Kitchen Essentials
Here are some of my favorite kitchen gadgets and ingredients. Some items are on the pricy side, but I acquired them over many years. Keep in mind that you don’t need to run out and buy everything at once! I try to check these links periodically but if you notice something not working, leave a comment so I can fix it.
For an extended list of products and cookbooks I use at home, visit my Amazon Store!
Electronics:
- Vitamix Professional Series 200
I don’t know how I lived without this blender for so long. I know it’s expensive, but it’s so worth it if you spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Your soups, salad dressings, purees and smoothies will never be the same. - KitchenAid Classic Stand Mixer
Ideal for baking. - Cuisinart DLC-10S Pro Classic 7-Cup Food Processor
I use my food processor for making pesto, dips, and dough. My model was passed down to me. That shows you how long they last! - Digital Kitchen Scale
An absolute must for consistent baking. Shop around, it doesn’t need to be fancy.
Cookware:
- Stainless Steel Saucepan
You don’t need to get All-Clad, but please get stainless steel. I use this saucepan constantly. - All-Clad Stainless Saute Pan with Lid
Perfect caramelization every time. - Le Creuset Dutch Oven
Get some enameled cast-iron cookware for braising and soups. - Sheet Pans
Get an assortment of sizes. - Parchment Paper Sheets
I buy parchment sheets that are cut to fit my sheet trays. They’re fantastic. The parchment at the grocery store is rolled and I find trying to keep it flat a major annoyance.
Tools:
- Global 8-Inch Chef’s Knife
I have an assortment of knives, but the one I use most often is my Global chef’s knife. Keep it sharp with a stone and a honing steel. The sharper the knife, the less likely you are to injure yourself. - Rubbermaid High Heat Spatula
I almost never use wood spoons. Heat proof spatulas are the way to go. - OXO Good Grips 9-Inch Locking Tong
I use these constantly. They’re my second pair of hands in the kitchen. - Stainless-Steel Mixing Bowls
Buy a set with an assortment of sizes. - Ove’ Glove Hot Surface Handler
The best I’ve found for handling hot surfaces. They have a grip and can go in the washing machine. - OXO Good Grips Bench Scraper
Find one with a ruler. It’s useful when working with dough and butter. Use the ruler for making even cuts. - French Rolling Pin
French rolling pins are better. More surface space. - OXO Good Grips Peeler
Make sure you have a good, sharp peeler. - Norpro Silicone Mise en Place Bowls
Measure everything out before you start.
Ingredients:
- Plugra European-Style Butter
It has more fat and makes every thing taste better. Many grocery stores carry it, you just have to look closely. - Shallots
Try swapping out onions with shallots in a recipe. They elevate the flavors and are standard in restaurant cuisine. - Vendage Wines
I always keep 2 bottles of wine in the refrigerator: Vendage Chardonnay and Vendage Cabernet. These are the wines we used at culinary school and I think they do a great job at a reasonable price. I use a wine vacuum seal to keep them fresh until needed. They’re perfect for sauces. - Homemade Stock
It’s not difficult and it will last forever in the freezer. Store-bought stock is really broth, and it’s full of sodium. - Cacao Barry Cocoa Powder – Extra Dark
24% cocoa fat!
Cookbooks:
- The Flavor Bible: The Essential Guide to Culinary Creativity
I reach for this this book more than any other cookbook, though it doesn’t actually contain recipes. It includes thousands of ingredients, alphabetized and cross-referenced with with other compatible ingredients. It’s the perfect reference tool for kitchen creativity. - The Perfect Scoop
I’m a bit of an ice cream addict. This book has some of the most delicious, unique recipes I’ve ever tried. The milk chocolate stout ice cream is worth the price alone. - Zingerman’s Guide to Good Eating
This is the book that started me on my food journey. It has fantastic recipes, but it’s mostly an encyclopedia of top quality ingredients. Learn about balsamic vinegars, olive oil, bread, cheese, rice. Read about their regions, how they’re made, which brands to buy. My description cannot properly do this book justice. Just get it. Also, the Zingerman‘s website sells top notch ingredients. I trust their selection of oils and vinegars over anyone else.
I love this list! The Vitamix blender is on my christmas list!
Oh my goodness I adore my VitaMix! I have the CIA Professional serious and practically hug it each time I pull it out. :)
My number 1 kitchen essential is my baking sheet. I know — that sounds simple, but it’s true! You can use it to bake cookies, scones, sponge cake sheets, pizza, veggies… hmm. Actually, I guess having an oven precludes the ability to bake anything, so my number 1 kitchen essential must be an oven!
homemade stock!!!! <3
it’s a three-way tie — wok, immersion/stick blender & pizza stone. i love my stirfry, smoothies and homemade pizza! :)
Nice Vendage mention – my dad is the director of wine making for that brand, so he gave your comment 2 thumbs up! :)
One of my kitchen essentials is a Microplane! I use it so much more than I thought I would.
I agree with Marisa — I love my microplane — in fact, I would call it my best “new” tool (meaning something I didn’t grow up using). I love my dough cutter, too: it makes it so much easier to divide yeast doughs without tearing the gluten.
My current blender is a cuisinart from the WS outlet. I use it everyday to make a fruit smoothie for breakfast, so I guess it is my favorite/most used kitchen tool. It gets the job done, but I dieeeeee for a vitamix :)
I love the Pampered Chef garlic press. Press the clove skin on and all!
I live in Ann Arbor, Michigan where Zingerman’s is. I have been a loyal customer for years, I have the book you mentioned and I frequently attend their baking classes.
I’m so jealous! I would love to attend their classes.
Right now, I think my favorite kitchen essential is my All-Clad steamer insert; I’m always draining or rinsing something and it seems to always be in use — lettuce, raspberries, pasta, cooked veggies!
Oh my goodness, I have the Zingerman’s Guide! I love that thing! The first section I read was on Balsamic Vinegar. After I finished, I immediately went to my pantry to see what I had…good to go with all the right markings and bottle shapes :-) ~Ruth~
That book seriously changed my life!
I can’t live without my cutting board and favorite knives!!
Your blog is amazing :) You must put so much time and energy into it. You must love cooking :)
How did you guess? :)
I really enjoyed this article. The information couldn’t have come at a more opportune time. I’ve been searching for a new food processor and
the stuff I found out will make the decision that much easier. Thanks alot.
I’m glad it was helpful! Let me know if you have any questions.