It’s beginning to look a lot like we’re going straight for Christmas this year and skipping Thanksgiving! I don’t know about you, but the thought of all things Christmas brings me so much comfort – this year especially. If your family and friends are asking you for your wish list (how nice is that?!) or you need some ideas for cooks in your life – read on.
This is my second post in Kitchen Must-Haves series. If you missed the first one, you can read it here – kitchen equipment must-haves. The next list will be all about ingredient must-haves and then, cookware. Follow me on social media to be notified when it goes live!
This list is going to include a lot of links – I am not receiving any kind of compensation for them. Even though I have a disclaimer at the end of each post, I still want to point it out here as well. They are mostly from Williams Sonoma, which is my favorite place for all things kitchen. It’s pricey, I know, but you can save a lot during their sales, or ask for gift cards to save up and use on something special.
Let’s get into it!
Regular and Small Silicone Spatulas
A part of a wedding gift from our friends had a set of a small silicone tools – a spatula and “spoonula”. I registered us for them because, honestly, I thought it was so cute. And I ended up using them every single day! You can get away with a small size spatula for everything – it is incredibly versatile. For batch cooking, regular size spatulas are of course better. I like having both on hand – they are dishwasher safe (all silicone ones), and Williams-Sonoma carries a variety of colors. My go-to is white – discoloration tells me when it’s time to get new ones.
All Silicone Mini Spatula & Spoonula
Stainless-Steel Ultimate Silicone Spatula Set
Mini Whisk
Small spatulas? Tiny whisk? I promise, I am not buying these for a doll kitchen. They are just so much more convenient! I received the mini whisk linked below also in a wedding or a bridal shower gift, but I also got 4 even smaller ones that were used by Williams Sonoma in gift wrapping. They were just hanging off the bow and it looked like the cutest thing ever! I saved them and I use them all the time.
How many times have you seen a recipe that tells you to whisk a single egg yolk, or a tablespoon of this with a tablespoon of that? That happens a lot in cooking! I use these tiniest of whisks more than a mini whisk. All in all, it is good to have a variety of sizes. Trust me on that.
Mini whisk (the one mentioned above)
Tiny whisks (they look very similar to the ones I got from Williams Sonoma as a part of gift wrapping)
Cutting Boards
My husband and I stumbled upon these by accident at Williams Sonoma, and we loved the clean look. The cashier who was checking us out swore by them and we now know why. They’re light, thin, sturdy and those 4 rubber legs keep them safely in place when cutting. And the best part is that after months and months of daily use they still look great.
Epicurean boards at Williams Sonoma
Epicurean bords direct from Epicurean
Cutting Gloves
I originally ordered these to go with an oyster knife I gifted my husband. But I ended up using them myself every single time I’m grating something! They are so handy and they do their job well. I wash them with the rest of the kitchen stuff – towels, napkins, mats. There’s no point in cutting and scratching yourself, get the gloves!
Amazon has a lot of different ones – unfortunately, the ones I bought 3 years ago are no longer available. All I did was search for “cutting gloves” – you’ll be sure to find something good within your budget and size requirements.
Ruler
Probably not the item you expected on this list, huh? But how many times have you seen a recipe instruction that sounded like this “add 4 inches of water”, “roll out to 3/8 inch thickness”, “cut into 2 inch squares”? Eyeballing is more than fine in certain recipes, but sometimes it’s handy to have a ruler just to be sure. I recommend plastic so that it can be washed. And, of course, only use it in the kitchen.
Lemon Juicer
This one is pretty self-explanatory. A lot of recipes (including on this website) call for fresh lemon juice. Fresh lemons are inexpensive and they make so much difference in cooking. I bought the first lemon juicer I saw at a grocery store and have used it ever since. I don’t think there’s anything complicated in it but it works well and lasts forever.
Cheese Wire Cutter
If you eat a lot of soft and semi-soft cheese (mozzarella, fresh goat cheese, most blue cheeses), this is a must. It cuts effortlessly, without dragging the cheese everywhere and wasting it. It also works for hard boiled eggs! Also easy to clean and store.
I have one from Formaticum – a company that makes a great cheese paper and cheese knives.
Set of Measuring Bowls
When you watch a cooking video and everything is in a little bowl – it’s not silly, it’s smart. Especially if you are trying a new recipe or it’s very time sensitive. Measuring everything out BEFORE starting to cook is a great way to feel more confident in the kitchen. In fact, this is the second most important thing in tackling a recipe – the first one being reading the whole recipe a couple of times before getting the groceries.
I have this 10-piece set from Williams Sonoma and I use it so much I keep it out on our bakers rack.
Wooden Spatulas
The beautiful spatulas you see in the picture are from Marcelli Formaggi. Based in New Jersey, it is a family-owned and operated business with Italian roots. Not only are their products beautiful, but they are also sturdy and so very well made. They have been in frequent use for at least 2.5 years and you can’t tell. All it takes is a mineral oil treatment from time to time. They also sell pasta, sauces, gift boxes, cheese, salumi… If you have a fan of Italian food in your life it’s a one-stop-shop!
And there you have it! My complete list of Kitchen must-haves in the tools department. I hope you found it helpful and maybe got some gift ideas for yourself or for a cook on your list.
What are your must-haves? Let me know in the comment section!
As usual, if you have any questions or feedback on this or any other of my post, you can find me on Instagram (@babushkacooking), Facebook (Babushka Cooking), or e-mail me at yana@babushkacooking.com
From Kitchen, with Love –
Yana