However, while the newest products with all the most recent technology definitely have an appeal, we shouldn’t lose sight of the reliability and effectiveness of common kitchen equipment.
This is your guide to the 18 most common pieces of kitchen equipment. If you don’t have everything on this list, consider making a new purchase today!
1. Frying Pan
You might also hear a frying pan referred to as a skillet. This is one of the most common and useful pieces of kitchen equipment. Without one, you’ll struggle to make many basic recipes.
From fried eggs to pancakes, a good frying pan allows you to fry, brown, or sear foods, often in oil. Just make sure to buy a frying pan with a non-stick coating on the inside to prevent your food from getting caught and ensure easy cleaning at the end of the day.
2. Saucepan
In addition to a non-stick frying pan, you’ll also need a saucepan. A saucepan is one of the most versatile pieces of kitchen equipment you can own. Whether you’re making pasta, soup, or boiled potatoes, a saucepan will meet your boiling and simmering needs.
You have many materials to choose from when it comes to buying a saucepan. Ceramic and stainless steel are our personal favorites because they conduct heat well and are durable enough to last for years.
3. Stock Pot
A stock pot basically looks like a larger saucepan, and size is the main factor that separates stock pots from their smaller counterparts. Because stock pots are larger than saucepans, you can make more sizable portions, so these pots are perfect for cooking for groups of people.
One of the main purposes of a stock pot is typically cooking soup. However, you can also use stock pots to make big stews or even larger pasta dishes. A good stock pot should have a base that conducts heat evenly.
4. Cutting Board
Navigating recipes without a cutting board is very difficult, which is why a cutting board can be found in almost every kitchen.
A cutting board provides a tough, reliable surface for chopping or slicing your ingredients before cooking.
Bear in mind that unless you’re vegetarian or vegan, you’ll need at least 2 cutting boards: one for raw meat and one for everything else. Your meat cutting board should be made from a non-porous material to make sure it’s easy to wash away bacteria when you’re done.
5. Chef’s Knife
Of course, to go with your chopping board, you need a chef’s knife! A chef’s knife is different from the regular kind of knife you’d use for eating.
This type of knife is much sharper and usually has a curved blade. It’s designed for versatility, enabling you to cut through various ingredients with different textures.
Ideally, your chef’s knife should be made of a rust-resistant material that is easy to clean. You may need to sharpen it now and again to make sure it maintains its cutting power.
6. Kitchen Scales
If you’re following a recipe, you will need to measure out your ingredients. The most accurate way to do this is with a pair of digital kitchen scales.
Digital kitchen scales can tell you exactly how much your ingredients weigh, down to the gram. This is much more precise than using measuring cups, so it’s the best way to make sure your recipes turn out as intended.
7. Measuring Cups
Although measuring cups aren’t as accurate as digital scales, they still have their place in cooking and remain one of the most common pieces of kitchen equipment.
Measuring cups are especially good for baking, but they can be used to measure almost any dry ingredient, from flour to sugar.
8. Spatula
When cooking in a frying pan, you will probably need a spatula. Since frying pans are among the most common kitchen equipment, it should come as no surprise that spatulas are near the top of the list, too.
Depending on the materials your pans are made of, and what you personally prefer to work with, you may want to choose either a silicone spatula or a metal spatula. Personally, we think every kitchen should have both.
A silicone spatula is less likely to scratch your pans, whereas a metal spatula will be more durable.
9. Mixing Bowl
A mixing bowl is an important part of any kitchen. It’s especially important to have a good, durable mixing bowl if you’re a baker, but many recipes outside of baking involve combining ingredients in a bowl.
Mixing bowls can be made out of various materials, from glass or plastic to metal. It’s worth having one of each, but you should choose based on whether you plan on exposing your bowl to high heat or putting it in the dishwasher.
10. Food Processor
One of the most common kitchen appliances, and one that we think every kitchen needs, is a food processor. You can use a food processor to make all your favorite dips and sauces, from pesto sauce to hummus.
A food processor is designed to be able to pulverize even tough ingredients like nuts and seeds, and the blades are closer together, so these appliances can process smaller ingredients than your average blender.
11. Blender
Speaking of blenders, this is another common kitchen appliance that can serve many purposes. Having a blender in your kitchen can allow you to make your favorite smoothie for breakfast, make your soups smoother, or prepare a protein shake in minutes.
There are many different brands and models to choose from when buying a blender, and different models have different capabilities.
12. Dutch Oven
A Dutch oven is a heavy-duty cooking pot that comes with a lid. It’s a type of slow cooker designed to make stews, sauces, and soups. However, it can also be used to cook bread!
Dutch ovens are made to be used on their stove top or in the oven, depending on the recipe you’re following.
You can get Dutch ovens made out of ceramic, cast iron, or aluminum. Some are also enameled for added durability.
13. Colander
Anything that you cook in liquid, but don’t want to serve alongside that liquid, will need to be strained in a colander before serving. This applies to pasta, rice, potatoes, and boiled meats.
Colanders make the process of separating ingredients from water or stock much easier, which is why they’re such common pieces of kitchen equipment.
14. Balloon Whisk
The balloon whisk is a piece of kitchen equipment that has existed for centuries. Its purpose is whipping food by introducing air into the mixture as you mix.
Balloon whisks are usually made out of thin pieces of wire which move easily as you whisk, maximizing the amount of air being mixed in.
Having a balloon whisk in your kitchen helps to make certain foods like whipped cream and meringues much easier to prepare.
15. Vegetable Peeler
While many vegetables can be eaten with the skin on, there are times when the skin should be removed. For example, you might serve boiled potatoes without removing the skin, but for mashed potatoes, you’ll need to peel the skin off, first.
A vegetable peeler is a handheld tool with an angled blade that allows you to quickly and easily take the skin off your vegetables (and fruits) using smooth, continuous movements.
16. Ladle
Serving soup or transferring pancake batter from a mixing bowl to a frying pan without a ladle can be very tricky, which is why most kitchens still have this reliable tool.
A ladle is like a large, deep spoon that allows you to transfer liquids from one container to another without spilling anything. Many have a tiny spout somewhere on the lip to make pouring easier.
17. Slotted Spoon
A slotted spoon is the perfect piece of kitchen equipment for serving dishes like stew, where you want to transfer solid ingredients out of the serving dish while leaving the liquid behind.
A slotted spoon, as the name suggests, has slots in the bottom to allow liquid to drain out while keeping solids inside the spoon.
18. Sheet Pan
A sheet pan is an essential kitchen utensil for all your roasting and baking needs. It’s also called a baking sheet or baking tray. These pans are usually made of metal, but can also be made out of silicone.
They typically have shallow rims on the outside to keep any oils or liquids produced during cooking inside the pan.
You can use a sheet pan to roast vegetables, bake cookies, or even make pastries and bread. Often made out of aluminum, they are durable and easy to clean.
Final Thoughts
The most common pieces of kitchen equipment are also typically the most useful. They help us with our everyday cooking tasks, from boiling to chopping, and allow us to prepare versatile foods without the need for extra bells and whistles.
For success in the kitchen, make sure you have all of these tools ready to use!
Have you ever made something so delicious that you wished you could savor it forever?
Only to find that the recipe has now mysteriously vanished from your phone and the entirety of the internet. Yep, there’s not much more painful than that.
Hi, my name is Mark Williams and I have been infatuated with cooking since I was young. I would beg my mother to pull a chair up to the counter so I could watch what she was doing.
