My Kitchen Equipment List

Finally, I’ve combined a list of basically ALL MY KITCHEN EQUIPMENT! My tried and true favorites, honest opinions about all the equipment I’ve used, and where to get the best deal (if applicable!). I’m a firm believer in buying a high quality item once and having it last you a lifetime.

Food Prep:

7″ Global Vegetable Knife – This is my absolute favorite knife. I use it for everything, and it’s the perfect design and hand-feel of a sturdy German knife and an elegant Japanese knife. From culinary school, I also have the 8″ Classic Wustof Chef’s Knife. This knife is highly recommended by food professionals and is a great knife, it’s just a little bulky for my preference. The other knife I have this beautiful 7″ Miyabi Rocking Knife. It was a gift and I love it, but it’s a bit delicate. Of all my knives, I use my Global vegetable knife the most and find it to be the most versatile. I got my Global knife from Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3o9qow3 .

Global Cutting Shears – These were gifted to me and I’m in LOVE with them. They are a bit pricey, but these would be a great upgrade and gift to a home chef. You can get them on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3UKEkJp 

Victorinox 10.25” Serrated Knife – I only really use 2 types of knives, and this is one of them. This is a staple for when I’m cutting bread, tomatoes, or anything that requires a really sharp edge. We got this brand in cooking school, and after trying many different serrated knives, this one is my favorite because of it’s lightweight handle and design. This is on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3L95g0I.

2 cup Glass Sauce / Dressing Beaker – What you see in most of my videos for making dressings, sauces, and pour / measuring liquids. I LOVE this, but it’s a bit fragile. I got mine from Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3KLFejV.

2 Liter Cambro Containers – I love using these for marinating meats, storing cut veggies, and they’re great for BBQ-ing and transporting around in a cooler. There are larger sizes, but I find these 2L ones to be the most practical for the home chef. These are also available on amazon here: https://amzn.to/3L6BB9G, or at your local restaurant depot store if you have one. 

26 ounce Weck Jars – I use these to pickle onions and vegetables, store dry goods, and even use as flower vases for centerpieces. They are versatile and timeless. I got mine from at a great price in store at Crate and Barrel here: https://www.crateandbarrel.com/weck-26-oz.-canning-jar/s261346 . They are also on amazon, but seem to be a bit overpriced: https://amzn.to/441hzFb.

Cutting Board –  I found my favorite at-home cutting board in the Boston Eataly back in 2019. It’s the Architec brand eco cutting board, and I’ve used it for over 6 years! It’s the best. You can get it on Amazon here.

White Mixing Bowl – Same brand as the cutting board, but I think they discontinued it. This is the same style but in a few different other colors. On amazon here.

Kuhn Swiss Peeler – We got these in culinary school, and they are the BEST (and they’re very affordable). My friend Helen invested in one after using mine and she confirms it’s the best one out there! You can get them on amazon here: https://amzn.to/3LfLYa3. 

Benriner Mandolin – These are awesome for thinly slicing vegetables. This Japanese brand is reliable, sleek, is used in professional kitchens (I see them all the time on beat bobby flay 🙂 ) , and doesn’t take up too much space – I love mine and this is another tool I plan to keep for life. I got mine on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3mGhC8C 

Escali Kitchen Scale – This isn’t the cutest kitchen scale, but it’s durable, reliable, and all my chefs used to have this brand. If it lasts years in a professional kitchen, it’s going to last a lifetime in your home and I’ve loved mine so far. I got mine from Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3oiBmQ0 

Ateco 4.5″ Offset Spatula – This isn’t an absolutely essential tool, but it’s very handy for nimble movements and icing cakes. We got this brand in culinary school, and it’s affordable on amazon: https://amzn.to/3LxtcfX.

Ice cream / meatball scoopers (Small, medium, and large) – I use these all the time for scooping ice cream, meatballs, and cookie dough. I’ve had these for over 2 years and use all three sizes depending on what I’m making. They’ve held up really well and I got mine on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3UI7hW8 

Dexter 6.5” Fish Spatula – This is a really high quality fish spatula I got from culinary school. You could probably do with a less expensive one, but I love this one and it’ll last you for life! You can get it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3MKtFwe. 

