5 things everyone should have in their kitchen
These are my 10 kitchen essentials I cannot live without. If you cook for yourself at home, these are the bare necessities to help you make it a breeze. They’re chef-approved!
1. Good cutting boards
One cutting board usually doesn’t cut it. This set of three gives you a range of sizes for all sorts of prep work. Use the smaller one for fruits, and the larger ones for meat prep. They’re dishwasher safe and easy to clean. The non-slip grips on both sides prevents accidental cuts (or dropping food on the floor!) and it’s made of durable materials, meant to last for years of heavy use.
2. Immersion Blender
If you haven’t heard of an immersion blender before, then it’s time to find out what all the fuss is about. I’ve had one for about a year now, and I use it several times a week. It saves me so much time on chopping, dicing, blending, pulverizing, you name it! The professionals rely on these to make everything from mousses to salsas to cocktails. The possibilities are literally endless with an immersion blender. (Try making guacamole with one of these- it will change your life.)
This set in particular is the best deal you can get online because it’s loaded with extras. It includes a food processor, mini chopper (compare it to the Slap-Chop, as seen on TV), a large blending jar, whisk attachment, and a potato mashing attachment. The fact that this is a blender, food processor, food chopper, whisk, and masher combined already makes it a great deal. But getting it on Amazon saves a lot of time and hassle.
3. Toaster Oven
One of my biggest pet peeves is when I visit someone else, and they only have a popping toaster with the two slats for toast and bagels. If only they had a toaster oven, the culinary possibilities would be endless! Toaster ovens do all the normal toasting stuff you need, but they are hugely convenient for cooking hors d’oeuvres or small bites. I use mine to reheat pizza, crisp my tortilla shells, and so much more.
I chose this toaster for a few reasons. 1. The price is great. 2. It has robust features 3. It had spectacular customer reviews.
4. Professional Quality Cookware
Stop buying individual pans! You can get everything you need in one set for a lot cheaper. These pans are high quality, professional grade nonstick. You can use any kind of cooking utensil with them, which is nice. The handles also have silicone over them, meaning a cool grip every time. Three of the skillets in this set have this awesome little feature. They feature a thermo-spot heat indicator, so that you know exactly when the pan is perfectly heated. This feature is great for when you need to sear meat or make pancakes/crumpets.
The variety of sizes is a big bonus, as well. You can cook for one, or make a meal for a family of 6 with ease.
You can place these in the oven at a temperature of up to 350 degrees, meaning you can easily melt cheese or reheat food without having to transfer your food to another container.
5. Food Storage Containers
These are important because they prevent food waste! But have you ever stored your food in the fridge for a day or two, go to eat it, and it already tastes like everything else that’s in your fridge?! That’s probably because your containers stink. They should be air-tight, high quality, made of BPA-free plastic, and microwave & dishwasher safe.
I’ve used these Rubbermaid containers since I moved into my first apartment about three years ago, and they are still holding up great! I use them to bring lunch to work, store leftovers, and even make alcohol infusions because they seal so tight.
Think this list is missing something? Add your comments below! What kitchen items could you never live without?
Full disclosure: I have an affiliate partnership with Amazon, meaning that I can link to any Amazon product that I think is the best of its kind — if my readers decide to purchase any of these products after clicking one of my links, I may make a small percentage of the sale.
