Crafting Your Kitchen: The ULTIMATE Guide to Kitchen Essentials

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When it comes to buying kitchenware, it can be incredibly tricky to know what you need versus what you can skip, what you should splurge on versus what you can settle for (and that’s not even counting the different brands and product types to choose from)!

I always get so many questions about what kitchen equipment I use, so I’ve compiled a rundown on all the essentials you need, the things you don’t need, and some additional things that are nice to have—you can find all the links to my favorite items listed below (along with different price points and cheaper options for each item)!

1. Foundational Cooking Utensils

Let’s start simple—if we’re building a kitchen from the ground up, these are the basic things you need. Without them, it’ll be near impossible to get anything done in the kitchen!

The essentials

1. A Chef’s Knife

A knife is arguably your most important tool. It forms the backbone of everything you do in the kitchen, so you shouldn’t cut corners when it comes to quality.

But before you look at a knife set and run away screaming at the price, just hear me out. You do not need to buy a full knife block. When it comes to knives, quality is always better than quantity, and one great chef’s knife can beat any low-quality block.

A chef’s knife, a serrated knife, and a paring knife will cover all your kitchen needs, but at the very least, you need one good-quality chef’s knife. That’s it. As long as you take good care of your knife, it’ll take care of every little kitchen task from chopping vegetables to breaking down poultry for years.

When it comes to choosing what type of chef’s knife to buy, it’s easy to get lost in the rabbit hole. In professional kitchens, knives are an extremely personal preference, since there’s an infinite number of varieties (Japanese, Western-style, stainless steel, carbon steel, hammer-finished, Damascus steel, and on and on…). I’ll have a separate blog post to explain the differences, but for now, let’s settle on the basics!

For the home cook, I recommend a knife that’s versatile, durable, and easy to sharpen—something with a standard length of around 8 inches, which isn’t too short or too long, and one that’s made of a good material like high-carbon stainless steel. Most knives are made in a Western or Japanese style; German knives (also known as Western-style) are heavier and more robust when compared to Japanese knives, which are thinner, sharper, and more precise (but also require more work to maintain). If you want to know which style you prefer, I recommend going to a local cookware store and holding some different knives to see what feels most comfortable for you.

If you don’t want to go through all that hassle, though, here are some of my tried-and-true knife brands.

Best Overall: If you can afford it, a great knife that will cover all your basic needs is the Wüsthof Classic 8-inch Chef’s Knife. It’s made of German-style stainless steel, so it’s easy to care for and maintain, plus it’s a great quality brand that will last you for years.

Budget Option: If you’re looking for a more affordable German knife, however, I recommend getting either a Zwilling 8-inch Chef’s Knife or a Victorinox 8” Chef’s Knife. While both are still good brands and great quality, they might be slightly less sharp and can dull faster than the Wüsthof (particularly the Victorinox).

If you’re looking for a Japanese-style knife that’s lighter and sharper (and you don’t mind a little extra maintenance), I recommend getting a Shun or Miyabi knife. If you want to shell out some money, you can buy the Miyabi Birchwood SG2 or the Miyabi Mizu SG2—they’re beautiful and extremely high-quality—but seeing as the majority of people don’t want to spend $200 to $400 on a knife, here are some more reasonable options.

A great all-around option for a Japanese chef’s knife is the Shun Classic 8″ Chef’s Knife—it’s a great all-around option that’s lighter than the Wüsthof but at a similar price point. Another knife that I’ve seen a lot of restaurant chefs use is this Miyabi Kaizen—it’s still in the Japanese style but with a little more of a luxury look and lighter feel. Like I said, there’s a knife style for whatever you’re looking for, so I recommend trying some out to see what you prefer!

2. Additional Knives

While not essential, having a paring and serrated utility knife make cooking in the kitchen easier. Along with your chef’s knife, this trio covers all of your kitchen needs!

