My kitchen essentials

Kitchen tools and appliances sit on top of a kitchen counter.

The most-used appliances and tools in my kitchen

If you love to explore new cuisines and try new recipes, chances are, having a well-stocked kitchen is important to you. However, it can be tricky to sift through everything to find the best kitchen appliances and tools.

With a trendy product seemingly being released each year, it can be difficult to know exactly what’s necessary and what’s not. It isn’t crucial to purchase every new thing rolled out on the market (who has the money or kitchen space for that, anyway?). But there are some items that are key to cooking.

I’ve curated a list of my own personal kitchen essentials. These are, in my opinion, some of the best appliances and tools, and I use them on a daily or weekly basis.

High-powered blender

Blenders are incredibly versatile and can elevate your home cooking with just the touch of a button.

My current blender is the Vitamix 5200. I’ve had it for several years and it works just as good as the day I bought it! I use it for blending up smoothies and milkshakes, and making sauces, soups and things like vegan parmesan.

A black and glass blender, one third filled up with a banana smoothie, sits on a wooden counter near a window. Next to it are bananas, a plant and a cutting board.

Spice grinder

One way I love to build flavor in dishes is by creating my own spice blends. Nothing beats the flavor and aroma of freshly ground spices! My current spice grinder is the Cuisinart SG-10 Electric Spice-and-Nut Grinder. It’s easy to use and clean, and the size is perfect for working on a small scale.

Garlic press

Because some recipes require more preparation than actual cooking time, shortcuts can be extremely helpful. Let’s be honest, chopping a bunch of ingredients can be time consuming and tiring! My garlic press is the perfect shortcut. I use this stainless steel one.

Salad spinner

For being a simple, low-tech and relatively accessible item, I managed to spend many years without a salad spinner. Eventually, I purchased one and it instantly became a game-changer. Throwing together salads, or washing and drying fruits or vegetables has never been easier! My current salad spinner is this one from OXO.

Vegetable steamer basket

I’m a huge fan of steamed veggies. It’s how I most often cook vegetables, from kale and spinach, to carrots and beets. I love this stainless steal steamer basket because it’s foldable and expands, allowing it to both store easily and fit many different pots.

Turkish coffee pot

This may not be for everyone, but my Turkish coffee pot is an absolute kitchen essential! I love to make coffee at home and my preferred method is Turkish. A small pot called a cezve or ibrik is the traditional way to make Turkish coffee. I use this beautiful, hammered copper pot for smaller amounts and this stainless steel one for larger cups.

Coffee grinder

You can’t have coffee without a coffee grinder! I didn’t always grind my own coffee, but over the past few years of doing so, I’ve found the extra step has a huge payoff when it comes to freshness and flavor. I opt to use burr grinders because I find they result in a more consistent and uniform grind, compared to blade grinders. I’ve used this one from Cuisinart, which is a more affordable conical burr grinder. Anyone looking to invest a little bit more, I recommend this one from Baratza.