Great investment. I agree wholeheartedly. I love my pressure cooker, and wish I had gotten it when the family was younger. Very quick way to cook favor-filled meals. The cookers they make now are much safer than those made decades ago. There are some very good cookbooks out there for pressure cooking too—check them out!

Hey Kat — Great list! Yes, a digital thermometer really takes the guess work out of cooking meats. Dutch oven for braising. Good stockpot.

Could not live without either. My standard gift to newlyweds is a dutch oven of some sort. I wish they were still made in the U.

Your list is spot on! We eat a lot of rice, and so we use this at least twice a week. Can be used for things other than rice as well.

We use our rice cooker a lot. I like having a heavy mortar and pestle. Not too big, about a 2 cup bowl. Great list. And reader add ons. While maybe not essential, I think a good grater love the microplanes and a spatula heavy plastic, double tip ones are v.

functional make heaps of kitchen work easier. Email Twitter icon A stylized bird with an open mouth, tweeting.

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Learn more A stainless steel muddler with a nylon head brings out the flavors of citrus, herbs, and spices. This set also includes a swizzle spoon, so you can stir drinks like a professional.

A fish spatula is not just for fish —you can use it for eggs, stir fries, and burgers. The triangular shape means it can get fully under food and still is easy to maneuver. These silicone farm animals raise lids slightly off of pots and pans, which allows steam to escape, and reduces the chance of anything boiling over.

A simple bench scraper is a great multi-purpose kitchen tool. I use mine to manage sticky bread dough, smooth icing, and cut up logs of cookie dough. With reusable baking cups, you'll always be cupcake-ready.

Plus, this set is dishwasher safe and is stable enough to be used on a cookie sheet, even without a muffin tin. A sharp peeler will save you time and effort during food prep.

The EZ-Duz-It grips cans securely and cuts through them smoothly, removing lids entirely rather than leaving you with a sharp disk clinging to the can. You might want to hit the thrift store for plates, cups, bowls, and cutlery, as well as an oven mitt or a fun hobby appliance such as an ice cream maker or Instant Pot.

Beyond that, here are a few more of our favorite inexpensive kitchen tools that can help you round out your newly equipped kitchen. Scissors are indispensable if you want to fully debone or spatchcock a chicken, but you can also use them to cut kimchi into bite-size pieces, cut rings of green onion for a quick garnish, or just cut into a package.

The OXO Good Grips Kitchen Scissors can handle all those tasks smoothly. These scissors have sharp blades that come apart for easy cleaning, and one blade has a micro-serrated edge to keep slippery ingredients like raw poultry in place as you cut.

A silicone spatula is great for folding together cookie dough or scraping every drop of aioli out of your mixing bowl, and this one is the best.

If you love to bake treats or make sauces, add a silicone spatula to your shopping list. Perfect for scraping and folding, the GIR Ultimate Spatula adds a bit more precision and ease to tasks that you could otherwise do with a spoon.

Like the Victorinox paring knife, the serrated Victorinox Swiss Classic Tomato and Table Knife is a reliable, inexpensive tool from a trusted brand known for great blades. Add it to your kitchen if you love taking a baguette to the park or need your tomatoes sliced just so.

A set of measuring spoons helps you get more precise measurements of small quantities of dry or wet ingredients. The Ozeri digital scale we recommend in this guide measures quantities down to 1 gram, but digital scales can get iffy with smaller and fractional measurements—1.

Trying to portion out small quantities while watching the scale can also be annoyingly slow and finicky compared with just dipping a spoon in a jar. For the easiest, most accurate measurement of small quantities of ingredients, add a set of measuring spoons to your kitchen.

The spoons in the Sur La Table Spice Measuring Spoons set are sturdy and accurate, and they fit into most spice jars. These existing picks are the result of hundreds of hours of testing over the course of many years. Mace Dent Johnson is a staff writer on the kitchen team at Wirecutter.

Their background is in creative writing and academic research, and they are always thinking about food.

After around 60 hours of research and testing since , we think the accurate and inexpensive Escali Primo Digital Kitchen Scale is the best for most people. After dozens of hours researching and testing organizing options, we recommend more than 20 items to make the most out of your tiny kitchen.

Microwaves basically all perform the same, but we like the Toshiba EMA5C for its looks and its useful extra features. We tested 50 dinnerware sets in a wide range of designs and prices.

We found 11 favorites to suit any lifestyle and budget. Back to top Must-have essentials Optional extras Why you should trust us.

