1. Mylar Magic in the Kitchen: Food Storage Reimagined

The Preservation Solution: The kitchen is the heart of any home, and effective food storage is key to keeping your pantry organized and ingredients fresh. Habitual Heart Mylar Bags are game-changers in this domain.

a) Gather Supplies: Stock up on Habitual Heart Mylar Bags in various sizes to accommodate different quantities of food items. You’ll also need an oxygen absorber for each bag, a heat sealer, and a permanent marker.

b) Prep the Bags: Place the food items you wish to store in the Mylar Bags. Remember, dry goods like rice, pasta, and grains work best.

c) Add the Oxygen Absorber: Drop one oxygen absorber into each bag to remove any residual oxygen that could cause spoilage.

d) Seal the Deal: Use a heat sealer to close the bags tightly. This prevents moisture, air, and pests from compromising your food items.

e) Label and Store: Mark the contents and date on each bag using a permanent marker. Now you’re ready to store them in your pantry or a cool, dark place.

2. Beauty in Bathroom Organization: Mylar Bags for Cosmetics

A Glamorous Solution: The bathroom, by nature, can be a wet and damp place, making it a pretty poor place to keep cosmetics and many other common bathroom items. Whether skincare essentials or makeup items, Habitual Heart Mylar Bags offer a sleek and efficient way to keep everything organized and protected.

a) Select Your Products: Decide which cosmetics you want to store in Mylar Bags. These can range from face powders and palettes to lipsticks, eyeliners, and even items like cotton swabs and feminine hygiene products.

b) Clean and Dry: Ensure the items are clean and dry before placing them in the bags.

c) Arrange and Seal: Neatly arrange the products in the Mylar Bags, grouping similar items together. Use the zipper seal for items you will access frequently, or heat seal the products for longer-term storage. These items often do not require an oxygen absorber.

d) Label for Ease: Use adhesive labels to mark each bag with the type of products it contains. This will help you quickly locate what you need.

3. Garage Goals: Preparedness with Mylar Bags for Camping and Survival Gear

The Preparedness Arsenal: The garage often houses outdoor equipment, camping gear, and survival essentials. Mylar Bags can be your trusty companions in maintaining the integrity of these items, ensuring they’re ready when you need them.

a) Assess Your Gear: Sort through your camping and survival gear to identify items that can benefit from added protection. This might include matches, batteries, first aid supplies, and non-perishable foods.

b) Organize and Store: Place the items in Habitual Heart Mylar Bags, organizing them into categories. Remember to add an oxygen absorber to food-related bags.

c) Secure and Label: Seal the bags securely to prevent any moisture ingress. Label each bag with its contents for easy identification.

d) Ready for Action: Store your Mylar-protected gear in a dry and easily accessible area of your garage. This way, you’ll always be ready for impromptu adventures or emergency situations.

4. Green Thumb Delight: Mylar Bags for Garden Enthusiasts

Nurturing Nature’s Bounty: For those with a passion for gardening, maintaining the quality of your garden supplies and preserving your harvests is essential. Habitual Heart Mylar Bags come to the rescue again, offering a versatile solution to keep your garden-related items fresh and your hard-earned harvests well-preserved.

a) Seed Storage: Every successful garden starts with quality seeds. To ensure they remain viable for planting seasons to come, consider utilizing Mylar Bags.

• Prepare the Bags: Choose the appropriate size of Habitual Heart Mylar Bags for your seed quantities. You can segregate different types of seeds into separate bags for easy access.
• Include Desiccants: Place a desiccant packet in each Mylar Bag to absorb any excess moisture and prevent mold growth.
• Seal with Care: Using a heat sealer, carefully seal the Mylar Bags to create an airtight environment that keeps out moisture and maintains seed viability.
• Label and Store: Label each bag with the type of seeds enclosed and the date. Store the bags in a cool, dark place to maintain their longevity.

b) Soil Amendment Sanctuary: Garden enthusiasts know the value of quality soil amendments. These additives can significantly enhance soil health and plant growth. To ensure they remain effective:

