Tools in My From-Scratch Kitchen
When I first started cooking from scratch, I thought I needed every kitchen gadget to make good meals. But over time, I learned that the opposite is true. The tools I use most are simple, reliable basics that make everyday cooking easier — and make serving meals feel a bit more special, too.
This is a collection of kitchen tools I actually use in my kitchen week after week. These are the items that help me make everything from quick weeknight dinners and homemade desserts to fancy holiday meals and meal prep.
I have a moderately small kitchen with limited storage, so this list is fairly minimal. I try to keep things as low-tox as possible, so most of the items on this list are stainless steel, wood, cast iron, or ceramic. I also look for things that last, so I avoid plastic handles when I can. Many of these tools are thrifted, and some were wonderful Christmas or birthday gifts.
If you want to build a practical from-scratch kitchen, this list is a great place to start.
Essential kitchen tools for everyday cooking & baking
These are the tools I use constantly for baking, cooking, and prepping meals.
Prep tools I use constantly
Victorinox knives
This 6-inch utility knife is my most-used knife. I love Victorinox knives because they are easy to sharpen and maintain. We don’t have many other knives — just a large chef’s knife, a boning knife, a bread knife, and a paring knife.
Wooden cutting boards
Durable, knife-friendly, and non-toxic.
Garlic press
A dedicated tool I use daily because I refuse to use jar-lic. This one is super handy because it cleans itself.
Flat cheese grater & microplane
I use a flat cheese grater for shredding blocks of cheese. This microplane is great for parmesan, citrus zest, and ginger.
Citrus juicer
Makes fresh lemon and lime juice quick and easy.
Vegetable peeler
Used frequently for vegetable prep.
Cookie scoops
These are one of my most-used tools for portioning everything from burgers and salmon cakes to meatballs, muffin batter, and cookie dough. They help keep things consistent and make meal prep much faster.
Kitchen shears
Parents of toddlers know exactly what I’m talking about. I use these sharp kitchen shears constantly to cut up food for my toddler, but they’re also handy for bacon, herbs, opening packaging, and all sorts of random kitchen tasks.
Cooking utensils & tools
In my utensil drawer, I have:
- Spatulas (3)
- Wooden spoon
- Tongs
- Ladle
- Silicone spatula
- Whisk
- Meat thermometer
Simple tools like these handle most everyday cooking tasks.
Mixing & measuring tools
- Large mixing bowl — for burgers, bread dough, cookie dough, cake batter, and bigger prep tasks.
- Small mixing bowl — handy for dressings, sauces, prepping ingredients, and smaller tasks.
- Measuring cups & spoons — simple but essential for consistent baking and cooking.
- Liquid measuring cup — for milk, broth, pancake batter, and sauces.
- Kitchen scale — my favorite tool for accurate baking and less cleanup.
Baking tools worth having
- Offset spatula — great for frosting cakes and smoothing batters.
- Biscuit/cookie cutters — a set of round cutters are perfect for biscuits, scones, and cookies.
- Bench scraper — this tool is great for shaping bread, but it’s especially helpful for scraping stuck-on dough off my countertops.
- Rolling pin — a simple tool that gets used more often than you might think. I use mine for the usual tasks and for flattening meat.
- Pastry cutter — great for keeping butter cold while making pastry — especially if you have hot hands.
Pots, pans & everyday cookware
These are my core stovetop and oven cookware.
Essential stovetop cookware
Stainless steel skillets
I have 8-, 10-, and 12-inch stainless steel skillets. They’re high-quality, durable, and well worth the investment. I know a lot of people feel intimidated by pans that aren’t nonstick, but stainless steel is actually very easy to use once you get the hang of it.
Quick tip: The best way to make stainless steel naturally nonstick is to preheat the skillet over medium-high heat before adding oil. You can test this by splashing a little water into the pan. When the water dances and forms a single large droplet, the pan is ready, and you can lower the heat to your desired cooking temperature.
Small, medium & large pots with lids
Having different pot sizes makes everyday cooking easier, whether you’re making pasta, soups, beans, or reheating food. As the Southern saying goes, “as handy as a small pot”!
5.5-quart Dutch oven
One of my most-used cookware items. Perfect for soups, stews, braises, and bread baking.
Sheet pans & baking dishes
Baking sheets
These baking sheets are one of the most-used tools in my kitchen. I use them for meal prep, roasting vegetables, baking cookies, and sheet pan dinners. I also like having a few eighth sheet pans for smaller batches and reheating leftovers.
9×13 ceramic baking dish
This is one of the most versatile pans to have on hand. I use it for casseroles, baked oatmeal, crowd-pleasing desserts, and meal-prep recipes.
7×10 ceramic baking dish
I use this baking dish for smaller batch recipes and side dishes when I don’t need a full casserole-sized dish.
8×8 square cake pan
Perfect for brownies, coffee cakes, and cookie bars.
Round cake pans & loaf pans
I keep these for homemade birthday cakes, cornbread, sandwich bread, zucchini bread, and other quick breads throughout the year. I have two of each.
Muffin pans
Muffin pans are a kitchen staple I use for more than just muffins. They’re great for egg bites, cupcakes, and meal prep breakfasts and snacks. I like having both standard and mini muffin pans for different portions.
Pie dish
A beautiful pie dish is useful for more than just pie. I use mine for quiches, pot pies, fruit crisps, and holiday desserts. I love that it can go straight from oven to table.
Appliances I actually use
I keep my kitchen simple and only use two appliances regularly:
Instant Pot
Perfect for busy days. I use it for shredded meats, beans, soups, broth, and quick dinners. I also love that I can sauté and sear directly in the pot, which means fewer dishes and more flexibility. I can step away while it cooks, which makes life so much easier as a busy mum.
KitchenAid stand mixer
My go-to for baking. I use it for bread dough, cookies, cakes, whipped cream, and frostings. I love that I can step away while it mixes — it makes baking much more manageable on a busy day.
Simple serving pieces that make meals feel special
I’ll admit, I have a lot of serving pieces and specialty glassware — I can thank my mum for that obsession! Still, I keep a few beautiful, versatile basics that make everyday meals feel more intentional. I’ve thrifted or inherited almost all of these pieces:
- Serving spoons, meat forks, and tongs
- Meat platter
- Serving platters or large plates
- Serving bowl — at least one small and one larger one
Even simple dinners feel a bit more special when you serve them this way. Don’t save your special pieces just for occasions!
You don’t need everything at once
If you’re building your kitchen slowly, start with the basics you’ll actually use. You can always add more over time.
A few well-chosen tools will always go further than a kitchen full of gadgets you rarely touch. Over the years, I’ve slowly collected many of these pieces secondhand, through gifts, or one at a time as we needed them. Building a functional kitchen doesn’t have to happen all at once.
Honestly, some of my favorite meals are made with the simplest kitchen tools.