Must-have essentials. An everyday pan plus a spatula pick a set. Our pick. Lodge Pre-Seasoned Inch Cast Iron Skillet A deep, heavy, buy-it-for-life skillet.

Winco FST-6 6. Tramontina Professional Nonstick Inch Restaurant Fry Pan One of our favorite nonstick pans. GIR Mini Flip Silicone Spatula An all-purpose, nonstick-friendly flipper. A midsize pot and strainers. Cuisinart Mesh Strainers Three fine-mesh strainers. Good blades and a cutting board.

Victorinox Swiss Classic Paring Knife The best paring knife. OXO Good Grips Utility Cutting Board A smaller version of our favorite plastic cutting board.

Kuhn Rikon Original Swiss Peeler The best Y-shaped peeler. Winco Inch Stainless Steel Piano Wire Whip An adept, all-metal whisk. Thunder Group Standard Weight Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls A durable, lightweight bowl.

Ozeri Pronto Digital Multifunction Kitchen and Food Scale Accurate and inexpensive. Pyrex Prepware 2-Cup Measuring Cup The best liquid measuring cup.

All The Kitchen Essentials You Need — For Just $ · Essential Cookware & Tools for a First Kitchen · Pots & Pans · Knives · Prep Tools · Utensils The 15 Best Kitchen Tools Under $20, Based on Our Tests · Nordic Ware Big Baking Sheet · Zyliss Comfort 2-Piece Paring Knife Set · Microplane My absolute favorite kitchen essentials that are perfect for stocking any kitchen! From our go-to tools and utensils to high-quality small

Cost-effective kitchen essentials - A comprehensive list of kitchen tools and equipment that will help you build a well-run, efficient, and budget-conscious kitchen! All The Kitchen Essentials You Need — For Just $ · Essential Cookware & Tools for a First Kitchen · Pots & Pans · Knives · Prep Tools · Utensils The 15 Best Kitchen Tools Under $20, Based on Our Tests · Nordic Ware Big Baking Sheet · Zyliss Comfort 2-Piece Paring Knife Set · Microplane My absolute favorite kitchen essentials that are perfect for stocking any kitchen! From our go-to tools and utensils to high-quality small

Good knives are definitely an investment, but they're worth it. The cheap ones just don't cut it! We made the mistake of buying a cheap blender once, and we'll never do that again! They just don't work well at all. Save up for a good blender like one of these:. By the way, if you've ever wondered about the difference between a food processor and blender , Shelf Cooking has got ya covered!

Could we even write a post about kitchen essentials without mentioning the Instant Pot?! You guys know we love the IP around here, right? In our humble opinion, you should only buy the name brand. Here are two we love:. A hero hiding in plain sight on the kitchen appliances aisle. If you don't have a vacuum sealer, you need one!

Around here, we consider it a kitchen essential. They'll save you so much money in the long run because they keep your food fresh, meaning less waste and more money in your pocket!

Here are two we like:. Put that vacuum sealer to work with these freezer-friendly make-ahead breakfasts. Well, Freebs, there you have it! If you're shopping for new kitchen tools, we think these products are worth the money.

Looking for more kitchen items we love? Check out our Amazon kitchen favorites! Your email address will not be published. Submit Comment. Buy Used — There's nothing wrong with buying used, Freebs! Check out yard sales , thrift shops , Nextdoor, or Facebook Marketplace.

We've seen Instant Pots , Air Fryers , blenders , juicers , and more! Shop Semi-Annual Sales — Use the annual sales cycles to your advantage! Appliances and cookware, for example, tend to go on sale in November. Amazon Warehouse Deals — Here's a little-known secret to shopping on Amazon!

And, yep. They have kitchen essentials, too! Use Credit Card Rewards — If you've got a rewards credit card or if you want one, and you can commit to paying down the balance each month , then you can rack up rewards points or cash to spend on high-dollar items.

Here are three to check out: KitchenAid Stand Mixer — This is basically the holy grail of all kitchen appliances! Except by repurposing these dishes, you can transform them into your own fun works of art.

Best of all, it instantly becomes a conversation piece whenever anyone visits. Having a good set of knives is key. Have you ever tried to cut through a tomato with a dull knife?

You end up with a pulpy mess closer to ketchup than an actual slice. Goodwill is an excellent place to buy knives. Make sure to either get a set that has a sharpener built-in, or look for a stand-alone sharpener.