• Bag Selection: Opt for larger Habitual Heart Mylar Bags to accommodate quantities of soil amendments like compost, vermiculite, or perlite.
• Dry and Cool: Ensure that the soil amendments are completely dry before placing them in the Mylar Bags. Moisture can lead to clumping and reduce their effectiveness.
• Add Oxygen Absorbers: To maintain the quality of your amendments, consider adding an oxygen absorber to each bag before sealing.
• Airtight Seal: Seal the bags securely to prevent moisture from seeping in and compromising the amendments’ quality.
• Storage Tips: Store these Mylar-protected bags in a dry, cool place, away from direct sunlight. This will ensure that your soil amendments retain their efficacy for future gardening endeavors.

c) Harvest Preservation: After enjoying a bountiful garden harvest, you might find yourself with surplus produce. Mylar Bags can play a pivotal role in preserving your harvest through methods like dehydration and freeze-drying:

• Preparation: Dehydrate or freeze-dry your fruits and vegetables as desired, removing as much moisture as possible.
• Mylar Bags for Preservation: Place the dehydrated or freeze-dried items in appropriately sized Mylar Bags. These bags will protect your produce from moisture, air, and light, which can lead to spoilage.
• Oxygen Absorbers: Depending on the contents of the bags, consider adding oxygen absorbers to prevent any residual oxygen from affecting the quality of your preserved harvests.
• Sealing and Labeling: Seal the Mylar Bags carefully using a heat sealer. Don’t forget to label the bags with the type of produce and the date of preservation.
• Storage Solutions: Store your well-sealed Mylar Bags of preserved harvests in a dry, cool environment. When the time comes to use them, you’ll be greeted with the flavors of your garden, no matter the season.

5. Paws and Hooves: Mylar Bags for Pet Care and Livestock

Caring for Your Companions: Our furry friends, whether household pets or farm animals deserve the best care possible. Habitual Heart Mylar Bags can extend their nourishment and well-being through effective storage solutions. Here’s how Mylar Bags can make pet care and livestock management more efficient:

a) Pet Food Storage and Treats:

Pet Food Preservation: Just like human food, pet food can also benefit from Mylar Bags’ protective qualities.

• Choose the Right Size: Select the appropriate size of Mylar Bags for your pet’s food quantity.
• Add an Oxygen Absorber: To maintain freshness, include an oxygen absorber before sealing the bag.
• Seal Airtight: Use a heat sealer to close the Mylar Bag securely, keeping out moisture and contaminants.
• Label with Care: Clearly label the bag with the type of pet food and the date of storage.

Treats with a Twist: Extend the shelf life of pet treats using the same method. Keep them crispy and delicious with Mylar Bags.

b) Livestock Management:

Feed Storage for Livestock: For those managing livestock, feed quality is paramount. Mylar Bags offer a reliable solution.

• Bulk Feed Protection: Use larger Mylar Bags for storing bulk livestock feed. This prevents moisture and pests from affecting the feed quality.
• Oxygen Absorbers: Include oxygen absorbers to maintain the feed’s nutritional integrity.
• Seal Securely: Utilize a heat sealer to create an airtight seal that safeguards the feed’s freshness.

Medicinal Management: Keep essential medicines for your livestock safe from environmental factors using Mylar Bags.

c) General Dry Goods for Pets:

Personalized Storage: Mylar Bags are versatile for storing various dry goods your pets might need.

• Toys and Bedding: Store pet toys, bedding (like straw or wood shavings), and accessories in Mylar Bags to protect them from dust, moisture, and pests.
• Hygiene Supplies: Keep hygiene supplies like kitty litter, pet wipes, and grooming tools organized and well-preserved.

d) Labeling and Maintenance:

Labeling for Clarity: Label each Mylar Bag with its contents and storage date. This practice ensures easy identification and rotation.

Longevity and Durability: Habitual Heart Mylar Bags’ durable nature means they can handle the rough-and-tumble nature of pet care, whether it’s in a household setting or on the farm.

Incorporating Habitual Heart Mylar Bags into different areas of your home can transform your organization and preparedness game. Whether in the kitchen, bathroom, garage, garden, or with pets, these versatile bags bring convenience and peace of mind, ensuring your essentials stay fresh, protected, and ready for use. Embrace the Habitual Heart way and elevate your home organization to new heights!

