8 Kitchen Amenities You’ll Really Wish You Had

A well-equipped kitchen can make cooking easier, more efficient, and more enjoyable. With the right amenities, you can prepare delicious home-cooked meals with less hassle. Here are 8 kitchen amenities you’ll really wish you had if you don’t already:

Quality Cookware

Having high-quality pots, pans, and bakeware that conducts heat evenly and doesn’t warp or react with foods can make a big difference in your cooking results. Look for pieces made from materials like stainless steel, ceramic, or hard-anodized aluminum. Brands like All-Clad and Le Creuset offer exceptional performance and durability. The right cookware makes cooking simpler and helps you achieve optimal results.

Recommended Pieces:

• 12-inch stainless steel skillet
• 3-quart saucepan with lid
• 8-quart stockpot with lid
• 9 x 13-inch baking dish
• 10 or 12-inch cast iron skillet
• Nonstick skillet (if you like to cook eggs or delicate foods)

When your cookware performs reliably every time you cook, it makes the process so much more enjoyable. The right pots and pans are a kitchen essential.

High-Quality Chef’s Knife

A top-notch chef’s knife is probably the single most important tool in your kitchen. With a good quality high-carbon stainless steel blade that takes and holds an edge beautifully, chopping, slicing, and mincing becomes effortless. Brands like Wüsthof, Global, and MAC offer excellent options. Invest in an 8 or 10-inch chef’s knife from a reputable maker, and you’ll have it for life.

The right chef’s knife feels like an extension of your hand and makes prep work truly pleasurable. It’s one tool that no kitchen should be without.

Instant-Read Thermometer

An instant-read thermometer takes the guesswork out of determining if your foods are properly cooked, preventing both undercooked and overcooked dishes. Models like the ThermoPop from Thermoworks provide incredibly fast, accurate readings. Meat, fish, bread, sugar work, fried foods – an instant-read thermometer helps you nail the temperature every time.

Never worry if your roast is done or fret over an undercooked chicken again. A good instant-read thermometer provides peace of mind that your food is safe and cooked perfectly.

Kitchen Scale

A digital kitchen scale allows you to weigh ingredients with precision for the most accurate results following recipes. Measurements like flour and powdered sugar compact so differently in cups that weights are much more reliable. Scales are also indispensible for proper bread and pasta dough hydration. Splurge for a model with a detachable display like the OXO Good Grips Food Scale.

Stop guessing at measurements. Weighing dry and liquid ingredients using a kitchen scale helps ensure baking success and takes your cooking abilities to the next level.

Immersion Blender

An immersion or stick blender makes pureeing soups, sauces, and smoothies right in the pot or mixing bowl easy. No more messy food processors or blenders to clean. Brands like KitchenAid, Breville, and All-Clad make excellent cordless rechargeable models that provide great power and versatility.

Skip the hassle of transferring hot liquids to a countertop blender. An immersion blender lets you puree anything to the perfect consistency right in your cooking vessel for incredible convenience.

Dutch Oven

A Dutch oven is the ultimate multi-purpose cooking vessel. It can braise meats and stews, bake bread, prepare one-pot meals, fry foods, and more. A 5-7 quart enameled cast iron model from Le Creuset or Staub is a kitchen workhorse. The thick, heavy material conducts heat evenly and retains it well for fabulous cooking results.

This pot does it all – braises, roasts, bakes, simmers, fries. A Dutch oven is a cornerstone piece of cookware that belongs in every home kitchen.

Kitchen Shears

A good pair of kitchen shears makes cutting up foods like chicken pieces, herbs, and bacon quick and easy. Kitchen shears are also great for opening packaging. Look for a pair with strong, stainless steel blades that come apart for easy cleaning.

Stop struggling with a chef’s knife for food prep tasks like snipping herbs – kitchen shears make quick work of these jobs. This versatile tool is a kitchen essential.

Digital Meat Thermometer

A digital meat thermometer takes the uncertainty out of roasting and grilling large cuts of meat like chicken, beef roasts, pork loin, and turkey. Models like the Thermoworks Thermapen Mk4 provide near-instant temperature readings. Take the guesswork out of meat doneness.

