Imagine this: It’s the end of a busy day and the clock is ticking- it’s getting close to dinner time.  Instead of thinking, “ugh I really don’t want to cook,” you’re feeling prepared and at ease.  You not only have a plan and the ingredients you need– you also have tools that help with getting the job done easily!

In this post I’m sharing some of my tried and true favorite tools that let me rest assured that making dinner will not be a pain.  My hope is that if you’re dreading dinner prep you might find something here that lightens the load.  I’m not paid to make these recommendations- they’re just truly my faves!  Let’s dive in!

Cutting board:

One tool I use nearly every time I cook is a cutting board made of wood which we received as a wedding gift.  You might be wondering what could make one cutting board better than another- for me, it’s the right size so I can chop something larger like a head of cabbage and there’s enough space to hold what I’ve just cut, but it’s also easy to rinse it under the faucet at the sink.  We’ve had this for more than 10 years and with regular use and some occasional cooking oil applied to condition the wood, it’s good as new.

Veggie peeler, bowls and compost bin:

I couldn’t find a link for the exact Kitchen Aid brand vegetable peeler I love using, but this is comparable. Here’s why it works for me: It has a handle that I find easier and more comfortable to hold while peeling veggies compared to other options and it’s versatile enough to handle soft peels like sweet potato or cucumber as well as harder-to-peel veggies like butternut squash.

While I’m working on veggies I also like to have a bowl or compost bin within arm’s reach so I can toss the peels and clear my cutting board without having to step away from my prep space.  I love using simple metal bowls like these or this compost bin.

Garlic grinder and mini spatulas:

I cook with garlic really frequently but find it annoying to slice and mince it.  I tried so many versions of garlic presses and other devices but this twister / grinder has been my fave for many years now.  By twisting the two sides of the grinder in opposite directions, the plastic blades inside mince garlic into small bits with minimal effort. 

Another beloved kitchen tool comes in handy after the garlic is in small pieces- check out these mini spatulas, which are also great for scraping the last bits of peanut butter or sauce out of jars or making sure you transfer every last bit of something from a bowl into a pan or onto a dish. Plus they’re just so cute!

Sheet Pan:

I’m sharing this sheet pan because the quality is top notch and the price is surprisingly low.  If you’re due to replace your sheet pan, consider this Nordic Ware option.  And if your pan just needs some heavy duty cleaning, I recommend Bar Keeper’s Friend which works great on aluminum as well as stainless steel, bronze and glass (just be sure to get familiar with which surfaces to avoid using it on, including marble or granite).

Crock Pot:

The only issues I’ve had with my Crock Pot are due to user error.  Here’s an example: a few weeks ago I felt so proud because I was short on time but I’d managed to put together a Crock Pot full of delicious ingredients I had on hand (chicken thighs, onion, garlic, ginger, tomato paste, yogurt, turmeric, cumin, paprika, cinnamon, cayenne) and dinner was prepared before I had to hurry away from home for a meeting. 

I scooped the contents of the Crock Pot into a reusable ziploc-style bag (notably absent from my list of recommended kitchen items) and accidentally rested the bag on the side of the still-warm Crock Pot.  As I lifted the bag, I quickly learned that the bottom of it had melted and glued itself to the porcelain pot and before I knew it I’d torn the bag open and spilled its contents all over the counter, cabinets and floor.  

The good news- although I lost the delicious sauce, I was able to salvage the chicken and I cleaned up the massive mess in time to get to the meeting.  

All of this is to say, I’ve used this basic Crock Pot (literally one dial for selecting “Low,” “High,” “Warm,” or “Off,”) for more than 10 years and the food has always turned out great.  

So there you have it!  The top 10 tools that make my life easier in the kitchen.  What’s a kitchen tool you love that would be on your list?