Black Pepper Grinder – I love this one and I got it from Crate and Barrel – it’s the Hanno Fluted Pepper Mill.

Colander – I have 2 colanders, one generic heavy duty plastic one from target and this footed one from Crate and Barrel. I love both! https://www.crateandbarrel.com/footed-stainless-steel-colander/s439322 

Thermoworks Meat Thermometer – We got this brand meat thermometer in culinary school and it’s the absolute best because it gets an accurate reading within seconds. Using a high quality meat thermometer for fish and meats (I even use it for baked goods) has been a game changer and easily increases your confidence in the kitchen. This is another one of my favorite gift ideas for the home chef. You can order from their website: https://www.thermoworks.com/thermapen-one/ 

Oxo 9” Whisk – Love my mini whisk and I use it exclusively over my full sized 11” one (it’s easier to store as well). You can get it on amazon here: https://amzn.to/3V3sA4M.

Microplane – Another tool we got in culinary school. This brand is great and I most commonly use this tool to get more enhanced flavor and texture from citruses, cheeses, and other aromatics. You can get it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/40iunUm. 

Pairing Knife – I don’t find myself using paring knives as much these days, but they are definitely hand to keep around. The global brand one I have is my favorite. They have them on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3VhTdCX. 

Measuring Spoons – I have a set I got from a restaurant depot store years ago, but if I were to buy new ones, I’d get these ones since the spoons are designed to fit into spice jars 🙂 You can get those on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3L95wOs. 

Oxo Can Opener – Oxo carries the best can openers. I’ve had this one for years and it opens cans super easily. My friend Brenna prefers the Oxo version with the lid catch, which is also great. I got mine on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3mzEVAZ 

Le Creuset Spatula Spoon– I’ve also collected and used many rubber spatulas throughout the years, but my favorite is the Le Creuset Spatula Spoon. The original version I have isn’t available anymore, but this one seems the most similar: https://www.lecreuset.com/craft-series-spatula-spoon-white/JS420-16.html. 

Sur La Table Saute Wooden Spoon – Again, I’ve used many wooden spoons over the years and even though a generic $3 spoon from target will do, my favorite is probably the saute wooden spoon from Sur La Table. I have the lighter color, but this style I find to be really nice. https://www.surlatable.com/sur-la-table-walmut-saute-spoon/PRO-3565728.html?cgid=SCA-389668&start=-20 

Tongs – I’ve used these no frill ones from Amazon and they do the job well. I can’t find the brand (same one I got at Eataly) for mine.

Sur La Table Ladle – I currently have the one ounce (I’m not sure if they still sell the 1 ounce), but it’s also on my list to get the 4 ounce! https://www.surlatable.com/sur-la-table-stainless-steel-ladles/PRO-3830197.html?cgid=SCA-389668&start=0 

Sur La Table Skimmer – This brand mesh strainer / skimmer is my favorite! You can get it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3GQZ3oO. I have another green one I got from home goods years ago too. 

Dumpling Roller – A great sized roller for both dumplings and other pastries that might require rolling. I got mine from a local Chinese market, but there are reasonably priced ones on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/40i3W1l. 

Oxo Grater – My friend Brenna actually got this for me one day we were filming content together since my old one was rusting. It’s great and very compact. You can get it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3MLfmYh. 

Oxo or Zulay Citrus Juicer – I use this all the time for fresh squeezed lemon juice for vinaigrettes – it gets all the juice out! I used to have the Oxo one, but recently lost it and replaced it with the Zulay brand on Amazon. They’re both great. You can get it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3mDDJfT (oxo) or https://amzn.to/3VbR63P (Zulay).

Steamer – This is great for steaming egg, tofu, chicken, anything that cooks on a plate or bowl. Put this directly into your pan with water on the bottom and cook! I got mine at a local Asian shop but you can also get it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3mBY5Gq. 