First up is the paring knife. This blade is a lot smaller than your chef’s knife (typically around 3 to 4 inches long), which makes it great for smaller and more nimble tasks like hulling strawberries and deveining shrimp. No need to get too fancy here—the blade should be light and easy to handle—so I recommend getting this Victorinox brand. It’s sharp, affordable, lightweight, and is used by both chefs and home cooks alike!

If you’re looking for a more premium option, I recommend this Wüsthof Classic 3.5” Paring Knife—it’s a higher-priced brand, but it has a refined look and quality that’ll last you for years.

Last but certainly not least is the serrated bread knife. Aside from bread, this is great for cutting tomatoes, cakes, and cooked meat, since it can slice through the exterior without crushing the insides.

For serrated bread knives, a great option is this Wüsthof Classic 9-inch Double Serrated Knife.

If you’re looking for a more affordable option, however, go for this Mercer Culinary 10-Inch Bread Knife!

3. Kitchen Shears

Almost equal to the chef’s knife, in my opinion, is a pair of kitchen shears. I use these for everything—opening packages and cans, breaking down chicken, cutting herbs, trimming bacon—the list goes on, and compared to regular scissors, kitchen shears are much more durable and long-lasting!

4. A Honing Steel

Contrary to popular belief, a honing rod doesn’t sharpen your knife—it actually keeps your knife sharp by realigning and straightening the edge of the blade. Only a whetstone or knife sharpener actually sharpens your knife, but that’s an entirely different topic that I’ll dive into on another day.

What you need to know is this: while you only need to sharpen your knife every 2 to 6 months (or whenever it dulls), you can hone your knife daily in between kitchen tasks to prolong the knife’s edge and the time between sharpenings. With that said, a great classic steel to have on hand is this Wüsthof 9” Honing Rod.

5. Microplane

A grater or microplane is a staple for any kitchen and perfect for tasks like zesting lemons, shredding vegetables, and grating garlic, cheeses, or spices.

6. Peeler

I prefer Y-shaped peelers for more versatility and ease of use, but you don’t have to go fancy for good quality—I normally get for these Kuhn Rikon peelers, but if you’re looking for a more durable option, go for this OXO Y-Peeler.

7. Rubber Spatula

Trust me when I say that a rubber spatula comes in handy. Whether folding ingredients, scraping the contents from a bowl, or stirring pots and pans, the silicon spatula is one of your most valuable and versatile kitchen tools (I use it every time I bake without fail)!

My absolute favorite rubber spatulas come from Pampered Chef and Wilton, but in commercial kitchens, we all use these rubber spatulas that you can find on Amazon.

8. Metal Spatula

A metal spatula is great to have on hand whenever you’re lifting things out of hot pans and flipping foods like burgers, pancakes, eggs, or fish. My personal favorite model to use is a fish spatula, which offers a little more flexibility and ease of use.

I also like to have this smaller metal spatula on hand when I’m cutting up casseroles or transferring cookies from a baking sheet, since it offers more structural support than the fish spatula.

9. Tongs

Similar to a metal spatula, a pair of metal tongs is essential for flipping and turning food, but it can also also grab, move, stir, and plate hot items like pasta.

For more precision work, I also like to use a pair of tweezer tongs—they aren’t essential for every home cook, but they’re great to buy if you prefer a little more control when plating pastas or garnishing dishes.

10. Whisk

Though used most often in baking, a whisk is a cooking staple I wouldn’t do without—it’s perfect for mixing sauces and dressings, breaking up eggs, and stirring smooth batters.

11. Can Opener

Last but not least is the can opener—a simple staple, but a pretty irreplaceable one nonetheless. Could you technically get along without one and use a knife to open your canned goods? Yes. But also, why would you want to?

Leveling Up

These next items aren’t absolutely essential for a kitchen, but they sure are nice to have from time to time. If you’ve already mastered the basics, then here are some items you can level up your cooking game with!

