I LOVE kitchen gadgets! In fact, my cabinets are overflowing with items that make my life easier. I have spent the last twenty years growing this collection. 🙂 But, what are the essential kitchen tools you need for going homemade? Below are the items I use ALL. THE. TIME.

The “Have-to-Haves”…

So this is the list of items that I can’t live without. My kitchen wouldn’t work right. My family would be unhappy. Life would be pointless. (OK, that’s a little dramatic!) However, without these simple tools, cooking and baking just wouldn’t get done. 🙂 You want to have the right tools for the job so that making homemade goodies for your friends and family is as simple as possible! Here is my list of essential kitchen tools:

#1—Pyrex 2 cup measuring cup

This kitchen workhorse is used every.single.day. I use it for measuring (of course), boiling water for tea/cocoa, melting butter in the microwave, and as a small mixing bowl. I love it so much that my kitchen has at least three!

#2—Pyrex 9×13 baking pan

Another extremely necessary tool. I use my Pyrex 9×13 pans for dessert bars, cakes, brownies, baking casseroles, chicken, etc. Again, I have at least five of these at home…with lids! Those are a must! My preference is for the glass pans, as they make clean up a lot easier and I don’t have to worry about scratching the surface.

#3—Heat-safe silicone rubber spatula/scraper

A heat-safe silicone scraper can be used for mixing, folding, flipping…it is just a good all-around tool! I use mine in my nonstick cookware to stir, and really like them better than wooden spoons.

#4— 2-quart glass mixing bowl

For any recipe, I pull out my 2-quart mixing bowl. I love that it doubles as a measuring cup! The handle on the side makes it easy to hold on and mix, and the straight sides help to keep items from flying out while mixing. It’s a good choice, and in my opinion, better than the Pyrex mixing bowls with the slanted sides.

#5—Square nonstick griddle or 12-inch nonstick skillet

Because we eat a lot of eggs, pancakes, and grilled cheese sandwiches, I included both of these on the list. However, if I was going to choose only one, I’d go with the skillet. It’s great for browning hamburger, stir-frying veggies, and I prefer to have one that is oven-safe, too.

#6— 6-quart slow cooker (3-4 qt. for a couple or single person)

I prefer to have the “old school” dial Crock-Pots for the simple reason that the power at our house flips off here and there. One ruined meal in my fancy digital Crock-Pot has made me reliant on my old standbys. Goes to show that simple is better!

#7— 2-quart nonstick saucepan

I like to include a vegetable side with my meals, and our 2-quart nonstick saucepan comes in handy for this. However, I also use this pan for making candy, cooking pasta, rice, and really anything! I can’t do without it! In our twenty years of marriage, I’m on my third pan because I use it so much!

#8—Measuring cups and spoons

I suppose this should have been placed higher on the list, but I honestly use some of these other tools more. Yes, I measure, when the recipe calls for it. And having a good set of dry measuring cups and spoons will make your life easier. I prefer a thick plastic set, as they are easier to clean. (The metal ones can have too many nooks and crannies when trying to wash out peanut butter, shortening, or other sticky/gooey items.)

#9— Cookie sheets (at least 2)

These are my favorite cookie sheets and I’ve had them for twenty years! LOVE THEM! I would recommend at least buying two, as that will make things easier when making cookies. However, I use my cookie sheets for all kinds of things like peanut brittle, scones, and baking craft projects, too.

#10— Plastic cutting board

A plastic cutting board is a cook’s best friend. You don’t have to worry about germs like you do with porous wood, and it is easy to clean by sticking it in the dishwasher. I have several sizes of these, but the smallest size I use almost every day for chopping salad add-ins.

#11—Chef’s knife

A chef’s knife will make chopping up veggies and meat so much easier. You could probably get by with just a paring knife, but after having a chef’s knife for so long, I like the added leverage I get from a longer knife. I can’t chop up a butternut squash very well with a paring knife!

#12— Paring knife

This little wonder is great for all kinds of chopping tasks, and it is much easier for a kitchen novice. (Most people aren’t quite as afraid of using a paring knife as they are of using a big chef’s knife.) It is nice for peeling, coring, and quartering small fruits and vegetables and gets a lot of use in my kitchen. In my school kitchens, this is the only knife my students have, and they use it for everything!

#13—Hand mixer

My Kitchenaid hand mixer gets so much use! Yes, I could have added a whisk to this list, but I’m lazy. 🙂 The hand mixer makes my life so much easier, and though it’s more pricey than the other items on this list, it’s so worth it!

#14—Vegetable peeler

This item may not be a complete necessity, but I use mine a lot for peeling potatoes and carrots. It also serves as a nice tool for shaving cheese or chocolate. I feel no kitchen is complete without one.

#15—Rolling pin

Again, others might say this isn’t a necessary item. I’ve had students make pie crusts at home using a soda bottle. However, if you plan to make pies, cinnamon rolls, sugar cookies, or anything else that requires you do some rollin’, it’s best to invest in a rolling pin. I like my French pin the best, as it’s nice and long without handles to get in the way.

#16—Pastry blender 

Not sure what this item is used for? My pastry blender gets used for biscuits, pie crusts, sugar cookies (yes, my recipe calls for it!), or any other recipe that requires you “cut a fat” into flour.

Of course, this list is very basic. However, If I had each of these items, I could make a mean dinner, bake a cake for a friend, and throw together some cookies for my kids’ school birthday parties! 🙂 There is no need to spend a fortune on kitchen equipment if you have these sixteen items.

Do you doubt me?

As a Family and Consumer Science teacher, I am lucky enough to have five fully stocked kitchens in my classroom. I teach students how to cook every. single. day. It’s a true blessing! And over the years, I’ve learned a few things about what you “need” and what you might “want” for your kitchen. Expensive gadgets are awesome, but really, you can get by with so much less! Everything on this list is something I have in my classroom kitchens. And everything gets used. A LOT! (Well, not really the crock pot, but I swear everything else!) For me, these are my essential kitchen tools.

If you know someone moving into their first home, getting married, or even going to college, the above list would make a great place to start for gift-giving! These essential kitchen tools will not only be useful but also appreciated! 🙂

Are there other items I always use? Heck yes! But that’s a topic for another post. 🙂 Curious about why you should go HOMEMADE? Read my post that explains why I feel Homemade Goodies are the best Gift!

I know we are all in different places in our lives, and at one point when my kids were younger I had more time to do more elaborate recipes. However, if you have the simple, basic, kitchen gadgets listed above, you can make great food gifts for those you love! There is no need to be elaborate when you’re first learning to make homemade…focus on perfecting the simplistic and move on from there! You can do it! 🙂