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    Home Β» Product, Book & Restaurant Reviews Β» Kitchen Tools You Can’t Live Without

    Kitchen Tools You Can't Live Without

    Feb 23, 2019 Β· by Valentina Β· 40 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    These are the ten kitchen tools you can't live without. Okay, that I can't live without. I use most of these on a daily basis and can't imagine cooking without them! These are not gadgets -- just basic, durable tools that are not expensive or fancy. 10 essential cooking tools, numbered and on a burlap cloth

    This list of my essential kitchen tools has stayed the same for over a decade.

    Truthfully, there are more than ten things I couldn't live without in my kitchen -- however, these are the most important.

    Now, could I really not live without them? Yes, of course I'd continue breathing if someone took away my cast iron skillet! Would I be sad without it? Very sad!

    You'll notice none of these items are "fancy," or "gadget-y." They're all simple, strong, durable, highly functional tools.

    I'm almost as passionate about my need for these items as I am about incredibly delicious food. In my kitchen, the magic couldn't happen without them!

    Ten Kitchen Tools I Can't Live Without

    1. Cast Iron Skillet. I have a 10-inch and a 12-inch. I use one or both of these skillets at least once, if not twice a day. They're great for searing meat, making quesadillas, making stews and stir fries, baking breads, satuΓ©ing burgers, and more. Really, this list is just the tip of the iceberg. This pan sears and caramelizes like no other. My cast iron skillet only gets a washing if it must. Otherwise it lives on the front left burner of my stove, slightly oiled, waiting for action at all times.
    2 red-handled cast iron skillets
    2. Kitchen Tongs. Bacon anyone? And how else would I turn roasting vegetables, steak on the grill, or searing scallops?
    set of 2 kitchen tongs on white background
    3. Glass Mixing Bowls. I think I have at least two of every size. I use these all the time for prep, mixing, marinating, and even serving.
    2 stacks of glass prep bowls
    4. Sheet Pans. These are the best! I use them for prepping, roasting, baking pizza crust, baking cookies, and the list goes on -- a lot longer.
    2 sheet pans on white background

    5. Wooden Spatula. I'd be hard pressed to enjoy making a stir-fry without this! It's the perfect deglazing tool!
    wooden spatula in a satue pan
    6. Cookie Scoops. It shapes all of my cookies, meatballs, crab cakes, risotto cakes, and so on.
    3 different sized cookie scoops
    7. Microplane Grater-Zester. This cool tool finely grates zest, garlic, chocolate, cheese, and my favorite . . . fresh ginger.
    horizontally placed microplane zester on white background

     

     

     

     

    8. Measuring Spoons and Measuring Cups. Since I'm recipe testing all the time, and want to make sure I give you excellent instructions, I use all of these all the time! If you're a baker, they're absolutely essential, since baking is more of a science, than "a little of this, a little of that."
    stainless steel measuring spoons and cups on white background
    9. Chef's Knife. It's crucial. It's almost never dry, I use it so often. I'm partial to Wusthof, and I love the round, smooth handle. Try a few, to see what feels best in your hand. It's simply a matter of taste and most importantly, comfort. I'm short and little, so 6 or 8-inches is perfect for me. Are you tall? Maybe go with the 10-inch. Just ask the folks at the store what's best for you.
    1 paring knife and 1 Chef's knife
    10. Paring Knife. My paring knife is 4-inches, which is perfect, and it has very different uses than a Chef's knife, so both (among a few others) are very important to have.

    So while these are 10 Kitchen Tools I Couldn't Live Without, there are many more kitchen tools I love and use quite often -- a serrated knife, a whisk, and my cutting boards are right up there, too. In fact, I probably use my cutting board several times a day! Should've made the cut. (Pun intended.) πŸ˜‰

    And for fun, here is my Gift Guide for Foodies and Cooks -- it's full of awesome unique items you'll love.

    Cooking On The Weekends is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Allison

      October 12, 2011 at 12:53 pm

      I have to agree - though I would definitely add the whisk to mine!!

      Reply
    2. Sippitysup

      October 12, 2011 at 2:36 pm

      Not only is your list and my list of tools the same, but I have the EXACT same striped tablecloth you used as background. I mean EXACT. That is so weird. GREG

      Reply
      • valentina

        October 12, 2011 at 4:18 pm

        Greg, I'm very happy to hear that you and I have the same list (& tablecloth). I feel somehow validated in my good taste! Really! xo

        Reply
    3. Jayme

      October 12, 2011 at 10:54 pm

      Thanks Valen! I'd love to get a few good knives and never know which ones. Do you like the hollow edge? Found this... http://www.cutleryandmore.com/wusthof-grand-prix-ii/hollow-edge-chefs-knife-p110480

      Is this the one you are talking about??

