QUICK ANSWER
The essential kitchen tools are measuring spoons, cutting board, a chef’s knife, colander, mixing bowls, measuring cups, wooden stirring spoon, tongs, whisk and a nonstick skillet. The average recipe in our library lists 10 required tools. The 20-tool starter kit below covers the listed required equipment for 65% of 1,676 recipes.
The starter kit: how far each set gets you.
We built the kit one tool at a time, each time adding the tool that covers the most remaining equipment mentions. The percentages count recipes whose listed required equipment is in the kit; optional tools are excluded. They do not verify that a recipe has been cooked or that the list names every tool you will need.
| Kit | Recipes with listed equipment covered | Add these |
|---|---|---|
| 10 tools | 4% | Measuring spoons, Cutting board, Chef’s knife, Colander, Mixing bowls, Measuring cups, Wooden stirring spoon, Tongs, Whisk, Nonstick skillet |
| 15 tools | 20% | Oven mitts, Baking sheet pan, Box grater, Can opener, Medium saucepan |
| 20 tools | 65% | Vegetable peeler, Small saucepan, Spatula, Cast iron or stainless skillet, Aluminum foil |
| 25 tools | 90% | Grill pan, Blender or hand blender, Baking dish, Ladle, Potato masher |
The jump between 15 and 20 tools adds the second saucepan, a spatula, a peeler and a searing pan. Whether you need them depends on the dishes you choose. Printable checklist version — tick what you own, buy the rest in order.
All 38 kitchen tools, ranked by use.
1Measuring spoons
Teaspoon and tablespoon measures for spices, oil, salt and baking powder — the small amounts that make or break a dish.
Used in: Pumpkin Spice Smoothie with Banana & Fresh Ginger, Toast with Goat Cheese, Raspberries & Honey, Greek Yogurt with Honey-Raspberry Swirl & Pistachios
2Chef’s knife
The one knife that does almost everything: chopping onions, slicing meat, mincing herbs. An 8-inch (20 cm) blade suits most hands.
Used in: Pumpkin Spice Smoothie with Banana & Fresh Ginger, Greek Yogurt with Honey-Raspberry Swirl & Pistachios, Peanut Butter, Banana & Honey Tortilla Roll-Ups
3Cutting board
A large, stable board you can chop on without food sliding off. Keep a separate one for raw meat if you can.
Used in: Pumpkin Spice Smoothie with Banana & Fresh Ginger, Greek Yogurt with Honey-Raspberry Swirl & Pistachios, Peanut Butter, Banana & Honey Tortilla Roll-Ups
4Colander
A perforated bowl for draining pasta, rinsing beans and washing vegetables.
Used in: Toast with Goat Cheese, Raspberries & Honey, Greek Yogurt with Honey-Raspberry Swirl & Pistachios, Peanut Butter Toast with Blackberries, Honey & Cinnamon
5Mixing bowls
A nested set for tossing salads, marinating, mixing dressings and holding prepped ingredients.
Used in: Greek Yogurt with Honey-Raspberry Swirl & Pistachios, Soft Scrambled Eggs with Chives & Fresh Ricotta, Carrot Salad with Walnuts, Raisins & Lemon-Poppy Seed Dressing
6Measuring cups
Nested cups for dry ingredients like rice and flour, plus a jug for liquids. US recipes measure by volume.
Used in: Pumpkin Spice Smoothie with Banana & Fresh Ginger, Greek Yogurt with Honey-Raspberry Swirl & Pistachios, Peanut Butter Toast with Blackberries, Honey & Cinnamon
7Wooden stirring spoon
For stirring sauces, sautéing and scraping the bottom of a pan without scratching it.
Used in: Greek Yogurt with Honey-Raspberry Swirl & Pistachios, Carrot Salad with Walnuts, Raisins & Lemon-Poppy Seed Dressing, Apple Slices with Cinnamon-Honey Peanut Butter
8Tongs
Turn chicken, toss pasta and flip vegetables on a sheet pan. Locking, 12-inch tongs keep your hands away from the heat.
