Categories: Kitchens

15 Basic Kitchen Tools You Need to Stock Your Kitchen Without Breaking the Bank

Published by
James marcus

Best knife set

Cuisinart White Triple Rivet Block Set in Grey Block

Price: $$$

While a top-quality set of knives can set you back a significant amount of money, this knife set from Cuisinart is a great budget-friendly alternative.

The 15-piece set comes with multiple knives, including a chef’s knife for chopping produce, meats, and other large items and a paring knife for peeling and trimming vegetables and fruits.

It also features kitchen scissors, which are multipurpose, allowing you to easily open food packages, cut twine, and chop herbs or salad greens.

Conveniently, the knife set comes with a knife block for easy storage and a sharpener to keep your blades honed.

Best cutting board

KitchenAid Classic Nonslip Plastic Cutting Board

Price: $$

There’s little benefit to having a good set of knives if you don’t have a reliable cutting board on which to use them.

The KitchenAid Classic Nonslip Plastic Cutting Board is a basic, budget-friendly cutting board that will make slicing and chopping easier.

The nonslip corners hold the board in place (essential for safety when cutting), and the BPA-free plastic surface is great for chopping.

Plus, the nonporous material is easy to clean and dishwasher-safe.

Best kitchen tongs

OXO Good Grips 9-Inch Tongs with Nylon Heads

Price: $

Great for everything from serving salad to removing pasta from boiling water, tongs are one of the best multipurpose kitchen tools available.

These tongs from OXO are our pick as the best thanks to their comfortable grips and locking feature for compact storage.

Plus, the nylon heads make them easy to clean and prevent scratches on nonstick pots and pans.

Best spatula

OXO Silicone Flexible Turner

Price: $

Spatulas are essential tools in every kitchen. For everything from flipping pancakes and eggs to sauteing a stir-fry, a good spatula makes all the difference in food prep.

The OXO silicone spatula is one of my favorite kitchen utensils, and I’m not exaggerating when I say I use it every day.

It won’t scratch a nonstick pan, and it’s available in two sizes — small and large. It’s also heat-resistant and has a silicone grip that makes it easy to hold and use. Plus, cleaning is a breeze since it’s dishwasher-safe.

Best garlic press

Zulay Kitchen Garlic Press

Price: $

Most of the utensils on this list have more than one use in the kitchen, but we made an exception for the garlic press.

Every professional chef we asked about the garlic press said to skip it, but when we talked to home cooks, they said they love it.

It’s definitely a timesaver if you’re not a fan of mincing garlic and want to skip the pre-minced garlic you can buy at your local grocery store.

A garlic press makes it easy to crush garlic cloves in one quick motion. The Zulay garlic press, in particular, is a durable yet budget-friendly choice that will make using fresh garlic in your next recipe a breeze.

It’s also dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup.

Best whisk

KitchenAid Gourmet Utility Whisk

Price: $

Whisks are multipurpose kitchen tools, great for tasks such as mixing batters and whipping cream. When shopping for a whisk, look for one that’s sturdy and will stand up to regular use.

This KitchenAid whisk is exactly that. It’s not only durable but also budget-friendly and dishwasher-safe.

Plus, it’s available in four colors so you can choose the best one for your kitchen.

Best wooden cooking utensils

Riveira Bamboo Cooking Utensils Set

Price: $

Every kitchen should have a set of wooden spoons for cooking. This bamboo utensil set from Riveira comes with six spoons and spatulas, including slotted spoons that can be used for soups, stews, and sauces.

The utensils are made from organic material and are nonstick to prevent scratches on your cookware.

Plus, they’re easy to clean, although it’s best to wash them by hand instead of in the dishwasher.

Best meat thermometer

KIZEN Digital Meat Thermometer with Probe

Price: $$

A digital meat thermometer is key for cooking a perfectly medium-rare steak. It also helps with food safety by allowing you to verify proper internal temperatures for foods like fish and chicken.

The KIZEN meat thermometer is one that I personally use and love. It has a large, easy-to-read display with proper cooking temperatures printed right next to the screen for easy reference.

