Must Have: Kitchen Tools
You don’t need a lot of tools or equipment to be a good cook. There are so many gadgets on the market, and you’re led to believe that you need them, but more often than not, you don’t. Having too many tools can be a bit daunting, especially for people who aren’t confident in the kitchen. Plus, who has the space for all that, anyway?
In this post, I’ve shared with you the six tools I use (almost) daily. Whether you’re stocking your kitchen for the first time, or just trying to pair down what you do have, these items are a great place to start!
Quarter Sheet Pans
What you typically think of as a sheet pan is actually a half sheet pan. A full sheet is mostly used in commercial kitchens where large quantities are being made, while a half sheet is the size that fits in a typical home oven. Quarter sheet pans are just half of a half sheet pan! They are absolutely the perfect size when cooking for 1-2 people, make multiple side dishes, or even reheating leftovers.
Santoku Knife
Every cook should have at least 2-3 good knives, in their drawer: a chef’s knife or santoku knife, a pairing knife, and a serrated/bread knife. This Santoku knife is my favorite for chopping, slicing, and dicing. The little indented “pockets” on the sides of the knife help to keep food from sticking to the sides of the knife as you cut. Genius.
Microplane
Perfect for zesting citrus and grating fresh garlic and ginger. Any time I see a recipe call for garlic, I reach for this tool. It grates so finely, and is way easier to clean than a garlic press! Just watch your fingers when you get down to the end of the clove.
Pre-Cut Parchment Paper
For easy cleanup and non-stick magic, this is the stuff! I use it to line pans when baking cakes or cookies and roasting veggies or bacon. It helps so much when you’re trying to pull things out of a pan to have little overhanging “wings” of parchment you can pull on.
Citrus Press
I never understood why people used these until I got one. It really does help to get the most amount of juice out your citrus, and holds the seeds. What’s not to like?
Nutribullet Blender
I first bought this so I could make smoothies, but I’ve since found other uses for it. It’s a powerful blender, holds quite a bit, and is way cheaper than a Vitamix! Now, I know it has limitations when compared to a blender or food processor, but for day-to-day things like smoothies, salad dressings, and salsas, it’s just right!
S H O P T H I S P O S T