Used in: Toast with Goat Cheese, Raspberries & Honey, Peanut Butter Toast with Blackberries, Honey & Cinnamon, Toast with Cream Cheese, Honey-Crushed Raspberries & Pistachios
9Garlic press
Crushes peeled cloves in one squeeze. Optional — a chef’s knife does the same job, slower.
Used in: Pan-Fried Cherry Tomatoes with Basil & Feta over Toast, Avocado White Bean Toast with Cheddar, Scrambled Eggs with Mushrooms & Fried Tomatoes
10Whisk
For eggs, dressings and smooth sauces. A fork works in a pinch for small amounts.
Used in: Soft Scrambled Eggs with Chives & Fresh Ricotta, Carrot Salad with Walnuts, Raisins & Lemon-Poppy Seed Dressing, Almond Butter Greek Yogurt Parfait with Grapes
11Box grater
Shreds cheese, carrots and zucchini; the fine side zests citrus and grates garlic or ginger.
Used in: Pumpkin Spice Smoothie with Banana & Fresh Ginger, Creamy Mango Lassi Protein Shake with Cardamom, Mixed Berry-Lime Smoothie Bowl with Banana & Granola
12Oven mitts
Heat protection for sheet pans, baking dishes and cast iron handles.
Used in: Toast with Goat Cheese, Raspberries & Honey, Peanut Butter Toast with Blackberries, Honey & Cinnamon, Warm Pear, Walnut & Blue Cheese Toasts with Honey
13Citrus juicer
Gets every drop from lemons and limes and catches the seeds. A hand-held squeezer is enough.
Used in: Creamy Mango Lassi Protein Shake with Cardamom, Spicy Cottage Cheese "Nacho" Dip with Tortilla Chips, Carrot Salad with Walnuts, Raisins & Lemon-Poppy Seed Dressing
14Nonstick skillet
The everyday pan for eggs, fish, pancakes and quick stir-fries. A 10–12-inch pan covers most dinners for two to four.
Used in: Soft Scrambled Eggs with Chives & Fresh Ricotta, Almond Butter Greek Yogurt Parfait with Grapes, Sunrise Omelet with Feta & Dill
15Baking sheet pan
A rimmed half-sheet pan for roasting vegetables, sheet-pan dinners and cookies.
Used in: Toast with Goat Cheese, Raspberries & Honey, Peanut Butter Toast with Blackberries, Honey & Cinnamon, Warm Pear, Walnut & Blue Cheese Toasts with Honey
16Can opener
For beans, tomatoes and coconut milk — pantry staples in a third of weeknight recipes.
Used in: Pumpkin Spice Smoothie with Banana & Fresh Ginger, Sugar Snap Peas with Sun-Dried Tomato Hummus, Tex-Mex Black Bean Salad with Tomato, Corn, Bell Pepper & Feta
17Vegetable peeler
Peels potatoes, carrots and cucumbers fast, and shaves cheese or makes vegetable ribbons.
Used in: Creamy Mango Lassi Protein Shake with Cardamom, Apple Avocado Green Smoothie, Golden Carrot Orange Smoothie with Turmeric & Ginger
18Medium saucepan
A 2–3 quart pot with a lid for rice, grains, sauces and boiling vegetables.
Used in: Keto Ricotta Breakfast Porridge, Orange & Dried Cranberry Oatmeal with Pistachios, Cheese Tortellini & Cauliflower with Creamy Spinach Marinara
19Small saucepan
For warming sauces, melting butter and cooking a single portion of grains.
Used in: Chocolate-Strawberry Oatmeal with Sliced Almonds, Maple-Pecan Oatmeal with Fresh Peaches, "Carrot Cake" Oatmeal with Dates & Walnuts
20Spatula
A flat turner for flipping, and a flexible silicone spatula for scraping bowls clean.
Used in: Spicy Cottage Cheese "Nacho" Dip with Tortilla Chips, Soft Scrambled Eggs with Chives & Fresh Ricotta, Peanut Butter Banana Roll-Up with Strawberries
21Cast iron or stainless skillet
For a hard sear on steak, chicken thighs and burgers — heat nonstick pans should not take.