1. Meat thermometer

The ultimate hack for perfectly cooked meat every time is an instant-read thermometer! Within seconds, it will tell you exactly how far your protein is cooked and takes all of the guesswork out of the equation (no need to fear raw chicken anymore!).

When it comes to thermometers, I have three different options at three different prices—one less expensive, one moderate, and one more expensive, depending on what quality you want and how much money you’re willing to spend.

Another handy thermometer to have is this infared thermometer—it’s super easy to use, since it measures heat from a distance and requires no contact. Since it measures the surface temperature of food, however, it’s not suited for checking doneness but rather when you want to check the temperatures of your griddle, cooking oil, or oven for accuracy.

2. Bench scraper

Some chefs love to use them, some chefs don’t, but I personally find them handy when cleaning my work surface, portioning out dough, and scooping up diced vegetables from my cutting board.

3. Fine Mesh Strainer

A strainer has surprisingly more uses than you might think (draining pasta, rinsing rice, sifting dry ingredients, etc.), and it’s fine mesh detailing makes it much more versatile than a basic colander.

4. Stainless Steel Spider or Slotted Spoon

When it comes to blanching vegetables, skimming stocks and soups, or lifting fried foods, a spider makes the task infinitely easier!

5. Citrus juicer

Though not essential, I love using this product for juicing lemons, limes, or oranges without getting any seeds into what I’m making.

6. Ladle

Similar to a stainless steel spider, a ladle is great for skimming stocks with the added bonus of portioning out liquids, stirring pots, and serving soups. While useful, it definitely isn’t an essential item and can be skipped if you prefer.

items you can skip

One of my main criteria for cookware is versatility. If the product only has one specific use, then it’ll waste away in your drawer and take up precious kitchen space. With that in mind, here’s a rapid-fire list of some items I think you don’t need.

• Garlic press. It only has one job (and doesn’t even do it well, in my opinion). Whenever I’ve used these, more garlic ends up stuck in the press than in your food, plus it can be tricky to clean. I much prefer a microplane that’s more versatile and can quickly mince garlic with less time and energy wasted.
• Vegetable chopper. I’m sure you’ve seen these compact plastic choppers everywhere on social media in aesthetic meal prep videos. All you have to do is place whatever you’re chopping on the blade grid, then press the lid down to cut your food into even pieces. Everything collects into the container underneath, so no knife or cutting board needed, right?

Well, there’s a lot more to these choppers than meets the eye. Though they come with a lot of cool gadgets, the plastic is quite flimsy and breakable, and they’re very tricky to clean since food gets stuck in the blade crevices. Their biggest downfall, however, is that the chopping grid isn’t often big enough to accomodate what you need to cut, requiring you to get a knife and pare down the food to fit (thus defeating the entire purpose of the chopper). I personally think that you’re better off with a cutting board and knife, but these guys do come in handy for the more laid back cook who wants to save time prepping vegetables.

• Box grater. I don’t find a box grater to be necessary—I prefer using a good microplane or food processor with a grater attachment instead, since they can be used for other applications.
• Potato masher or ricer. Once again, this is a kitchen item with a very limited function. Sure, you can use it to mash bananas and potatoes, but I don’t find it worthwhile considering the number of times I perform those tasks (not to mention, I can do the same thing with a fork or a hand mixer).
• Mortar and pestle. While a mortar and pestle is great for traditional pesto, spice blends, and guacamole, most of its uses can be accomplished with a food processor or an old fashioned rolling pin and Ziploc bag.

II. Foundational Cookware and Kitchenware

Now that you have the necessary utensils, let’s get into the kitchenware you need to start cooking!

the essentials

1. Cutting Boards

It should come as no surprise that you’ll need a cutting board to go with your knife, but it always seems like there’s new research coming out about which material is best. According to the internet, glass cutting boards are harsh and dull your knives, plastic boards release microplastics into your foods, and wooden boards retain bacteria, so which one is actually best?

