Kitchen Tools You'll ACTUALLY Use

Edited/Updated March 2024

There are so many cooking gadgets out there that it’s challenging to know what is a gimmick and what you’ll actually reach for day in and day out. When I’m at home, we cook all the time. I don’t like to waste money on stuff I won’t use, but that doesn’t mean that I haven’t purchased gadgets that go into the “why do I have this?” cupboard (comment and let me know if you want me to write a post about the things I don’t think were worth it).

I’ve linked each item for convenience. Clicking any title will take you right to the exact item on Amazon, so you can just Prime it!

Whether you’re getting your first place, trying to start cooking at home more, or deciding what kitchen necessities to add to your registry, these products are absolutely indispensable in my kitchen, as they are used on a daily/weekly basis.

Welcome to adulthood; You have a favorite spatula now.

Always Pan

Our Place Always Perfect Pan 2.0

We are obsessed with everything from Our Place and it all started with this pan. Now they are onto the 2.0 version which is even better because it is oven safe. Perfect for starting something stove-top and finishing it in the oven. It’s insanely non-stick and it looks beautiful. We also have the mini version which is perfect for when I am making eggs for one in the AM and the large. and the mini perfect pot. It’s a POC woman-owned brand and they truly come up with beautiful products. I love the original size so much that I’ve lost track to how many people I have gifted it to now. I also DIE for their oven pan which doubles as a stove-top griddle perfect for pancakes or bacon. Truly genius.

KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 Qt Stand Mixer

KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 Qt Stand Mixer. (Mine is in color Aqua Sky)

KitchenAid is the gold standard for stand mixers. I use this all. the. time. I use it for everything from making cookies and baked goods to making whipped cream from scratch and even mashing potatoes. I entertain often, and the 5 Qt is the perfect size for most purposes. KitchenAid mixers are built to last, and with a myriad of attachments, you can do everything from churning ice cream, to making pasta, or spiralizing your own veggies. (attachments are sold separately) . Do yourself a favor and get an extra bowl, too. (Super handy if you’re mixing a cake and going right into making icing, for example. You don’t have to clean the bowl between items.)

Material Knife Block

Material Knife Block

I love how sleek this magentic knife block looks on-counter and can fit any knife—-not just those made by this brand (We actually store all 3 Our Place knives on the opposite side—-it’s nice to have an extra chefs and pairing knife for when we are cooking together). The knives are sturdy and hold up well. We just had them re-sharpened. They work like a dream and are easy to access!

Precision Rolling Pin

Milk Street Precision Rolling Pin

Ever wonder how TF you’re supposed to know if you’ve rolled your dough 1/4” thick or an 1/8” thick? This is the solution. When I was little, my mom had these sticks she called “paddywhacks” (they kind of looked like measuring sticks) and they served as a guide to make sure that you rolled your dough evenly. I searched for these FOR SO LONG as an adult. Either paddywhacks are just a cutesy name my mom called them, or they are no longer made because no one had any idea what I was talking about when I tried to find them. I tried these bands that worked for awhile but they limited the amount of width I could use on the pin. I finally ended up with this and it’s PERFECT! The ends simply screw on and off for the desired height and roll out your crust or dough. (The ends are thicker than the middle by the thickness you want for the dough.) This system is extra-sturdy and easy to use and the pin is plenty long, 23 inches, to handle any width of dough.

Clean/Dirty Magnet

Clean/Dirty Dishwasher Magnet

Have you ever put something in the top rack of the dishwasher only to have your partner say “that’s not……..dirty” (oops!) Or worse, taken a water glass off the top rack thinking your remembered to run the dishwasher last night, only to find a lip print on the rim after you’ve taken a sip? It’s hard sometimes to remember if it was run or not (or to remember to communicate such to your spouse or roommates) so this magnet is super useful. My mom had a magnet with muppets on it on our dishwasher growing up to serve this purpose. Right-side-up meant clean, upside-down meant dirty. But my brother and I screwed around with it too much for the system to be effective (double oops?)

