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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