Ready for all my kitchen essentials?
At long last, here is my carefully curated list of kitchen favorites you’ve asked about for years—all in one place. I get a lot of questions about the tools and gadgets I use, and since many of you are cooking more, I gathered everything I rely on most. These are the items I personally own and reach for constantly: everyday essentials, a few splurges, and practical picks like sponges and towels.
Every product here has been tested in a busy home kitchen and on countless recipe days. You’ve probably seen many of these items on my Instagram. I cook professionally and at home, so durability and performance matter. Below you’ll find appliances, cookware, utensils, storage solutions and more—everything that makes cooking easier and more enjoyable.
P.S. I’ll update this list over time so it stays current. xo
Counter Appliances
High-power blender. This blender is used nonstop in our house and outperforms several others I’ve tried. We make large smoothies daily and it delivers consistently smooth results.
Stand mixer. I use the stand mixer for baking, shredding chicken, and making pizza or focaccia dough—it’s indispensable.
Hand mixer. For smaller tasks, the hand mixer saves time and avoids dirtying the stand mixer. It handles most jobs except heavy bread dough.
Nutribullet. Great for quick vinaigrettes or single-serve smoothies when you don’t need a heavy-duty blender.
Multi-cook slow cooker. My favorite slow cooker—use the sauté setting to sear right in the pot. I have two because I rely on them so much.
Food processor. I often use the food processor more than the blender for breadcrumbs, dips, pestos and sauces; it’s extremely versatile.
Citrus juicer. One of the most-used appliances in our kitchen—lightweight, easy for kids to use, and great for fresh juice.
Air fryer. Not essential for everyone, but useful if you want crisp results without deep frying. It’s large, so plan storage accordingly.
Waffle iron. A worthwhile investment for consistently crispy waffles—better quality than the cheap options that didn’t last for us.
Electric skillet. Perfect for pancakes and toasted quesadillas so everyone can eat at once; a handy extra cooking surface.
Immersion blender. Useful for pureeing soups and sauces—convenient to have even if it isn’t my top appliance.
Electric tea kettle. Heats water very quickly—ideal for tea, coffee and fast cooking prep.
Nespresso. My daily coffee maker; I love its look and convenience in the kitchen.
Keurig K-Cafe. Excellent for entertaining and holidays when you want lattes or cappuccinos with minimal fuss.
Bodum double-wall glasses. My favorite cups for both hot and iced coffee thanks to their insulation and style.
Pots and Pans
10- and 12-inch nonstick skillets. These are my go-to nonstick pans—high quality and oven-safe to high temperatures.
4-quart nonstick sauté pan. A larger pan with a lid that’s perfect for bolognese, one-pan pasta dishes and hearty sauces.
2-quart saucepan. The ideal size for single servings of sauce, reheating, or small stovetop tasks.
Oval roasting pan. Lightweight and versatile enough for roasts, poultry or a large filet; it transitions well from stove to oven.
5-quart stock pot. The workhorse for boiling pasta and making soups that serve a family of four.
7-quart stock pot. Great for stocks, large soups and batch cooking; it also looks nice on display.
Finex cast-iron skillet. A favorite cast-iron skillet with a solid build and an included lid—reliable and long-lasting.
Le Creuset 3.5-quart braiser. A more manageable-sized enameled piece that’s perfect for daily use and smaller braises.
Le Creuset 7-quart dutch oven. A classic I use often for stews, braises and soups.
Staub two-piece baking dishes. Slightly smaller than a 9×13 but perfect for family dinners and side dishes.
9×13 covered baker. Great for lasagna and heavier dishes—ideal for holidays and weeknight meals alike.
9×13 cake pan. The go-to pan for sheet cakes, brownies and bars.
Baking sheets. Durable baking sheets that hold up to frequent use; I have several and they perform consistently.
Nordic Ware bundt pans. High-quality bundt pans with attractive designs that produce excellent cakes.
Silicone lids. A practical solution for corralling lids and reducing clutter—easy to use and store.
Everyday Gadgets and Utensils
Cutting boards. I keep several on hand and use them for nearly every prep task.
Glass mixing bowls. Durable, multipurpose bowls for mixing, prepping and storage.
Microplane. Essential for zesting citrus and grating garlic or ginger—it gets used multiple times per week.
Garlic press. One of my favorite small tools—fast, easy and reliable.
Mezzaluna. Perfect for chopping herbs, making chopped salads and even slicing pizza.
Wooden spoons. Timeless and indispensable for stirring, folding and mixing.
Global knife block. These are the best knives I’ve used—sharp, balanced and durable.
Whisks. Keep a few in different sizes for batters, sauces and emulsions.
Kitchen scale. We use a scale almost daily for baking and precise recipes.
Mandoline. Ideal for consistently thin slices of potatoes, cucumbers, radishes and more—great when you need it.
Handheld citrus juicer. Convenient and used frequently for fresh citrus.
Fish spatula. A thin, flexible spatula that excels at turning delicate fish and other foods.
Serrated grapefruit spoons. Useful for grapefruits and handy for scraping seeds from squash varieties.
Cherry pitter. Saves time when pitting cherries, olives or dates—great for preserving fruit and baking prep.
Meat thermometer. Reliable and accurate for roasting, grilling and checking doneness.
Pro vegetable chopper. Not daily, but a huge time-saver when prepping large quantities of onions, peppers or for recipes like egg salad.
Kitchen towels. Pretty and functional towels for everyday use, plus sturdy bar mop towels for busy recipe days.
Kitchen torch. Not essential for everyone, but great for crème brûlée, toasting marshmallows or finishing desserts.
Wooden salad bowl. Used frequently for family salads and entertaining—available in several sizes.
Scrub Daddy sponge. My top pick for dish scrubbing—durable, effective and easy to use.
Food Storage
Stasher bags. Versatile reusable bags I use for fridge and freezer storage, snacks and marinating.
Weck jars. My go-to jars for sauces, dressings, vinaigrettes and pickles; I especially like the tulip-style jars for presentation and storage.
Seal-tight containers. A recent favorite for storing sauces, dressings and leftovers—airtight and stackable.
[Nothing in this post is sponsored—just a list of my favorite kitchen items. Some links are affiliate links; thank you for your support!]