Never serve dried out, overcooked meat again. A high-quality digital meat thermometer is the best tool for perfectly cooked roasts, ribs, whole birds, and other large proteins.

Conclusion

Equipping your kitchen with high-performing tools and appliances will make cooking easier, faster, and so much more enjoyable. Quality pots, pans, knives, and gadgets eliminate frustration and expand what you’re able to accomplish. Invest in the essential cooking amenities you’re missing, and you’ll wonder how you ever cooked without them. With the right gear, you can look forward to creating fabulous homemade meals with confidence and ease.

Frequently Asked Questions About Essential Kitchen Amenities

What are the most essential kitchen tools every home cook needs?

The most essential kitchen tools every home cook needs are:

• Chef’s knife – An 8 to 10-inch high-quality chef’s knife is the single most important knife for chopping, slicing, dicing and mincing.
• Cutting board – A large wooden, plastic or silicone cutting board protects your counters and is essential for chopping and prepping.
• Mixing bowls – Stainless steel or glass mixing bowls in a range of sizes are indispensible kitchen workhorses.
• Wooden spoons – Versatile wooden spoons are useful for so many cooking tasks. They won’t scratch pots or pans.
• Spatulas – Metal, silicone or rubber spatulas for flipping, scraping and folding batters and foods.
• Mixing utensils – Whisks, spatulas and wooden spoons for combining ingredients.
• Measuring cups and spoons – For accurately measuring dry and liquid ingredients.
• Vegetable peeler – Removes skins from fruits and veggies. A Y-style peeler tends to work best.
• Can opener – Quickly opens cans to access ingredients like beans, tomatoes, tuna and more.
• Colander – A metal or plastic colander strains noodles, rinses produce and more.

What types of pots and pans should every kitchen have?

Every kitchen should have this essential selection of pots and pans:

• 12-inch stainless steel skillet – An all-purpose pan for searing, braising and pan frying.
• 3-quart saucepan with lid – Perfect for making sauces, cooking grains and blanching veggies.
• 8-quart stockpot with lid – Ideal for soups, stocks, pasta and boiling.
• 10 or 12-inch cast iron skillet – Great for searing, frying and baking; holds heat very well.
• 9 x 13-inch baking dish – For casseroles, roasting veggies, making banana bread and more.
• Nonstick skillet (optional) – If you like to cook eggs and delicate foods, a nonstick skillet prevents sticking.

What are essential small appliances and gadgets for the kitchen?

Handy small appliances and gadgets no kitchen should be without include:

• Instant-read thermometer – Ensures food is cooked to the proper internal temperature.
• Kitchen scale – Weighs ingredients like flour and meat accurately for reliable recipes.
• Immersion blender – Purees soups and sauces easily right in the cooking vessel.
• Kitchen shears – Quickly cuts up foods and opens packaging.
• Digital meat thermometer – Provides accurate readings to prevent overcooking roasts and other large cuts.
• Coffee maker or French press – For convenient morning coffee.
• Electric kettle – Boils water faster than the stovetop for teas, coffee and cooking.
• Slow cooker – Allows you to prep meals in the morning that cook all day unattended.

What types of knives does a home cook really need?

The essential knives a home cook should have are:

• 8 to 10-inch chef’s knife – An all-purpose knife ideal for chopping, dicing, mincing and more.
• Serrated bread knife – The long serrated blade cuts cleanly through crusty breads, tomatoes and more.
• Paring knife – A small knife for peeling, coring, details work, and more.
• Boning knife – Thinner and more flexible for removing meat from bones and fish fillets.
• Utility knife – Optional versatile knife for miscellaneous cutting tasks.
• Carving knife – For slicing roasts, whole birds, prime rib and other large cuts.

Start with just a chef’s knife and expand your collection with other styles as needed for tasks like slicing bread or deboning chicken. High-carbon stainless steel blades hold an edge the best.

What types of cutting boards are best for protecting counters and knives?

