The Top 10 Essential Kitchen Tools Every Cook Should Own

Moving across the country really allows you to not only take stock of your life but also your possessions. “Do I like this vase enough to wrap it in bubble wrap, which will likely kill the environment, and have movers load it onto the truck at $20 per box so I can then unpack it and shove it in a closet?” My husband and I recently relocated from Santa Monica, California to Brooklyn, New York. We packed all our possessions into a moving truck which the company we hired will *hopefully* deliver to our new apartment.

After my parents recently had a less than stellar experience with a moving company last year and were subsequently left without possessions for around a month I was determined to pack a few kitchen essentials into the car to take with us just in case. Good thing I did because here I sit two weeks after leaving California on my blown up air mattress doubling as a sofa, waiting on my remaining possessions to miraculously show up. I had my stowed knives in the wheel well and whisks in the seat back pockets but at least I can get some work done while I wait.

I have tried my best to rid myself of all frivolous kitchen gadgets. While I don’t think an “as seen on TV“ do-it-all-five-in-one chopper or an avocado slicer is a necessity, I do think everyone needs a really sharp quality knife. My rule is if a tool has one very specific use, it’s not necessary. Below is my list of “desert island kitchen essentials”. These are things that I really do use every day and think are essential in every person’s home if you plan on cooking anything at all.

2. Cast iron pan

Cast iron pans evenly distribute heat and are great for searing meats and have high enough edges for frying, they just require a little bit more care. You can find a great cast iron pan for a really affordable price and they last a long time. I think a lot of people are intimidated by their maintenance. You do not wash a cast iron pan with soap and water, you either wipe it out or wash it simply with water and fully dry it and rub it down with a neutral oil. Using soap strips the seasoning that builds up and keeps food from sticking to the pan when cooking. Get tips for cooking in new cast iron and caring for it here. I have the Finex 10” cast iron but Lodge cast iron makes really great options for a good value.

3. Sauté pan

I love my large classic all-clad stainless steel sauté pan for pan-frying and sautéing as well as my lagostina sauteuse pan with a lid (I can’t find the exact one but this Made In pan is similar). I can use it as a pot to boil things in or make sauces and soups when I am too lazy to take out my big pot. A non-stick skillet is perfect for cooking things that have a habit of sticking to the pan and creating a mess. Look for one with a ceramic coating. Once it starts to show scratches, get a new one.

4. Dutch oven

A good Dutch oven helps to both retain heat and distribute it evenly. Because it can go from stovetop to oven it’s great for braising, simmering and creating soups. I use my 7-quart Staub Dutch Oven for just about everything from braises, soups and sauces to roasting chicken. It’s definitely heavy (I always wonder how all those Italian grandmas move their big Dutch ovens to and from the stove and oven). For either Staub or Le Creuset it’s definitely an investment. Lodge sells an affordable one that I love as well.

5. Sheet pan or quarter sheet pan

A rimmed baking sheet or half-sheet pan are great for baking and roasting. I like to keep at least two in my kitchen to optimize cooking time. I use half sheet pans and quarter sheet pans since they are smaller and more manageable but full-size sheet pans are great when you are cooking for larger families or cooking multiple things at once. If your pan warps and it tilts or is rusted it’s time for a new one.

6. Spatula

A rubber/ silicone spatula is a “do it all tool” – used for stirring or getting every bit of sauce out of a bowl with it’s soft edges. I use this much more than a wooden spoon because you can get everything out of a pot or stir with it. A metal spatula like this one is perfect for flipping eggs or scraping up any bits left in pans. If you are cooking in a non-stick pan opt for a plastic spatula so it doesn’t scratch and damage the pan.

7. Tongs

Tongs are like an extension of a cook’s hand. Rubber tipped tongs come in handy when flipping meat, stirring vegetables or moving hot ingredients from pan to plate.

9. Whisk

Look for a French whisk that has a good handle. A whisk comes in handy when baking, whisking eggs (which can be done with a fork in a pinch), emulsifying dressings or sauces and much more.

10. Mixing bowl

I use a medium mixing bowl to prep food in, throw scraps away, transfer ingredients and so much more. While a full array of bowl sizes is great, you can absolutely get away with one good medium size mixing bowl. I prefer aluminum if you can only have one since it’s durable but a set of nesting glass mixing bowls is great as well.

Additional luxury add-on’s I swear by:

Blender or food processor

The majority of the time you can use one or the other. I prefer my food processor when pulverizing an ingredient or making small amounts of sauces like mayonnaise – the blades are lower down so they catch everything easier. A blender (Vitamix is the top of the line) is better for bigger jobs like pureeing liquids like smoothies and soups.

KitchenAid stand mixer

The KitchenAid stand mixer does everything a whisk does at hyper-speed. My mom has had the same 5-quart KitchenAid mixer since she received it off of her wedding registry almost 30 years ago. It’s an investment but it is also kitchen decor. It’s amazing for whisking meringues and whipped cream (so your hand doesn’t get tired), making doughs for pizza, pasta and bread that you would otherwise knead by hand, mixing batters and cookie doughs. I use it with the attachments to make pasta noodles, sausage, ice cream and more.