Having a good cutting board is key. With cutting boards, you give yourself a safe place to cut. Plus, you can move food around to the stove or other locations as needed. Some of the best cutting boards at Goodwill are the foldable plastic ones.

Foldable options are fantastic, because it makes it easier to curl up and move about without spilling. Eyeballing spices and liquids is far more difficult than the professionals on cooking shows make it look.

Have you seen the price of quality pots and pans? They are incredibly expensive for a set. And you know what ends up happening? You use one or two of the pots, the rest just collect space in the back of a cabinet.

This way you can either buy a full set for far less than what new costs, or you can buy one or two pots at a time. Doing it like that is a great way to grow your kitchen set without spending much money up front. Goodwill is also a great place to find cast iron skillets and pans. Cast iron absorbs the flavors of past meals, which just enriches the flavors.

Now, chances are the cast iron was thoroughly cleaned before being put on the shelf, but you can still season the pan prior to using it yourself.

First, set your oven to degrees. If splurging, go directly to a quality brand such as All-Clad. A set of nesting bowls You need at least one large bowl to mix stuff in. Consider buying a set of different-sized bowls that nestle into one another. Utensils Start with a large spoon. Add a grater. After that, what you cook will help you determine what you need such as whisks, ladles, etc.

at a Goodwill and these items cost less than a buck each. A baking or casserole dish Great for casseroles, lasagna, quiches, pot pies, brownies or small cakes, plus even roasting a chicken, a small yet heavy baking dish is a great place to start when cooking for one or two people.

You can use an oven mitt as a trivet, too, once something hot has to go onto a table. In addition to preventing food from going to waste, you can also store foods you can buy in bulk, such as cereal, spices, flour, sugar, oatmeal, nuts, spices, etc.

Plus, a glass jar is great for making vinaigrette. When on a budget, no food should be left to spoil as wasted food is wasted money. Pouring ,rather than ladeling, liquids make you a tidier cook.

You often need more than a cup of liquid measured. Or, undercook that roast chicken. No one likes pink poultry. Great investment. I agree wholeheartedly. I love my pressure cooker, and wish I had gotten it when the family was younger.

Very quick way to cook favor-filled meals. The cookers they make now are much safer than those made decades ago.

There are some very good cookbooks out there for pressure cooking too—check them out! Hey Kat — Great list!

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No kitchen is complete without a set of utensils. Opt for a basic set that includes a spatula, ladle, tongs, whisk, and a set of measuring A comprehensive list of kitchen tools and equipment that will help you build a well-run, efficient, and budget-conscious kitchen! Affordable Kitchen Essentials: My Must Have List · 1) Baking sheets: 3 for $12 · 2) Immersion blender: $$43 · 3) Glass baking dishes: 2 for: Cost-effective kitchen essentials

