This list contains what I consider kitchen essentials – beyond your hands, knives, pot and pans. When preparing meals, consider items that might make your cooking life easier. You might not want or need all of them. These are amazon affiliate links and I earn money from sales, but they are products I recommend.
Citrus Squeezer
An enameled metal device into which you put a half lime, lemon or orange with the cut side down. It has rounded cup with holes in the bottom, two handles and when you pull the one down over the other, it squeezes out the juice. I can use my lemon type for limes, lemons, small oranges and even pieces of grapefruit.
OXO Good Grips Citrus Squeezer
Metal Lemon Lime Squeezer
Orange Squeezer
Fine Mesh Strainer
Necessary for rinsing quinoa. And since quinoa is my favorite whole grain, I’ve got to have one. Get one that’s about 6 inches across.
Cuisinart Set of 3 Fine Mesh Stainless Steel Strainers
 8-Inch Double Fine Mesh Strainer, if you just want one
Garlic Roller
A simple rubber like tube into which you insert a clove of garlic and then roll. This action removes the outer peel of the clove. It works best for older garlic, as the peel on more freshly harvested garlic does not like to release its paper skin. You can always use the blade of your chef’s knife and give the garlic a good whack.
Garlic Twist
instead of a garlic press, this tool works better. It can also be used for ginger, garlic and hot peppers. See me in action with at YouTube. I sell it on my Website or you can buy it on Amazon
Hand, Stick, or Immersion Blender
It is invaluable for blending soups. It is far safer and easier than using a blender or food processor, as you avoid transferring hot liquid. Put the immersion blender right into the hot pot. Just remember not to lift it out when it’s going, or you and kitchen will get splattered with hot liquid. If you get this one, it eliminates the need for a small food processor.
Cuisinart Smart Stick 2 Speed Hand Blender
Heat Resistant Spatula or Spoonula
Have at least one or two of these around as they do not scratch your nonstick cookware and can be in heat up to 500 degrees F. without melting. In fact, why not get rid of the spatulas that can melt?
Cook’s Corner Spoonula Spatula
Kitchen Scissors
Use for chopping herbs, cutting pieces of sea vegetables, pizza, long pasta and more. Reserve them only for kitchen use; buy another pair for your plants.
KitchenAid Shears with Soft Grip Handles
Food Processor
Comes with a steel blade, slicing disk and grating disk. Get one that holds at least 7 cups. If I could have two food processors on hand, I’d get a 2-cup to 4-cup and an 11-cup, or larger, model. A processor can save you lots of time in the kitchen. Put it on the countertop so that you will use it all the time. Be careful when storing and using the blades. They are extremely sharp. Small food processor is great for chopping small amounts of garlic and onions, and for making salad dressings, a 2- or 3-cup model is perfect.
Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor
Cuisinart Mini Prep Plus Food Processor
Microplaneâ„¢ Grater
This is the kitchen version of the tool found in a wood working shop. It’s a sharp, multi – purpose tool that works well for grating ginger, garlic, citrus zest and chocolate among other food items. This is one but there are many others. Microplane
OXOâ„¢ Look-into Measuring Cup
I don’t know who thought up this ingenious idea. It comes in sizes from one-quarter of a cup to four cups. Using this eliminates bending over to see if you have the correct liquid measurement. You just look down into the plastic cup and can see the measurement gradations.
OXO Good Grips 3-Piece Angled Measuring Cup Set
Salad Spinner
I consider essential for getting your washed greens dry for salad
Spice (coffee) Grinder
Get one that you dedicate only for spices, herbs, nuts and seeds so your spices don’t taste like coffee, or vice versa. The flavor of freshly ground, toasted spices cannot be replicated from a jar of spice. If you don’t have one you can use a blender but not the new type with a wide bottom. It’s got to be an older model. The food processor will NOT work for this. (Trust me, I’ve tried it.) Having one with a removable bowl is great for being able to wash it.
Secura Electric Coffee Grinder & Spice Grinder
Tongs
Keep a pair of metal tongs around for tossing greens when they are sautéing, or removing roasted peppers from the grill. For outdoor use, be sure that they have long enough handles. For salads, I have a great pair of wooden serving tongs and salad hands.
Metal Tongs
Wooden Serving Tongs
Salad Hands
Whisk
A teeny, tiny one is essential for mixing up small amounts of salad dressings, especially if you are stirring in guar or xanthan gum, or for mixing arrowroot and water. Be sure to use a coated, heat resistant whisk when making gravy in your nonstick pan.
Set of Three – Small, Medium, Large Stainless Steel Kitchen Whisk
Heat Resistant Whisk
Electric Pressure Cooker (and you know why)
This list is not comprehensive so I will keep adding to it. I will also have a list of food products that you might find interesting.
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