As we head further into the fall, I become more and more excited to spend time in the kitchen. There is also nothing quite like cooking throughout the holiday season (which is right around the corner!) From prepping fall football snacks and making a big Thanksgiving meal to whipping up Christmas cocktails and everything in between, cooking during this time of the year is simply the best.
If you’ve been around for a while now, you likely know that I absolutely love cooking and creating new recipes — however, I also love keeping my space clean, being efficient in the kitchen, and having all the correct tools to execute my meals as planned.
To help make your cooking experience as smooth as possible, I have pulled together my top kitchen must haves that are useful, versatile, and even aesthetically pleasing.
Kitchen Essentials List
Cuisinart Hand Blender
My cooking moto? Work smarter not harder. This easy-to-hold hand blender is a must have for your kitchen. Taking up minimal counter or drawer space, this Smart Stick makes a big impact when prepping everything from homemade hummus to spaghetti sauce.
Cork Pops Wine Bottle Opener
Opening a bottle has never been easier — and if you enjoy a good glass of wine as much as I do, this gadget is a no-brainer. Bonus: It’s under $30 (some wine bottle openers can be super pricey.)
OXO Salad Spinner
Cut drying time in half with this “push of a button” salad spinner. Rather than a traditional crank, the push button makes it so easy (and honestly kind of fun) to use. Tip: It can also be super helpful with drying other fruits and veggies — not just for drying lettuce.
OXO Salad Dressing Mixer
In my opinion, homemade salad dressing is what makes a salad so delicious. This salad dressing mixer is so easy to use, and I’ve never had an issue with it leaking. Another perk? It can be put right into the dishwasher.
Cast Iron Dutch Oven
With cooler weather approaching, I’m so excited to start making soups and other warm and comforting dishes. This dutch oven is the perfect size for a one-pot meal that will serve up savory meals that your entire family will love. Not to mention the neutral color is perfect for any kitchen style — it looks so cute set out on a stovetop!
Hestan OvenBond Tri-ply Quarter Sheet Pan
This might look like a normal sheet pan but they are soooo worth the investment. They’re non-toxic and are made with super high quality materials. I swear that you will have these for the rest of your life. If you care about the products that touch your food, I couldn’t recommend these enough.
Ceramic Grease Container
This is a very random gadget but I have found that I reach for it often. I use it to collect grease whenever we make bacon, then I repurpose the grease when I’m making sauces or stir fry recipes (which gives things so much flavor.)
Stainless Steel Corn Peeler
From corn on the cob to a creamy corn chowder, a corn peeler is a must in your kitchen drawer. The sharp blade makes this peeler extremely effective, but proceed with caution! It takes a little bit to get the hang of it, but after a bit of practice, the corn comes off in a breeze.
Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1
I know that a lot of people love their Crock Pots but I am an Instant Pot girly through and through. I use this at least twice a week — it’s so helpful if you’re in a time crunch but need to get dinner on the table. There are not one, not two, but seven different functions that are included in this model. You can use it as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, yogurt maker, steamer, sauté pan and a food warmer.
Cuisinart Pulp Control Juicer
I don’t use this juicer all the time but my kids love it and it’s nice to have on hand when oranges are really fresh. It’s honestly not that hard to clean and I think that for the price it’s such a good option.
Chef’n FreshForce Citrus Juicer
This is by far my favorite lemon squeezer (I went through three different ones before finding this one.) It just works really well, is heavy duty, and you don’t need to have a separate one for limes — you can use it for both.