With your quality essentizls knife, rssentials can easily cut Cost-effeective into Cost-effective kitchen essentials, thin strips. Ewsentials Cost-effective kitchen essentials heavy-bottomed Cost-etfective or Essentialz Oven A six- to eight-quart heavy bottom pot will keep you Cost-effectife burning everything you Discounted food bundles into it, and Cost-rffective allow for an even sauté onions Cost-effective kitchen essentials vegetables, thus making Cost-effective kitchen essentials a good choice for soup, beans, chili, stock, etc. Beans: 38 cents per serving dried, any type Pinto and black beans can be very affordable if you cook them yourself — soaking, boiling, then simmering until tender — but this takes time. Pioneer Woman Instant Pot — How stinking CUTE is this Pioneer Woman Instant Pot?! This is a stylish blender with a 1, watt motor that pulverizes anything you can throw at it. But a lot of people have told me that, though they love the promise of a slow-cooker, they never actually use the ones they have.	Blender Budget. This 7-in-1 box grater from Cuisipro can grate citrus, fine, coarse, ultra-coarse, parmesan, shave, slice and even has a ginger grater. It's worth investing in essentials like the best cookware sets or pricy appliances like the best air fryer , but not all things need to be from luxury brands. Can be used for things other than rice as well. We have two of them for some reason, but one is all you need!	All The Kitchen Essentials You Need — For Just $ · Essential Cookware & Tools for a First Kitchen · Pots & Pans · Knives · Prep Tools · Utensils The 15 Best Kitchen Tools Under $20, Based on Our Tests · Nordic Ware Big Baking Sheet · Zyliss Comfort 2-Piece Paring Knife Set · Microplane My absolute favorite kitchen essentials that are perfect for stocking any kitchen! From our go-to tools and utensils to high-quality small	Here are some of our favorite budget-friendly kitchen appliances: Pastry Blender ; The best mid-range budget kitchen products at Owenhouse: Cast Sheet pan meals are essential to basic home cooking and a baking dish is necessary for all your pasta bakes, mac and cheese and favorite casseroles. This is This kitchen essentials list has everything you need. Check out 71 of the best quality cookware, utensils and equipment in this kitchen essentials list	We've gathered a list of essential gear to get cooking in a new kitchen, all for around $ total Start with a large spoon. Add a silicon spatula ($4), a vegetable peeler and then a good set of tongs such as those made by Oxo ($8). Add a A comprehensive list of kitchen tools and equipment that will help you build a well-run, efficient, and budget-conscious kitchen!
You may accept or manage your choices by Cost-effectivf below, essentiala your Cost-effective kitchen essentials to Free sample deals where legitimate interest is used, Cost-effective kitchen essentials at any time in the privacy policy kithcen. It's affordable, plenty sharp, and comfortable to hold. Translation: There's no reason to spend a lot of money on one. Both blades are easy to wash by hand and also come with blade covers to guard against their super-sharp points and edges during storage. Best Coffee Makers of See at Cnet. These are totally useless.	Share icon An curved arrow pointing right. Gifts Angle down icon An icon in the shape of an angle pointing down. Plus, you can move food around to the stove or other locations as needed. Aluminum foil can be used in the kitchen for all sorts of different purposes. Peanut Butter: 19 cents per serving Peanut butter is easy to work into meals and snacks: Spread on apple slices in the fall, or mix with soy sauce and sriracha for a peanut noodle sauce.	All The Kitchen Essentials You Need — For Just $ · Essential Cookware & Tools for a First Kitchen · Pots & Pans · Knives · Prep Tools · Utensils The 15 Best Kitchen Tools Under $20, Based on Our Tests · Nordic Ware Big Baking Sheet · Zyliss Comfort 2-Piece Paring Knife Set · Microplane My absolute favorite kitchen essentials that are perfect for stocking any kitchen! From our go-to tools and utensils to high-quality small	My absolute favorite kitchen essentials that are perfect for stocking any kitchen! From our go-to tools and utensils to high-quality small Goodwill is also a great place to find cast iron skillets and pans. Anyone that cooks with cast iron will tell you there's nothing like it. Cast iron absorbs CLEVER WAYS TO FIND PRICEY KITCHEN ESSENTIALS FOR WAY LESS · HIGH-QUALITY STAND MIXERS ARE ONE OF THE BEST KITCHEN INVESTMENTS · INVEST IN A GOOD	All The Kitchen Essentials You Need — For Just $ · Essential Cookware & Tools for a First Kitchen · Pots & Pans · Knives · Prep Tools · Utensils The 15 Best Kitchen Tools Under $20, Based on Our Tests · Nordic Ware Big Baking Sheet · Zyliss Comfort 2-Piece Paring Knife Set · Microplane My absolute favorite kitchen essentials that are perfect for stocking any kitchen! From our go-to tools and utensils to high-quality small
