Kitchen Essentials: Tools That Make Cooking Easier

Start with your habits, not someone else’s setup

The best kitchen setup is the one that matches how you really cook. If you make quick weeknight meals, you need tools that reduce friction and clean up fast. If you bake often, you’ll benefit more from a scale and sturdy pans than from another gadget.

Before buying anything, look at the last five meals you cooked. What slowed you down? Chopping? Stirring? Waiting for water to boil? Not having enough sheet pans? Those answers determine which tools are actually worth it.

Think of tools as multipliers: an item is “essential” if it makes many meals easier, not just one recipe once in a while.

The real #1 upgrade: a stable board and a decent knife

If you only improve one part of your kitchen, make it your prep station. A non-slip cutting board and a comfortable knife can make cooking feel dramatically easier.

A stable board (with a damp towel underneath) prevents accidents. A sharp knife reduces the force you use, which makes cutting safer and more accurate.

You don’t need a huge knife collection. One chef’s knife (or a santoku), one paring knife, and a bread knife covers most home cooking.

• Choose a board size that lets you actually work (bigger than you think).
• Keep a simple honing routine; sharpen occasionally.
• Add a bench scraper if you do lots of chopping — it’s cheap and useful.

Pots and pans: a small set beats a crowded cabinet

You can cook most meals with a few workhorses: a skillet, a saucepan, and a larger pot or Dutch oven. The key is choosing pieces that heat evenly and are comfortable to use.

Nonstick is great for eggs and delicate foods but it won’t last forever. Stainless steel is durable and browns well. Cast iron retains heat and is excellent for searing. You don’t have to pick just one material — pick the right tool for the job.

If you’re trying to keep it minimal, start with one good skillet and one pot that can handle soups, pasta, and batch cooking.

• 1 skillet (stainless or cast iron) for browning and sautéing.
• 1 nonstick skillet for eggs and quick breakfasts.
• 1 saucepan for grains, sauces, reheating.
• 1 larger pot/Dutch oven for soups, beans, pasta, and meal prep.

Sheet pans: the underrated weeknight hero

A sturdy sheet pan turns cooking into a simple sequence: season, spread out, roast. It’s one of the easiest ways to cook vegetables and proteins with minimal cleanup.

If you have two sheet pans, you can roast a protein and a vegetable at the same time, or roast one batch while you prep the next.

Pair sheet pans with parchment paper for easy cleanup and consistent results.

Small tools that pay off fast

Small tools aren’t glamorous, but they remove small annoyances that add up. Pick a few that match your cooking style.

When you’re deciding, ask: does this save time every week? Does it reduce mess? Does it improve results?

• Instant-read thermometer for safer cooking and better doneness.
• Microplane/zester for garlic, citrus, and hard cheese.
• Tongs and a fish spatula (or thin metal spatula) for turning and lifting.
• Measuring spoons + a liquid measuring cup.
• Kitchen scale if you bake or meal prep frequently.

Appliances: buy based on your bottleneck

Appliances are great when they solve a consistent problem. An air fryer helps with speed and crisping. A pressure cooker helps with beans, shredded proteins, and hands-off cooking.

If you have limited space, prioritize the appliance that matches your most common meal type.

If an appliance is only for “special occasions,” it often becomes clutter.