My 10 Essential Kitchen Tools

If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I'm currently working on a Winter/Holiday Desserts eBook! In brainstorming recipes and researching ingredients, I wanted to do an article about My 10 essential Kitchen Tools! The process of compiling recipes gives me the opportunity to express my cooking styles, the techniques that I use, and the items that allow me to do so. I found this to be a fun exercise because I always strive to for my recipes to be both delicious and easily replicated. With that said, check out the items below. (This is not a sponsored post, I purchased everything with my own money!)

1. kitchenaid stand mixer

I use my stand mixer almost daily. It's no secret that I LOVE baking, however, I use my stand mixer for so many things. In addition to brownies, cookies, cakes, bread etc., the Kitchenaid mixer also has multiple attachments that you can buy to make pasta, grind meat, and even make your favorite green juices! With the kitchenaid mixer, the possibilities are endless! Check out this article to see all of the things that you can do with a Kitchenaid Mixer. If you don't have one, let me know if you decide to invest in one, - it's truly worth it!

2. cast iron skillet

I also use my cast iron pans EVERY SINGLE DAY. Literally, everyday. They are the most durable pans that I have and conduct heat like none other. I have cooked everything from fried chicken to skillet cookies and cakes in my cast iron pan and it's still so beautiful! They're fairly inexpensive, super durable, and if you take care of them properly, they last forever. The beauty of cast iron is that the more you cook in them, the better they become. I fully plan on passing our cast iron pans down to my children one day. Can you imagine how incredibly seasoned the pan will be by then?

3. Rice cooker

I cannot cook rice stove top. I can't do it. Don't tell me how easy it is, don't tell me there's a secret formula. I've tried it all and nothing competes with a rice cooker. It's a quick, set it and forget it machine and makes the fluffiest rice every single time! Also, it's consistent and I love that while the rice is cooking, I can do other things in the kitchen that need my attention as opposed to dealing with rice. It's just better this way (in my opinion).

4. a cake stand

A cake stand is one of those things you don't realize you need until you need it. I was baking a cake for my Christmas party last year and completely forgot to get a cake stand. I went to a ton of stores to try and find a new one and the majority of the nice ones were sold out or on back order! This year however, I said that I wouldn't let that happen again! I got this beautiful marble cake stand from World Market. It's sturdy, durable, and really pretty!

5. a dutch oven

The Dutch Oven may be one of my favorite kitchen items. Like the cast iron pan, it's versatile, durable, and super photogenic. From bread baking to braising to steaming, the Dutch Oven does it all. I've made stews, fried chicken, massive pasta dishes - you name it. I would certainly classify this multifaceted kitchen item as an essential.

6. a wooden cutting board

If you don't want to mess up your counter tops and wear down your knives, a cutting board is another essential kitchen item. However, it is critical that the cutting board is wooden. There's a lot of misconception regarding cutting board materials in that a lot of people think that plastic boards are better than wooden when it comes to sanitation. This is in fact incorrect. The Kitchn actually did an article on this topic that I found super helpful. In summary, wooden boards DO absorb more bacteria, however, once you clean the board, the bacteria dies as opposed to plastic boards where the bacteria gets into the knife scars and stays there, even after washing with soap and water. I invested in this cutting board that doubles as charcuterie board too.

7. quality kitchen utensils

A good whisk, spatula, and spoons goes a LONG way. Especially when cooking a lot of food for a lot of people during the holidays. A few years ago, I broke a spoon and a whisk while prepping Thanksgiving dinner because the weight of the food was too heavy for my cheap cooking utensils. Investing in a good set really helped make my cooking experience a lot smoother. I highly recommend this!

8. a slow cooker

The slow cooker is my best friend in the kitchen. It always makes the most delicious and tender meats, flavorful soups, jams, and dips etc! The best part about having a slow cooker is that you add the ingredients and it does all of the hard work for you! It's also a lot safer than the pressure cooker, which honestly still scares me. I know that a lot of people love them, it's just not for me. If you need a good slow cooker recipe, check out this recipe for Slow Cooker Balsamic Meatballs with Rice Noodles!

9. a cooling rack

If you fry food, you need a cooling rack. If you bake, you need a cooling rack! No more soggy paper towels! Do the environment a tiny favor and use your paper towels for something else as opposed to wasting them to sop up oily food. Also, if you want your fried foods to be nice and crispy, a cooling rack is KEY. They're super cheap on Amazon, here's the set that I use in my kitchen!

10. quality knives

Last but certainly not least, a quality pair of knives is essential. Knives and pans are probably the biggest investments that I have made in my kitchen. A dull knife is one of the most dangerous things that you can have in your kitchen so investing in a quality pair on knives is imperative. You knives should fit well in your hand and be comfortable to use. Your knives should also have a nice weight and feel balanced while using them. You are more likely to cut yourself with a dull knife than with a sharp knife, so be sure to treat your knives well and sharpen them as needed. My FAVORITE set of knives of all time are these beauties that I was gifted from Food52. They are SHARP, durable, and the material feels very comfortable in my hands.

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I hope that you enjoyed this article of My 10 Essential Kitchen Tools! Please let me know if you agree or disagree in the comments!

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