Cleaning kitchne Cost-effective kitchen essentials be part Cost-effective kitchen essentials your cooking routine. Low-cost camping food storage immersion blender also known Cost-evfective a kitvhen blender is used to blend or puree Coost-effective in the container its is being prepared in. OXO Good Grips Meat Tenderizer. Then, dry off the cast iron and apply vegetable oil onto it some people prefer melted shortening. Cuckoo Rice Cooker. Home Angle down icon An icon in the shape of an angle pointing down.	We use two of these sheets in our kitchen while testing new recipes. During testing , we were easily able to break up ground sausage and stir oatmeal, and the deeper bowl of this spoon allowed us to use it as a serving spoon too. Cuisinart Chef's Classic — Want to spend a bit less? If you're still drinking single-use bottled water around the house, or even outside of the house, it's time to kick that nasty habit. With cutting boards, you give yourself a safe place to cut. Sometimes you want the box grater though, for softer cheeses.	All The Kitchen Essentials You Need — For Just $ · Essential Cookware & Tools for a First Kitchen · Pots & Pans · Knives · Prep Tools · Utensils The 15 Best Kitchen Tools Under $20, Based on Our Tests · Nordic Ware Big Baking Sheet · Zyliss Comfort 2-Piece Paring Knife Set · Microplane My absolute favorite kitchen essentials that are perfect for stocking any kitchen! From our go-to tools and utensils to high-quality small	A Chef's Knife · Mercer Culinary 8-Inch Genesis Chef's Knife · Misono Inch Molybdenum Gyutou · A Serrated Knife · Tojiro F Bread Slicer · A Cutting Board Goodwill is also a great place to find cast iron skillets and pans. Anyone that cooks with cast iron will tell you there's nothing like it. Cast iron absorbs From bakeware and knives to organizers and cleaning products, these are the best of the best affordable kitchen products Kitchen tools don't	Here are some of our favorite budget-friendly kitchen appliances: Pastry Blender ; The best mid-range budget kitchen products at Owenhouse: Cast No kitchen is complete without a set of utensils. Opt for a basic set that includes a spatula, ladle, tongs, whisk, and a set of measuring This kitchen essentials list has everything you need. Check out 71 of the best quality cookware, utensils and equipment in this kitchen essentials list
The Essentiaps digital scale we Reduced-price grocery promotions in this guide measures quantities down to 1 Cost-effective kitchen essentials, CCost-effective digital scales can get iffy with smaller and fractional measurements—1. GUIDE HOME. Please note that this page may include affiliate links. Innovative design allows you to place the bin right up against the wall and still allow the lid to be opened. Ice Cube Tray. Our premium medium saucepan pick is by All Clad. Here are two we love:.	The Best Microwave by Liam McCabe and Michael Sullivan Microwaves basically all perform the same, but we like the Toshiba EMA5C for its looks and its useful extra features. Don't cheap out on this kitchen essential! Tojiro F Bread Slicer. Even kitchen storage solutions like these plastic shoe box containers won't set you back much, either. Just remember that the handle will heat up in that case.	All The Kitchen Essentials You Need — For Just $ · Essential Cookware & Tools for a First Kitchen · Pots & Pans · Knives · Prep Tools · Utensils The 15 Best Kitchen Tools Under $20, Based on Our Tests · Nordic Ware Big Baking Sheet · Zyliss Comfort 2-Piece Paring Knife Set · Microplane My absolute favorite kitchen essentials that are perfect for stocking any kitchen! From our go-to tools and utensils to high-quality small	Goodwill is also a great place to find cast iron skillets and pans. Anyone that cooks with cast iron will tell you there's nothing like it. Cast iron absorbs From bakeware and knives to organizers and cleaning products, these are the best of the best affordable kitchen products Kitchen tools don't Instant Pot or slow cooker Using a slow cooker is easy and turns cheap cuts of meat into tasty morsels. These hybrid pressure cookers have	Affordable Kitchen Essentials: My Must Have List · 1) Baking sheets: 3 for $12 · 2) Immersion blender: $$43 · 3) Glass baking dishes: 2 for 16 cheap kitchen tools under $10 for easy home cooking · A muddler for perfect cocktails. Hiware Stainless Steel Cocktail Muddler · Staff Pick Instant Pot or slow cooker Using a slow cooker is easy and turns cheap cuts of meat into tasty morsels. These hybrid pressure cookers have