Used in: Classic Steak & Egg Breakfast with Avocado, Tomato and Toast, Bacon & Egg Bowl with Wilted Kale, Bacon, Tomato & Mozzarella Breakfast Pizza
22Aluminum foil
Lines sheet pans for easy cleanup and tents roasted meat while it rests.
Used in: Warm Pear, Walnut & Blue Cheese Toasts with Honey, Tortilla Egg Roll with Prosciutto, Mozzarella & Basil, Scrambled Eggs with Mushrooms & Fried Tomatoes
23Grill pan
Gives indoor char marks on chicken, steak and vegetables. An outdoor grill or a plain skillet also works.
Used in: Persian Breakfast Flatbread with Yogurt, Feta & Fresh Herbs, Grilled Ribeye Steak Salad with Pear, Blue Cheese & Cranberries, Grilled Chicken Salad with Goat Cheese, Fresh Raspberries & Pecans
24Salad spinner
Washes and dries greens so dressing sticks instead of pooling.
Used in: Rotini Caesar Salad with Homemade Garlic Croutons, Vegan Caesar Salad with Kale, Kidney Beans & Herbed Croutons, Spinach & Tomato Frittata with Fresh Mozzarella
25Blender or hand blender
Purees soups, smoothies and sauces. A hand (immersion) blender works right in the pot.
Used in: Pumpkin Spice Smoothie with Banana & Fresh Ginger, Chocolate, Cherry & Date Protein Shake, Date-Sweetened Vanilla Chai Protein Shake
26Toaster
For bread, bagels and breakfast-for-dinner recipes.
Used in: Toast with Goat Cheese, Raspberries & Honey, Peanut Butter Toast with Blackberries, Honey & Cinnamon, Pear & Pecan Ricotta Toast
27Baking dish
A 9×13-inch dish for casseroles, enchiladas and oven-baked pasta.
Used in: Baked Honey Mustard-Miso Salmon with Mixed Veggie & Almond Slaw, Paprika Pork Chops with Yogurt-Dressed Waldorf Salad, Southern-Style Tomato Sandwich with Parmesan & Pine Nut Kale Salad
28Ladle
Serves soups, stews and chili without the spill.
Used in: Tortellini, Chickpea, Spinach & Tomato Soup with Basil, Creamy White Bean "Alfredo" Soup with Bacon, Mushrooms, Kale & Parsley, Cheesy Broccoli-Bacon Soup with Bell Pepper, Cucumber & Arugula Salad
29Potato masher
For mashed potatoes, smashed beans and guacamole.
Used in: Greek Yogurt with Honey-Raspberry Swirl & Pistachios, Toast with Cream Cheese, Honey-Crushed Raspberries & Pistachios, Creamy Avocado-Yogurt Dip with Tortilla Chips
30Large pot
A 6–8 quart stockpot for pasta, soups and batch cooking.
Used in: Cheese Tortellini & Cauliflower with Creamy Spinach Marinara, Gnocchi with Creamy Parmesan Tomato Sauce & Vegetables, Creamy Garlic-Parmesan Tuna Pasta & Peas
31Sauté pan
Straight sides and a lid: braises, one-pan pastas and anything with a lot of sauce.
Used in: Tomato, Mushroom & Kalamata Olive Penne with Parmesan, Pumpkin & Ricotta Pasta Bake with Kale, Parmesan & Chives, Shrimp & Cannellini Bean Stew with Crusty Bread
32Julienne peeler
Cuts carrots and zucchini into thin matchsticks for salads and slaws.
Used in: Creamy Dill Chickpea Salad Sandwich with Strawberries, Pan-Fried Zucchini Egg Nests with Bacon & Tomato, Baked Zucchini Noodles with Mushrooms, Creamy Marinara & Parmesan
33Slotted spoon
Lifts poached eggs, dumplings and vegetables out of liquid.
