To say that I have a lot of kitchen tools is an understatement. I love to cook and I always love to try the newest gadgets for the kitchen! Over time though, I find myself going back to my tried and true favorites. If you’re looking for stocking stuffers for the cook in your life, here’s a list of my favorites. Each of these are tools that I use in my own kitchen on a regular basis and love! I’ve included links to each of these products to make your holiday shopping a cinch!
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1: OXO Pineapple Corer I love to make salsas for tacos, etc with fresh pineapple, and my kids love to eat fresh pineapple for a snack, so I find myself using this tool much more often than I ever thought I would! It cores and slices at the same time, so all I have to do is cut the top off the pineapple, use this tool, and we are eating fresh pineapple seconds later. I also love that you get juice left in the bottom of the pineapple, which my boys fight over getting to drink!
2: OXO Good Grips 11 Inch Better Balloon Whisk I have an embarrassing number of whisks of every type. This is the one I use by far the most. The balloon whisk is sturdy and any time this one is clean, it’s the one I reach for. I should just order myself another one to replace the others I never use. Ha!
3: Mini Whisk I use my mini whisks every day when I’m making my fancy coffee. I add the syrup to my cup, the shot(s) of espresso, and whisk as I pour in the milk (there’s no fancy latte art going on here, so the milk just goes straight in the cup). I also use these alot when I’m mixing small amounts – like cornstarch into water, etc.
4: Lemon Squeezer So I know the TV chefs can squeeze a lemon and filter the seeds out with their bare hands, but, alas, I am not a TV Chef and I do not have those skills. So my Lemon Squeezer is a well loved tool in my kitchen. I use it for everything I squeeze a lemon for – tea, salad dressings, marinades, etc.
5: Kiwi peeler and cutter My kids love kiwis and I hate cutting kiwis! This tool, while I realize has one purpose, is seriously a lifesaver if kiwis are a regular thing in your house. It peels and cuts the kiwi all in one step, which makes serving kiwis a breeze!
6 & 7: Microplane and Microplane Glove I grouped these together because if you have a Microplane, you need the glove! I use my microplane all the time, for zesting oranges, lemons, and limes, grating cheese, ginger, and garlic. The glove has saved my fingers many times. I even use it any time I’m using a box grater!
8: Spice Jars I use these spice jars all. the. time. One of my keys to simplifying meal prep is to pre-mix spice mixes that I use alot. For example, I always have the spices pre-mixed in these containers for taco meat, spaghetti sauce, pork tenderloin seasoning, etc.
9: Cookie Dough Scoop I use my 1 Tbsp cookie dough scoop every time I make cookies. It just makes forming the cookies so much faster!
10: Jar Grips I find that these really do help with those tough-to-open jars! I also use this a lot to get lids off of my kid’s paint containers because those get stuck when the paint dries.
11: Measuring Cups I have multiple sets of measuring cups, from the cheapest of the cheap to ultra pricey. But these are the measuring cups I reach for the most. I love the “off” sizing like 2/3 and 3/4 cup. I also love the pouring spouts. They work so well when measuring liquids! They stack neatly in my drawer too. I actually bought mine as a set – see the Measuring Spoon link below.
12. OXO Thermometer Again, probably no surprise, but I’ve had several brands of thermometers in the past, some on the high end of the thermometer price ranges. This little thermometer is easy to store, gives a quick reading, and I don’t honestly notice a difference between it and the pricey ones. For any home cook, this one is perfectly good!
13. Measuring Spoons This might be weird, but I am super picky about measuring spoons. I like the stainless steel look, but they have to fit into my spice jars, which means the end cannot be round! The shape of these is perfect for spice jars! The 1 Tbsp doesn’t fit into some of my spice jars, so I just pour for those. The others do all fit though (at least any spice jar I’ve tried).