We bought a home in 2021 and are finally able to have the garden we have always wanted, and we are growing more food than we ever thought possible. We’ve got canning and dehydrating down, but getting through what we were able to store within their shelf life is sometimes difficult. So I began researching alternative methods for long-term food storage, and I fell deep down the rabbit hole… so deep I ended up in deep space or maybe the deep woods and stumbled upon the Mylar bags. Remember astronaut ice cream and beef stew in a bag? That stuff.

Along with Mylar bags, you will discover the freeze dryer. Unfortunately, a freeze dryer can run up into the multiple thousands and is not quite in the budget just yet, BUT that didn’t stop me. What I noticed after the sticker shock of a freeze dryer was the packaging (Mylar), and I’m surprised I never noticed it before. Our food and other common household items are packaged in Mylar bags.

What is Mylar?

Hang with me while we get technical for a second. Mylar is Biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate which is a polyester film made from stretched polyethylene terephthalate. It is strong, stable, clear, and acts as a gas and odor barrier, all of which have made it a favorite of the food industry. Typically Mylar is coated over other strong or attractive materials like aluminum or craft paper to add strength or style, but the main reason the food industry loves it is that it acts as a barrier. Oxygen and moisture are the enemies of food, and Mylar keeps both out. Most foods are not the ideal candidates for long-term storage because of oil or moisture, but Mylar can help get that expiration date to a year. So why aren’t most foods packaged in Mylar? Unless you are shopping at an emergency preparedness shop (do those exist? probably) or your local outdoor and recreation store, you will not see much packaged for long-term intent. Why? Cause money. Mylar is a more expensive packaging, and companies want you to go through their items (or let them expire) and come back and buy more.

Which foods can be stored long-term?

A lot of items’ shelf-life can be extended in a Mylar bag (with an oxygen absorber), but the general rule of thumb is that the more moisture or oil a food contains, the worse candidate it is for long-term food storage. I’m going to skip the less-than-a-year items and get to the (incomplete) list of cool stuff.

3 – 5 years:

5 – 10 years:

• Alfalfa
• Granolas (without fruit or added oils)
• Herbs (whole)
• Millet
• Most Beans (some longer – see below)
• Quinoa
• Peppercorns (whole)
• Peanut butter powder
• Powdered milk (semi-skimmed)
• Powdered egg (freeze-dried)
• Rye
• Unbleached flour
• Wheat flakes

20 – 30 years

• Coffee (instant)
• Freeze-dried fruit and vegetables
• Hulled oats
• Kidney beans
• Lentils
• Lima beans
• Noodles
• Pasta
• Pink beans
• Powdered milk (skimmed)
• Rolled oats
• Tea (bags or loose)
• White rice

Indefinitely:

So now what?

Exciting stuff, right? Now to take action. We’re not afraid of buying those 10lb bags of flour anymore, and I’m way more prepared and excited to dehydrate items from our garden this year. I’m also trying my hand at seed saving this season, and I will pack them in Mylar for next spring. 

Have you tried Mylar bags before? Let me know more about your experience and how you use them in your household in the comments.

1. Control Your Schedule

You will have meetings set by other team members and that is out of your hands, but you can get ahead of it. Make sure to be looking at your schedule a week ahead and a day or two ahead. If you see that you have a few meetings already scheduled in the afternoon, try and squeeze a meeting that you need in that block as well so you can reserve the morning for solid, productive hours. To do that, make sure you put a block on your actual shared work calendar so others can see that you are unavailable. Likewise, if you know that you like to have lunch every day at noon and enjoy stepping away from your desk or have school pickup at 3, put it on the calendar. It’s your time and you know how to use it the most efficiently.

2. Over Communicate

What you miss in the office is being able to see people and, more importantly, for people to see you. Check-in with those you work with most in the morning, even if it is just a hello or quick update on a project. Not only are you letting them know you are there, you proactively let them know they don’t have to chase you down for something they were going to ask for anyway.

