5 Kitchen Tools Every Home Cook Must Have

I write a food blog and spend plenty of time in the kitchen, which means I almost always rely on a few kitchen tools to save the day. As I’m following recipes from a cookbook or making up my own, there have been plenty of times where I’ve avoided a bunch of added stress (and maybe even a totally botched recipe!) by relying on a kitchen tool or two. Below is my foolproof guide to the tools you need in your kitchen to make your life that much easier.

Food Processor

A food processor is probably the most versatile and useful tool to have in your kitchen. There have been plenty of times where I set out to make a recipe to realize that I didn’t own the necessary tool, or that it was still in the dishwasher. It can be a little annoying to clean, but the finished product is almost always worth the work. Some of my favorite creations using this kitchen staple are herb salads, creamy dips, and versatile spreads.

Garlic Press

This is a pretty simple gadget that comes in handy quite often. A garlic press is a handheld device that crushes garlic for you. Being that no one likes the smell of garlic fingers, this mincer is a no-brainer. You get a much smaller cut than you would using a knife, and you’ll be able to enjoy the garlic flavor in your salad dressings, sautés, and pasta dishes seamlessly.

Spiralizer

If you’re building out a healthy kitchen, then a spiralizer is just the thing you need to start getting super fancy with your vegetable-based meals. I can’t tell you how many things you can actually do with this tool. I’ve seen some wonderfully delicious dishes like zucchini puttanesca pasta and balsamic beet ribboned salads—both make for wonderful on-the-fly meals.

Blender

I’ve been asking myself the question of do I need both a food processor and a blender for quite a while now, and the short answer is yes. In fact, I tried to make homemade nutella in a food processor yesterday and it was a total disaster. The difference between a blender and a food processor is mostly the power. In a traditional blender you can make things super smooth and creamy, whereas a food processor is best for chopping and coarse blending. Nut milk and green smoothies are the types of things that are ideal for blending in a blender. It’s not the most joyous tool to clean, but you’ll definitely get your money’s worth when you’re not spending $12 on a green smoothie.

Egg separator

Last but not least, this handy gadget hooks onto the edge of a bowl or pot and separates the yolks from the whites. Egg separators filter out what goes into your recipe and saves you from little shells sneaking in to your batter, dough, or omelette. While this may not be the most inventive tool ever, it definitely gets the job done and saves plenty of frustration. In keeping a kosher kitchen, I’m required to crack the egg to check for blood spots before putting it into a recipe. I usually would transfer the egg from shell to shell before pouring it in or throwing it out at the expense of creating a big drippy mess. I know this isn’t the case for everyone, but it’s definitely a practical tool to keep in your drawer!

While there’s no such thing as simplifying everything you’re doing in the kitchen, there’s hope in helping out with some of tasks. I can’t say my blog would be where it is now without the use of these tools, and especially not without a blender or food processor. So whether you’re making scrambled eggs, a creamy soup, or chopped herb and zucchini salad, the list above will make it wonders easier. I’m wishing you tons of success and luck in the kitchen!