When you think of stocking your kitchen, it doesn’t seem like there are that many things. But dig a little deeper, and you will see that you can easily have over 250 items on your kitchen essentials checklist. Luckily many on this list of kitchen items are pretty cost-effective. Several others you can wait on getting or make do with one instead of the other.
Let’s dive into this kitchen essentials list of kitchen equipment, cooking essentials, and supplies to ensure you have everything you need in a kitchen. If you want to download it all, enter your email below.
List of Kitchen Essentials: Equipment, Tools, and Supplies
Essential Kitchen Appliances List
Typically, the basic list of kitchen appliances is a fridge and stove, but we know there is so much more than just that! Everything else can be considered an add-on. But if you are like most people, you will want to have several other appliances. Here is a complete list of must-have lists of basic appliances in a kitchen.
- Oven (here’s the best place to buy appliances, normally we use Best Buy, there is usually a weekly deal on, check them now)
- Fridge
- Toaster (these glass toasters are cool, and these are some toaster ovens under $100)
- Microwave
- Keurig (here is the best Keurig for your home)
- Coffee Maker
- Blender (we’ve made smoothies with this one for over two years, so worth it! Read the full Blendtec Review here. )
- Kettle
- Griddle (or you can get one of the best-cast iron griddles)
- Electric Frying Pan or Indoor Smokeless Grill
- Instant Pot
- Rice Cooker
- Food Processor
- Immersion Blender
- Juicer
Of course, we can have a lot of other kitchen gadgets, but this is the list of basic kitchen appliances you will need and use on a daily or weekly basis.
Kitchen Cookware Essentials
Even if you have never made toast before, as a homeowner, you will learn to cook in one way or another. This means you will need to have certain pots and pans to make cooking food easier. Here is a list of essential cookware for your kitchen. Check out the best cookware, or if you want, check out the best cookware set under $200
- Sauté Pan
- Frying Pan
- Non-Stick Skillet
- Sauce Pan
- Wok
- Large Stockpot
- Roasting Pan
- Grill pan
- Griddle
- Baking Dishes
- Baking Sheet Pans
- Dutch Oven
Essential Kitchen Utensils List
You are going to need this kitchen utensils list to get started. While some of the items on this kitchen utensils list you may be able to put off buying(using a knife instead of a pizza cutter). Other kitchen utensils you may only buy once in your lifetime, so make sure you get something durable.
For example, a kitchen utensil set of stainless steel measuring cups means that you likely won’t need to replace them unless you feel like updating your cups. These items are essential for prep work and making your kitchen workflow easier and faster.
Here are some of the must-have cooking utensils on our list.
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Rolling pin
- Wisk
- Tongs
- Spatula
- Bottle opener
- Colander
- Ice cube trays
- Pizza Cutter
- Zester
- Vegetable Peeler
- Potato Masher
- Shears
- Corning Ware
- Cheese Grater
- Garlic Press
- Mixing Bowls
- Set of bowls
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List of Eating Utensils
If you find yourself wondering, “What does every kitchen need on its list?” The first thing that always comes to mind is eating utensils and plates. No matter what, you will need a good set of dishes and cutlery to eat your food. Here are some other items you will need.
- Plates
- Eating utensils (forks, knives, tables spoons, and smaller teaspoons)
- Steak knives
- Drawer organizer for utensils (we love this adjustable one)
- Coffee mugs (don’t forget a unique one to be your favorite coffee mug)
- Bowls (best to buy in a set all at once plates and bowls, we went with Ikea)
- Glasses
- Wine glasses
- Food trays or a serving platter
Amazon has tons of cutlery and eating utensils starting at just over $10. Click here to see all the cool and unique types of eating utensils you can get.
Kitchen Tools List
Most of these items fall into the “must-have kitchen items list” category. Some you will find you use daily, and others less frequently but when you need them you will be happy you have bought them.
- Parchment paper
- Tinfoil
- Wax paper
- Drying rack and drip tray
- Kitchen scale
- Can opener
- Meat thermometer (love this one!)