3. Set Boundaries

Just because you are working at home and your computer is always available does not mean that you are always available. Your work calendar and chat service should allow you to set work/do-not-disturb hours that can help establish boundaries. This is very important because whatever expectations set will become the expected. If you’re sending emails at 11:30 pm, people will expect you to respond to emails at 11:30 pm. Do yourself a favor and set your work hours and stick to them. If you have to catch up on something, schedule an email to be sent first thing in the morning. Make sure to let your coworkers know how you like to work at home. I find there are periods of time I need to ignore emails and chat to devote my attention to a larger project. I let them know this and subsequently give my coworkers my cell number telling them to text me if something is urgent.

For workers who primarily work from home, don’t forget you are still entitled to your sick and vacation time. Again, just because you could work any time from any place, doesn’t mean you should.

4. Have a Designated Work Space

Ideally, everyone could have a home office where they have a beautiful desk, chair, monitors, and a total ergonomic setup. Sadly that’s not always the case. Designate a place for your work that you feel most comfortable and productive. Try and avoid distraction zones like the couch and bed, but if these are the best places by default, do something that makes it feel like work time. Get a special lap desk, unplug the TV, make the bed, set out your notebook and coffee. Anything to make you feel like this is time for work.

5. Have a Routine

Just like you would have if you had to commute to the office, have a morning routine. For me, that looks like getting a quick work out while I indulge in YouTube videos (which would normally distract me during the day). Then I take 20 minutes to tidy the house because messes distract me. I take a quick shower, get dressed, let the dog out, make my tea, and settle in for the day. Likewise, you need to have an evening routine to signal the end of the working day and shut that side of your brain off. I like to close my computer, tidy my desk, then take the dog for a walk or tend the garden. Find what works for you.

6. Work with Your Distractions

Speaking of distractions, there can be a lot at home. Probably more than I fully understand, not having kids yet. Do your best to limit distractions. Set up space away from TVs, kids, comfy looking beds and try to focus. Sometimes this is easier said than done, so I allow myself to be distracted in controlled amounts of time. If the dog keeps scratching at the door, I look for the next 10 minutes I can step away to help her get some energy out. If I know it’s the laundry pulling my attention away, I let myself cycle through a few loads and think of it just like getting up to get a snack at the office. If you can squash a distraction by indulging in it for a few minutes, do that over wasting hours letting it take away your focus.

7. Watch Your Tone

When working from home, most of your communication changes from in-person conversations to Slack and email. “How’s that project coming along?” can sound very different than you intended. It’s important to use your “please” and “thanks” and maybe a few smiley emojis just to make sure your tone is overly clear.

8. Speak Up

Speak up both figuratively and literally. First, you want to make sure your set up is properly functioning for all the conference calls you will be having. Have a solid connection or work with your internet provider to ensure stability. Second, make sure you actually speak at every meeting you attend. Even if that is a simple “Hello” or “Thanks, Bye.” Make sure your time on calls counts. Finally, make sure you have everything you need, speak up to coworkers or management about things that you need to work more efficiently. Most of the time these requests are mutually beneficial so don’t be afraid to ask.

9. Take Advantage

Don’t go wild here, but find something that makes the WFH life a little sweeter. Whether that means you get to eat lunch with your kids every day or you indulge in TV time while you eat. Find something small that makes you say “Well, I can’t do that at the office.” For me, it’s honestly being able to be fully in control of the temperature at home. Raise your hand if you know what I’m talking about. It’s a game-changer from the frigid tundra that is my corporate office.

Have any more tips? Leave them in the comments!

What do I need to be prepared for?

The goal of a supply kit is really to be able to care for your household in the first few days (minimum) when aid may not be available. Again, a few days is the minimum, so for this list, we are going to look at two weeks. If you have space and ability to build a bigger kit, all the more power to you.

The Basics

Water

It is recommended to have a gallon of water per person per day available. It is a lot to store, but this probably the most important item. These stackable cubes are an easy way to remember how much you need. One cube per person per week. One thing to note is that if you live in an area with disasters that come on without warning, you have to have these filled and ready to go. For disasters like hurricanes where you have a little time to prep, keep half filled and half empty to keep the water fresher. If you have any time to prep, it is also recommended that you fill tubs with water in advance. It is also not a bad idea to have a LifeStraw for disasters or camping.