If you can afford it, I recommend getting a wooden cutting board. Of all these options, they’re the most long-lasting, aesthetically pleasing, and least likely to dull your knives, but they do require more maintenance.

Always clean and dry the board after using, then apply a food-grade mineral oil from time to time to prevent drying and cracking. Never soak your wooden cutting boards or put them in the dishwasher, as this can cause warping. But as long as you properly clean, sanitize, and prevent cross-contamination, you shouldn’t have to worry about bacterial buildup in your wood cutting boards (in fact, they actually have anti-microbial properties).

Plastic cutting boards are another, more affordable option. Since they’re dishwasher safe, require no fancy maintenance, and can be thoroughly cleaned, they’re great for prepping raw cuts of meat. Recent studies have shown that repetitive chopping with these boards can release microplastics into your foods, but since there’s a lot of debate on this topic, I’ll leave that decision up to you. Overall, I recommend having a wood cutting board for everyday use and a separate plastic or composite cutting board for raw meats to prevent cross-contamination.

Whatever you do, please do not use a glass or stone cutting board with your knives. These materials are brittle and hard, which quickly dulls your knife and makes you more prone to cut yourself.

With this in mind, here are some cutting board options I do recommend.

II. Stainless Steel Pots and Pans

If you choose one pan to do it all, then stainless steel is your best bet—it’s lightweight, versatile, and can last a lifetime when properly cared for! While non-stick pans require careful handling and cast iron needs to be seasoned, stainless steel is oven-safe, easy to clean, easy to maintain, and nonreactive to acidic foods. Basically, she does it all.

If it’s within your budget, I recommend getting a 10 or 7-piece set of pots and pans from All-Clad, since it’s a high-quality brand used in restaurants (though Made-In is another amazing option as well)! Whatever you do, don’t settle for a cheap cookware set and call it a day. A few high-quality pans is really all you need, and they’ll be less expensive in the long run since you won’t have to keep buying cheap replacements.

If you can’t afford a full set yet, don’t worry! You can start by buying pans as you go to build up your kitchen. If you’re starting out, I recommend getting at least these three:

III. Stainless steel mixing bowls

Whether you’re baking or cooking, a good mixing bowl is a necessity. You’ll need it for mixing batters, combining marinades, forming meatballs, or tossing salads, and it can even double as a serving dish! Though you can get by with one or two, I prefer a set of different sizes to choose from based on your recipe.

IV. Baking sheets

Right up there with mixing bowls are baking sheets—they’re a lifesaver when it comes to baking, roasting vegetables, toasting nuts, and reheating food. If you start with 2 half sheet pans and 1-2 quarter sheet pans, then you’re set (I love the Nordic Ware brand)!

V. Measuring cups and spoons

While I infinitely prefer a kitchen scale for accuracy, measuring cups are a kitchen staple for all American cooks and are needed for any basic recipe.

VI. 9×13 Casserole Dish

Besides metal baking sheets, this is probably the most basic pan you’ll need for your kitchen needs, as it forms the foundation for casseroles, lasagna, brownies, and sides like mac n’ cheese and dressing.

leveling up

1. Cast Iron Pan

Aside from stainless steel, I think that a good cast iron pan is a must-have in your repertoire. When properly cared for and seasoned, it’s naturally nonstick, extremely durable, and can withstand extremely high heats. Because of this, cast iron is better suited than stainless steel for steaks, cornbread, and deep frying. Make sure to properly clean and dry your cast iron to prevent rust!

2. Nonstick Pan

Nonstick is the pan that you probably already own, but in all honesty, it’s probably the one you need the least. While easy to cook with, nonstick pans require gentle handling—they’re often not oven safe, can easily be scratched and damaged with the wrong utensils, and can damage their nonstick coating if heated too high. As a result, their lifespan is generally short (around 3-5 years, even when properly cared for).