      Thanks a bunch!
      Jayme

      Reply
      • valentina

        October 13, 2011 at 7:08 pm

        yes, jayme, this the one i use & love! if you're interested in hollow, they're nice b/c they are quite light weight. πŸ™‚

        Reply
    4. Adria

      October 14, 2011 at 12:46 am

      I have everything on your list, except the cast iron skillet. I've been told that they ruin glass top stoves. Do you know if this is the case?

      Reply
      • valentina

        October 14, 2011 at 5:39 am

        Hi Adria, I've never worked with cast iron on a glass stove top, but I've heard that it can be risky in terms of scratching the surface. I think you can smooth down the bottom of a cast iron skillet with a file or sand paper. Your best best is enameled cast iron, like Le Creuset, which is fantastic, too! πŸ™‚

        Reply
        • Adria

          October 15, 2011 at 12:45 am

          I'll look into splurging on 1 Le Creuset skillet πŸ™‚ Thanks!

          Reply
    5. Gerlinde@ Sunnycovechef

      February 20, 2019 at 9:31 pm

      I have almost all of your gadgets except for the cookie scoops . When I am in Germany visiting family I often have to cook with few gadgets . Most of all I miss my spices .

      Reply
      • valentina

        February 22, 2019 at 2:40 pm

        Thanks for checking out my list. πŸ™‚ I would really miss my spices too!

        Reply
    6. angiesrecipes

      February 24, 2019 at 6:55 am

      I need to get some cookie scoops :-))

      Reply
      • valentina

        February 25, 2019 at 8:54 pm

        You do! Thanks for checking out my list. πŸ˜€

        Reply
    7. James

      February 24, 2019 at 7:48 pm

      I have to agree with everything on this list. All of them are essential, and totally agree that the knife is all about the feel in the hand!

      Reply
      • valentina

        February 25, 2019 at 8:56 pm

        Thanks for checking out the list, James.

        Reply
    8. David @ Spiced

      February 25, 2019 at 6:09 am

      I love that this list hasn't changed in years! I have to agree with you, though. Each of the items on this list would be in our top tier as well. And I'm also partial to Wusthof knives...I love the way they feel in my hand! Thanks for sharing, Valentina!

      Reply
      • valentina

        February 25, 2019 at 8:56 pm

        Thanks for looking at my list -- I should probably do part 2 sometime because I keep thinking of more things I use every day. πŸ™‚

        Reply
    9. nancy

      February 25, 2019 at 2:09 pm

      My list is almost identical - but I don't think I could limit it to 10 - a heatproof spatula, and my lemon/lime hand juicer get a daily workout as well!!!

      Reply
      • valentina

        February 25, 2019 at 3:58 pm

        Ah yes, my heatproof spatula! It's up there too.:-)

        Reply
    10. sippitysup

      February 25, 2019 at 3:47 pm

      Our kitchens probably look a lot alike (still). GREG

      Reply
      • valentina

        February 25, 2019 at 8:58 pm

        Great minds think alike. πŸ˜‰

        Reply
    11. Eha

      February 25, 2019 at 4:25 pm

      There seems to be a lot of general agreement here. I would also write a very similar list (minus the scoops) as a few others have done, but I also use whisks all the time and my steamer baskets, both Chinese bamboo and modern flower-shaped metal, are in use almost every day . . . the healthiest way to prepare food in my book and also essential for all the Chinese dishes I love.

      Reply
      • valentina

        February 25, 2019 at 9:04 pm

        Thank you for checking out my list, Eha. I'm thinking now I must do a part 2! I love that you use your steamers all the time. I do love my bamboo steamer. I used to make salmon in it, wrapped in cabbage. I should do that again. πŸ™‚

        Reply
    12. Cathy

      February 25, 2019 at 8:22 pm

      I couldn't agree with you more!