Steamer Handles – Essential tools for grabbing out your plate of steamed goodness! I got mine at a local asian store, but you can get something similar on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/43CStw6. I’d recommend getting a few lipped bowls (I will share a smallwares post soon!) so you can easily use the handles.

Le Creuset Wine Opener – I used to hate opening wine – it’s stressful and I always seem to break the cork. That changed when I started using this Le Creuset wine opener. It’s the best one I’ve used out of the many many many I’ve tried. You can get it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3KRhpaO 

Individual Cut Parchment Paper – Super useful tool to help you keep things clean in the kitchen. I’ve been using this same pack for years and it’s great. I get mine on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3L6B7QV. 

Fat Daddio’s 9” Square Baking Pan – I got this from my cooking school when they closed down and were selling their equipment. This brand is Fat Daddio’s (industrial grade), and it’s the perfect size for brownies or bars. The photo looks a bit odd, but I promise it’s an amazing kitchen staple. You can get it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3mGIZ2h. 

9” Round Cake Pans – I still use the 9” round cake pans my mom gave me when I moved to college (I’m a big advocate on only buying new things when you absolutely need them, and this pioneer woman brand has lasted me decades!). BUT if I were to buy new ones, I’d get the 9” Fat Daddio’s brand – they are industrial grade and I love their square baking pan. You can get it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3ofV1A1. 

Vollrath Half Sheet Baking Sheets – I have 2 of this brand of baking sheets, and I’ll probably have them for the rest of my life. They don’t warp, will last forever because they aren’t non-stick, and are true champions! I got mine from Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3KMSmFK. 

Pink Great Jones Baking Sheets – These were a gift to me, and they’re GORGEOUS! They’re a bit on the pricier side and I’ve only been using them for a few months, but so far I’ve really enjoyed them. I have the half sheet tray size and 2 quarter sheet trays. You can get them here: https://greatjonesgoods.com/products/holy-sheet.

Kitchen Appliances:

7500 Vitamix – I got mine at Costco when it went on sale (this happens a few times a year), and this is one of my favorite kitchen appliances. It’s a powerhouse of a tool. All the kitchens I’ve worked in use this brand and I highly, highly recommend it! I use this for soups, açaí bowls, sauces, freshly grinding spices and peppers, hummus, homemade soy milk, … the list goes on and on. The Costco version is specifically designed for the home chef – it’s a bit more budget friendly and is also designed to fit under the standard kitchen cabinets. https://www.costco.com/vitamix-7500-blender-super-package-with-2–20oz-to-go-cups.product.100138185.html 

Kitchen Aid Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer – Another powerhouse in the kitchen. I can’t live without it when I need it, which is more frequent than you think (anytime I make dough, cookies, or cake I use this). It’s a hefty investment, but once you get one, it’s life changing. I got a refurbished one on Amazon a few years ago. I’m not sure if they still have them, but this is a version on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/40fEDNe. 

Smaller Appliances

Kitchen Aid Immersion Blender – this is a great tool if you’re not yet ready to invest in a Vitamix but want something to blend for soups and sauces. I use this pretty frequently for weeknight dinners since it’s so easy for cleanup. I have the corded one, but if I were you, I’d definitely get this new cordless one. It’s reasonably priced on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3MMCeXd. 

Haden Tea Kettle – I like my Haden brand tea kettle. I have the matching microwave too and they both bring me lots of joy. I got mine at Target. After 3 years of having it, it started to get a small leak near the spout. If I were to upgrade, I’ll probably get the SMEG brand kettle next 🙂 

Aroma Rice Cooker – I’ve had my Aroma rice cooker since college. I think my parents bought it for me from Walmart … it’s dependable, cooks rice quickly, and I love it. I don’t see the need for a new rice cooker yet, and if you’re looking for a no-frills rice cooker, here is the one I love. You can get it on Amazon for a good price here: https://amzn.to/3GUyzmv. 

