Okay, today’s post starts with a little exercise. No, I’m not going to ask you to get on the treadmill—after all, where would you hang all those clothes piled on top of it? It’s very simple and you won’t even break a sweat. Ready?
Quick, go to your kitchen. Think of all the great meals you’ve made in there, the happy recipe accidents that ended up even better than the original, the day you finally conquered pie (yay!), and all the smiles on people’s faces after you’ve fed them something they love. Now look around and tell us:
What are some of the things in your kitchen that you consider absolutely essential? Stuff you just can’t live without?
Got it? It can be anything at all: tool, gadget, appliance, food item, or even something as simple as a step stool. (I have tall cabinets and not-too-tall legs. Things are constantly beyond my reach.)
Now here’s a follow up question:
What is the one kitchen item you don’t have but wish you did?
I’ll start us off. I have lots of tools and gadgets I love (like cookie scoops and Mason jars of all sizes) but I have to say I can’t live without my rice cooker. What can I say? I’m a rice girl. Sure, I know how to make rice in a pot. But I’ve been using a rice cooker almost all my adult life and I love the convenience of not having to worry about a pot on the stove and always having warm rice available.
I pretty much just make do with whatever I have, so I had to think hard to figure out what I wish I had. Does a wood-burning pizza oven count?
Betsy loves her Le Creuset Dutch oven, especially this time of year. It’s perfect for soups, braises, everything! She adds, “I’ve never had a high power blender, so I’d love to have one of those someday. I think I’m waiting for my old one to conk out on me.”
Ree chimes in too! “I can’t live without my inexcusably high stack of half-sheet pans/baking sheets. They are worn and scratched and well-loved. I use them for cookies, roasting vegetables, baking biscuits, roasting chicken legs … everything!”
Now we want to hear from you! What’s essential in your kitchen, and what’s at the top of your wish list? Let us know!
189 Comments
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Nancy Jalowitz on 12.21.2013
Last night was green chile burros and green chili rice, and of course refried beans for dinner. Only have a had held mixer, so I would be in heaven for a Kitchen Aid Mixer of any color.
Karlajean Becvar on 12.21.2013
One thing that I CANNOT live without is my Mehu Liisa juicer. I use it for extracting all my juices to make jelly. SO much simpler and easier than squeezing through a bag or crushing the berries! One thing I wish I had was a KitchenAid mixer. Due to a chronic auto immune disorder that I have, it’s getting harder and harder to use my hands to knead or mix dough.
Sandy Manning on 12.21.2013
I wish I had a 6.5 or 7 qt. le creuset dutch oven. I saw one at Costco that was made in France but not LC and it is only $60. I’d love one!
Linda Byrd on 12.16.2013
Love, love my kitchen aid mixer-glass measuring cup, microplane, juicer. Would like a boos board and different sized cookie scoops.
Caitlin on 12.16.2013
I absolutely love my super sharp knife set and frequently wonder what on earth I did before I got my kitchen aid mixer. I also use my food processor constantly!
I would love the ice cream maker attachment (or some other ice cream maker) and an immersion blender and I feel like I should jump on the rice maker bandwagon. For some reason they intimidate me! Why is that?!
Joy on 12.14.2013
I have lots of spoons, wooden, plastic, metal, slotted, but my favorite stirring utensil is my silicone spatula. I’d hate to do without it! On my wish list is a Kitchenaid stand mixer (Especially this time of year when a little hand mixer doesn’t cut it on mixing dense doughs.), in pretty, shiny, bright and beautiful Red!
Mary C. on 12.14.2013
Iron skillets
Pam C on 12.13.2013
Love my KitchenAid mixer and half sheets, I would like more heavy skillets.
Rose Deeds on 12.13.2013
I just got married and am starting a new kitchen. I miss my mom’s Vitamix, Wheat mill, Cream Seperator, her outside grill, her Bosch machine… her huge kitchen… her endless supply of fresh milk, cream, butter, cheese and eggs also the huge pantry filled with canned goods and lots more and so much more. still my KitchenAid comes to my rescue everyday!
Someday I will again reign in a huge kitchen, till then i enjoy this fresh start.
AnnieG on 12.13.2013
It is a toss up between my Wusthof knives and my half sheet pans. I use them both so much I can’t imagine my kitchen without them.
OldTime Mama on 12.13.2013
I guess I would have to say my cast iron skillets could not be lived without. They come from family members as well as my best friend who passed away unexpectedly 8 years ago. Everytime I use it, I feel like she is helping me in the kitchen! As for what I would like, probably some really good knives. Most of mine are at least 25 years old.
Linda S on 12.13.2013
teflon spatulas
ReniLyn on 12.13.2013
Without a doubt I cannot LIVE without my KA Stand Mixer. Its as old as the hills but its a wonderful tool!!! It is an oldie that belonged to a friend and when she was disabled, she passed it to me. I feel that puts extra love into each thing I make!!!