With that said, nonstick pans are still a great item to have in the kitchen for delicate foods like eggs, fish, or pancakes, and I recommend All-Clad brand.

If you’re looking for a Teflon-free brand, you can go for these Caraway pans. Compared to All-Clad, they have a shorter lifespan, higher maintenance, higher price, and lower performance, but they’re good if you’re looking for a non-toxic option.

3. Kitchen Scale

A kitchen scale is one of the best investments I made in my kitchen. Compared to measuring cups, a scale is more accurate, consistent, and efficient—plus it saves you from cleaning extra dishes. A great quality brand that I use is this OXO scale!

If you want another, more affordable option, try this Escali scale:

4. Liquid Measuring Cup

These Pyrex cups provide an easy, pourable measurements for liquid ingredients like water, broth, cream, etc, but they’re also perfect for mixing small batch dressings, marinades, or beaten eggs.

If you don’t feel like buying all 3 in the set, I would just purchase the 2-cup measuring cup!

5. Wire Cooling Rack

A wire rack allows for better circulation of foods due to its open grid pattern. Aside from cooling cookies and cakes, this makes it great for roasting/reheating crispy foods, glazing desserts, and circulating fried foods without any sogginess.

If find yourself baking very often and have a need for more cooling rack space, I recommend this stackable Wilton wire rack set!

III. Appliances

Now that you’ve built the foundation of your kitchen (utensils + cookware), here’s a list of appliances you should invest in when you’re ready to level up!

When it comes to kitchen appliances, you should keep two things mind: how frequently you use the appliance, and how many people you often cook for. If you don’t make rice on a regular basis, then a rice cooker probably isn’t your best investment. Similarly, if you’re only cooking for two people, then do you really need to buy a 15-quart Dutch oven? Whatever you do, do not settle for less expensive appliances if it sacrifices performance or quality—though pricey, these items are meant to last for years and are infinitely better than cheap alternatives.

With that said, here’s a list of the best basic appliances I would buy (along with some optional add-ons based on your cooking preferences)!

the essentials

I. KitchenAid Mixer

I know that KitchenAid mixers are pricey—and it doesn’t help that their attachments are sold separately—but if you spend enough time in the kitchen, they’re truly worth it and can quite literally do everything. As long as you have the right attachments, you can whip up cookies, cakes, ice creams, and pastas, plus you can use them for savory applications like grinding meat or shredding cooked chicken. And if you’re not sold yet, just remember that they’ll last you for years—my mom has had her KitchenAid for over 25 years and it’s still going strong!

Pro tip: keep an eye out for KitchenAid’s refurbished items on their website! Occasionally, they’ll have malfunctioned products that need fixing, but even after the items have been repaired, they can’t be sold for full price and are a great affordable option to buy!

II. Blender

A good blender is one of the most versatile appliances you can have in your kitchen. Aside from blending soups, smoothies, and dressings, a great-quality blender can even whip up nut butters, dips, and plant-based milks. Depending on your budget, here are three different blender options I’ve used and recommend!

III. Food Processor

Though they’re incredibly annoying to clean, food processors are a kitchen staple for a reason—they can mince, dice, shred, purée, and knead just about anything and are perfect for dips and nut butters (if you don’t have a strong enough blender).

IV. Dutch Oven

A Dutch oven really can do it all—aside from being oven and stovetop-safe, it comes in a variety of colors and has an enameled coating that’s perfect for soups and stews, bread-baking, one-pot meals, deep frying, braising slow-cooked meats, or large-batch cooking.

Though more expensive, I prefer Le Creuset’s enameled cast iron ovens, but Staub is another good option if you can find it.

optional items and nice-to-haves

Depending on what you cook, you may or may not like to purchase additional appliances like these!