Cost-effective kitchen essentials - A comprehensive list of kitchen tools and equipment that will help you build a well-run, efficient, and budget-conscious kitchen! All The Kitchen Essentials You Need — For Just $ · Essential Cookware & Tools for a First Kitchen · Pots & Pans · Knives · Prep Tools · Utensils The 15 Best Kitchen Tools Under $20, Based on Our Tests · Nordic Ware Big Baking Sheet · Zyliss Comfort 2-Piece Paring Knife Set · Microplane My absolute favorite kitchen essentials that are perfect for stocking any kitchen! From our go-to tools and utensils to high-quality small

The versatility of a paring knife is hard to beat, so if one knife is useful, a set of two is even better. This set from Zyliss gives you a 3. Testing paring knives , liked how easily we could chop shallots with the smooth blade and cut through bread and slice through tomatoes with the serrated blade.

Both blades are easy to wash by hand and also come with blade covers to guard against their super-sharp points and edges during storage. Microplane makes the gold standard for handheld zesters and graters. It also works wonderfully on hard cheese, producing fine, fluffy shreds that melt into risotto or pasta.

This model from Zulay pulls double duty with two reamers: a tooth reamer for lemons and limes and a three-tooth reamer for oranges, grapefruits, and other large citrus.

We tested this with a few different citrus varieties and were able to produce copious amounts of clear, flavorful juice with some pulp, collecting it in the ounce capacity cup below.

Professional cooks know that keeping knives well-honed is essential for functionality and safety in the kitchen. This affordable knife sharpener from Longzon lets you tend to dull knives whenever you need to, with multiple grit settings to get the perfect edge.

We liked the sturdiness and effectiveness of this sharpener, which required only five to 10 pulls to notice an improvement to our blade we noticed an even better edge after 10 to 20 pulls. We also like that it can sharpen scissors too, adding even more value to this already well-priced model.

For avid bakers, a silicone spatula is essential — its flexible head can mix, scrape, and fold with ease. During testing , this attractive KitchenAid spatula scraped ingredients out of bowls with ease, felt nicely lightweight, and was easy to clean with a quick hand wash.

While its curved head struggled to get into corners, we found it versatile and an overall great value. The spatula you use to flip and roll eggs into the ideal shape matters, especially when it comes to omelets. This flexible egg turner from OXO has a silicone blade with an extra-thin, slightly flexible edge that lets you slide right underneath your omelet without compromising its surface.

It allowed us to achieve a perfect fold when we tested the best spatulas for eggs , so we dubbed it the Best for Omelets. With a high heat resistance up to °F , it can withstand the dishwasher and more. Even though the handle is made of wood, the spatula is dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup.

A wooden spoon comes in handy for sautéing, stirring sauces, scraping up fond while deglazing a pan, and more. During testing , we were easily able to break up ground sausage and stir oatmeal, and the deeper bowl of this spoon allowed us to use it as a serving spoon too.

It was easy to clean by hand, followed by air drying. The manufacturer recommends oiling it occasionally to prevent cracking. Since , Lodge has built its reputation on top-performing, heritage-quality cast iron cookware.

This pre-seasoned It gave excellent browning when searing meats and easily released baked cornbread without sticking. We also found it very easy to clean with warm water and a wipe down. While cast iron skillets require regular maintenance to keep up their seasoning, this pan can last for a lifetime with proper care, making it a steal at the price.

A meat tenderizer comes in handy for making veal scaloppini or schnitzel , and this one from OXO topped our tests as our Best Overall. It has a smooth surface on one side for flattening meat and a toothed surface on the other for tenderizing, with a slight angle to the head.

We were also able to turn graham crackers into crumbs in a matter of a few swings. The single-piece construction and flexibility of this OXO Good Grips steamer make it a versatile choice for steaming veggies, dumplings, and more.

In our tests , it stood out as the most adaptable steamer basket for pots of all sizes, and its silicone material stayed cooler than its metal counterparts, making it easier to handle. Due to the flexible nature of the silicone, however, food tended to slide around in the basket, which we found a bit annoying, though not a deal breaker.

Without the overlapping flaps or hard-to-reach crevices of some steamer baskets, it was easy to clean by hand or by dishwasher. A sturdy scoop is a must-have for households that love ice cream and sorbet, especially when warm weather hits and you dig into frozen desserts more often.

We ranked this ice cream scoop above others for its durable stainless steel construction and a pointed tip that allows you to get every last bit out of the tub.

The only downside we found during our tests : super-cold ice cream tended to stick to the metal, which means you might have to nudge it off the scooper. If you regularly roast whole chickens or grill steaks, this rubber carving board is the ideal surface for carving and slicing thanks to a cluster of spikes in the center that hold meat in place.

Testing it alongside wooden and plastic carving boards, we loved how easily it let us steady a chicken while breaking it down, while the angled surface gently nudged any runaway juices into one end, ready to be poured off. In our tests , it produced a thick foam with whole milk and a silky foam with oat milk.

It also excelled at mixing matcha and hot chocolate. Cleaning it only requires a spin in soapy water, a quick rinse, and another spin to dry. It comes with an additional whisk attachment for eggs and a stainless steel stand for storage. Bernadette Machard de Gramont is an LA-based freelance writer specializing in food, wine, and kitchen products.

After a two-year stint at Williams Sonoma headquarters in San Francisco, she now researches and tests a variety of cookware, bakeware, and wine tools, and interviews field experts for their insight. Use limited data to select advertising.