Dorai Dish Pad

Dorai Dish Pad

Gone are the days of soaking through a dish towel or a whole stack of paper towels while doing the dishes. We use the dishwasher for most things, but some things are not dish-washer safe (like our Always Pans) and we will either let them dry on the counter using this OR it makes a great spot to set them while washing —so we can wash everything at once, and then dry everything when we are done without soaking the counter. It is made from Diatomaceous earth so it rapidly dries. When you’re done the tri-fold design allows you to easily clear up more counter space. The textured rubber part allows air under and around dishes to further speed dry times. I’ve gifted this to several people now, too. (We like their other products as well, like the sink caddy and bath stone.)

Metal Measuring Spoons and Cups

Metal Measuring Spoons & Measuring Cups

I have several sets of measuring spoons and measuring cups. I recommend if you cook often, that you keep at least two sets of each, because I find it pretty frequent that I need a particular measuring spoon that’s already dirtied. Instead of having to clean it and continue, I can pick out another clean one and carry on. I love the metal spoons because over the years, their plastic counterparts often warp in the dishwasher or worse, the printed unit of measure wears away and it can be difficult to tell what it once said!

liquid measuring cups, aerial view

liquid measure, view from side.

Several Liquid Measuring Cups

I recommend a few different measuring cups for different reasons. First of all, I am IN LOVE with OXO’s collection of slanted measuring cups. These are awesome because you don’t have to bend over to check to see if you’ve poured the correct amount. Although there are markings on the sides, you can easily stand and see from above. Super convenient. I recommend the OXO 2 Cup measure, the OXO 1 Cup measure, and I have 3 of the OXO 1/4C measures. (This one comes in super handy when I’m making things like dressings or marinades, because it measures in Tablespoons also. So for example, if I need 1 T of Soy sauce, 1 T Sriracha, and 1 T of sesame oil, I can just pour one ingredient on top of the next all in the same unit. I also like to keep a Pyrex 1 Cup measure for use in the microwave or for any hot liquids. Even though the OXO measuring cups are BPA free and dishwasher safe, I feel better reserving hot pasta water or microwaving a bit of broth in this sturdy pyrex cup instead.

Automatic Salt & Pepper Mills

Trudeau Salt & Pepper Mill Set

Ok, maybe you don’t need these, but they are really cool. It’s no secret that I’m pretty extra, but a friend of mine takes the cake. One time she brought this pepper mill with her to work so she could have freshly cracked pepper on her salad. I mean come on. I knew right then that I needed them. I asked her a million questions about who made them and where to find them, and then she got them for me for Christmas. Or maybe it was my birthday. Anyway, I digress. Take it up an another extra notch and fill them with pink peppercorns and Alderwood smoked salt.

Le Creuset Magnetic Trivet

Le Creuset Magnetic Trivet

This product is a storke of genius. Truly one of the things you never knew you always needed. It looks beautiful on your counter and is perfect to leave out near the stove—-put a hot pan fresh from the oven or stovetop and it holds on tight—-making it easy to transfer from the counter to the table without an extra hand. It works perfectly with my Our Place collection.

The Salt Salt Cellar from Pineapple Collaborative

“The Salt” Salt Cellar from Pineapple Collaborative

This cute little salt cellar is perfect for sitting next to the stove for easy access. Another woman-founded business with woman-sourced ingredients—-the Pink Himalayan salt inside has a ton of great trace minerals. You can buy refills of the same salt or swap in your fave.

Meat Tenderizing Knuckles

Knuckle Pounder Tenderizer Tool

I honestly ordered this originally for a friend (who is a batchelor) as a gag gift after I saw it when TV chef, Nadia G, used it on her cooking show, Bitchin Kitchen . I thought it was hilarious! But it’s honestly seriously convenient. I ended up ordering one for myself. This is hands down the easiest way to pound chicken, veal, or other cuts of meat really thin. At around 16 bucks, this and a bottle of your favorite rub make for a humorous but functional gift.

Chef’n EZ Squeeze Can Opener

Chef’n EZ Squeeze Can Opener

I don’t know what our problem was with can openers— does anyone else feel like theirs always get rusty and start to “slip” off the edge of the can? We don’t even honestly use that many canned goods; but eventually, the cans of tomato paste, coconut milk, etc would be impossible to open with every other can opener we ever had. I realized recently that we have had this one at least six years (knock on wood) and it’s still just as reliable as day 1. UPDATED still going strong after 11 years.