• Rice cooker. If you cook rice often enough, I think this is a worthy investment! It makes your life so much easier, and you’ll never have to worry about undercooked grains ever again.
• Immersion blender. This appliance makes it super easy to blend, purée, and emulsify mixtures without pulling out all the parts of a traditional blender.
  • Best Overall: Vitamix 5-Speed Blender
  • Best Budget Option: KitchenAid Immersion Blender
• Salad spinner. Perfect for washing leafy greens, herbs, and potatoes, plus it can double as a colander.
• Air fryer. Basically a mini convection oven that’s perfect for reheating and cooking foods to crispiness with little to no oil.
• Waffle maker. Here’s a higher-quality Cuisinart option, or another budget-friendly choice.
• Panini press.
• Sous vide. For perfectly cooked steaks, proteins, and more.
• Mandoline. Great for precise, thin slices for radishes, cucumber salad, or au gratin potatoes.
• Ninja Creami. I feel like you’ve seen these everywhere on social media, so need I say more?
• Instant Pot or slow cooker. For those long days when you don’t have enough time to cook, this CrockPot will have you covered.

IV. Baking Essentials

We made it through the cooking section (phew!), but as a baker first and foremost, I’d be remiss to exclude a bonus section for all your baking necessities! Aside from your staple items like whisks, cooling racks, bench scrapers, measuring cups, and kitchen scales (as mentioned above), here’s what you’ll need.

the essentials

I. Basic Baking Pans

When it comes to baking, there are a few staples you’ll need—here’s what items and brands I recommend to start out!

Sheet Pans

I already linked these earlier, but you definitely need at least two half sheet pans for baking cookies and sheet cakes.

Round Cake Pans

Whenever you need to make a layer cake or birthday cake, a good pair of round baking pans are essential. I recommend getting a pair of 8 inch and 9 inch cake pans to cover all your basic recipe needs.

Square Baking Pans

These are some of the most versatile pans in baking, since you can use them for brownies, bars, casseroles, and more. You should have both glass and metal options on hand, since they’re suited for different uses and retain heat differently.

Loaf and Muffin Tins

These pans are great for classic bakes like banana bread, no-churn ice cream, pound cakes, muffins, and savory applications like egg bites and meatloaf. I recommend getting one 9×5 loaf pan, one to two 1-pound loaf pans, and at least one muffin tin.

Pie Pans

When the holiday season rolls around, it’s always good to have a deep-dish pie pan on hand to make Thanksgiving pies and breakfast quiches! If you only want to buy one, get this Pyrex 9-Inch pan—the tempered glass will make it easy for you to monitor browning as it bakes. However, I think it’s great to splurge on a good ceramic pie dish as well, especially if you’re cooking for a crowd and want to have a pretty presentation.

Optional Baking Pans

If you enjoy baking and have more specific kitchen needs, then you might want to invest in these other baking pans!

• Bundt Pan. For classic pound cakes, monkey breads, and coffee cakes.
• Springform Pan. For cheesecakes, layered ice cream cakes, flourless cakes, and deep tarts or quiches that need to be easily unmolded.
• Ramekins. For lava cakes, soufflés, mousses, and crème brulées.

II. Glass Mixing Bowl

While stainless steel bowls are super easy to clean, I love to have a glass bowl whenever I whip up cookie doughs and brownies—that way, I can see any unincorporated flour pockets while mixing!

III. Rolling Pin

While you can technically get along without one, having a rolling pin makes tasks like forming pie crust, sugar cookie dough, and crushing graham crackers easy as pie.

IV. Cookie Scoops

They might seem inconsequential, but these scoops are a staple for any baker and make portioning out cookie dough and cake batters a dream! I recommend getting two #40 scoops and one larger scoop to cover your needs.

V. Rubber Spatula

I linked my favorite Pampered Chef spatulas in another section, but I also love these one-piece silicone spatulas for baking since they can be easily cleaned.

leveling up

While not necessary, these utensils and appliances definitely make everyday baking easier!