Wish list? Wow-an oven that has a temp control that actually WORKS? Ha! That’ll be the day!!!! That’s my pipe dream and I’m sticking to it!
Reality dictates that I say the one thing that seems to elude me-a pizza/bread baking surface that is bigger than a bread box. Anything of reasonable size seems to cost a fortune and I bake tons and tons of bread for my family! I want to keep what junk i can out of their diets and making things like bread and pizza at home just plain helps
Theresa on 12.13.2013
I can’t live without my knives. I’ve had them for years and they have probably been sharpened way too many times, but they are still my favorite things in the kitchen.
As for what I want most? Probably a Kitchen-Aid mixer. I make so many batches of cookies, bread, and brownies throughout the year and there are days that I really hate diving under the counter to pull out my hand mixer. One of these days. . .
Shawna C on 12.13.2013
I’ve just finished gutting and remodeling my kitchen and am so glad to see old friends return that were packed away for the last 6 months:
My thin, inexpensive paring knife that is so great for coring peppers.
My HUGE (2-litre) glass measuring cup that I use as a mixing bowl.
My non-stick mini-muffin pan with a lid that clips on.
My old, ever-so-slightly-chipped blue pyrex mixing bowl.
My immersion blender that I missed so much when making fall soups.
And now I am seriously coveting:
A Kitchenaid stand mixer with a glass mixing bowl.
A versatile food processor.
A decent garlic press that is easy to squeeze and doesn’t let smooshed garlic come back up the sides. Any recommendations in this department would be greatly appreciated.
A mandolin seems very cool too, but I admit I’m just a little bit scared of them.
Alicia B on 12.13.2013
I love my kitchen aide mixer, I’m pretty sure I would never bake if I didn’t have it. I really want a nice set of cookie scoops.
Loraine CD on 12.13.2013
The most essential item in my kitchen is a good, sharp knife. I have a set of Henckels knives my husband gave me for Christmas 14 years ago. I use them every day and can’t imagine cooking without them. The would love to have a KitchenAid stand mixer, one with a big motor for doing bread doughs (I don’t like kneading).
Kelly D on 12.13.2013
It’s not an essential, but it’s definitely on my wish list – a self-freezing ice cream maker. Oh the creamy goodness……….
Yvette on 12.13.2013
I love my faux Le Creuset french oven. It is on the small side but works for me. I would love to have the Ninja pro blender. I have a baby ninja but it is too small.
Barefootmom on 12.13.2013
I love my Le Creuset Dutch oven, micro plane zesters and graters, and my potato ricer (which is great for squeezing water out of defrosted frozen spinach!). The thing my kitchen is lacking is good quality 1/4 and 1/2 sheet baking pans with wire racks that actually fit properly! And flowers on my KitchenAid mixer…
Grace on 12.13.2013
I use my toaster oven every day- several times a day- to heat things up and to bake things. With less people in the house, it is very handy. I would like a bigger, prettier, more expensive one, (this one I got at the thrift store), but as long as it is still working, I will keep it. Also, what I really would really like is a kitchen island, and a new kitchen to go with it (is that too much to ask for?) Probably!
laurie on 12.12.2013
really good knives .
Q on 12.12.2013
I love my KA stand mixer, my Le Creuset Dutch Oven and all the really old things that I’ve had for 40+ years, but I don’t have biscuit cutters, cookie scoops or an iron skillet. I no longer have a food processor or a blender, but not an iron skillet in the building? That’s Crazy!!!
ozark gram on 12.12.2013
I love to cook and it is great when you have the right tools. I love my cast iron skillets and cast iron dutch oven with enamel coating. I would love to have a braiser and a good blender. My friend has one that will disintegrate cement. Well maybe a slight exaggeration.
Patricia @ ButterYum on 12.12.2013
I too have quite a collection of sheet pans and cookie scoops and jars, but some might think I have an obsession with whisks and wooden utensils – I have way more than any person needs, but I love them and don’t want to part with any of them.
Kelli with an "i" on 12.12.2013
Hands down, my mom’s hand-me-down plastic spoon!
Shelby on 12.12.2013
I love being in my kitchen so I love everything in my well stocked kitchen. What I really need and want is a new tablecloth for my square table. The two I have(70″ square) I think I found at Target. One is a beautiful red fabric with velvet trim. Looking worn- hope I find a new one. I’ve looked many times in many places for 70″ square. Any ideas?
marie on 12.12.2013
Aside from the Kitchen Maid (Super) mixer that I’d love to have (but will ALWAYS be to cheap to buy (or even ask for), I have more of a list of things that I have and continue to buy because I can never have enough.
I love cake pans with lids (NOT no-stick); air-bake cookie sheets (wider than they are long) and cookie sheets with sides; flat-ended spatulas that can be used in no-stick pots ( much better for stirring than spoons); “good” paring knives (not expensive, just good); I have ONE good Large knife but would like more; love the good spatulas that don’t burn when you leave them in a hot pot; love small serving spatulas; like whisks; and measuring spoons and cups – I can’t NOT buy them!!!
