What is a carpenter without his hammer? Or a doctor without his stethoscope? A cook without his utensils? Without our tools, we simply can’t do the things we’re supposed to do. In the kitchen, tools help us create fantastic and extraordinary dishes that we simply can’t make with our bare hands.

There are hundreds of kitchen tools available and buying each one would be impractical. So let’s talk about the essential tools every home cook should have. Whether you’re a serious home cook or someone who just cooks every once in a while, these tools should be the top priority on your shopping list.

We’re also adding information on the history of kitchen equipment and how it developed over time. Moreover, we also have a few kitchen gadgets that can significantly help to make various cooking processes more accessible and improve your kitchen aesthetic.

A Brief History of Kitchen Equipment

Since the advent of cooking food thousands of years ago, tools have been essential in helping our ancestors cook and handle their food more effectively. As cooking techniques developed from wooden sticks to skewer meat to various cooking chambers like cauldrons and cooking pots, equipment played an integral role in the evolution of food.

Food was prepared over an open fire for thousands of years. Before the discovery of fire, early humans only ate seeds, fruits, and other plant-based food since these hominids couldn’t eat particular food due to their indigestibility and toxins. Through fire, they could mitigate the effects of particular toxins and improve their digestibility which led early humans to successfully eat more types of food to sustain their nutritional needs.

Cooking food allowed them to eliminate parasites, especially in meat. Skewering meat and plants and then exposing them to fire exemplifies tool use by these early humans and revolutionized how they understood food. Also, with the help of sharp rocks, they could slice meats and plants for consumption.

In medieval Europe, a fireplace situated on the ground inside their homes also doubled as a cooking area by exposing food to an open flame. Only the richest people could afford a separate room for cooking and were equipped with multiple fire pits and even ovens.

In those times, when people were invited to homes, hosts weren’t obligated to provide cutlery to their guests, so they usually brought their own. Moreover, the knives that the guests used are also the knives used for fighting. It was not until the 17th century that King Louis XIV banned the use of sharp-tipped knives for eating, which later became the standard of western cutlery.

Cooking standards and practices were substantially altered in the 18th century when coal ovens and cauldrons hung from steel beams and steel tripods for cooking in terracotta pots. Once again, only the wealthiest families had spits and grills in their homes. However, kitchen tools and equipment slowly developed as more and more discoveries and inventions were made.

Fast forward to today, and the advancement of kitchen equipment is at its peak. From the use of egg slicers and salad cutters to emulsifiers and centrifuge machines for molecular gastronomy. Indeed, kitchen tools have paved the way for food and cooking methods to evolve continuously.

Kitchen Tools by the Numbers

• The U.S. is a significant market for cooking appliances, with annual revenues of above five billion U.S. dollars.
• The Covid-19 pandemic has created a demand in the household appliances market. With people spending more time at home due to contact restrictions, lockdowns, and work from home—consumers invested more money into their homes.

In the global cookers & ovens market, this trend increased revenue by 10% globally in 2020 compared to 2019

• In a 2020 survey by Statista, 55.6% of U.S. consumers would most likely purchase cooking utensils if they were to buy kitchen tools/gadgets in the next 12 months.
• In 2021, kitchen gadgets in the United States were forecast to have a total retail sales value of 17.6 billion U.S. dollars. The retail sales value of kitchen gadgets is expected to increase over the upcoming years and reach over 19 billion U.S. dollars by 2024.
• A 2020 survey by Statista revealed that 51.9% of U.S. consumers said that product quality and performance are the most crucial factors when purchasing kitchen tools or gadgets.

Must-Try Kitchen Tools: 10 Useful Tools to Have in Your Kitchen this Year

There are several kitchen tools that every home cook must have, like the chef’s knife and a few essential pots and pans. However, there are also cool and clever gadgets available in the market right now that can help you with various kitchen tasks. While these tools aren’t usually a necessity in the kitchen, they help in making some kitchen tasks a little easier and fun.

