My 12 Favorite Kitchen Tools

Each home cook has his or her favorite kitchen tools.  Whether it be a potato masher with a large surface area, a special rolling pin from a grandmother, or that one great knife you can’t live without…every cook has go-to tools that make life a bit easier in the kitchen.

Here are my favs…

1. Jacquard Dish Towel:  These dish towels are my current favorite.  They come in a plethora of different colors and designs.  They are absorbent and classic, which is a win/win in my book.
2. Easy Read Measuring Cups:  These Pampered Chef measuring cups were a gift from my wonderful mother-in-law, and they are the easiest measuring cups to use.  No more holding the measuring cup up to your eye-level to read.  These clear cups measure accurately just sitting on the counter!
3. Pepper Mill:  Every cook needs a heavy pepper mill.  This one is a good option — with a great price — with its neutral wooden shell and large capacity.
4. Crock Pot:  Slow cookers are making a come back in a big way.  With more and more sophisticated recipes floating around the Internet, programmable Crock Pots with timers can be your weekday savior. 
5. Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls:  Mixing bowls are a necessity in any kitchen, and stainless are the best.
6. Mesh Strainer/Sifter:  I use this all the time for sifting dry ingredients when baking, but also for draining beans, washing berries, and draining small batches of pasta.
7. Large Wooden Cutting Board:  Large cutting boards are a dream in the kitchen.  Who wants 5 different cutting boards out holding all of your different veggies as they wait for the saute pan?  Not me.  Also, with a pretty wooden one, you can use it as a cheese or antipasto platter!  (Note: when cutting meat, it is safer to use a plastic cutting board.)
8. Non-stick Spatula:  I love non-stick spatulas for many reasons.  You need one.  Trust me.
9. Wooden Spoons:  I don’t use anything else for sauteing, and this is an especially great one.  The extra corner at the top of the spoon gets in the corner of the pan and really moves every bit around for equal heat.
10. Potato Masher:  My favorite potato mashers are definitely stainless with a large surface area.  This one is a goody.
11. Cast Iron Skillet: A cast iron skillet is my favorite stove-top weapon.  A well-seasoned cast iron skillet becomes non-stick, and they will last forever if taken care of properly.  You can take it from stove top to the oven with ease, and this also allows you to preheat your skillet to properly brown your meat.  
12. Chef’s Knife:  Finally, and maybe most importantly, a cook needs a good knife (or knives, if you are lucky).  I think Henckels are a great bang for your buck, and the chef’s knife, in my opinion, is the most versatile in your arsenal.  Just make sure they are sharp.  It’s totally not a joke that a dull knife is a dangerous one.