I. Hand Mixer

Compared to a stand mixer, hand mixers are lighter, portable, less expensive, and easy to clean (though their motors aren’t as strong). If you’re making easy doughs and batters, a hand mixer is great to have on hand since it’s lighter, less expensive, and easier to clean compared to a stand mixer. However, they’re not as versatile or strong as a KitchenAid, so any bread doughs or large batches will need to be done by hand.

For hand mixers, I recommend getting a standard KitchenAid. Bonus: try out this cordless version!

II. Cake Decorating Materials

If you find yourself baking cakes often, then a cake turntable set and piping bags is well worth the effort and will massively upgrade your decorating game.

III. Additional Utensils

• Offset spatula. Aside from frosting cakes, an offset spatula is great for lifting delicate baked goods, spreading fillings, and smoothing batters into bakeware.
• Cake tester. Perfect for checking the doneness of cakes, brownies, and roasted vegetables.
• Pastry brush. For more delicate tasks like glazing cakes, brushing egg wash, or dusting away excess flour.
• Dough scraper. Great for portioning out bread doughs and cookie doughs as well as cleaning your work station.

IV. Additionl Appliances

For the chef where baking is more than a hobby, you might enjoy these additional appliances:

• Ice cream machine. No need for rock salt! This Cuisinart machine will have perfect soft-serve ice cream churned and ready in 20 minutes.
• Bread maker or bread oven. To simplify the baking process for bread enthusiasts.
• Pizza oven. For those who want to invest in authentic Neapolitan pizza at home.

items you can skip

1. Pastry cutter. This handheld tool is made of curved metal blades to cut cold butter into flour. In theory, this is great for doughs like biscuits and pie crust because it keeps the fat cold. However, I find them difficult to manage and clean, plus you can easily substitute it with a food processor, a couple of forks, or even your hands.
2. Silpat. While silpat baking mats are reusable, they perform worse than traditional parchment paper in baking—for example, cookies will bake up thinner, crispier, and even greasier because of the silicone’s slippery surface.
3. Egg separator. As you could probably guess, an egg separator is a kitchen gadget used to separate egg yolks from the whites. However, this is an extremely niche tool that doesn’t even work that well (and you can do a quicker and better job by just using your hands).

V. Food Storage and Miscellaneous Items

Last, but certainly not least, we have the food storage section—things like parchment paper, deli containers, and sponges that make cooking (and cleaning) in your kitchen incredibly easy.

the essentials

I. Food Storage Containers

Every chef needs a way to store leftovers and prepped ingredients, and these deli containers are a staple in any industrial kitchen. Aside from acting as storage for leftovers and prepped meals, deli containers can double as a container for dry ingredients, frozen ingredients, sauces, marinades, and even homemade ice cream.

I’ve also attached some larger Cambro food storage containers that restaurants use, but if you’re looking for a more elegant-looking container, I’ve linked to some glass ones as well!

II. Plastic Squeeze Bottles

It might not seem like it, but plastic squeeze bottles are an extremely versatile kitchen tool. Since you can easily control the amount of liquid you dispense, I often store cooking oil, batters, sauces, and vinaigrettes in them to make cooking and plating super easy!

III. Bar Towels and Pot Holders

Kitchen towels are often overlooked or forgotten, but they are essential for your kitchen to clean up spills, wipe off your work station, and to even stabilize your cutting board.

IV. Sponges and Stainless Steel Scrubbers

Even if you cook minimally, you’ll still need a good sponge to clean and maintain your kitchen. I like to have two on hand—a gentler sponge like the Scrub Mommy, and a stainless steel scrubber for tougher cleaning jobs and stainless steel/cast iron.

V. Essential Pantry Tools + Storage

Whether you like to bake or cook, there’s a good chance you’ll need these kitchen staples to follow any recipe.

I know that was a lot, but I hope I’ve given you a great jumping off point to create your kitchen. If I missed any of your favorite kitchen items or gadgets, let me know in the comments. Otherwise, happy cooking!