1. OXO Good Grips 3-in-1 Avocado Slicer - With how popular avocados are getting, you’ll surely want to use this 3-in-1 avocado slicer for quicker peeling, slicing, and pitting avocados without having to worry about potential injuries.
2. Microplane Gourmet Fine Grater - This fine grater can turn your garlic, nuts, cheeses, and other ingredients into a paste or powder—not to mention that it has an aesthetically sleek look that’s an absolute head turner.
3. KitchenCraft Italian Stainless Steel Spaghetti Measurer - Just can’t get those spaghetti portions right? This kitchen tool helps you portion your spaghetti according to how many people are eating with its numbered holes. Never get left-over spaghetti again with this kitchen hack.
4. Veritable Arctic White Classic 4-Slot Indoor Garden - While not exactly a kitchen tool per se, this indoor garden can hold and grow fresh herbs from the comfort of your kitchen. Your dish would surely improve in taste and aroma when using fresh herbs.
5. KitchenCraft Herb Scissors - Why not pair that indoor garden with this herb cutter? Cut fresh herbs with incredible precision so those fragrant herb extracts won’t leak out and stick to your chopping board.
6. Chef Remi New Jar Opener - Even the strongest people need some help every once in a while; this jar opener serves just that. This jar opener is also great for kids who need to open jars themselves, like pickles and cookies.
7. Marcato Atlas 150 Pasta Machine - If you’re a pasta lover, why not make fresh pasta at home? This pasta machine helps you process dough into pasta easily and in any setting.
8. 7 Piece Ash Self Sharpening Knife Block - Knives get dull over time, so why not buy this self-sharpening knife block from Zwilling? With this fantastic purchase, you won’t have to worry about sharpening your knives as much.
9. Braun Multiquick 9 - Not sure what kind of food processor to get? The Braun Multiquick has your back with this set of food processors you can use for blending, mixing, pureeing, and slicing any kind of food you want, from vegetables to bread.
10. MEATER Original 10m True Wireless Smart Meat Thermometer - If you don’t have a kitchen thermometer, now might be a good time to have one. This smart thermometer analyzes cooking times on your food based on the temperatures it's reading—just connect it to your phone through Bluetooth, and you’re all set.

It's also a fantastic tool for newbie home cooks since it also features recipes and steps to make your cooking more enjoyable and streamlined.

1. Chef’s Knife

The chef’s knife is every home cook’s best friend. You can do anything from slicing, fileting, peeling, and scoring to virtually anything that needs cutting. Your chef’s knife should carry some weight to it for easier control, and it must always have a proper handle.

Always remember to keep your chef’s knife safely stored in an area where children or pets can’t reach it, and its sharp edges should not be exposed, so consider buying a knife holder. Don’t forget to sharpen them every once in a while since a dull knife is unpredictable and dangerous.

2. Chopping Board

Your chopping board provides a flat area for preparing food and protects your kitchen counter from stains and cuts. You can use it when slicing, kneading dough, or flattening meat. Chopping boards can be wood, plastic, or even glass and should be thoroughly and immediately cleaned after every use, so bacteria don’t have time to breed.

In a 2020 study about the impact of modernization level and hygiene practices on the microbial safety of wooden chopping boards used in wet markets, it was discovered that uncleaned chopping boards contained a substantial amount of foodborne and non-foodborne pathogens. S. aureus, E. coli, K. pneumoniae, E. cloacae, were among the pathogens identified which are known to cause food poisoning and stomach problems.

If you use your chopping board and feel it’s constantly slipping, consider putting a damp paper towel beneath it, so it sticks to the countertop, potentially preventing accidents or spilling ingredients all over the floor.

3. Frying Pan

Aside from your chef’s knife, another home cook’s best friend is the frying pan or skillet, which you can use for sauteing, pan-frying, and stir-frying. Frying pans can either be stainless steel, copper, or cast iron. If you like to use your oven to finish meals, consider buying a frying pan with no plastic handles so you can easily slip them into the oven without the need for baking trays.

Frying pans are also quite versatile since, aside from cooking, you can also use them to crush or flatten any ingredient if you don’t have something heavy enough. If you’re using non-stick pans, make sure you don’t use metal or steel stirring tools so you won’t scrape the Teflon coating of the pan, which can be toxic when ingested as it mixes with your food.

