Over the years, we’ve surfaced hundreds of kitchen essentials — the tools, cookware, appliances, organizers, cleaning supplies, gadgets, textiles, and tableware that countless experts and our own (discerning, always-testing) staff really get behind. Here, we’ve curated those picks into a neat inventory of items that make up the ultimate kitchen, whether you’re a veteran home cook who has been using the same Vitamix blender for ages or someone moving into their first apartment.
To decide which products made the cut, we started with the fundamentals and then sprinkled in the things that make cooking (and eating) fun — all while balancing practicality with style and the splurge-worthy with the affordable. So whether you’re hunting for the very best basics (like a workhorse sheet pan that will last a decade), upgrading what you already own (like the small-but-mighty kitchen scissors Ruth Reichl swears by), or browsing for some more niche but no less useful items (like stackable condiment bowls for decanting soy sauce and grainy mustard), we’ve got you covered.
Below, you’ll find plenty of classics that live up to their reputation: a Staub Dutch oven, an All-Clad stainless-steel saucepan, and Pyrex liquid measuring cups, to name a few. There are also more unexpected picks, like a handy tool for stripping greens a salad-obsessed cookbook author told us about, the durable and timeless plates our kitchen and dining writer unearthed after surveying over 50 people, the inexpensive vegetable peeler used at the French Laundry, and even painters’ tape and Sharpies — because every cook worth their salt loves a label. Buy everything on this page and you’ll have the best-stocked kitchen outside of Eleven Madison Park — or scroll through and pick up the pieces you may be missing or never knew you needed.
The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.