20 Favorite Kitchen Tools That Make Life Easier

Feeding my family well is a big priority for me (plus one of my favorite hobbies), but as the mom of little kids, I usually don’t have as much time or energy as I’d like. Can you relate?? That’s why I rely on my favorite kitchen tools to help me out!

These tools make my work in the kitchen easier, faster, or just plain more enjoyable, and I wouldn’t want to be without them!

If you could use a little more time and a lot less hassle in the kitchen, give this list of my favorite kitchen tools a look. You might find something you’ve been missing! (And something to add to your birthday/Mother’s Day/Christmas list! 😉 )

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FAVORITE KITCHEN APPLIANCES

KitchenAid Stand Mixer

This versatile tool is a classic for a reason. I use my stand mixer all the time for making dough, whipping egg whites and cream, shredding cooked meat, and more!
Instant Pot

You all know how I feel about my Instant Pot, and if you’re new here and you don’t, trust me I will tell you! I’ve written a number of posts about the Instant Pot, so I won’t repeat myself here. But you can go to this list of my top IP posts to read more about it.
Programmable Slow Cooker

Even though I am a die-hard IP fan, I still love my programmable slow cooker. (Yes, I know the Instant Pot has a slow cooker feature, but it’s actually the one thing about it I don’t really like.) I LOVE the feeling of prepping dinner in the morning and not having to think about it the rest of the day. It truly is a must-have for any busy mom.

Related Post: 15 Favorite Things to Make in My Slow Cooker
Double Oven

I know, this isn’t something that everyone can just run out and buy. But when we replaced our stove/oven a couple of years ago, I opted for a double oven and I absolutely love it. I’m not sure I could go back to a single oven now. It is so handy to be able to make two things requiring different temperatures at the same time.
Bread Machine

I use my bread machine at least once a week. I make (almost) all my bread/rolls/buns from scratch, and a bread machine makes it so much easier. You can absolutely do the entire loaf start to finish in it, but I opt for making the dough in the machine and then shaping and baking it myself.
Food Processor (I have the Ninja Mega Kitchen System)

A food processor is a marvelously handy thing to have around your kitchen. It makes super quick work of chopping, slicing, shredding, and pulverizing. My most frequent uses for it are shredding big batches of cheese and vegetables, slicing vegetables, and grinding up meat for things like ham/beef salad and ham balls.
Immersion Blender

Using an immersion blender is sooooo much handier than pouring food (usually in batches) into a regular blender. You can stick it right in the pot, stir it around, and you’re good to go.

FAVORITE COOKWARE

USA Muffin Pan

I learned about USA Pans from Stacy at humoroushomemaking.com, and now I can’t stop talking about them. They are amazing! They are steel-coated aluminum with a silicone top coating, and they are the non-stickiest non-stick things I’ve ever owned.

I started with the muffin tin because I always hated trying to clean out muffin tins, and I couldn’t believe how easily the muffins just slid right out. Now I’m on a mission to make sure every mom knows about the magic of USA Pan tins.
Cast Iron Skillets

Before marrying Levon, I had never cooked in cast iron. (I’ll never forget the day he walked in on me cleaning one of the skillets with soap. I didn’t know any better!!) Now I don’t think I could ever give them up! They are incredibly durable, extremely versatile, and only get better with age (with the proper care, of course).

FAVORITE GADGETS & ACCESSORIES

Silicone Spatula/Turner

This may seem silly, but one of my favorite tools in my kitchen (and one of Levon’s favorites, as well) is my silicone spatula. It holds up to heat really well, it’s easy on my cast iron, and it cleans like a breeze.
Tongs

Every kitchen needs at least one set of good tongs, and these are my favorite. They hold up well, they’re easy to clean, and the locking mechanism makes them easy to store.
Silicone Baking Mat

These are an absolute must for easy clean-up.
Different-Sized Cookie Scoops

Cookie scoops aren’t just for cookies! I use mine for muffins (the large size = perfect amount for a regular-sized muffin), meatballs, and even pancakes, too. I also use them for filling tacos, burritos, and enchiladas.
Adjustable Measuring Cup

This little guy is soooo nice for measuring thick, sticky, or messy ingredients like peanut butter, honey, molasses, sour cream, and mayonnaise.
Onion Chopper

This chopper makes light work of chopping large amounts of onions, veggies, fruits, hard-boiled eggs, and potatoes.
Food Scale

I’m not a great judge of weights for recipes, so I make pretty regular use of my kitchen scale. And it’s small and inexpensive enough to be well worth the purchase.
OXO Box Grater

I almost always shred my own cheese, and unless I’m shredding a large batch (in which case I use my food processor), I turn to my OXO box grater. It stays put really well, it shreds nicely, and I love the little storage container that came with it for easy measuring.
Kitchen Shears

We use our kitchen shears for a lot of different jobs — everything from cutting meat to trimming vegetables to cutting up our kids’ food!
Mandoline

I LOVE my mandoline, especially in the summer when I have a lot of garden produce. It is especially handy for slicing all those cucumbers for our homemade pickles!
Cookbook Stand

A cookbook stand is great for propping and protecting cookbooks, binders, individual recipes, and even tablets and devices!

SHARE WITH US: What are some of your must-have kitchen tools? Share in the comments below!

NEED MORE HELP?

If you need more than just a handy gadget or two to help you get dinner on the table every night, I have just the thing for you!

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