4. Cooking Pot

The depth of this cooking chamber makes it ideal for cooking anything involving large volumes of liquids, so cooking pots are great for stews, soups, broth, and deep frying. Since cooking pots have varying sizes, consider buying something that initially fits food according to your family size. For example, using huge cooking pots for cooking meals good for two people can be very difficult.

5. Spatula

Spatulas can either be plastic, steel, or rubberized, allowing you to safely flip, spread, and lift food from any hot surface. Spatulas can get hot and even melt, especially plastic and rubber ones, so make sure that when you’re done using them, don’t leave them in the pan you’re using. Instead, set them aside where they can’t fall or touch surfaces ready to be used again when needed.

6. Wooden Spoon

Wooden spoons are great for stirring sauces, soups, and stews since they don’t conduct heat as opposed to metal spoons. Wooden spoons should also be thoroughly cleaned, as they can retain moisture and possibly become a breeding ground for mold and bacteria. Drying them after washing can also maintain their longevity.

You can also use wooden spoons to momentarily prevent hot liquids from boiling over on cooking pots. When you place a wooden spoon horizontally on the mouth of the pot, since wood absorbs water and punctures the surface area of the bubbles, it prevents the water from spilling over (usually long enough for you to finish up whatever other task you may be doing).

7. Mortar and Pestle

Mortars and pestles are great when you need to pulverize or mix certain ingredients like garlic, herbs, spices, and chilis. As you grind the ingredients, their cells are broken apart and release aromatic compounds, which contribute to a more complex flavor for your dish. Use a mortar and pestle when you want to make spice mixes or pastes.

8. Oven Mitts

Contrary to its name, oven mitts aren’t just used when you’re using the oven. You can use oven mitts to lift hot objects such as pot covers or handles. Oven mitts protect your hands and fingers from getting burnt while still providing some control when handling hot surfaces since it practically conforms to the shape of your hands.

9. Hand Towel

A hand towel has a seemingly infinite amount of uses—you can use it to wipe off kitchen surfaces, wet hands, and even sweat. Just make sure you use different hand towels to wipe kitchen surfaces and your body to avoid cross-contamination. A 2013 study on food safety in the home kitchen found that dishcloths, sponges, and towels can harbor bacteria such as Salmonella or E. coli which are known causative agents of food poisoning.

Hand towels can even be used as a substitute for an extra oven mitt when handling hot surfaces. Just make sure that they’re thick enough to protect you and it’s not a hand towel that you use when cleaning kitchen surfaces.

JP Note: Included a study on cross-contamination and added a few words in the 2nd paragraph. (in blue)

10. Apron

An apron protects your body from stains, hot liquids, and other debris that might get into your clothing. Some aprons even have a pocket for tasting spoons, so you won’t need to worry about putting them in unhygienic areas like the counter or the sink. When purchasing an apron, ensure it’s the right size for you so you can still move comfortably.

Essential kitchen tools mixing bowls

One of the most essential kitchen tools is a good set of mixing bowls. A good set of bowls should be large enough to mix a batch of cookies or cake, but also small enough to mix a single serving. They should also be made from a material that can be easily cleaned, such as glass or stainless steel.

One great option is this set of six mixing bowls from Pyrex. The bowls come in different sizes, so you can find the perfect one for your needs. And they're made from durable glass, so they can be washed in the dishwasher or hand-washed without any problems.

Classic Dutch oven

A Dutch oven is a classic way to cook up a meal. It's a heavy pot with a tight-fitting lid that can go from the stovetop to the oven. This type of pot is great for making stews, braised meats, and other one-pot dishes.

The key to using a Dutch oven is to get it hot before adding any ingredients. This will help ensure that your food doesn't stick and that it cooks evenly. You can do this by heating the pot on the stovetop over medium heat for a few minutes before adding oil or butter. Then add your ingredients and let them cook until they're nice and browned.