Food

Food is a tricky one. You should build your stockpile keeping in mind the degrees of disaster. There are cases like shelter-in-place or social distancing requirements where you can assume you will have water, power, and electricity which would allow you to access to use items like your freezer and stove. Alternatively, there are disasters that would render your utilities useless and you must focus on only non-perishable food that is open and eat.

• Canned fruit and veg
• Canned soups and stews
• Canned meats (tuna, chicken, etc)
• Dehydrated Fruits
• Crackers/Chips
• Nuts and Seeds
• Jerky
• Granola or Meal Replacement Bars
• Instant Coffee
• Can opener
• Hardcore Prep: Emergency Rations
• Note: Keep the fridge and freezer doors shut if you lose power. You have about 2 hours for fridge items and 48 hours for freezer items when it comes to food safety.
• Note: Rice, grains, beans, and pasta should be part of your normal pantry. Keep in mind these dry items need water and heat to cook, so plan accordingly from your water supply

First Aid Kit

Lighting

Make sure you have a flashlight and extra batteries. Store these items apart so your batteries are not draining while not in use. This will also deter you from using this flashlight every day and misplacing it when you really need it. Candles and waterproof matches or a fire starter are a good idea as well for the simple power outage to a major disaster. Bonus: a lantern or this all in one radio flashlight.

Radio

Funny to think that something we bearly use for entertainment might be the only form of mass communication in an emergency situation. For emergencies, you don’t want your 1990s Barbie boombox and your car radio is not a sustainable option. You should look for a hand-crank powered, NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert (solar power is a bonus).

Face Masks

If we all had proper emergency kits, the panic and shortages we see now would not be a thing. Face masks are a great addition to your emergency kits. From wildfire smoke to dust-filled air and to help stop the spread of infections you should look for an N95 mask that is well-fitting and approved for these use cases. “Fitted” is key for these masks so if you have children, make sure to find masks fit for their face size.

Shelter

In the event you can’t stay in your home, you will want some items to make a basic shelter. A large plastic tarp, rope, and duct tape will get you pretty far.

Health & Sanitation

If you or your family has special medical needs, talk with your doctor about the best methods to prepare. That might mean having additional medication on hand, backup supplies, or learning alternate techniques for care. It is also a good idea to have basic medicine in your kits like aspirin and antihistamines. TMI, but nature will still call in an emergency. Have moist towelettes, toilet paper, feminine supplies and garbage bags at the ready. Hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes are good to have for keeping your space clean, but please remember these are not to be used to keep yourself clean.

Tools & Accessories

There are some things you just need to basically make sure you can use everything in your emergency kit.

• Can Opener (for canned goods)
• PAPER Maps (Google Maps/Internet might be down)
• Contact list. Again, your cell phone might not work and you won’t be able to look up information. Have the numbers of your loved ones and emergency contacts like doctors and local services (police, fire department, hospital). Bonus is to have an agreed out-of-state contact who will act as your family’s operator. Cell services can get jammed with too much traffic, but calling outside your network might work.
• Recent photos in case of separation.
• Fire Extinguisher
• Whistle. Single for help like Rose did after the Titanic sank. (That’s a joke, but also helpful. Right?)
• Chargers. Pre-charge batteries and keep extra charging cables in your kit. Look or portable chargers that can power your phone at least 4x.
• Pocket Knife
• Cutlery and serving ware

Additional Considerations

How to Store Your Emergency Kit

Your kit needs to be in an easy to access place. If your main disaster is earthquakes, your kit can’t be in a place where it might get trapped. If the disaster you are preparing for is tornados, it should be kept where you plan to take shelter. My favorite is a large trash can on wheels. It’s durable, mostly waterproof and mobile if needed.

Clothing and Comfort

• Complete change of clothing for each person
• Shoes (toss your old sneakers in here, not the trash)
• Space blankets

Children’s Needs

• Formula
• Diapers
• Extra Clothes
• Distraction and comfort items

Pet’s Needs

• Pet food
• Pet Medications
• Leash and harness

Car

• Always have at least a half tank of gas
• Comfortable Shoes (especially for women, don’t get trapped in your heels)
• Water
• Space Blankets

The Plan

This is probably the most important part. You need to have a plan. It should consist of the following

• Researching likely disasters
• Choosing several meeting places based on disaster type
• Plotting escape routes in your home and practicing them
• Your out of state contact
• Discussing your go, no-go points for evacuation. Make sure you agree.