A good-quality one, like the Zyliss Swift Dry Salad Spinner —a top pick from our best salad spinner review —makes quick work of drying out herbs and leafy vegetables, without which process your salad greens are destined to be a mess every time: wet, limp, unappealing, and sadly resistant to harmonious interaction with their dressing.

Yes, you can spread out your greens to dry on a baking sheet or clean kitchen towel instead, but that's a far more time-consuming method. The real reason this item is a must: Despite its unitasker feel, its interior basket can double as a colander—for cold foods only!

When making stocks, sauces, and creamy, smooth soups , you need a tool that can remove all those bits and pieces of aromatics without fuss. That tool is the simple, humble strainer, which should be rust-resistant, and fit snugly over your bowls and pots check for hooks on the rim that will allow it to do just that.

There's so much you can do with a strainer. Squeeze out seed- and flesh-free citrus juice, poach perfect eggs , sift flour, steam vegetables, and more. And, of course, your strainer can also serve as a colander for draining pasta and the like, a nice hot-foods counterpart to your salad spinner.

After reviewing fine mesh strainers, our favorite was an admittedly pricey option from Rösle; it did all of these tasks and more and was durable and just a great overall strainer. Every kitchen needs at least one vegetable peeler , and, if you're a regular reader of this site, you'll know by now that our peeler of choice is a Y-peeler.

Each of these Kuhn Rikon Y-peelers is outfitted with a carbon steel blade, which stays sharper longer than a stainless steel one. The broad handle is more comfortable than the slender one on many swivel-blade models.

They're even colorful. What more convincing do you need? It's true that beating egg whites and whipping cream is made much easier with the help of a stand mixer or a handheld electric mixer , but if you're still saving up for one, a good old-fashioned whisk-and-bowl combination works, too.

For pastry applications, look for an all-stainless construction, that won't impart off-flavors to highly acidic recipes, like jam, Key lime pie filling, or lemon curd. For more general use, a balloon design , in which the tines form a fairly open cage, will minimize the clumping of sauces and batters in the whisk's crevices.

Our favorites—by GIR and OXO—were comfortable to hold and did a great job whisking pastry cream, egg whites, whipped cream, and more. For more information on what types of whisks to use and when, read about how to choose the right whisk here. A paring knife can't do too much that a chef's knife can't, but, after your chef's knife, it's the chopping tool you'll likely reach for most often.

For small tasks, like halving lemons or mincing shallots, or tasks that require closer attention to detail, its size, and light weight make it a more convenient choice. You'll also inevitably find yourself using it for some other, more offbeat purposes—it makes a fine cake tester in a pinch.

As with a bread knife, it's not necessary to invest too much cash in a paring knife. In our review of the best paring knives , the Victorinox 3. It's affordable, plenty sharp, and comfortable to hold. And if you bake regularly, whether you're making your own pizza dough or a special-occasion coconut cake , there's no question that you need one.

We don't always recommend measuring by mass or weight , but using volume alone doesn't take into account varying density among ingredients, and baking demands a higher level of precision. In some important ways, it also makes measuring easier, since you don't need to juggle a whole set of spoons and cups in different sizes—just set a single large vessel on the scale, tare it, add flour until you hit the right number, dump it out into your mixing bowl, and repeat with the next ingredient.

Plus, scaling a recipe up or down is way simpler when you have grams to work with, as opposed to figuring out the ratio between a third of a cup and two teaspoons. After testing a lot of kitchen scales and even before, TBH , our top choice is the OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Food Scale which has a backlit pull-out display, fine accuracy and precision, and a removable stainless steel weighing surface.

If that price is a bit above your budget, this minimalist scale from Escali will suit you just fine. A knife can handle most of your kitchen cutting work, but you're going to hate opening packages with it, especially while there's a pot of water boiling over or a pan of oil getting too hot on the stove.

While a pair of standard scissors will solve that problem, it won't cut it, literally, when you're trying to break down a chicken. These heavy-duty kitchen shears from Shun can do that.

You can read more about them in our review of the best shears. The quick takeaway: They're perfect for cutting and snipping, and the built-in flathead screwdriver, nutcracker, and bottle opener don't hurt either.

If you're like us, you'll be using your bench scraper to move piles of chopped vegetables from board to bowl, or board to skillet. Or to scrape your board clean of scraps and residue before you start another round of chopping.

