5 MUST HAVE Kitchen Tools

I honestly believe that anyone can be a good cook as long as they have the right utensils and cooking tools in the kitchen! This kind of stuff can get overwhelming and expensive, but I am here to help!

This list I’m about to share is the 5 things I use most in my kitchen and think you should go out and buy right now. For the most part, each one of these serves multiple purposes in the kitchen and will make cooking so much more enjoyable!

Wusthof Classic 8-Inch Cook's Knife">1) A Good Knife. I honestly can’t stress this enough. A good knife is the number 1 key to making your life in the kitchen so much easier. Having a nice, sharp knife will open up so many culinary doors for you and make the entire cooking process go much faster. For example, up until I got a good knife a few years ago, I never cooked large squashes because I simply couldn’t cut them. Now, not only can my knife glide through them with ease, but I can chop up other hard to cut veggies much faster! If you can only afford one good knife (like me), I recommend the Wusthof Classic 8-Inch Cook's Knife">Wusthof Classic 8 Inch.

2) A Garlic Press. Nobody (unless your a little insane) wants to bite down on a chunk of raw garlic. That’s why using a press to mince  up your garlic is a key component to making any dish yummy. This kitchen utensil isn’t just for garlic either! I use mine for tons of things. For example, when I make guacamole, I hate when there are chunks of jalapeño, so I stick mine in the garlic press and I find it incorporates in so much better! The one I use is OXO Steel Garlic Press.

3) Garbage Bowl. I hate messes when I’m cooking. That’s why I have this really handy bowl that I drop all my waste into while I’m cooking. It makes it so I don’t have to stop and clean or throw stuff out while I’m in the middle of doing something. When I’m done cooking, I just take the garbage bowl, empty it into a trash bag and get rid of it! Bonus, your trash can won’t stink from all the food waste you normally throw in your garbage can! My favorite garbage bowl is one by Rachael Ray (since she originated it).

4) A Wire Mesh Strainer: I know most of you probably have a colander type strainer at home. While those are great for draining pasta and washing vegetables, I find myself using this wire mesh strainer a lot! It has really tiny holes so you will be able to so many different things. My favorite way to use it is to blend a bunch of fruits in a blender (whole) and then use this strainer to get the fruit juice out of it. It’s honestly like having your own little juicer without all the noise. The strainer also makes a great sifter if you are a baker or for separating fat out of gravy! It’s really inexpensive and a tool I am confident you will use a lot. I like the Winco Brand best.

5) Great Measuring Tools: Now, I admittedly don’t measure often, but if you’re a kitchen novice (or an avid baker), you need some great measuring cups and spoons! I’ve tried all different varieties and my favorite is this full set from Cook N Home. Not only does it come with everything you need, but they are color coded and super cute!

What are some of your must-have kitchen tools?

Love always,
Erica