Used in: Honey Mustard Cobb Salad with Tomato, Avocado, Bacon, Egg & Feta, Bacon, Tomato & Mozzarella Breakfast Pizza, Prosciutto, Strawberry & Goat Cheese Toasts with Arugula Salad
34Skewers
For kebabs on the grill or under the broiler. Soak wooden ones first.
Used in: Grilled Balsamic Steak Skewers with Greek Salad & Tzatziki Sauce, Balsamic Steak-Tomato Skewers with Steamed Cauliflower & Tzatziki, Chili Chicken Skewers with Ranch Cabbage, Apple & Cucumber Slaw
35Parchment paper
Nonstick lining for sheet pans and baking.
Used in: Maple-Cinnamon Roasted Peach & Cashew Yogurt Bowl, Curried Chickpea Salad Flatbread Wrap with Lettuce, Tomato & Dill, Parmesan Roasted Edamame with Lemon & Almonds
36Mandoline slicer
Paper-thin, even slices of potatoes, cucumbers and onions. Always use the guard.
Used in: Grilled Pork Chop with Raw Brussels Sprout, Orange & Avocado Salad, Chicken Pot Pie with Parmesan Potato Crust, Saucy Grilled Ham & Cheese "Croque Madame" with Pickled Veggies
37Fine-mesh strainer
Rinses quinoa and rice, and strains sauces smooth.
Used in: Ham, Broccoli, Red Onion & Cottage Cheese Frittata, Spinach Salad with Veggie Sausage, Lentils & Lemon-Dijon Dressing, Lemon-Curry Lentil Salad with Crunchy Cauliflower, Cucumber & Arugula
38Muffin pan
For muffins and make-ahead egg cups.
Used in: Greek Egg Muffins with Feta, Artichokes, Sun-Dried Tomatoes & Dill, Baked Spinach & Prosciutto Egg Cups, Tomato, Basil & Feta Breakfast Egg Muffins
Kitchen tools by category.
| Category | Tools |
|---|---|
| Prep | Chef’s knife, Cutting board, Colander, Box grater, Vegetable peeler, Salad spinner, Fine-mesh strainer |
| Measuring & mixing | Measuring spoons, Mixing bowls, Measuring cups |
| Utensils | Wooden stirring spoon, Tongs, Whisk, Oven mitts, Spatula, Ladle, Potato masher, Slotted spoon |
| Gadgets | Garlic press, Citrus juicer, Can opener, Blender or hand blender, Toaster, Julienne peeler, Skewers, Mandoline slicer |
| Cookware | Nonstick skillet, Medium saucepan, Small saucepan, Cast iron or stainless skillet, Grill pan, Large pot, Sauté pan |
| Bakeware & oven | Baking sheet pan, Aluminum foil, Baking dish, Parchment paper, Muffin pan |
Common questions.
What are the 10 essential kitchen tools?
The ten most-used across 1,676 recipes: Measuring spoons, Chef’s knife, Cutting board, Colander, Mixing bowls, Measuring cups, Wooden stirring spoon, Tongs, Garlic press, Whisk.
What kitchen tools do I need for a first apartment?
The 20-tool starter kit above: Measuring spoons, Cutting board, Chef’s knife, Colander, Mixing bowls, Measuring cups, Wooden stirring spoon, Tongs, Whisk, Nonstick skillet, Oven mitts, Baking sheet pan, Box grater, Can opener, Medium saucepan, Vegetable peeler, Small saucepan, Spatula, Cast iron or stainless skillet, Aluminum foil. It covers the listed required equipment for 65% of our recipes. Buy specialist gadgets only when a recipe you actually cook asks for one.
What is the most used kitchen tool?
Measuring spoons and the chef’s knife — each appears in about 99% of our recipes, with the cutting board right behind.
Do I need a garlic press?
It shows up in 48% of recipes, but it is almost always optional: a chef’s knife minces garlic fine.
Which pans should I buy first?
A 10–12-inch nonstick skillet and a 2–3 quart saucepan with a lid. Add a cast iron or stainless skillet for searing, and a large pot for pasta and soup.
Cook with what you own.
MealPot plans a week of dinners and writes one grocery list for them — every recipe lists its tools first.