Must-Have Kitchen Gadgets: Essential Appliances and Tools

Cooking three meals daily, plus occasional cocktails and desserts is labor-intensive. This has made my individual appreciate kitchen tools and appliances like Dutch ovens, chef’s knives, and immersion blenders.

I’ve been cooking more in the past two years than I ever have before.

I have a passion for cooking, but my busy work schedule, long commute, and love for dining out limits me to only cooking about five meals a week. I prefer to drink with friends at bars and rarely have dessert, unless it’s for a special event.

However, the current situation has changed my habits greatly. I now find myself cooking an average of 20 meals per week. My husband and I also now have a daily happy-hour routine of cocktails to mark the end of work hours, and my sweet tooth has become more prominent.

Of course, a Dutch oven is a must-have for any home cook, so it is definitely worth mentioning.

Here are the 15 essential items I use frequently in my kitchen.

Dutch oven

Here are the 15 most frequently used kitchen gadgets, appliances, and tools in my kitchen right now.

The versatility and functionality of Dutch ovens make them a must-have for any home chef. The oven’s ability to heat up quickly and evenly, as well as its enamel coating for easy cleaning, and its aesthetically pleasing appearance make it a staple in my kitchen. It’s always on display on my stovetop, adding a touch of style to my cooking space.

What I use it for: bread, sauce, soup, stew, casserole

Immersion blender

Immersion blenders are a convenient and mess-free option for blending a variety of foods, from soup to smoothies. They save counter space compared to traditional blenders and are easy to clean.

What I use it for: salad dressing

My favorite glass food-storage containers

Investing in a good set of glass food-storage containers is highly recommended when cooking every meal as you will quickly accumulate leftovers. These containers are microwave safe and dishwasher friendly, making them an easy and convenient solution.

What I use it for: homemade yogurt, leftovers

Food thermometer

A meat thermometer is the best tool to accurately determine if your meat is fully cooked.

Having a food thermometer is essential for precise measurement of temperature, especially when baking bread or making yogurt from scratch.

What I use it for: chicken, milk to make yogurt, water to activate yeast

Mixing bowls

Mixing bowls serve a variety of purposes beyond just mixing ingredients.

Having ingredients prepared in advance helps in the smooth execution of even the most complex recipes. It prevents any last-minute rush and allows you to cook with ease, avoiding any potential burning of sautéed onions while mincing garlic.

A suitable set of mixing bowls simplifies the task of preparing all necessary ingredients for cooking.

Uses: preparing tuna and chicken salads, sauces (e.g. soy), proofing bread dough, and ingredient organization (mise en place).

Preferred Mixing Bowls: Williams Sonoma 10-Piece Glass Mixing Bowl Set.

My favorite mixing bowls:

Citrus squeezer

Samin Nosrat’s “Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat” emphasizes the importance of acid in flavor balance in cooking. Often, a dish that appears finished is lacking in acidity. Adding vinegar or freshly squeezed citrus enhances the flavor and makes the dish more satisfying. A citrus squeezer facilitates the latter addition.

Usage: extracting juice from lemons and limes for guacamole, salad dressings, and mixed drinks.

My favorite citrus squeezer:

Microplane

A microplane is an indispensable tool that you don’t realize you need until you try it. Once you have it, it quickly becomes an indispensable kitchen accessory.

What I use it for: zesting lemons and limes, grating hard cheese

My favorite microplane:

Instant Pot

I initially doubted the usefulness of an Instant Pot, until Melissa Clark of The New York Times convinced me to try it.

An Instant Pot is an electric appliance with multiple functions, including pressure cooking and slow cooking.

What I use it for: slow-braised meats (like carnitas), soups, yogurt, rice

My favorite Instant Pot:

My favorite salad spinner

I failed to use a salad spinner for far too long, leading to inefficient and wasteful attempts to dry lettuce and herbs with paper towels.

My preferred method for preparing salad greens is to rinse, soak in cold water for 10 minutes, rinse again, and then spin-dry using a salad spinner.

What I use it for: salad, herbs

Wood Edge Wood Reversible Chop-N-Slice Cutting Board Block

Nearly all my meals start on the cutting board.

Having a large and aesthetically pleasing butcher-block-style cutting board on my counter always adds convenience to my kitchen. It enhances the overall feel and accessibility of the space.

What I use it for: chopping everything

My preferred cutting board is the John Boos Maple Wood Edge Grain Reversible Cutting Board.

Baking sheets

I just replaced my old scratched baking sheet with new ones, and I couldn’t be happier.

What I use them for: cookies, chicken, roasted vegetables, sheet pan pizza

Chef’s knife

A good chef’s knife is essential for those who frequently cook, as it greatly simplifies the task of chopping, which is often considered the most tedious part of cooking.

What I use it for: chopping vegetables, crushing garlic, slicing meat

My favorite chef’s knife:

Cocktail shaker

To elevate your mixed drink game, a cocktail shaker is a must-have item.

What I use it for: margaritas, Bloody Marys

Soda maker

Bringing home cans of seltzer from the grocery store is always a hassle. With a soda maker, you have an unlimited supply of sparkling water, perfect for cocktails or to enjoy on its own.

What I use it for: making seltzer

Speakers

I have programmed our kitchen Sonos to automatically switch to the local news radio station when I wake up, eliminating the need for me to manually turn it on.

What I use it for: listening to music, podcasts, and the radio

My favorite speaker: