My 10 Kitchen Must Haves {Gadgets & Tools}

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Growing up, I learned to cook, but it wasn’t my forte. I loved cleaning house, organizing and working on projects. But, over the last few years, I’ve really developed a love of cooking. It brings me so much joy to put good, real, healthful meals in front of my family.

Since I spend so much time in the kitchen now, I’ve figured out what works for me, what doesn’t work and just how much I love having clear counter tops. I thought it would be fun to share my favorite 10  Kitchen Must Have Gadgets and Tools with y’all!

1.  Stainless Steel Pots and Pans

I love my Calphalon Contemporary Stainless Steel pots and pans.  I have the set pictured above with two different pieces. It’s easy to cook with and super easy to clean. After six years of use, every piece is in top-notch condition.

2.  Pampered Chef Mix ‘n Chop

I can’t sing enough praises about the Mix ‘n Chop.  Every kitchen should have one. It is perfect for mashing potatoes and browning ground beef and buying this tool was the smartest $10 I’ve spent.

3.  Kitchen Aid Blender

The model above is a bit newer than my 6 year old version, but I LOVE the glass pitcher and the horsepower that this baby has. It has spectacularly blended many breakfast smoothies for me and post-workout protein shakes {with ice cubes} for my hubby.

4.  White Hamilton Beach Slow Cooker

Who doesn’t love their slow cooker? I don’t know how I would get dinner on the table some days without mine.

5.  Glass Pyrex with Rubber Lids for Food Storage

Over the last year, we’ve phased out plastic storage containers and we’ve grown our glass Pyrex container/lid collection. I love them because I can pop the dishes in the oven to warm food {we tossed our microwave too! ack!} and they are easy to care for.

6.  Williams-Sonoma Spatulas

I realize that this probably makes me a complete spatula snob, but after you use these spatulas from Williams-Sonoma you won’t go back. They are fabulous, they last forever and they are worth every red cent. Trust me.

7. Tongs

You might be thinking, “Huh? Tongs?”  Yes!  I have a few sets of tongs that I don’t think I could live without. Tongs are excellent for turning food whether you’re baking chicken breast, browning a roast or frying bacon. Tongs are also great for serving salad!

8.  Flour Sack Towels

Don’t you hate those pretty, colorful, dish towels that don’t absorb water at all? That’s no fun, but you will love these flour sack towels. They are 100% cotton, incredibly absorbent, simple to wash and you can find them for under $6 at your local Walmart.

9.  All-Clad Stainless Steel Measuring Cups/Spoons

This is the updated version to the measuring cups/spoons that we received when my hubby and I got married. I happen to still love the older version better because the measuring cups are all one molded piece – not a handle attached to the cup. I’m sure this newer version is fine too. I use these measuring cups/spoons every single day and they don’t crack and the handles don’t fall off.

10. Kitchen Aid Hand Mixer vs. Stand Mixer

I have a confession. I own a lovely Kitchen Aid Stand Up Mixer. It’s amazing. Here’s the problem…at our current house we have no room for it on the countertop, it weighs 500 pounds and there’s no outlet near where we were keeping it. It got ditched to storage, for now. I love, love, love my Kitchen Aid Hand Mixer though. It’s powerful, easy to store and cleanup is minimal. I use it for baking a few times a week!

Well, those are my favorite 10 Kitchen Must Haves. What kitchen gadgets or tools couldn’t you live without?

I’m linking up to I’m Lovin’ It and Centsational Girl!

XO

*****

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33 Comments

  1. Thanks for the list. I enjoyed reading it! I have to get me a mix and chop thing. That looks super cool!!!

    BTW….I absoulutely love reading your blog. Blessings to you and your sweet family.

    Reply

  2. I love my KA stand up mixer!! I have the large one and it is so convenient, but I also have a hand mixer for other things.

    Electric tea kettle. Use it all. the. time. I use for coffee in my french press, tea, and when I need boiling water to run on something that has had raw chicken, when I want to “speed up” the boiling process for pasta, etc. 🙂
    Johanna´s last blog post ..Jealous? Overwhelmed? Or Inspired?

