Game changing kitchen gadgets for anyone who cooks at home. A list of my tried and true cooking equipment and utensils. These are all the things I love that make cooking easier and more efficient.
Ok guys, I have been cooking for many years now. I hate saying that because it makes me feel old, but its truth.
In those years I have collected many different kitchen gadgets, utensils, and appliances. Some I've loved, some I've hated, and many are no longer with me.
But I do have my favorites. The things that I feel like I can't live without.
And I want to share these with you because they all make my life easier. And we all need to simplify our lives, right? Plus, there is so much information out there, it's nice to come to one spot to find out what really works.
And guys, I'm not into super fancy cooking utensils. I want good quality equipment at reasonable prices. And I think you do too. Honestly, I just can't swing a $2,000 set of pans, $300 baking dishes, and $50 tongs. That's just not me.
Without further ado (you guys know I love to get chatty), here are my favorites (the list below contains affiliate links - If you buy anything thru these links, I earn a small commission. That commission is what keeps this site running so I can continue to create delicious recipes!):
Instant Pot
You guys knew this was going to be on here. I am in love with my Instant Pot. I use the 6 Quart 9 in 1 version
. There are some pros and cons, and it does come with a price tag, but it's totally worth it for me in my cooking. If you want to learn a little more about it, check out this full review of the Instant Pot.
I've made some pretty awesome Instant Pot recipes with this thing:
Creamy Braised Oxtails (my best recipe ever guys)
Vietnamese Beef Pho
Coq Au Vin
Spicy Creamed Corn
Caramelized Pork Ramen
Crockpot
I know the Instant Pot does have a slow cooker setting, but honestly, I still love my slow cooker. It's larger than the Instant Pot, so it fits a little more food. Because you know, with a two person household, you need a huge slow cooker....
I use this 6 quart programmable Crockpot 
for all my slow cooker needs. It's got plenty of space for a whole chicken, a whole bag of beans, and a rack of ribs.
Plus it's programmable, which makes it even more convenient. I work 10-12 hour days, and my food usually doesn't need to cook that long. I just set it for however many hours I need, and it turns "off" when it's done. But it doesn't really turn "off", it just switches to warm. So your food will stay warm (and at a safe temperature).
The only negative about this slow cooker is the insert can be kind of bulky. But that's what you get when you buy the bigger size I guess!
Hand Mixer
I do not own a KitchenAid stand mixer. I know, you are wondering why. I have had one in the past, and I do like it, but it takes up a lot of room on the countertop and I find I just don't need it.
I was using this old electric hand mixer for quite some time (it was broken and only had one speed - super high). My mom bought me a new hand mixer for Christmas and I am absolutely loving it. It is a Cuisinart 9 speed hand mixer
, and it is awesome.
It's got every speed you could want, is super easy to use and clean, and can all be stored in the handy dandy storage case it comes with.
I use this trusty mixer to make recipes likes these Almond Meringues, Lemon Souffle and Roasted Asparagus and Gruyere Souffle, among others.
I don't have anything negative to say about this, except that I wish it was cordless....but I don't know that that's even a thing.
Blender
The only blenders I have ever owned are Oster blenders
. My mom had one growing up, and I have had multiple ones. At one point in time in my life, I decided I didn't need a blender anymore and tossed it (I don't know how my crazy brain thinks sometimes). But now I have another one that I have been loving to use for smoothies.
Carbon Steel Wok
I am in love with my hand hammered carbon steel wok from Craft Wok
. I mean totally enamored with it. The boyfriend bought it for me for Christmas, and it was the best gift ever.
Because it's made of carbon steel, it needs to be seasoned, but it's not hard. I've used mine a number of times since Christmas, and it is now beautifully seasoned. It's totally worth the extra effort to get some pretty awesome stir fries!
You want to make sure to take proper care of it. Learn how HERE.
You can make recipes like these Sweet and Spicy Korean Rice Cakes, Vietnamese Pork Noodles Bowls, and Bo Luc Lac in a wok for perfect results!
Cast Iron Skillet
This is another absolute must for cooking IMO. I make so many things with a cast iron skillet:
French Onion Smothered Pork Chops
Chicken Braised in White Wine and Dijon Mustard
Pork Chops with Andouille Sausage Cream Gravy
I use Lodge for all my cast iron needs. I love their products, and the prices are very reasonable compared to some other brands. This Lodge enameled cast iron skillet
is awesome.
Dutch Oven
Again, I use a Lodge cast iron dutch oven
, and I absolutely love it. I used it to make these White Wine Braised Short Ribs as well as this delicious Spicy Kimchi Stew (among others).
Ceramic Non-stick Skillet
I use this white ceramic nonstick skillet from Calphalon
for all my non-stick skillet needs. It's pretty awesome. I don't think anything has ever stuck to it. Easiest clean up ever. PLUS, if you are a food blogger and like to take process shots, the white skillet really looks great in photos.
Non-stick 2 Quart Saucepan
I use this 2 quart non-stick sauce pan from Circulon
- it has a strainer option on it which is super awesome. Circulon also makes larges sizes, but I find the 2 quart to be perfect for 90% of my cooking needs.
Lasagna Pan
If you don't own a lasagna pan already, it is an incredibly handy item to have. However, I never knew I needed one until I had one. I use this handy dandy one from Cuisinart
. Oddly enough, I actually got it during a giveaway event at my local grocery store. But I love it. I find myself using it for so many things. It's perfect for a water bath when I cook cheesecakes, souffles, etc. Oh yeah, and it works great for lasagna!
Kitchen Torch
One of my brand new toys, this item really isn't a kitchen necessity, but who doesn't love to play with a little fire from time to time? I got this little treasure from Williams Sonoma
and find myself searching for things to use it on. It works great on this Meyer Lemon Creme Brulee.
These are my game changing kitchen appliances. I'm not saying I wouldn't be able to function without them, but my cooking would be a lot more difficult, and who has time for that?
Leave a comment below, let me know what your favorite appliances/gadgets are. If there is something I don't know about, I totally want to know! Anything to make life easier!