Conclusion

Kitchen tools help home cooks in multiple ways. They are the things that make it possible for us to create amazingly delicious meals in the comfort of our own homes. That’s why it’s incredibly important that our kitchen is equipped with these tools so we’re always ready when you or our families need a hot meal. Not only that but having multiple tools in the kitchen makes it possible to cook more and more recipes that are otherwise impossible when we lack the tools necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the kitchen tools

Every kitchen is different, but there are a few staple tools that every cook needs in order to create delicious meals. Here are the kitchen tools that every home cook should have:

A good chef’s knife is the most important tool in any kitchen. A sharp, durable knife will make food prep easier and more fun. Look for a knife with a comfortable grip and a blade that’s broad enough to handle large tasks like slicing meat or chopping vegetables.

A cutting board is another must-have for any home cook. A sturdy cutting board will protect your countertops and make meal prep safer. Choose a board that’s easy to clean and big enough to accommodate all your ingredients.

What is the most useful tool in the kitchen utensils

The most useful tool in the kitchen is a good knife. With a sharp knife, you can chop vegetables, slice meat, and mince herbs with ease. A dull knife will make your cooking tasks much more difficult and frustrating.

That said, there are other important kitchen tools that you should have on hand. A set of measuring spoons and cups is essential for accurate recipe measurements, as is a timer to help you keep track of cooking times. You'll also need a sturdy skillet for sautéing and frying, plus pots and pans in different sizes for boiling water or making sauces. And don't forget about an oven mitts and a dish towel to protect your hands from heat and moisture!

What gadgets are useful in the kitchen utensils

There are a lot of gadgets that can be helpful in the kitchen. A few of my favorites include:

-A good knife set. A quality knife can make all the difference in the world when it comes to cooking.

-A garlic press. This is definitely a handy tool if you like to cook with garlic.

-A food processor. This is great for chopping up vegetables or making doughs.

-An immersion blender. This is really handy for blending soups and sauces right in the pot.

What are the 3 types of kitchen equipment

1. Cooking equipment - this includes anything used to cook food, such as ovens, stoves, pans and pots.

2. Food preparation equipment - this includes anything used to prepare food, such as slicers, dicers, mixers and blenders.

3. Storage equipment - this includes anything used to store food or kitchen supplies, such as cabinets, shelves and fridge/freezer units.

How do you declutter a kitchen tools

There's no one answer to this question since everyone's kitchen is different, but there are some general tips that can help you get started. The first step is always to declutter your counters and surfaces. Wipe down counters, sweep or vacuum the floor, and get rid of any items that you don't use regularly or that are just taking up space. Once you have decluttered your surfaces, move on to decluttering your cabinets and pantry. Again, getting rid of things you don't use regularly or that are just taking up space will help immensely. After your cabinets and pantry are decluttered, move on to the fridge. Donate expired food, unopened food that you know you won't eat,

What do I need for a starter kitchen

A starter kitchen is a great way to get into the most basic tools for cooking. In order to start one, you'll need a few essentials like pots and pans, utensils, food storage, serving dishes,plates, glass mixing bowls, ice cube trays, bread knife, salad spinner dish racks, baking sheet, cups, and silverware. You might also want to invest in a good set of knives and an oven mitt or two.

How do you stock a kitchen from scratch

When stocking a kitchen from scratch, the best place to start is with the basics. Usually, this means pots and pans, plates and silverware, glasses and cups, cooking utensils, and some key spices. From there, you can build out your pantry with non-perishable staples like canned goods, dry pasta, rice, and beans. And don't forget the fridge: milk, eggs, butter, and cheese are all essential ingredients for lots of different dishes.

Of course, every kitchen is different and what you'll need will depend on how you like to cook. If you're a baker, you'll want to make sure you have plenty of flour, sugar ,and baking soda on hand.

What are the tools or utensils used in food processing

1. Blenders and food processors are used to chop, puree or emulsify ingredients.

2. Graters and mandolines are used to slice or shred foods.

3. Knives, both large and small, are indispensable for cutting everything from meat to vegetables to cheese.

4. Spatulas, wooden spoons and other stirring implements are used for mixing ingredients together.

5. Bowls of all sizes are needed for everything from holding chopped ingredients to mixing batter to serving finished dishes.