14 Of The Most Useful Kitchen Tools That People Swear By

A while back I decided to poll my Facebook followers, and ask them what kitchen tools they simply cannot live without! I got a lot of helpful responses, and knew that it was information we could all benefit from. I organized the responses into a list, and that’s what I’ll be sharing with you today!

One of the best perks of my job is being able to interact with my readers. I feel very blessed to have such an incredible community of people who read my blog and follow me on social media! Not only are my readers kind, funny, and thoughtful, but they also often have amazing tips and tricks of their own! Whenever I have a question about the best products or how to do something, I turn to my readers! (I usually pose questions to my readers on my Facebook page, so consider this your invitation to follow along and be part of those conversations!)

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been making an effort to cut down on clutter in my kitchen. Taking an “inventory” of sorts of all my kitchen gear like tools, utensils, and appliances seemed like a good place to start! And while some items were obviously worth keeping, I felt less sure about others. These responses from my readers were a big help to me, and I’m sure you’ll benefit from them too.

These are the best, most useful tools to keep around your kitchen, according to my brilliant community of readers! You can use this list to help you identify tools you might be missing, or to help you cut down on kitchen clutter.

14 Must-Have Kitchen Tools, According To You

1. A Good, Sharp Knife

While the rest of the list is in no particular order, a sharp knife is first on the list for a reason! Everyone should own a good quality knife, and make an effort to keep it sharp. I used to be one of those people who used any old knife, because I figured it couldn’t make THAT much of a difference. But once I tried using a good kitchen knife that was actually sharp, I realized how wrong I had been all those years!

A sharp knife makes cutting, chopping, and slicing much quicker and easier to do. And even though buying a good knife is a bit more expensive, it will serve you well for years to come! It could actually save you money over time, since you won’t have to replace it every few years. All you have to do to keep your knife in great shape is keep it clean, and keep it sharp with a honing steel or a sharpener. Sharpen once a week if you use your knife every day, or every other week if you use it less often.

2. Kitchen Shears

A good pair of kitchen shears can be an unexpectedly useful tool keep in your kitchen. I use mine for all sorts of tasks, like removing food from packages, trimming vegetables, cutting herbs, trimming parchment paper, and more!

3. Microplane Grater

If you watch the Food Network at all, then you’ve probably seen someone use a microplane grater. But you don’t have to be a chef plating up fancy dishes to use one! Microplane graters are really useful for zesting citrus, and grating garlic, ginger, and hard cheeses. You’ll save a ton of time on these tasks, which to me makes buying one more than worth it!

4. Cast Iron Pans

Many people said their cast iron pan would be the one kitchen tool they wouldn’t want to live without! These thick and dense pans last forever if treated nicely, and they’re extremely useful in the kitchen. A round or square cast iron pan can be used to cook just about anything, but you can also find grill pans, dutch ovens, muffin pans, and more that are made of durable cast iron.

5. Dutch Oven/French Oven

Another popular choice for an indispensable kitchen tool was the enameled dutch oven (sometimes referred to as “french ovens.”) These pots are made of heavy cast iron, which heats up smoothly and evenly making it great for cooking. But what sets these pots apart from regular cast iron items is their enameled surface. The smooth enamel is easier to clean and less prone to sticking than bare cast-iron, and can be just as durable.

People often find that their enameled dutch oven is their most-used cooking vessel. You can use them on your stove to boil, simmer, sauté, and sear, or use them in your oven to bake, broil, or braise. And even after the cooking is done, these pots are pretty enough to use as a serving dish too!

6. Stand Mixer

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the ever-popular Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer made the list. These mixers have been a must-have on every couple’s wedding registry list for decades! Stand mixers make it easy to whip up batters and doughs in minutes, and you can whip egg whites or cream with effortlessly.

7. High-Powered Blender

A high-powered blender like the ones made by Blendtec and Vitami can be a big help in the kitchen. You can use it to make soups, sauces, dips, pesto, nut butter, smoothies, milkshakes, and more. This list goes on and one! And the powerful motors in these blenders get the job done in seconds, with very little effort on your part.

8. Instant Pot

I’ve had my Instant Pot for over a year now, and I love it so much I actually bought a second one! This electric pressure cooker has made it so fast and easy to cook foods like potatoes, rice, pasta, soups, large cuts of meat, and more. It can also replace several of your other appliances, like your rice cooker and crockpot! To get the whole scoop on the Instant Pot and why I can’t live without it, check out my blog post at the link below!

9. Electric Slicer

It may seem strange to keep a deli-style electric slicer in your kitchen, but hear me out! I went through a phase where my favorite snack was roast beef and provolone cheese. I found out that homemade roast beef tasted so much better than the store-bought stuff, but cutting it thinly was proving to be a challenge. So I invested in an electric slicer, and I haven’t regretted it one bit! I use it to slice meats and cheeses at home, and I’ve saved quite a bit of money over time!

10. Air Fryer

Another small kitchen appliance that came up frequently is the air fryer. These devices use heated air to cook things quickly, and they can produce a crispier finished product than other cooking methods. Get the full scoop about air fryers and how they work at the link below!

11. Scoop/Disher

Whether you call it a scoop or a disher or even a melon baller, people really love these handy tools. You can use them to scoop cookie dough, melon, mashed potatoes, and more into uniform portions for serving or freezing.

12. Hands-Free Can Opener

After years of struggling with manual can openers, I decided to give try out an electric can opener. I can’t believe I didn’t switch over sooner! Hands-free can openers will help you open any kind of can quickly and effortlessly.

13. Scrub Daddy Sponge

I’m not the only one who swears by the Scrub Daddy sponge. This little scrubber has its own cult following! The thing that makes it so great is that it responds to temperature changes. Cold water makes it stiff, which is great for scrubbing stubborn messes, and warm water makes it more pliable for everyday cleaning. I use it to wash my dishes, clean my sink, and more!

14. Silicone Popsicle Mold

Popsicle molds aren’t just for making kids’ treats! You can use them again and again to make frozen breakfast pops, frozen yogurt, and of course, popsicles.