      Reply
      • valentina

        February 25, 2019 at 9:06 pm

        Yay! πŸ˜€

        Reply
    13. Ron

      February 26, 2019 at 4:28 am

      Valentina, I think you nailed the basics of a kitchen just fine. As with you, I find great comfort in my well used (old) kitchen things. My chefs' knife date back many years but as advertised they still hold an edge. Oh, the handle to my filet knife is cracked, but it still works fine. My favorite cast iron fry pan was my great-grandmothers and was said to have burned down a cabin from a bacon grease fire. After my cooking days are over, it'll have a new home with my son. Great post and hang on to those kitchen joys, especially those cast iron pans.

      Reply
      • valentina

        February 27, 2019 at 12:07 pm

        Oh wow, that's a fantastic story about your cast iron pan. Well, good and bad -- nobody wants a house to burn down! Though to have the pan that survived is pretty cool, and I love that it belonged to your great-grandmother. I have a few kitchen pots from my grandmother, that my mom used for years too. I love them all and they bring me joy when I cook with them. πŸ™‚

        Reply
    14. mimi rippee

      February 26, 2019 at 6:52 am

      Great post! I was going to add a whisk, for sure. I'm intrigued by your wooden spatula! Thanks!

      Reply
      • valentina

        February 27, 2019 at 12:08 pm

        Yes, a whisk! That'll go on part two. πŸ˜‰ Thanks for visiting.

        Reply
    15. Dawn - Girl Heart Food

      February 26, 2019 at 8:52 am

      What a great selection! I especially love my cast iron pan and dutch oven. Also, my food processor and immersion blender. Some tools really help out, don't they?? And you really gotta love a cast iron pan...take care of it and it lasts forever! Hope your week is going great, Valentina πŸ™‚

      Reply
      • valentina

        February 27, 2019 at 12:09 pm

        Thanks for checking out the list, Dawn. Should I do a "part two" everything you named shall be on it! πŸ™‚

        Reply
    16. Kathryn

      February 26, 2019 at 5:14 pm

      I agree with your list Valentina - I must admit to being a bit of a 'Kitchen Utensil Junkie'! A few others which I use often are a slotted spoon, a medium sized strainer and a meat probe. I am lucky to have my Great-grandmothers very large pudding bowl which I use to make my bread dough - where as not essential, like Ron said, it's a kitchen joy!!

      Reply
      • valentina

        February 27, 2019 at 12:12 pm

        I love kitchen joy! Wonderful to have something from family from long ago. And yes, strainers! Use them so often, too. Thank you for checking out my list and for the visit. πŸ™‚

        Reply
    17. Jennifer

      April 30, 2019 at 12:28 am

      Awesome collection. I need to get some cookie scoops

      Reply
      • valentina

        April 30, 2019 at 7:50 am

        I use them all the time. Thanks for checking out my essentials! πŸ™‚

        Reply
    18. Anna

      March 24, 2020 at 8:47 pm

      A wooden spatula is a perfect spoon. It's just strong enough and Eco friendly. This list is useful for the kitchen. Thank you for sharing this.

      Reply
      • valentina

        March 25, 2020 at 12:09 pm

        Thanks so much for checking out my list, Anna. I do love those wooden spatulas! πŸ™‚ ~Valentina

        Reply
    19. Donna

      April 11, 2020 at 1:21 am

      It is amazing tips an list. Thank you for the post.

      Reply
      • valentina

        April 13, 2020 at 1:43 pm

        Thanks so much, Donna! πŸ™‚ ~Valentina

        Reply
    20. Bethany

      February 24, 2022 at 3:06 pm

      Thanks, Valentina!
      When you say the cast iron pans don’t get washed often, what does that mean exactly? I want to take the leap and get my first one some time this year, but I hear conflicting things about how hard or easy they are to maintain. Do you just rinse them out after cooking to get the food out, instead of scrub them clean?

      Reply
      • valentina

        February 24, 2022 at 3:32 pm

        Hi Bethany! πŸ™‚ I guess it means a few things . . . If I'm just left with an oiled surface from stir-frying vegetables, for example, I don't even rinse it. I just leave it on the stove for the next use, which in my case is later the same day or the next day. (Sometimes I use a paper towel to wipe it clean.) I think it's okay to do this for even a few days unless meat, fish, or poultry has been cooked in it. Generally though, I just use hot water and a gentle scrub brush if necessary. Some never use soap in a cast iron skillet because it can strip the seasoning off your pan. A small amount of soap is okay, and I would say I do this about every 5th time I use it. I hope this helps. And I hope all is well. As always, so nice to hear from you. πŸ™‚ ~Valentina

        Reply

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