Ultimate List Of Must Have Cooking Utensils

Are you setting up a new kitchen? Are you trying to get rid of an overload of gadgets and streamline your kitchen utensils? Or maybe you’re looking to help a newlywed or college student set up a new kitchen.

If you’re using a set of hand me down pots and pans, or knives you found at a garage sale, it’s time for an upgrade!

Believe it or not, you can improve the quality of the tools in your kitchen without spending a lot of money — all you need to buy are just the essentials.

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However, choosing the right kitchen essentials can be a much more difficult task that you might think! There are a lot of options to choose from! You might find yourself asking: “Which ones do I really need?”

If you’re not sure which utensils are best for you and your kitchen, here is an ultimate list of must have kitchen utensils you should consider!

Knives

A block full of knives will look nice on your table but you really only need three: A chef’s knife, a paring knife, and a serrated knife.

Invest in good quality knives. When choosing knives you should choose ones that feel balanced in your hand and it should be easy to hold and control. Avoid buying heavy ones or those on the flimsy side.

8-Inch Chef’s Knife

Triple Rivet Paring Knife

Paring Knife with Serrated Edge

Metal Spatula

Buy a spatula that is made with sturdy metal.

A metal spatula is important for tossing, flipping, and cooking different kinds of food. You can use it to cook pancakes, roast vegetables, prepare an omelette, sauté meats, and even baking salmon!

Turner

Slotted Spatula Turner

Silicone Spatula

Another spatula on this list is the silicone spatula.

A silicone spatula is important for scraping out the sides of a mixing bowl or the food processor. You can also use it to ice a cake or even when folding bread mix or egg whites.

When buying a silicone spatula, make sure that it is not made of rubber as you might risk melting it under high heat.

3-piece Silicone Spatula Set

3-Piece Silicone Spatula Set

Cutting Boards

Get two cutting boards: One for raw protein and another one for cooked food. This will avoid cross-contamination when cooking.

When buying a cutting board, look for one that is made with polyethylene plastic. They are durable, inexpensive, and easy to clean! Choose something that is dishwasher safe, too.

Kitchen Cutting Board Mats Set

3-Piece Flexible Plastic Cutting Board Mats Set

Whisk

Metal whisks come in different sizes and shapes.

Choose a mid-sized whisk with a comfortable handle. You can use it in mixing dry ingredients before you bake, for emulsifying a vinaigrette, and mixing eggs.

3 Pack Stainless Steel Whisk 

11-Inch Better Balloon Whisk

Kitchen Shears

Kitchen shears are super basic, but are super useful.

You can use a pair of kitchen shears to open up packages, for snipping away stems of herbs and vegetables, and when trimming fats from meats.

Buy a pair that can be dismantled for easy cleaning. This is to ensure that the gunk doesn’t build up in the hinge.

Side Note: Please teach your kids to cut a steak before they are grown! lol Years ago there were 2 young men in our youth group who were preparing for their prom dates. The youth pastor offered to take them out to a nice restaurant and prepare them for their dates. When the steaks arrived one of them had NO idea how to cut his steak because his mother cut all their meat with her kitchen scissors before she served it, all his life. got a nice lesson that night in how to cut a steak. lol Lesson: Teach your kids how to cut their own meat.

Kitchen Scissors

Heavy Duty Stainless Scissors

Nonstick Pan

A nonstick pan is useful when wilting greens, scrambling eggs, and frying food.

Look for a nonstick pan that is easy to clean and lightweight. Get something with a ceramic coating as there are pans that are made with PFOAs. These chemicals can be harmful not only to the environment but for your health, too.

Aluminum Nonstick Frying Pan

Nonstick 3-Piece Fry Pan Cookware Set

Cast Iron Pan

In addition to a non-stick pan, you may want to get a cast-iron pan too.

Cast iron is an inexpensive pan that conducts heat easily. You can use it to cook steak, to sear chicken breast, and even in grilling vegetables and fish.

Square Cast Iron Grill Pan

Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet

Sauce Pan

A large sauce pan is essential when boiling potatoes or corn, making pasta, and even simmering batches of broths and soups.

Look for a sauce pan that is 5 to 6-quart in size. You can also get a smaller one, which is 1.5 to 2.5-quart in size, as it is handy when boiling rice and oatmeal.

Stainless Steel 2-Quart Covered Saucepan

1.5-Quart Stainless Steel Sauce Pan with Lid

Slow Cooker

Buy a slow cooker or crock-pot that is the right size for your family.

A slow cooker is going to be your best friend. It is a great tool for someone who is always on the go. There are so many recipes that you can simply throw together before work and in turn enjoy a sumptuous meal once you get home.

Oval Portable Slow Cooker

7-in-1 Programmable Pressure Cooker

Measuring Cups

Measuring cups can precisely measure the volume of solid or liquid cooking ingredients.

Instead of buying the traditional measuring cups, choose something with a modern design. Get a stackable set of measuring cups to eliminate the frustration of using small measuring cups. 

Glass Measuring Cup Set

Stainless Steel Measuring Cups and Spoons Set

Mixing Bowl

Use a mixing bowl to mix salad dressing, marinades, spice rubs, and sauces. It’s also helpful when storing leftovers.

Get a set of high-quality mixing bowls made from glass that won’t absorb odor or stains.

Glass Mixing Bowl Set

Stainless Steel Non-Slip Mixing Bowls with Lids

Colander

Drain pasta, wash fruits and vegetables, and remove the excess water from boiled food with a colander.

Look for a colander that is made from metal or ceramic. These types are sturdier than plastic.

Micro-Perforated Stainless Steel 5-Quart Colander

3-Piece Stainless Steel Micro-Perforated Colander Set 

Vegetable Peeler

A vegetable peeler can speed up your preparation time! You can use it to peel carrots, potatoes, or any other vegetables!

Get a high-quality peeler that is dishwasher safe and ergonomically designed. For a few extra bucks, you are ensuring yourself that it can last a lifetime.

3-Set Original Swiss Peeler

Y Peeler

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When it comes to your kitchen, a little investment can go a long way. Instead of buying used utensils you have to replace often or purchasing dollar store items, purchasing a higher quality, more durable set of utensils will mean they last a long time and save you money in the long run.

High quality does not mean expensive. Before you buy any of these kitchen must-haves, make sure to check out the reviews first, too!