2 Slice Toaster – I have a super simple toaster from Target. It does the job and is compact enough to be put away. It was also $15 I think and has lasted me (and will last me) many many years.  

Duxtop Induction Stovetop – I LOVE this thing – it works really well when you’re on a road trip and want to cook on-the-go, or even if you just need another stove top in your kitchen. It heats up really quickly and has safety measures built in. You can use this for any stainless steel pots / pan. I got mine on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3L7f9gH. 

Kitchen Aid Food Processor – I currently have a mini 3.5 cup food processor, and this is great for making small amounts of sauces (larger quantities I default to the Vitamix), or chopping veggies for dumplings. There have been a few instances where I wished I had a larger one, but this one works for me and it’s compact enough to have this and my vitamix. I got mine on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/41eujXi. 

Pots and Pans – stainless steel

7 piece D3 Stainless Steel All Clad Set – Shiping got this set for me on the first birthday we celebrated together. I’ve used this set for 4 years since then and LOVE it. These are one of those life longs sets and I highly recommend investing in high quality stainless steel like All Clad. Here’s a breakdown of the pans I have and what I use them for:

• 2-qt. sauce pan with lid – great for making an individual soup or to be used as a sauce pan. I also always make my quinoa in this pan.
• 3-qt. sauce pan with lid – my most used pan. I use this as my “medium sized pan” to boil pasta / noodles, cook one pot orzo, one pot fish, risotto, congee, blanch vegetables, etc. 
• 8-qt. lidded stock pot – my second most used stainless steel pan. This pot is a workhorse and is super versatile. I use this to make stocks, soups, braised meats, and to cook pasta / boil dumplings. This is my largest volume pot and I use this as a dutch oven since I don’t have one yet.
• 10″ fry pan – I don’t use this pan very frequently and honestly could go without it. I would have preferred a larger size and if I’m searing anything, I’d prefer to use my cast iron. This pan can be a pain to clean if you’re searing on high heat and not using enough oil. 

Even though All Clads are great quality, they need to be well taken care of. Browning will happen naturally, and even though All Clads have a surface that easily removes stains, it will still occasionally require Barkeepers Friend. See the cleaning section below for more detail. 

Shiping got this exact set on sale for $299 from Bloomingdale’s. From what he’s told me, it sounds like there are occasional sales on the All Clad sets – feel free to set a “deal alert” on slickdeals.net if you’re looking for a good deal ;). Otherwise, slight variations of the set are also available on Amazon, Crate and Barrel, Macy’s, and Williams Sonoma. 

Pots and Pans – Other

Lodge Cast Iron – I have both the 10.25” and the 12”. I keep the 12” stored for special occasions, and keep the 10” on my stove. These pans are incredible, are affordable, and will last a lifetime if you take care of them. I use them for browning meats, cooking eggs, searing, stir frying veggies (it gets a great wok hei for home!) and frying. You can get them on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3L7ompl. 

4 Quart Deep Non-stick Scanpan Braiser – This was gifted to me and I’ve loved using it. However, it’s a bit too pricey for a non-stick pan that has an end of life date (all non-sticks will eventually need to be thrown out). It’s seemed to hold up over the last 9 months I’ve used it. Overall, if you’re willing to pay for it,  it’s a great all in one pan that you don’t have to worry about sticking. You can get it on the Scanpan website here: https://www.scanpan.com/haptiq-4-qt-deep-saute-pan+size-4qt. 

11.75” Non-stick Scanpan – This was also gifted to me and I’ve really enjoyed using it. However, similar to above, it’s a bit too pricey for me to rebuy once the non-stick degrades. https://www.scanpan.com/techniq-the-modern-skillet-11-75-inch-42690-configurable+size-1175.

Kitchen Appliances on my List that I will slowly purchase once I have more space:

Photos courtesy of Crate and Barrel

Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven 5.5 Quart – I used to use this when I private cheffed all the time. It’s great for braises and soups. It’s definitely a signature piece in your kitchen but it’s a hefty investment. I currently use my All Clad 8 quart pot for everything I’d use the Dutch Oven for. I know I’ll get one eventually! 

