Recently my son (who is engaged) asked a key question: What essential small kitchen tools should we register for?
Part of cooking smarter is knowing which tools you really need and which are just taking up space. Over the years, I’ve had tools come and go…things that didn’t work well or that only did one thing (that I didn’t need done). Even prepping for these pics, I found a bunch more that I just don’t use (they’re outta here!). I hadn’t paid specific attention to this area until he asked me to write ‘em down as they’ll have a fairly small kitchen. Here’s what I came up with…
Essential tools you need more of
- Measuring spoons – each size from 1/8 tsp up to 1 Tbsp and some that adjust (3 or 4 sets)
- Measuring cups – ¼ cup, 1/3 cup, ½ cup and 1 cup (2 sets)
- Bag clips (3 or 4)
- Dry erase markers (for your fridge list like this or on the side of some storage containers)
- Permanent markers (for labeling your freezer bags)
Make sure you get the right pen for the job though!
Only need one but it’s a “must have”
- Vegetable peeler – a GREAT one like Cutco (not an ad)
- Kitchen shears (2 sets of kitchen shears ONLY if you do big prep days and work with multiple sets of meat but no time to wash in between)
- Small brush with a spiral brush on one end and flat brush on the other (helps clean all the tiny crevices in other tools in the kitchen)
- “Punch” can opener (for canned liquids)
- Handheld rotary-style can opener (this can hide in the drawer rather than take up valuable countertop “real estate”)
- Grater (for ginger root, carrot or shredding bar cheese and then you’re not eating the additives the pre-shredded cheese has)
- Regular scissors (the kitchen is a great central place for this common item)
Tape and glue are essentials, too but I don’t keep them in this drawer. The glue stands up in the cabinet above, and the tape is in the next drawer.
Ask yourself – “Would I really use these?”
- Handheld egg slicer (I make egg salad once a month)
- Melon baller (get one with a squeeze mechanism to release the food)
- Can drainer (drain your veggies then toss it in the dishwasher)
- “Shot glass” measuring cup (it’s a little easier to pour liquids from larger containers into this shape than spoons and perfect size if you drink apple cider vinegar in the morning!)
- Cheese slicer (easier than using a knife!)
- Wide straw (for punching out strawberry stems – got this tip from Erin Chase at 5dollardinners.com)
- Plastic knife (to keep chopped lettuce from browning)
- Salad “hands” (I use ‘em to lift large cuts of meat)
And ORGANIZE
Buy some dividers so you can group like things and keep ‘em from roaming the drawer. I love being able to see (and find) everything!
There you have it…things you gotta have several of, things you just need one of, and some extras you might want. Drawer one of essential kitchen tools…DONE!!! I’d love to hear about your favorite tool of this bunch! Tell me in the comments below!
Check out more essential tools…