- Salad spinner
- Turkey baster
- Pots and pans
- Cutting board
- Baking sheets
- Pizza pan or pizza stone
- Sealable containers (these air-tight containers are great)
- Sharpening rod
- Splatter guard
- Standing mat
- Oven mitts
- Cooling wire
- Cooling mat
- French press
If you plan on spending a lot of time in the kitchen, it’s worth getting the best kitchen standing mat you can find. This will help you last longer on your feet in the kitchen. It’s been a game-changer for us.
Kitchen Knives
You will need a good knife set for your kitchen and while a chef’s knife can do a lot, having the best kitchen knife set you can afford is a way to ensure you have the tools when needed.
- Chef’s knife
- Paring knife
- Bread knife
- Steak knife set ( a must for any dinner party)
- Utility knife
- Carving knife (or an electric carving knife)
- Boning knife
- Kitchen shears
- Cleaver knife (this is the best)
- Cheese knife set
Here’s what each type of kitchen knife is for if you are unsure about what you need. If you need help picking out your knives, we have several posts that can help. There are forged or stamped knives, ceramic knives, titanium, German and Japanese steel. Investing in a good set when you start can save you costly replacements years later.
List of Kitchen Cleaning Supplies
A clean kitchen is the hallmark of a clean house. In fact, when we are looking at houses to buy a clean house is one of the biggest selling items. There isn’t a secret to keep your house clean, but there are several things you should have that will go a long way to making sure your kitchen and all the items in it are spotless.
- Garbage can
- Garbage bags
- Recycling Bags
- Broom
- Duster
- Magic Eraser
- Vacuum (here are some of the best vacuums under $200)
- Mop
- i-Robot
- Cupboard liners
- Swiffer or duster
- Rags
- Microfiber cloths
- Windex
- Pot scrubber
Kitchen Supplies List
This section is for the kitchen supplies you will use daily both before and after food prep. Typically you will be relying on these items daily, and usually, when you need them, it’s an immediate thing. So make sure you stock up on these.
Here is a comprehensive list of kitchen supplies that you will need to have your kitchen properly stocked.
- Cling film
- Ziploc bags
- Chip clips
- Napkins
- Paper towel
- Dishtowels
- Dish soap
- Dishrags
- Sponge
- Cleaning gloves
- Kitchen fridge magnets
- Scrubber
- Whiteboard
- Ice cube tray
- Meal planning sheets
- Stepping stool
- Reuse-able straws
- Tea Steeper
- Toothpicks
Kitchen must-haves: List of Pantry Staples Checklist
We have over 100 items that you can start to stock in your pantry. This pantry essentials list is key to a well-stocked pantry. A well-stocked pantry can come in handy on quick meal days. While you don’t need to run out and buy everything in this pantry checklist, there are many essentials you should have. If you are wondering what ingredients a kitchen should have, this list is pretty big, and you can easily stock a pantry with all of the items on this pantry items checklist.
Baking Supplies List
If you want to bake something, there are some of these items that you will need. Basic baking items are flour, salt, sugar, eggs, etc… To make sure you have what most recipes will call for, we’ve included all of the different types of baking items a great person like you will need.
- White Flour
- Whole Wheat Flour
- Salt
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Honey
- Maple syrup
- Confectioner Sugar
- Icing Sugar
- Baking Powder
- Baking Soda
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Vanilla Extract
- Condensed Milk
- Almond Flour
Oils and Vinegar
Cooking requires oil (even if the pans say non-stick, trust me, they still need oil). You may not need every one of these oils and vinegar, depending on your eating habits, but it is nice to have the ones you usually use in stock.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Vegetable Oil
- Canola Oil
- White Vinegar
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Balsamic Vinegar
- Malt Vinegar
- Rice Vinegar
- Peppercorn
- Kosher Salt
Drinks
- Coffee
- Tea
- Green Tea
- Juice
- Powdered Drinks
Starches
- White Rice
- Brown Rice
- Long Grain Rice
- Quinoa
- Breadcrumbs
- Panko crumbs
- Polenta
- Pasta
- Couscous
Dry Goods
These I like to think of as my snack foods; the nice thing with most of these is that they don’t go bad, so having them around for a while can be a plus when you run out of something.