It’s also waterproof, so it’s easy to clean. However, it is not dishwasher-safe.

Bonus: I bought this thermometer close to a year ago and still have not replaced the battery.

Best nonstick skillet

T-fal Ultimate Hard Anodized 2-Piece Nonstick Cookware Set

Price: $$$

A good set of pans is essential for any home cook. Nonstick skillets are handy for cooking a huge variety of dishes, such as pan-seared salmon and over-easy eggs.

This set from T-fal is a great budget-friendly option for daily use.

The pans are scratch-resistant, nonstick, and dishwasher-safe. They also have a color indicator to tell you when a pan is preheated and ready for cooking — a helpful bonus for amateur home cooks!

If you’re looking for a full set of pots and pans, T-fal also offers hard anodized cookware in 14- and 17-piece sets.

Best baking sheets

Rachael Ray 3-Piece Baking Sheet Set

Price: $$

This set of nonstick baking sheets from Rachael Ray is a must-have thanks to its rubber grips, affordable price, and durable steel construction meant to resist warping.

These pans are a staple in my kitchen, and I’ve used them for everything from cookies to vegetables. What’s more, they’ve held their shape with regular use.

The pans are oven-safe up to 500°F (260°C), and their nonstick surfaces are easy to clean.

Best mixing bowls

Finedine Premium Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls (Set of 6)

Price: $$

You don’t need to be a baker to own mixing bowls. Mixing bowls have a variety of uses, including scrambling eggs, whisking salad dressings, stirring cake batter, and mixing meatballs.

This versatile stainless steel mixing bowl set includes six sizes, and the bowls nest to help you save space.

The bowls are shatterproof, freezer-safe, and dishwasher-safe, so they’re easy to clean and likely to last.

Best box grater

Amazon Basics Professional Box Grater

Price: $$

If you have a small amount of cheese or vegetables to shred, a box grater works perfectly. Plus, it’s easier to clean than a food processor and takes up less storage space.

This professional box grater from Amazon Basics has nonslip grips to help it stay in place while you work.

It also features a different shredding blade on each side for versatility.

Best measuring cups and spoons

Smithcraft Measuring Cups and Spoons Set

Price: $$

Measuring cups and spoons are essential, especially if you do a lot of baking or are an avid recipe-follower.

This budget-friendly set from Smithcraft includes nearly every measurement you could need as a home cook.

The eight cups and nine spoons are made of stainless steel and have both metric and U.S. measurements engraved on their handles. They’re rust-resistant for longevity and dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning.

Best colander

Qimh Collapsible Over the Sink Colander

Price: $

Healthline Nutrition and Fitness Market Editor Kelli McGrane, MS, RD, loves this over-the-sink colander.

“Storage space is a premium in our household, so I’m always looking for items that are more compact and easier to store,” she says.

“Not only is this colander collapsible to save space, but it also offers a large capacity, can be used over a sink, and is dishwasher-safe — all bonuses in my book.”

McGrane also says the colander works well for pasta, fruits, and vegetables, though you’ll need a fine-mesh strainer for smaller items.

Best silicone baking mats

Amazon Basics Silicone Non-Stick Food Safe Baking Mats

Price: $

McGrane also recommends the Amazon Basics Silicone Non-Stick Food Safe Baking Mats.

McGrane explains, “These silicone baking mats are a great eco-friendly alternative to parchment paper.

“I’ve used them for everything from baking cookies to roasting vegetables and have always found them easy to use and clean. I also like that they’ve saved me money by not having to purchase parchment paper as regularly.”

According to Amazon, these mats are oven-safe up to 480°F (249°C). However, they are not dishwasher-safe, so you’ll need to wash them by hand.

This post was last modified on 09/10/2023 10:29

James marcus

Garden Courte is a blog written by [James Marcus], a passionate gardener and writer. She has been gardening for over 20 years and has a deep understanding of plants and how to care for them. In her blog, she shares her knowledge and experience with others, providing tips and advice on gardening, plant care, and more.

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Published by
James marcus

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