I basically checked every food set on the market in the past few years. And while there’s no denying the sheer convenience they offer, there are also a few tips and tricks I’ve learned to make the experience smoother—namely, the gadgets and gizmos I reach for every time a new box arrives at my door, full of cooking ingredients. From my favorite pan to the best oil to own, consider these essentials if you do a lot of cooking at home. Of course, you probably already have a cutting board and a pan. But if you want to upgrade, I highly recommend the pieces in this guide.
Be sure to check out our other kitchen guides, including the Best Carbon Steel Pans, the Best Soda Makers, the Best Wireless Meat Thermometers, and the Best Gifts for the Home Chef.
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Is There Anything Else I Should Have On Hand?
I go through a lot of paper towels when I do food. I also highly recommend having a Rachael Ray-inspired “trash bin” on the counter for things like the aforementioned random pieces of plastic and paper towels. (And a separate one for vegetable scraps, if you’re composting.) Another thing to be aware of is that you’ll probably use a lot of dishes when cooking meal kits. Start with your dishes done and the dishwasher empty for the best experience. And finally, I like to have scissors around for cutting open sauce packets or cutting green onions. I don’t think you really need special kitchen shears, but if you have some, they’ll come in handy. Otherwise just grab whatever (clean!) pair you have.
I have used every single item in this guide while cooking dozens, if not hundreds, of dishes, both at work and in my personal life. I washed them, stored them, chopped them, and recommended them to my friends. (Congratulations, student—we’re friends now.)