Le Creuset 3.5 or 5.5 Quart Braiser – I’ve used this before and it’s the perfect pan for finishing a pasta, cooking risotto, braising meats, sauteing mushrooms, you name it. It’s also a signature kitchen piece and something I’d love to get once I have the space.

Food Storage:

Rubbermaid Brilliance containers (medium size 3.2 cup)– I store most of my meal prep in these containers, and they’re awesome. They are space efficient and I’ve been using them for over 3 years without issues. I got mine on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3LEtDVy. These are the heavy duty plastic ones since I wanted something lighter to carry to work, but the glass versions are also great for at home leftovers. Glass will typically last longer and is easier to clean, but is typically much heavier, which is why I only use glass containers at home.

Rubbermaid Brilliance containers (small size 1.3 cup) – When I make quinoa bowls or salads I like to store the warm ingredients (quinoa, chicken, or protein) separately in these small containers. I freeze them for optimal freshness, and they’re great for individual portions to grab throughout the week. These are the ones I got from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3CN6D1v.

Large Salad Container – my very very large salad container that I’ll refill with fresh veggies each morning for my office lunches. I don’t love this container (it’s a bit chunky and clumsy), but it’s the best I could find that could easily hold all the greens I want 😀 Here’s the one I have from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3CN6D1v. It comes with 2 dressing containers that I also fill up every morning.

Pyrex Glass Containers – These round glass containers are my go to for storing leftovers at home. The 4 cup seems to be the perfect size, and I can’t even remember how long I’ve had these for – they’re affordable and a lifelong investment. They’re reasonably priced on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3Vnpf0E. 

“Deli” Containers – These are great for storing pantry items, stocks or soups in your freezer, and are just generally very versatile. They’re relatively heat / temperature proof, which makes them freezer friendly as well. If you are willing to store a large amount of these, they are a LOT cheaper at your local restaurant depot, but you probably don’t need a hundred of these lying around. You can get a marked up multipack on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3ofOmG5. 

Cleaning Supplies (Shiping’s area of expertise):

Scrub Daddy 4-pack rectangular sponges – The BEST sponges. They last so much longer than your traditional sponge, and don’t get super moldy and gross after a week. I typically cut them in half so they’re a bit more maneuverable when cleaning. I get mine from target (they’re typically ~ $5) but if you really want to order them online, you can get the same but overpriced ones on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3oRoBMF 

Method Yuzu Dish Soap – This uses a biodegradable formula, smells so good and does a pretty good job on most things. This is our everyday cleaning soap. You can get it at Target or in bulk on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/40ogBjq. 

Dawn Dish Soap (for extra oily things) – It works wonders – I keep a bottle of this for the really oily things that I’m not using the dishwasher for. I also use this to scrub down and clean my gas stove once a week. You can get this at Target, Amazon, Home Depot, and many other places that carry household cleaning supplies.

Barkeeper’s friend – The Magic powder for stainless steel pans 🙂 Shiping will use this once a month on my all-clad pans to keep them nice and shiny. If you see a brown spot that’s being a bit stubborn, Barkeeper’s is also great for that. Don’t forget to wear gloves when using this! You can get it at Target or on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3A6GqcY. 

Kirkland Dishwashing Pods – We use the Kirkland brand pods from Costco. To be honest, I haven’t tried anything else but these work well in my opinion. 

Biobag Compostable bags – We get these 3 gallon BioBags at Costco (they’re ~$12 for 100) and I keep a 2 Liter Cambro on the counter with a Biobag for our compost. I like the smaller size for everyday cooking, and if I’m cooking a lot, I’ll pull out a big grocery paper bag. They are also on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3V3XB8I.

Windex Cleaning Spray – I find it to be the most effective spray and it works really well for my quartz counters! You can also get this at Target, Amazon, Home Depot, and many other places that carry household cleaning supplies.

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