I know this can be overwhelming to think about, but it is way more reassuring to know you have a plan and supplies in place than the feeling of being unprepared. Make this your next weekend project. If it all seems too much, start here with a ready-to-go kit.

Habitual Heart 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.

When I was living in the city and working late nights, it wasn’t uncommon that I would place a DoorDash order as I was leaving work so I could arrive home to my favorite Indian takeout. And when Brian, my now-husband, and I were dating, we would rarely brave our respective roommate-shared kitchens, so taking turns ordering delivery was common. Even though we thought we were ordering the best deals, cheapest food, and making sure not to get the “extras,” it was about $50 for every meal we shared. $50 + delivery fees and tips added up fast. We were each spending about $500 a month ($1,000 total). And on top of that, I was still buying groceries with all the ambitions of meal prepping (insert facepalm here).

When we finally moved in together that was the first habit we broke. We had our own kitchen, we had all the tools, and one of us was a professional chef. We could no longer live in denial that delivery was an extravagance. It’s not just food, it’s groceries, shipping, streaming, subscriptions, and service fees. It’s the $.99 here the $4.99 there and the 15% tip on top.

One example that really highlights what all these charges are worth is our HBO NOW subscription. We loved it for Game of Thrones, but now there is not a ton of value we get from it. Let’s say we took the $14.99 monthly charge and invested it in a Match-the-Market style stock with the average rate of return on 6% (the recommended calculation rate from NerdWallet.com). Over 30 years, we would have paid about $5,400 to HBO, or we could be looking at $15,000 in savings. And that’s just one subscription.

Take a look for yourself with this compound interest calculator. For those of you new to the idea of compound interest it is the principle of reinvesting the interest back into the principal amount which then can also accrue interest in the following period.

I am a firm believer that you get to spend your money however you want so I say this not to shame anyone, but to encourage you to take a moment and ask yourself if convenience is worth it for you. Is there something in your budget that would make a better investment than service? You’re going to have to pry Amazon Prime from my cold, dead hands (pays for itself in our household), but I make my own Indian Food now.

Habitual Heart 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.

Bones

If anything should show you the value in saving your bones, it should be that Whole Foods now charges for something butchers used to give away for free. Make it a practice to toss bones in the freezer, not the trash. Start filling up the freezer-safe vessel of choice with bones leftover from whole chickens, wing night, or even from your family BBQ. You can transform bones into flavorful broths and stocks with just a little time, water, and as Instant Pot (or slow cooker)saving yourself from a trip to the store and promising the most flavorful soups of your life. Bones that have been boiled for that long decompose easier so go ahead and toss them into the compost bin after, just make sure they are out of reach of curious pets. Freeze or can broths to keep on hand.

Veggie Scraps

Going along with broths and stocks, start a second collection of the odds and ends of your veggie scraps. Peels, ends, and the funny-looking pieces all can have a second life. Look to save carrots, celery, onions, garlic, leeks, and mushrooms. Anything starchy, like potatoes and squash, or bitter, like broccoli and chard would do better finding their way into a stir-fry. You can even save the stems of your favorite soup herbs to pull the last bit of flavor into your broths.

Egg Shells

If you garden, eggshells are not only a great natural fertilizer, they are also a pet-safe, child-safe snail and slug repellant. Simply let your eggshells dry out on the counter for a couple of days and then crush into rice-sized pieces. Sprinkle this around the base of your prized plants to keep the pests at bay.

Bacon Grease

Fat is flavor! My grandma used to always keep a coffee tin next to the stove filled with bacon grease. Frying up eggs? Bacon grease. Refried beans? Bacon grease. Squeaky door? Kidding. (But it would probably work.) I’m not suggesting to add more fat to a meal than recommended, but rather replace with this flavorful option. Try sauteing onions in bacon grease next time a recipe calls for it. Your tastebuds will thank you.

Citrus Peels

You could do a lot with citrus peels. People candy them, make homemade potpourri, zest them, and even make ornaments, but my favorite easy use is for cleaning. I take a few peels and soak them in vinegar for a few days to add a little fresh scent and essential oil to my 2 parts vinegar and 1 part water cleaning solution. I also take a small piece, about 2 inches, and toss it in the garbage disposal when things are getting funky down there.