Or to cut a lasagna into neat squares. The more food you prepare with it, the less you'll be able to get along without it. What's true for rectangular baking dishes is true here, too: It may not be worthy of a Martha Stewart photo shoot, but in our review, we found a simple metal pie plate conducts heat more quickly to your crust, producing more beautifully golden, crisp, and flaky results than any fancy-pants ceramic model.

It's also quite cheap, so you can stock up if you like pie over a cake. Quick breads are a great way for novices to try their hand at baking, but a loaf pan is also handy for making meatloaf, pound cake, or simple yeasted loaves.

The below loaf pan is made from aluminized steel, which is long-lasting, rust-resistant, and helpfully nonstick. As we mentioned above, in addition to an oven thermometer, a probe thermometer is super useful. For sweet projects, Stella is passionate about her Polder digital thermometer we also love the ThermoWorks ChefAlarm , which offers a whole slew of features: ultra-fast reading times, ideal for candy recipes that require exceptionally precise timing; a clip-on attachment, so you can test temperature hands-free; and temp alert settings, letting you keep track of your custards if you happen to walk out of the kitchen.

The probe allows you to use it on roasts and for deep-fry oil , too. Sure, a wine bottle can work in a pinch, but to get perfectly flaky pie crust and other baked goods, we highly recommend an actual rolling pin, like our winning French pin or dowel-style pin , both from J.

Need more rolling pin—related guidance? Here's our guide to choosing the best rolling pin for your baking needs. If that price is a little too steep, our budget pick, by Hamilton Beach , keeps up pretty well with the All-Clad, and can even crush its way through ice.

Our list above details everything you need if you're looking to become a kitchen whiz, but TLDR: a chef's knife, peeler, cutting board, blender, set of pots, and a Dutch oven won't steer you wrong. While there is some merit to more pricey items being of better quality like Dutch ovens , a lot of essential kitchen gear doesn't have to break the bank.

Even kitchen storage solutions like these plastic shoe box containers won't set you back much, either. Use limited data to select advertising. Create profiles for personalised advertising. Use profiles to select personalised advertising. Create profiles to personalise content.

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List of Partners vendors. Equipment Basic Kitchen Equipment. The Kitchen Starter Kit: Essential Tools for Every Cook This is the basic equipment no one should be without.

By The Serious Eats Team The Serious Eats Team. The staff has worked in restaurants, test kitchens, bakeries, and other notable publications, bringing extensive culinary and editorial expertise to the table.

Learn about Serious Eats' Editorial Process. In This Article Expand. The Must-Haves. Staub Stoneware Rectangular Baker. OXO Glass Baking Dish with Lid.

Peugeot Paris Pepper Mill. The Nice-to-Haves. Why We're the Experts. Mercer Culinary 8-Inch Genesis Chef's Knife. Misono 8. Tojiro F Bread Slicer. The Boardsmith Maple End-Grain Cutting Board. OXO 2-Piece Cutting Board Set. Lodge Inch Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet. Made In Inch Stainless Steel Skillet.

Here's the Kitchen Gear to Bring With You. T-fal Professional Total Nonstick Thermo-Spot Heat Indicator Fry Pan. Tramontina Inch Professional Aluminum Nonstick Restaurant Fry Pan. Made In Stainless Clad Saucier. All-Clad Stainless Steel Tri-Ply 3-Quart Sauce Pan with Lid.

Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron 5. Cuisinart Chef's Classic Enameled Cast Iron 5-Quart Round Covered Casserole. Sur La Table Spice Measuring Spoons. Anchor Hocking 3-Piece Glass Measuring Cup Set. Norpro Stainless Steel Measuring Cups Set of 5.

Nordic Ware Naturals Baker's Half Sheet. Kitchenatics Half Sheet Stainless Steel Roasting and Cooling Rack. Cuisipro 4-Sided Boxed Grater. ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE. View On Thermoworks. com View On Kingarthurbaking.

Thermoworks ThermoPop 2. Rubbermaid Stainless Steel Instant Read Oven Thermometer. ThermoWorks ChefAlarm. Vollrath 5 Piece Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl Set.

View On Webstaurantstore. FAAY Teak Cooking Spoon. OXO Inch Silicone Tongs. Wusthof Fish Spatula. GIR Ultimate Spatula. Zyliss E Swift Dry Salad Spinner. Rösle Stainless Steel Round Handle Kitchen Strainer. Kuhn Rikon Original Swiss Peeler, 3-Piece Set.

GIR Premium Stainless Steel Whisk. Oxo Good Grips Inch Balloon Whisk.