Thanks for asking.
Lisa on 12.12.2013
I LOVE my Kitchen Aid mixer. I never want to be without one….they can bury me with it please. I don’t have any Le Crueset dutch ovens and would love to try them out. Especially while this cold weather is freezing our butts!
Marti J on 12.12.2013
I love good spatulas.
And along that line, at Thanksgiving dinner, my friends had a little square bowl scraper. It was so cute… and incredibly useful. I want one. I went shopping for my 76 year old mother today and spotted them, $.99 at Bed, Bath and Beyond. I bought two. My Dad is giving one to her and one to me for Christmas.
At least I hope I get one.
Tricia on 12.12.2013
A meat glove…..I cut the heck out of my thumb with the mandoline…not bright….not to use the guard.
AngAK on 12.12.2013
one more item I can’t do without: a Tupperware mixing bowl for baking that has rubber grips on the bottom that hugs the counter so it stays put when you use a hand mixer or just hand mixing. it’s great.
Nana J on 12.12.2013
I can’t do without my food processor. I use it constantly.
I would love to have a set of high quality knives or a high quality blender that makes soups and ice cream.
Karen on 12.12.2013
I can’t live without my cast iron pans. I want lots of little scoops – I have two and that just isn’t enough.
Beckie on 12.12.2013
My 41 yr old Revere Ware pots. However, my largest has developed a warped bottom and needs to be replaced. What should I chose? I have a flat-top electric range and the pot just wobbles!
Leanne T on 12.12.2013
I can’t live without my knives, they are almost 30 years old, but are good quality Henkels and I love them. They are like my babies, well loved and cared for!
A few items on my Wish List are a Pasta Machine I would love to start making homemade pasta! I could also really use a Kitchen Aid and I would die for one of Ree’s hand painted Kitchen Aid mixers!
Connie on 12.12.2013
I wish I had a few nice essential knives with a magnetic strip for my kitchen. How wonderful it would be!
Marie W on 12.12.2013
A bit of a grandiose thought, a chef to use all the kitchen items on my wish list. I see all these tools/gadgets being used with so much ease, yet, I am still in the 50’s using wedding kitchen gifts. Is that wrong?
annie clark on 12.12.2013
my silcone spatulas and wooden spoons
Lisa on 12.12.2013
Kitchen scissors! They disappear in the house all the time so I have several pair.
Arlyne on 12.12.2013
Where to start???? I love the double ovens, the 5-burner 36″ cook top, the Kitchen Aid stand mixer, all the cookware/gadgets I’ve collected over the years, and the storage my kitchen offers. For small things, I must use my immersion blender almost daily…that item is worth its weight in gold.
PamAnn on 12.12.2013
Good, sharp knives are my favorite. Wish I had a flat wisk like Ree uses. I bought one for my son a couple years ago, but didn’t get one for myself!
nickiblandis on 12.12.2013
I would love to say my wusthof knives…….if I had them! or my LeCreuset dutch oven if I had one! Ha… one day… so for now I will say my old dark and oiled cast iron skillet.
It can go from stove top to oven and you can cook just about anything in it!
ileen in houston on 12.12.2013
I love my good Wustkopf knife — a pair of Teflon edge tongs! and a lettuce knife!! Love the lettuce knife – use it for cutting casseroles, brownies, pizza etc. It’s easy on non-stick surfaces and so many things!
JudyW on 12.12.2013
I love my good sharp chef’s knife, and a T-Fal chicken fryer skillet that I have had for years.
I would love to have an instant read thermometer like the ThermaPen and a LeCreuset oval or round dutch oven.
Kasey on 12.12.2013
My french press. Have to have coffee to get going in the am. I’d really like some nice knives.
hailey H on 12.12.2013
I use a spatula all the time. Make great scrambled eggs. I love sandwiches and would love a panini press.
suanner on 12.12.2013
I am pretty well stocked with kitchen gadgets, but what I use every single day & just love is my collection of cutting boards. I have multiple sizes, shapes, and materials. I especially like the one that goes across the sink so I can just swipe the trimmings off. I don’t really need anything, but have been considering replacing my Cuisinart – got it as a wedding gift over 30 years ago. Still works, but the bowl & blades are not replaceable.
Jan C. on 12.12.2013
I would love, love, love a Kitchenaid Mixer and I’m sure I could talk my DH into buying me one for Christmas, but I would feel guilty since we just had to buy a new car. Maybe next year….
Grace E. on 12.12.2013
Essentials: Le Creuset Dutch oven, chef’s knife, good cutting board, cookie sheets, food processor, good measuring cups (dry and wet) and spoons. Wishes: cookie scoops, pretty salad tongs/fork and spoon