Almost Empty Jars

The last of the mayo, the oil left from the sun-dried tomatoes, and the peanut butter jar you have been scraping hoping for a miracle. Turn the dregs of almost any jar into a sauce or dressing. Use the age-old salt + fat + acid to create a tasty topping, right in the original container. For example, take your sun-dried tomato oil, add in equal parts apple cider or red wine vinegar, salt, pepper, oregano and shake to get a tomato vinaigrette.

Bread Ends

I’m a waste not, want not kind of gal and it’s not often that we have crusts or ends left over, but I foresee a lot when we add kids to the mix. Cut any odds, ends or stale pieces into one-inch cubes, toss in olive oil or melted butter, season, and bake at 350°F for 15 minutes or until browned. Voila! Croutons for salads, soups, or snacking.

I’d love to find more things we could be making use of. Please comment below if you have some pro-tips of your own!

1. Pots & Pans

Even the most basic thing, boiling water, requires a tool. Set yourself up with a good set of pots and pans so you can boil, sauté, sear, pan fry, etc. your way to delicious home-cooked meals. We recommend looking for pots and pans that are going to hold and distribute heat evenly (meaning no charred hot spots). You should also look for versatility in that your set should be dishwasher (cause duh), cooktop, oven, and broiler safe. And finally, a nice range of sizes and shapes to fit your needs. Luckily, most brands have an assortment of sets in the same line of quality.

• High End: All-Clad BD005714 D5 Brushed 18/10 Stainless Steel 5-Ply Bonded Dishwasher Safe Cookware Set
• Our Pick! Mid-Range: Cuisinart MCP-12N Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set (these are like getting All-Clad for not All-My-Money)
• Budget: Cook N Home NC-00250 12-Piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set
• Bonus: Check out this great non-teflon, non-stick pan. Every home cook, especially the beginners should have one.

2. Knives

This is where we get a little posh, so brace yourself for the price of our recommendation. GOOD KNIVES ARE AN INVESTMENT! You want your knives to do the work for you and in order to do that they need to have a balanced weight, feel good in the hand, and be so, so sharp. It is a proven fact that dull knives are more dangerous because you have to use more force and they are a little unpredictable. That said if you are not willing to go with our choice, get acquainted with your local knife-sharpening retailer because, with a little care, most knives can be kept safe. A best practice is to hand wash all knives to keep them sharp and save the handles from warping.

• Our Pick! High End: Wusthof Classic 16-piece Acacia Knife Block Set ($$$, but Lifetime Warranty)
• Mid-Range: J.A. Henckels International 13550-005 Statement Knife Block Set These go on sale quite often. Get over 70% off.
• Budget: AmazonBasics 14-Piece Kitchen Knife Set with High-Carbon Stainless-Steel Blades

3. Cutting Boards

Did you think we could recommend knives without talking about cutting boards? The only thing crazier than that would be cutting things without a cutting board. Since cutting boards are mostly on the cheaper side of the kitchen, we are going to list what you need to know.

• Anchor your cutting board. This one was a simple, but mind-blowing hack I learned from chef hubby. Any cutting board that is slipping around is a danger. Simply moisten a paper towel and lay flat under the board. Voila! Instant anchor.
• Avoid cross-contamination. For us, this means having several boards marked for different uses. Especially for your meat, poultry and seafood, you’re going to want to have a set like this.
• Give then a proper wash. Glass, acrylic, plastic and solid wood can go in the dishwasher. Other woods may crack, but if they are cheap enough, it might be worth your time. Always wash with hot, soapy water. Bleach sanitation is up to you.
• Replace often. When your cutting boards start adding unintended ingredients (splinters and micro-plastics) to your dish, it’s time to say goodbye.

4. Cooking Utensils

These are all your mix, whip, grab, flip, measure and peel tools, essentially everything that your hands can’t do themselves. Luckily, there are some great sets out there that keep you from having to get these items one by one. However, if you are on a super tight budget and maybe thrifting these items, use one of these sets as your checklist for the must-haves. In general, you should be looking for tools that are plastic, nylon, silicone, or wooden (with a few exceptions for metal) as these tools are going to keep your cookware safe. If you are like me, you are also looking for dishwasher safe.