    Reply

  3. I just wrote about my five most-washed kitchen items on Tuesday of this week! 🙂 1. Classic Batter Bowl 2. Flour Sifter 3. Stoneware Rectangular Baker 4. Air Technology Baking Pans 5. Large Containers to store baked goods

    Reply

    2. Amen on batter bowl and air tech baking cookie sheets and 9×13 pan. You have to work at it to burn cookies. I love the large rectangle Pyrex two of them equals one 9×13 casserole – one to eat and one to freeze. Cover top with plastic wrap press out air and then put plastic lid on.

      Reply

    1. When we build and move out of this rental house, I’m planning on making a space especially for my stand mixer! 🙂

      Reply

  6. Every kitchen needs the mix and chop. That was the best money I ever spent. So many uses! Great list!

    Reply

  7. Love your list, and I totally agree! I love my stainless steel pots and pans too, but I have the Cuisinart brand. They are holding up fabulously! I registered for some cheap plastic measuring cups when we got married, and the label that tells the size is already rubbing off. I always tell people to get measuring cups with the sizes engraved into the handle 🙂

    I would hate to live without my cast iron skillet. It makes delicious eggs, fried potatoes, pancakes, and tortillas. I haven’t figured out how to make those things in stainless steel yet! 🙂
    Diana´s last blog post ..That Works for Me: Giveaway!

    Reply

    1. Thanks for your comment Diana! I completely agree about the measuring cups….the sizes must be engraved. 🙂

      P.S. I think your dad taught me Greek at BJ…and now you’re probably less than an hour from me! Small world. Maybe we can get together sometime!

      Reply

  11. My mother-in-law has the Williams-Sonoma spatulas and they are definitely on my to-get-in-the-semi-near-future list. 🙂 I’ve never heard of the Pampered Chef Mix ‘n Chop, but it looks great! I have a non-stick frying pan from Pampered Chef that I LOVE! We did get the Calphalon 13-piece stainless steel set for our wedding (probably very similar to yours!) which I also love, but this non-stick pan is amazing! I am convinced of so many Pampered Chef products.

    Reply

    1. I’m a huge fan of the Pyrex storage sets, too! I hardly every use plastic anymore, which I’m trying to completely rid my cupboards of! Thanks for posting the list, Myra! Again, I LOVE your blog! BTW – I’ve been back & forth on the whole microwave thing. Do you have any articles/info that would help me make up my mind to just go ahead and ditch the thing? 😉

      Reply

  14. I also love my Mix n Chop, my Kitchen Aid hand mixer, my Pyrex glass storage dishes – and I gave away my microwave almost 2 years go. I did it because I knew it would be healthier, but I felt like I had a kitchen makeover with the counter space I saved! My most used item, though, is probably my countertop Oster convection/toaster oven. There are only 3 of us and that’s what I bake in, almost exclusively. That’s what I heat my husband’s food up in (he likes dinner leftovers for breakfast) and it even toasts well! Hard to find in a toaster oven, oddly enough… Anyway, loved your list. 🙂

    Reply

  16. The mix and chop looks really neat! I agree with you on the WS spatulas – no going back! I use my tongs alot – I should have put them on my list. 🙂

    Reply

  17. I used to have a set of the older all clad measuring cups before losing them in a move. I didn’t like the new design as the handle isn’t flush with the rim. But Le Creuset makes awesome ones and i ended up buying the cup and spoon set and my local outlet store. They are one piece with a flush handle and are heavy duty. Have had for a good while now and absolutely recommend them. Well worth it!

    Reply

  19. In my experience, almost every type of kitchen appliance has its own market leader. Some may not suit you in price, or color, if you want to combine all household appliances well together.

    Most often, I just look for good reviews of a particular product, read its characteristics, as well as the main disadvantages/advantages. This helps you choose well from dozens of different brands, the one that will best suit you. For example, I used this review when I was looking for good electric smokers. It worked for me

    Reply

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