 

 

Drinks

An important tool in our kitchen is the electric hot water heater. Hot water is readily available with the push of a button. Moms, this works wonders for heating up baby bottles … no more boiling water on the stove! Very convenient! Click the image below for more details.

 

Chefman Electric Hot Water Pot Urn w/ Manual Dispense Buttons, Safety Lock, Instant Heating for Coffee & Tea, Auto-Shutoff/Boil Dry Protection, Insulated Stainless Steel, 5.3L/5.6 Qt/30+ Cups

 

 

Are you a coffee lover like me? While I LOVE coffee, I also love to drink green matcha tea and chicory! Below are some of my recommendations for brewing coffee and tea. Click on the images to find out more information.

 

Original French Press Coffee & Tea Maker – 34oz Versatile Press with 4 Level Filtration, BPA Free Stainless Steel by Cafe Du Chateau

 

 

 

COSORI Pour Over Coffee Maker with Double Layer Stainless Steel Filter, 8-Cup, 34oz, Drip Coffee Maker, Coffee Dripper Brewer, High Heat Resistant Carafe, also for Camping, Hiking

 

 

 

MuellerLiving French Press Coffee Maker, 34 oz, Stainless Steel, 4 Filters, Double Insulated, Rust-Free, Dishwasher Safe

 

 

 

BambooWorx Matcha Whisk Set – Matcha Whisk (Chasen), Traditional Scoop (Chashaku), Tea Spoon. The Perfect Set to Prepare a Cup of Japanese Matcha Tea, Handmade from 100% Natural Bamboo

 

 

Summary

This is my list of must-have kitchen essentials that I believe everyone should have in their kitchen. Do you agree? Did I miss something? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

And now that you know the must-have kitchen items for cooking, head over to my recipe page for some cooking inspiration!