• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Savory Nothings

  • Easy Family Recipes
    • Easy Dinner Recipes
      • Slow Cooker
      • One Pot Meals
      • Quick Meals
      • Instant Pot
    • Easy Side Dish Recipes
    • Easy Breakfast Recipes
    • Dessert
    • Small Meals
  • Dinner Ideas
  • Kitchen Tips
  • Newsletter
  • About

Home > Kitchen Essentials

Kitchen Essentials

Ever wondered what kitchen essentials get used daily in the Savory Nothings test kitchen? It’s a lot less than you might think!

I make a commission for purchases made through the links on this page.

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

Click to view the wooden utensils on Amazon

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

Click to view the spatula on Amazon


Kasumi Chef’s Knife

Click to view the chef’s knife on Amazon

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

Click to view the small microplane on Amazon

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

Click to view the large microplane on Amazon

 

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

Click to view the scraper on Amazon

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

Click to view the small Dutch oven on Amazon

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

Click to view the large Dutch oven on Amazon

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

Click to view the grill pan on Amazon

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

Click to view the skillet on Amazon

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

Click to view the pressure cookers on Amazon

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

Click to view the hand mixer on Amazon

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

Click to view the food processor on Amazon

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)

Click to view the Vitamix on Amazon

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

Click to view the Bamix on Amazon

THE VEGETABLE PEELER

 

Yes, this is so fantastic it completely deserves its own category. Trust me, this thing peels pumpkin.
WMF Vegetable Peeler

Click to view the peeler on Amazon

 

 

Primary Sidebar

Nora Profile ImageI’m married to my favorite chef – and I share all his secrets to great food here on my blog, bite-sized for busy home cooks just like you and me. READ MORE >

Christmas Recipes

plate filled with cranberry orange shortbread cookies on a marble surface

Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies

top down view of an instant pot filled with baby potatoes

The Best Instant Pot Potatoes

Cranberry Pecan Cheeseball

Thick and Soft M&M Cookies

MORE CHRISTMAS >

READER FAVORITES

sliced cheese stuffed meatloaf with cheese oozing out

Mozzarella Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf

pieces of oven fried chicken on a piece of parchment, with a fork

Crispy Oven Fried Chicken

close up photo of homemade shepherd's pie filling

Homemade Shepherd’s Pie

sliced cinnamon crunch banana bread on a white towel

Whole Wheat Cinnamon Crunch Banana Bread

top down view of a black crock with beef stew

Crock Pot Beef Stew

instant pot sour cream pork chops on a plate with mashed potatoes

Instant Pot Sour Cream Pork Chops

This Garlic Parmesan Crispy Oven Fried Chicken is the only recipe you'll need for crunchy baked chicken! The BEST golden breading that actually sticks to the chicken and great intense flavor - better than KFC!

Garlic Parmesan Crispy Oven Fried Chicken

Southwestern crockpot chicken tacos on a wooden platter

Southwestern Crockpot Chicken Tacos

Trending on Pinterest

1 Gingerbread Cookies

2 Apple Cider Mix

3 Swedish Meatballs

4 Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

5 Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

6 Instant Pot Potato Soup

Footer

Savory Nothings

Meet Nora

Work With Us

Content Usage Policy

Contact

Our Favorite Links

Recipe Index

Free Meal Plans

Shop

sign up for our email newsletter:

SIGN UP NOW

Copyright Savory Nothings © 2019

Follow Along

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

MADE WITH LOTS OF LOVE AND SPICES ♥︎
Privacy Policy | As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

×
  • Easy Family Recipes
  • Dinner Ideas
  • Christmas Recipes
  • Holidays & Occasions
  • Kitchen Tips
  • About
  • Newsletter

Modern Mobile Menu Social icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube