My Most Used Kitchen Items

I often receive questions from friends about my favorite kitchen products, whether they are starting a wedding registry or looking to replace worn out items in their home. I could talk about my favorite kitchen tools and appliances forever. I’ve used many different brands and types of cooking utensils over the years, and certainly have my top picks.

When I first started cooking in college, I used a mix of inexpensive no-name brands and hand-me-downs from my parents. Over time, I slowly replaced individual items once they wore out and/or received new products as gifts.

As I’ve mentioned before, I am a big bargain shopper, and I do a lot of research before buying an expensive item (I want to make sure I am getting my money’s worth!). I also price shop, use discount codes, and activate Ebates (for cash back), when available.

In my list below, you’ll find a mix of higher end kitchen products and inexpensive tools. I want to emphasize that you don’t have to spend a lot of money on cooking equipment to make a delicious meal. In fact, many of my favorite kitchen items are actually less than $10 (read all about those here.) However, if you plan to cook a lot, investing in some good quality pots and pans will carry you a long way.

Below I’ve outlined my most used kitchen items. These are things I use at least once a week, and in some cases every day. I’ve mentioned some of these items on the blog before, but others may be new to you.

Alright, let’s get started!

Air-Tight Glass Containers

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These air-tight glass food storage jars are a staple in my pantry. I have them in a variety of sizes and I use the jars to store everything such as flour, sugar, grains, popcorn, and more. The air-tight seal guarantees your ingredients stay fresh, and the jars are dishwasher safe, making them very easy to wash.

Joseph Joseph Slotted Turner (Spatula)

This is the best spatula. Need I say more? I love the built-in rest that prevents the top of the spatula from touching the counter. We have three of these Joseph Joseph Slotted Turners because we use them so often. They’re perfect for flipping pancakes, scrambling eggs, sautéing veggies, and really anything else you use a spatula for.

Hamilton Beach Slow Cooker

I’ve sung the praises of this Hamilton Beach Slow Cooker so much by now, they should just hire me already! 😉 We received this slow cooker as a gift from my brother and sister-in-law over five years ago, and it gets SO.MUCH.USE. I have no problems with this slow cooker, and considering the price (less than $50) and how much I’ve used it, that’s saying something! The insert is dishwasher safe, which is a major selling point.

Cuisipro Herb Keeper

This herb keeper is another item I’ve had for over five years that is still in daily use. I love this $20 tool so much that it’s become a go-to gift for any cooks in my life. I use the herb keeper to store parsley and cilantro, and it helps extend the life of these herbs by weeks. The parsley currently in my herb keeper is going on four weeks and still looks great.

Rubbermaid Easy Find Lid Food Containers

One of the best things I did to add some organization in my kitchen was throw away all of my old, mismatched tupperware, and replace it with this matching 42-piece Rubbermaid set. The set comes with six different sized containers with matching, stackable lids. Because the lids stack together and all of the containers nest perfectly within one another, these containers take up so much less space and you’ll never lose a matching lid again. I use these for everything from storing salad dressing, coffee grounds, dinner leftovers, cookies, and so much more. I have at least half of them in use right now around our kitchen. Plus, the containers are BPA free.

Arc France Glass Mixing Bowls

My mom bought this set of glass nesting bowls for me years ago, and I use them every single day. Unfortunately, I can’t find the exact set anywhere on the internet, so it must not be made anymore. My set comes with 12 bowls and matching red lids. The large bowls are perfect for salads, marinating, and baking. The small bowls are great for food prep and mixing sauces. A found a few similar products here (without lids) and here (with lids).

Commercial-Size Cutting Board

I am never going back to small cutting boards! This commercial size cutting board is my go-to every night when I cook dinner. I love all of the extra space it gives me to chop vegetables.

Oxo Swivel Peeler

I’ve owned so many vegetable peelers, and most of them break, slip, or aren’t sharp enough. This OXO vegetable peeler is the best I’ve ever used. The grip is very comfortable (even for small hands), and the peeler “swivels” as it moves down a vegetable, giving you the perfect peel every time.

Mr. Coffee 4-Cup Coffee Maker

If you’re making coffee for just 1-2 people, this little coffee maker is fantastic! I’ve had two – the first one lasted me for about 8 years (including college) and this second one is going on 3 years strong. My husband doesn’t drink coffee, so this smaller machine is all I need for my morning coffee, and it has been so darn reliable over the years. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s perfect for apartments and college dorm rooms.

Collapsible Dish Rack

This collapsible dish rack is another item great for small apartments. Drying racks take up a lot of valuable counter space, so I love that this one can collapse and be put away when not in use. We leave ours next to the sink most of the time, but if I need extra counter space or want to tidy up before guests come over, I simply fold this up and tuck it away in a cabinet.

Kamikoto 7-inch Santoku Knife

I was sent this 7-inch Santoku Knife from Kamikoto a few years ago, and I’ve used it every day since. I love Japanese knives – they’re made with incredible care and precision, and they’re sharp. This one has a sleek, comfortable handle (great for small hands, like mine), and the blade slices through tough ingredients seamlessly.

Narrow Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons

Do you hate how large measuring spoons never seem to fit into a narrow spice jar opening? That’s not the case with these stainless steel measuring spoons. They’re narrow enough to fit into a spice jar, dishwasher safe, and even come with a 1/8 teaspoon and 3/4 teaspoon measurement.

All Clad 6-Quart Sauté Pan

This All Clad Sauté Pan was a hand-me-down from my parents, but it still looks brand new. The raised sides prevent oil splatter and ingredients from falling off the pan when you’re sautéing and mixing things around. I know All Clad pans are pricey, but I believe they are worth every penny. They cook evenly, are extremely durable, and last forever. Their products also come with a lifetime warranty in case anything goes wrong.

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Disclaimer: I hope you found this list of my most used kitchen items to be helpful! This post contains affiliate links, which means if you purchase an item from this post, I may earn a tiny commission. Rest assured, the prices are exactly the same to you. Thank you very much for your support!

Image Source: All product images, unless otherwise noted, are sourced from Amazon.com.