• Our Pick! High End: OXO Good Grips 18-Piece Everyday Kitchen Tool Set OXO is one of my favorite brands. I’m always pleased with the quality and the stuff lasts! So if you are making an investment, look here. (Note: you will have to pick up some measuring tools separately.)
• Mid-Range: Yitchen 25-Piece Kitchen Tool & Utensil Set Bonus bottle and wine opener in this set!
• Budget: Home Hero Kitchen Utensil Set – 23 Nylon Cooking Utensils 

5. Baking Sets & Trays

Can one live without cookies, cakes, muffins and more? Probably, BUT these tools are used for so much more. So if you are into sheet pan dinners or even breakfast Keto cups, you need a solid baking set. A set should include both round and sheet cake tins, a muffin tray, and a loaf pan.

• High End: Farberware 46650 Nonstick Bakeware Set (You do get a few more pieces here to justify the price.)
• Mid-Range: Calphalon Nonstick Bakeware Set
• Our Pick! Budget: AmazonBasics 6-Piece Nonstick Oven Bakeware Baking Set
• Bonus: If you are into pies, make sure to pick up this perfectly sized pie dish. I prefer glass which allows you to see how your bottom crust is browning.

6. Mixing Bowls

This is where the magic happens. A mixing bowl set should be used for so much more than just mixing. We use our set for salad and serving dishes, storage, prep bowls and sometimes as double boilers. There is not much that needs to be fancy about them, but a nesting set is a must to save space. All you have to do is pick between stainless steel, glass, or plastic. Stainless steel could last you a lifetime while glass or plastic has the advantage of being microwaveable.

7. Sieve or Strainer

From the basics of straining pasta and washing produce to more advanced culinary separation techniques, you are going to want one or more of these handy. If your kitchen is absolutely maxed out for capacity, a collapsible colander may be your only choice. If you have a little room to spare, we recommend a fine mesh colander. This allows you to venture into more advanced tricks like getting pesky raspberry seeds out of jam or straining your bone broth for fine particles. As a bonus, pick up this mesh skimming spoon for quick jobs or deep frying.

8. Thermometers

You can not get away with not having a thermometer in the kitchen. This is going to help protect you from yourself and most preventable foodborne illnesses (aka food poisoning). We recommend the OXO Good Grips Chef’s Precision Digital Instant Read Thermometer for its large digital display, quick read, replaceable battery, and the handy temperature guide on the protective sleeve. This thermometer covers all the basics. If you are going to venture into deep-frying or candy making, you’ll need a high-temp thermometer.

9. Pepper Grinder

This is the law according to my chef husband. Pepper must be fresh and the only way to get it is a grinder. You could buy the pre-loaded pepper grinders from the grocery store or you can start saving money with your own grinder you refill with peppercorns. Find one that fits your style, but look for one with adjustable coarseness. Salt and pepper sets are great as well but DO NOT EVER fill a salt grinder with iodized salt. In fact, never use iodized salt unless specifically mentioned for the sake of my husbands sanity. Use kosher salt when in doubt.

10. Instant Pot

We are converts. Goodbye slow cooker, we loved you but we had to make a choice because our kitchen is too tiny and the Instant Pot won BIG TIME. As I write this article I am making carnitas, rice, and beans (from dry beans!) for tonight’s dinner. The Instant Pot is a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, sauté pan, yogurt maker, and warmer all in one. The best selling (and most affordable) model is the Instant Pot Duo, 6QT. We have the 8QT because we like to batch cook, as in make at least double and save for later. I would buy this for the single fact that I have not burnt a batch of rice in over 2 years.

Bonus!

If you have a gas range and you can care for your kitchen tools, cast iron is for you. Cast iron requires love and affection and rewards you with durability, versatility, and flavor. Caring for one requires you to “season” it, which is a special method of cleaning, avoiding stripping the flavors and oils that make it work so well. If you are ready to dip your toe into the world of cast iron, we recommend starting with a Lodge Pre-Seasoned Skillet.

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