Vegan Recipes from Cassie Howard

When it comes to kitchen tools, there are a ton of them out there, but most are unnecessary. I’ve purchased my fair share of kitchen gadgets, and most of them ended up in the trash or donated, simply because they didn’t work as advertised, or because I never used them.

Today, I’m going to share with you 10 kitchen tools that do work, and that are definitely worth the money. I use these items every day!

Top 10 Kitchen Tools That I Use Daily

1. Paderno Cookware Set – My husband and I received a set of Paderno cookware for Christmas a few years ago, and now – it’s pretty much all I use. I LOVE it. I actually burned one of the pots by mistake one time, and willingly paid the $80 for a replacement, because I love them that much.

Our set included a small pot, medium pot, large pot with steamer basket and an extra large pot, which is what I usually use for spaghetti or linguine. Our set also included a non-stick fry pan.

I truly believe that Paderno cookware is the best! I’m a loyal customer (I even bought a set for my mom for Christmas last year and she loves Paderno now, too!).

2. Siplat Non-Stick Baking Mat – I was introduced to these amazing mats last year and I am shocked by how much I use it! I don’t just use it for baking, but for cooking as well.

These mats were designed to prevent sticking when baking in the oven, especially for things like fruit leathers and really thin cookies, but I use them for pretty much everything. Roasted potatoes, croissants and it even works great on your counter top when you’re rolling out dough. I love my Silplat baking mat so much. I only wish I’d known about it sooner!

3. Kuhn Rikon Non-Stick Paring Knives – Another item that’s used daily in my kitchen is paring knives, and these knives from Kuhn Rikon are magical.

Whether I’m cutting up small fruits and veggies, or slicing pastries into smaller pieces, these knives are super sharp and always work well. I’ve had my set for over 3 years now and haven’t had a single problem.

In the past, paring knives would always dull out really quick, or they would stick to the food I was trying to cut, but these paring knives from Kuhn Rikon don’t do that at all. They’re my favourite knives for small jobs!

4. Plastic Cutting Boards – As much as I do love my big bamboo chopping board, I use plastic cutting boards for most kitchen jobs, and these are my favourite.

The best part is the little groove that they have, which collects juices from fruit and other things, when you’re cutting. With previous cutting boards, the juice would drip right off the board and onto my counter, leaving a big mess for me to clean up. Not these cutting boards, though!

They also don’t slide around on my counter when I’m using them, which is an added bonus!

5. Harold Imports Wooden Spoon – I bought this spoon when I was vacationing in Florida one year (I know, on vacation I’m buying kitchen tools! I’m a bit obsessed!) and haven’t looked back.

I used to be a big fan of thos cheap, plastic spoons from the dollar store, but once they started peeling, I looked for an alternative. A friend recommended wooden spoons, so when I saw one for just $10, I snatched it up before I could change my mind. Now, I can’t imagine doing my daily cooking without my much-loved wooden spoon!

6. OXO Good Grips Peeler – I’ve always liked this type of peeler over the swivel peelers (and of course, my husband is the opposite, so we have 2 peelers!), and this one by OXO Good Grips is the one I’ve had for over 3 years now.

I peel veggies or fruits every day, and this kitchen tool comes in handy! It usually lives in our dish strainer, since we use it and rinse it off so much, it never usually makes it into a drawer!

7. Microplane Zester – I love, love, love my zester! I bought mine after seeing one on a cooking show years back, and I’ve loved it ever since my first use.

I most often use it for zesting lemons, limes and oranges, but also love it for grating fresh garlic and ginger (I use it for garlic the most!). Every kitchen should have a microplane zester!

8. Ball Mason Jars – These jars have to be one of the best inventions ever. You can use them for canning, for simply soring foods in the cupboards and refrigerator, and even use them as drinking glasses! There are a million and one crafty things you can do with them, too, but I mostly use them in my kitchen.

I use my mason jars as food and beverage storage the most. I organized my entire pantry with over 30 jars, storing things like beans, quinoa, pasta, oats, and chocolate chips. I also love using these mason jars for storing smoothies and juices in the fridge.

Note: I mostly use the pint & half pint size jars.

9. Blendtec Total Blender – This list would be incomplete without my beloved blender. After years of a crappy, cheap blender that would leave chunks in my smoothies, I upgraded to this beauty. I use it every day for smoothies!

I also bought the Blendtec Twister Jar, in addition to the blender, to make things like nut butters and hummus (we make nut butter at least once a week!). It was also worth every penny!

10. Pyrex Glass Storage Containers – Every kitchen needs a few (or in my case, a LOT) of storage containers for extra food, and my top pick is Pyrex.

I use them for everything! Sauces, leftovers, cut up fruit & veggies. I recently upgraded to glass storage containers and haven’t looked back since. No discolouration on the containers, no yucky smells (even after they’ve been washed!). I also love that, because they’re glass, I can see into them without opening the lids.

What are the top used kitchen tools in your home? Share in the comments!