The 10 Essential Kitchen Tools I Actually Use Every Week
Every January, the internet fills up with ‘essential kitchen tools’ lists written by people who have never used a bench scraper in their life. This is not that list.
These are the ten things I reach for constantly in my PNW kitchen where I bake sourdough, cook seasonal produce, and try to waste as little as possible. Some cost almost nothing. Some were worth every penny of a splurge.
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1. A Good Chef’s Knife
Everything starts here. A sharp, balanced chef’s knife makes every kitchen task faster and safer. You don’t need to spend a fortune — a mid-range knife you keep sharp outperforms an expensive one you don’t.
Global knife set – 7.5 and 3 inch
2. A Microplane Zester
Parmesan, lemon zest, garlic, ginger, chocolate. Takes up almost no space, costs very little, does everything better than than similar tools. If you don’t have one, get one this week.
Microplane Classic Zester set of 3
3. A Big and Small Spatula
Stir, fold, flipand get every last drop. Indispensable. Inexpensive. People don’t know they need it until they have it.
Spatula set to fit every nook and cranny
4. A Kitchen Scale
Once you start weighing instead of measuring by volume, you won’t go back. Faster, more accurate, fewer bowls to wash. Used every single day.
5. A Carbon Steel Skillet
Gets better over time with seasoning. Stovetop to oven without complaint, lighter than cast iron. I use it for searing, roasting, baking, cooking asparagus. It will outlast me.
Lodge 12-inch carbon steel skillet
6. A Good Metal Spatula
Not exciting. Completely essential. Durable for pressing, flipping and ensuring nothing sticks to carbon steel or cast iron pans.
Wide metal spatula for carbon steel + cast iron pans
7. Wide-Mouth Mason Jars
For sourdough starter, salad dressings, leftovers, fermenting, fruit vinegars, pantry storage. The most versatile, low-waste storage in my kitchen.
8. A Fine Mesh Strainer
Straining stocks, draining pasta, sifting flour, washing grains, making syrups and vinegar. One of the most useful general kitchen tools you can own.
Stainless steel fine mesh strainer set
9. A Rimmed Baking Sheet
A heavy, rimmed baking sheet conducts heat evenly and doesn’t warp. I use mine for roasted vegetables, sheet pan dinners, cookies, toasting bread. Lining baking sheets with Parchment makes clean up super easy.
Heavy rimmed baking sheet recommended by America’s Test Kitchen
10. A Good Pepper Grinder
Pre-ground pepper makes food quietly worse. A grinder filled with whole peppercorns costs almost nothing and makes a noticeable difference to everything savory you cook.
A Note On Buying Less
The point isn’t to buy all ten things at once. If you cook regularly, you probably already have half of them. Acquire the rest slowly, as things wear out. Buy quality products that are environmentally friendly. Sustainable kitchens are about using what you have well and replacing it thoughtfully.