Ever wondered what kitchen essentials get used daily in the Savory Nothings test kitchen? It’s a lot less than you might think!
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I believe in buying quality items, but less of them. I don’t like clutter, so I try to limit my utensils and appliances to the ones I really use daily. Of course I also own seasonal items, like a cheese Fondue set , cookie cutters and stainless steel barbecue skewers. But most of what’s in my drawers and cupboards is what I need every day.
So here you have it, my kitchen essentials I use all the time:
To make it a bit more user-friendly I divided this list into categories. Scroll through the post to see all of them or jump to a specific one by clicking the links below:
+Small Things
+Pots and Pans
+Cookers
+Appliances
+The Vegetable Peeler
SMALL THINGS
Small kitchen utensils can take over a kitchen SO quickly! When we moved to a new home the last time I gave away so many things I had bought but NEVER used. Now I have a small collection of useful tools and to be honest – I’m not missing all my little bits and bobs at all!
I love using wooden utensils because they don’t scratch my pans and they’re not too pricey when they need replacing. They are one of the things I don’t mind replacing often, because even silicone ones don’t stay clean for too long and I just prefer to swap them out once odors and colors cling to them.
Wooden Utensils
I found the Le Creuset spatula on sale and just knew I had to give it a try. It’s my favorite tool for mixing batters now! I also own the large one but I wouldn’t recommend it because the shape just isn’t right for me.
Le Creuset Spatula
I love my small microplane! It does SO many things SO well! Mincing garlic, zesting citrus fruit or finely grating chocolate – an absolute go-to!
Small Microplane
The large microplane is an evergreen here as well, we mainly use it for grating cheese over pasta or risotto… Which is a somewhat regular occurrence 😉
Large Microplane
Ever since we started baking more bread at home I’ve been glad that my husband sneakily bought a dough scraper. It just arrived in the mail one day 😉 We do have this exact one, and it does a great job.
Dough Scraper and Cutter
Some of my favorite items from IKEA include their large wooden chopping board, the butcher’s block, cooking spoons, glass jars and this gorgeous colander.
POTS AND PANS
Owning nothing but Le Creuset cookware might look expensive and snobbish, but that’s not the case at all! I just prefer buying one pot or pan per year and slowly building a quality collection than having to own everything at once, but not being able to invest in pieces that will last a life time! I do have a small stainless steel pan not listed here that was passed to us from my in-laws. I use it to cook pasta because it tends to stick to the Le Creuset pan!
The small Dutch oven does a great job cooking for a small family. I mainly use it to cook tomato sauce and small stews, risotto and just general everyday cooking.
Le Creuset 3.5qt Dutch Oven
The large Le Creuset I use to make large batches of stews and soups or to cook large pieces of meat.
Le Creuset Oval Dutch Oven 6.75 Quart
The Grill Pan is one of the first Le Creuset items I ever got, and it’s great for adding smoky flavors and grill marks when it’s cold or rainy outside. It also makes an amazing grilled cheese!
Le Creuset Grill Pan
This is the latest addition to my kitchen! I have been eyeing a cast iron skillet for ages and I finally found one on sale! I didn’t like using nonstick pans and now I could finally throw my last one out!
Le Creuset Skillet
The fifth one I have is a sauté pan with a wooden handle. The Internet tells me it is only available here through Williams-Sonoma in the US. European friends – find it here for example.
PRESSURE COOKERS
Kuhn Rikon Pressure Cookers 7qt & 8qt
APPLIANCES
Both my mom and my mother-in-law have every appliance imaginable. Yogurt maker? Check. Bread machine? Check. Do they use them? Uncheck. I scaled down to the ones listed below and frequently borrow my mom’s stuff 😉
A hand mixer is the best investment you’ll ever make! It’s not always worth it to lug out or dirty a big mixer, and these little guys are so lightweight (and cute!).
KitchenAid Hand Mixer
My food processor is quite a beast, but I honestly have never had one that was so powerful. I went through a few cheaper models and none of them could handle everyday use for a family. This one. It’s everything.
Breville Sous Chef Food Processor
A Vitamix isn’t a purchase you make just so. But I do have to say, it’s worth the smoothest green smoothies, silkiest of soups and non-choke-hazardy baby food!
Vitamix (aka Smoothest Smoothie Maker)
The Bamix is one kitchen item my husband brought with him when we moved in together. He used to use it as a professional chef, now we use it at home. There’s also an attachment for foaming milk (hello, cappuccino!) and puréeing instead of blending. Worth every penny!
Bamix Professional Immersion Blender
THE VEGETABLE PEELER
Yes, this is so fantastic it completely deserves its own category. Trust me, this thing peels pumpkin.
WMF Vegetable Peeler