Cuisinart Mini Prep Plus

Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus

This is one of the best $30 I think I’ve ever spent. We use and abuse this bad boy. It’s little and perfect for my family of 2 (humans). We use this constantly. From salsa, to pesto, to making matcha protein bites or even my own pistachio butter (went into a delish pistachio buttercream—-recipe coming soon!). I haven’t had the need to upgrade to a larger size yet. This is perfect when you have too small a quantity of something to stick in the blender, or you need to pulverize nuts or seeds. I love that it takes up very little counter space (and minimally impacts your wallet, too).

Acurite Probe Thermometer

Yummly Smart Meat Thermometer with Wireless Bluetooth

Wanna know the secret to seriously juicy meat? It’s not cooking it a minute longer than it has to be. Overcooking meat can cause it to lose it’s moisture, becoming chewy or even stringy. Yuck. Using this probe, you can know the moment your meat has reached the correct internal temperature to serve—Preset programs for meat, fish, and poultry eliminate guesswork for food done right. Use the free app to select what you're cooking, choose how well you'd like it done, and it'll alert you when your food is ready.

Kitchenaid vegetable peeler

Kitchenaid Swivel Vegetable Peeler

Every time I go over to my MIL’s house, I want to bring my own vegetable peeler. Is it just me or does everyone’s MIL have some ancient, wooden-handled, DULL vegetable peeler? This one is nice and sharp, with a perfect point for gouging out eyes (from potatoes— what were you thinking???).

Wilton 14x18” Air-Insulated Cookie Sheet

Air-Insulated Cookie Sheet

This cookie sheet is one of my tricks for making macarons. With something as finicky as a macaron, every little thing makes a difference. This cookie sheet has two layers of steel sandwiching a thin pocket of air which circulates heat evenly and prevents buckling in extreme oven temperatures. I also love the huge lip on the edge making it super easy to hold onto when putting it in or taking it out of the oven. Also, don’t get this spatula. It’s way too thick to be helpful. I honestly just put it on top of the pan for the photo because the picture of the pan was boring on it’s own (and there’s a small scratch on it—oof) but I keep it in my Le Creuset crock on my countertop frankly because I like the color. Just being honest. Pure decoration.

Maui Micro Mitts

Micro Oven Mitts

Someone got these for me as a souvenir from Hawaii years ago. I didn’t think much of it at the time (the souvenir was thoughtful since she knows I like to cook) but I just didn’t realize how useful these would be! They are the perfect size to get a hot bowl out of the microwave without being in the way. They make it easy to grab a pan out of the oven without losing dexterity because they are small and so flexible. I also like to use them to lift lids off pans since they can get hot quickly on the stovetop. Throw ‘em in the washing machine with the rest of your laundry when they get dirty. I can’t seem to find them in single sets, but having multiple couldn’t hurt. give a set as a gift and keep an extra set for when yours are being washed or for when your SO forgot to put them back where they (ahem) belong. We decided we wanted some prettier ones recently and I opted for these from etsy. They are super cute! We also tried these from Sur le Table but they are a little bigger and less flexible.

plastic scraper

Nylon Plastic Pot, Pan & Dish Scraper

Ok, yet another thing that is so simple and yet so brilliant. This little genie easily pries off the most stuck-on crud from the bottom of your dishes without you sacrificing your nails. Also, my countertops easily disguise when they are dirty because it’s so multi-colored. Sometimes I can’t see the crud, but I can feel it. I honestly use this doohickey to scrape down that crud, too!

photo from whippedbakeshop.com

Want another cool trick? use this guy to scrape down the contents of a piping bag (macaron batter or frosting, for instance) for mess-free baking!

Martha Stewart Multi-Surface Cheese Grater

Multi-Surface Cheese Grater with Interchangeable Plates

You guys, this thing is the Bees knees. Seriously, I use this all. the. time. I don’t often buy pre-grated cheese because I only want cheese in my cheese and the pre-grated varieties often are coated with anti-coagulants to prevent it from sticking together in the bag. I love this thing because it collects the cheese in it’s own container, has 2 interchangeable grating surfaces, and a lid for easy storage after. Much more convenient than a traditional box grater and easier to clean, too. Unfortunately, the one I have linked isn’t exactly like mine (pictured above) because it’s no longer made, but it looks really close.