The best cutting board materials that are gentle on knives and provide great food preparation surfaces are:

• Wood – Classic hardwood boards like maple resist bacteria and are gentle on knives. Avoid soft boards like pine which can damage knife edges.
• Plastic – Boards made from polyethylene plastic withstand plenty of knife use and can go in the dishwasher.
• Bamboo – Sustainable, antimicrobial bamboo makes excellent durable cutting boards.
• Rubber – Flexible, non-slip rubber boards are extra gentle on delicate knife edges.
• Silicone – Nonporous, odor-resistant silicone boards can be used for multiple foods and are dishwasher safe.

Look for boards at least 2-inches thick with a nonslip bottom to protect counters and knives. Avoid glass, acrylic, marble and slate which will damage blades.

What are the best things to stock your kitchen with for convenience?

Stock up on these handy items to make cooking at home more convenient:

• Good-quality olive oil and canola oil – Essential versatile cooking oils.
• Sea salt and black pepper – Salt flavors food and pepper adds spice.
• Garlic – Fresh garlic and minced jarred garlic provide great flavor.
• Onions – Yellow, sweet, red – onions are the base of so many dishes.
• Eggs – Versatile, affordable eggs for scrambles, baking and more.
• Butter – Salted butter for flavoring.
• Flour – All-purpose flour for baking and thickening sauces.
• Rice – White and brown rice can accompany many entrees.
• Pasta – Dried pasta in shapes like spaghetti, penne and rotini.
• Canned beans – Quick protein source for tacos, chilis, rice bowls.
• Broths – Chicken, vegetable and beef broth for cooking.

What are some tips for organizing pots, pans and kitchen tools?

Tips for organizing pots, pans and kitchen tools:

• Store pots and pans on hooks, racks or shelves near the stove for convenient access while cooking.
• Consider lid racks or magnetic strips to keep lids organized and easily accessible.
• Keep lesser used large pots like stockpots in lower cabinets. Reserve upper cabinets for everyday pans.
• Place cooking utensils in countertop crocks or arrange in a utensil organizer inside a drawer.
• Utilize drawer dividers, trays and inserts to keep utensils, gadgets and tools neatly separated.
• Mount often used tools like spoons, spatulas and ladles on the wall or side of a cabinet for quick access.
• Group items used together like mixing bowls and measuring cups near your food prep area.
• Store sharp knives in a dedicated knife block or tray, not loosely with other utensils.

What are some kitchen amenities that make cooking easier?

Handy kitchen amenities that make cooking easier include:

• Quality cookware – Even-heating pots and pans that cook foods properly.
• Sharp knives – Well-made knives that slice, chop and cut with ease.
• Kitchen scale – Weighs ingredients precisely for reliable recipes.
• Food processor – Quickly chops, mixes, purees ingredients.
• Stand mixer – Thoroughly mixes, kneads doughs with little effort.
• Mini chopper – Small chopper that speedily dices onions, herbs, veggies.
• Kitchen timer – Ensures you don’t over or undercook foods.
• Instant-read thermometer – Checks doneness of meats and baked goods.
• Immersion blender – Purees soups, sauces right in the pot.
• Kitchen shears – Handy for snipping herbs, cutting meat and more.
• Spice organization – Labelled jars or a rack to easily find spices needed.

What are some tips for setting up a functional, convenient kitchen?

Tips for a super functional, convenient kitchen setup:

• Store items used most often at eye and hip level for easy access.
• Group like items near where you use them. Example: oils near the stove.
• Keep prep tools like knives, peelers, spoons in a block or crock near your work area.
• Maximize vertical storage space with floor-to-ceiling shelving for lesser-used items.
• Install pot racks, hooks and magnetic strips for keeping pans and lids organized.
• Make sure lighting is bright around prep areas and over the sink.
• Keep a step stool handy for reaching top shelves.
• Maintain a clutter-free counter around your workspace to allow you to prep efficiently.
• Set up an organized pantry with shelving and baskets to neatly store dry goods.
• Throw out or donate old kitchen items you no longer use regularly.