Do you have the tools you need to make all the dishes you love? Having the right kitchen tools is just as important than the right ingredients. Below are my top kitchen tools is live by plus a few extras for getting fancy.

• Non-Stick Pots and Pan

  • So if you are like me and need a full proof pan for cooking and cleaning, non-stick is the way to go. No matter how high I have the heat turned to it never sticks and allows for easy clean up. There is nothing worst than making a sauce or starch of some sort and it starts to stick on the bottom. Before you can change the pot the whole dish has a scorched taste. I am speaking from experience, get the Cravings by Chrissy Teigen 12pc Aluminum Cookware Set and cook on Medium heat. You can’t cook everything on high lol.

• Silicone Utensils

  • Utensils are the all mighty in the kitchen but to put the icing on the cake is investing in silicone utensils to make most out of your cooking experience. So this is the analogy I will give you because I have a bias opinion but I think you will agree with me. When you go to Walmart they have what you need but you get in and get out. When you go to Target they also have what you need but the smoothness of their carts make the experience of shopping much more appealing than scraping the floor with a Walmart cart. (Just saying, I said what I said!) So what this means is when you have a beautiful non-stick coated pan and are scraping it with your metal spoon you ruins your pan and you don’t get the satisfying feeling of gliding your utensil across the bottom of your pan, swiping it clean.

• Mixing Bowls

  • Stop using your cereal bowl for seasoning your chicken. A set of mixing bowls are great for tossing all your fresh ingredients together to fully coat or incorporate them. I like to also use them as a trash bowl when I am prepping my vegetables, putting all my vegetable tops and peels in one place before trashing or composting them. (Help save the planet y’all!)

• Scale, Measure Cups and Spoons

• Thermometer

• Baking Trays and Racks

  • This is probably one of my top three tools in the kitchen. A non-stick coated pan is great for baking all your meals, cutting out the excess oil used in a sauté pan. Also the rack allows for 360 cooking, giving great caramelization to the entire protein. Sheet pans are great for bulk and time efficient cooking. My favorite night is when I can just season my food, put it the oven, and voila!

• Cutting Board and Knifes

  • This is an investment piece. Having a nice utility Chef Knife is imperative to your prep and your ability to breeze though your mise en place. (Check Out the Mise en place Blog to learn more about what it means.) Color coded cutting boards are necessary for all home cooks to keep you and your family safe. This allows you the opportunity to have a separate place to cut chicken and vegetables separately. A common mistake that is made is using a beautiful wood cutting board for all your prep but when cut into a board it leaves small cuts into the surface of the board. When meats are being cut on the board the juices are being soaked into the cuts, creating bacteria growth that can be hard to washed away.

• Appliances

  • This is for the busy multitasker, appliances like Instapot, Crockpot, and Robocop allows you to create a beautiful meal with minimum effort. I will be honest I have all of these but my trusty knife, cutting board , and non-stick pans have never failed me. I am a little old school in that sense but if you know how this is the way to go.

  • Small appliances such as garlic slicers, peelers, microplanes, and brushes are always handy to have. Making your task in the kitchen easier and more enjoyable.