2-piece Broiler Pan

2-Piece Broiler Pan

Want my secret to crisp roasted veggies or baked fries? It’s this pan! The grate helps any moisture drain away from the veggies so they are never soggy and always delicious! :) I use this pan constantly, and sometimes even use the bottom pan on it’s own for making blonde brownies (what my husband lovingly calls “cookie cake”) or for baking chicken.

Glass Pinch Bowls

3.5” Glass Pinch Bowls

The french call preparing the ingredients you need Mise En Place. You’ve likely seen it done on cooking shows where they magically have the correct measure of salt or chopped celery or whatever and they just chuck it all in the pan. Do you know how quickly I could make dinner if I had someone else doing all that grunt work for me?! Mise En Place is a French term that means roughly “everything in it’s place” it’s most commonly used in cooking but is also kind of a way of life. In cooking, it can save you a ton of time to prep/chop veggies and pre-measure the ingredients you need. These little bowls are just the right size for combining spices for a rub, chopped garlic or scallions, or even for storing the yolks (or whites) of a separated egg. I don’t always practice mise en place (I’m an artist—-my workspace is often very messy if I’m being real with you) but these are put to use in my kitchen very frequently. EDIT I also picked up some really cute hand made ceramic ones at the farmers market. If you want to try something similar, you could try these from Etsy.

16 oz Keep cup with toughened glass and silicone band

Keepcup

I first got one of these from Whole Foods and quickly fell in love. I enjoy the fact that it comes with a silicone (or recycled cork) band to insulate and protect your hands from the heat. The BPA-free lid is easy to secure on the top, and the little tab on the lid can pivot to cover the hole, keeping your beverage warm and preventing spills. The tough soda glass is extremely durable, and they are available in such fun colors! Make your own beverages at home feel like a treat in this special glass, or take it to your favorite coffee shop— the people at Keepcup made it wide enough to fit under group heads so your barista doesn’t have to make your beverage in a disposable cup and transfer it to yours; plus internal fill lines help guide them on how much to pour. If you happen to frequent Starbucks the 12 oz is equivalent to a Tall and the 16 oz is the same as a Grande.

Simple Human Automatic Soap Dispenser

Simple Human Compact Sensor Pump

When my hands have been on raw meat or I’ve gotten egg yolk on them, I don’t want to touch anything. Not even the soap dispenser. We actually have these in all of our bathrooms too, but if there is anywhere it’s a must, it’s the kitchen. It will come with a liquid soap sample, but you can use whatever your favorite is. (I love Mrs. Meyer’s hand soap in Honeysuckle ) I like that you can adjust the amount of soap it dispenses by pressing the + or - buttons on the bottom. (P.S. If you ever have a situation where it seems like it’s not dispensing correctly, odds are the batteries are low and you don’t need to go jamming things into the opening of the dispenser to “fix it”. Ask my husband how I know that, too.) UPDATE they now have a rechargeable version that we have replaced some of these with once they died. A great way to save on batteries!

Delta Faucet Leland Single-Handle Touch Kitchen Sink Faucet with Pull Down Sprayer

If you rent this won’t be an option, but if you own—-I can’t recommend this faucet upgrade enough. Speaking of not wanting to touch anything with crud on my hands, I love that this faucet can turn on with a touch from the back of my hand, or even an elbow! So no nasty germs are hanging out on the handle. Additionally, the spray shield feature is a huge bonus if you’ve ever sprayed water all over yourself trying to wash a spoon. Just me?

Can openers with magnets

Can/Bottle Opener with Magnet on the Back

Seriously, what genius first invented this? We keep one of these on our fridge and it simply means you can always find the bottle opener. Sometimes it’s a little heavy and will slide down the fridge a bit, so we usually have it stationed just above another magnet to keep it in place. If you’ve been in our home for dinner just once, odds are you know where to find the bottle opener. If you already have a regular bottle opener, this would be easy to DIY.

What are your must-haves? Is there something that you use day in and out on the reg? Have you tried any of the items on my list? Let me know in the comments!