- Cookies
- Pretzels
- Potato Chips
- Marshmallows
- Popcorn
- Breakfast Cereal
- Peanut Butter
- Almond Butter
- Seeds
- Dried Fruit
- Applesauce
- Fruit cups
- Crackers
- Bread
- Tortillas
- Oatmeal
- Rolled Oats
Spices
You may not use all of these spices every day, but many of them are commonly used in cooking and baking, so make sure you buy some when you can. Hint: It’s better to buy these in bulk packages than in smaller amounts. We usually buy one with the container and then replenish it with a package. The package below is a great place to start, and it comes with free refills for 5 years.
16-Jar Revolving Countertop Spice Rack Organizer with Free Spice Refills for 5 Years
- Salt
- Pepper
- Granulated Garlic
- Basil
- Thyme
- Oregano
- Cumin
- Chili Powder
- Curry Powder
- Bay Leaves
- Cayenne Pepper
- Cajun Seasoning
- Dill
- Cinnamon
- Ginger
- Sesame Seeds
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Rosemary
- Cloves
Canned Foods
A solid stocked pantry has enough canned goods to last a week or two (or more). These are kitchen must-haves. Make sure you stock up on these items the next time you shop.
- Beans
- Vegetable Broth
- Olives
- Capers
- Salsa
- Tomato Sauce
- Tomato Paste
- Tuna
- Chicken
- Chiles
- Corn
- Anchovy
Dressing and Sauces
- Salad dressing
- Mayonnaise
- Barbecue Sauce
- Chipotle Sauce
- Aioli Spread
Fridge Essentials List
Last we have everything that needs to be kept cold. This fridge list will help make sure you have the things you need on a daily and weekly basis so you can cook delicious and healthy meals. Enjoy this list of food staples.
Fresh Produce: Fruits
- Apples
- Bananas
- Oranges
- Grapes
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Raspberries
- Lemons
- Limes
- Tomatoes
Fresh Produce: Veggies
- Cilantro
- Garlic
- Lettuce
- Kale
- Spinach/Arugula
- Ginger
- Celery
- Beets
- Carrots
- Zucchini
- Cucumber
- Parsnips
- Asparagus
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Avocados
- Peppers (Yellow, Red, Green)
- Potatoes
- Onions
- Corn
Eggs & Dairy
- Milk
- Eggs
- Egg Whites
- Parmesan Cheese
- Marble Cheese
- Mozzarella
- Butter
- Yogurt
- Yogurt Drinks
Condiments
- Jam
- Ketchup
- Dijon Mustard
- Yellow Mustard
- Mayonnaise
- Tabasco
- Sriracha
- Worcester Sauce
- Soy sauce
- Relish
- Fish Sauce
- Tartar Sauce
- Marmalade
- Pickles
- Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Freezer Goods
These are the items that will keep for a long time and that you can stock up on; just make sure you get around to using them at some point. A good idea is to have a freezer inventory list so you can keep track of everything that is in there.
- Ice Cream
- Coffee Beans
- Fruits
- Berries
- Bacon
- Chicken Breasts
- Hamburger Patties
- Hot Dogs
- Steaks
- Ground Beef
- Pork Roast
- Freezies
- Nuts
- Vegetables
- Soups
Need to plan meals? Make sure to grab our free weekly meal planner.
What are the basic kitchen tools and equipment?
Now, if reading this kitchen list feels extreme, remember you don’t need everything at once. You can start with the basic kitchen things and go from there.
The basic cooking tools and kitchen equipment are:
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Rolling pin
- Tongs
- Spatula
- Bottle opener
- Colander
- Mixing Bowls
- Set of bowls
- Plates
- Cutlery
- Steak knives
- Coffee mugs
- Bowls
- Glasses
- Parchment paper
- Tinfoil
- Can opener
- Cookware set
- Cutting knives
- Cutting board
- Sealable containers
- Oven mitts
- Cooling wire
- Cooling mat
- Oven
- Fridge
- Toaster
- Microwave
- Air Fryer (we have the Emeril 360 Air Fryer)
- Coffee Maker
- Blender
- Kettle
- Garbage can
- Garbage bags
- Recycling Bags
- Broom
- Duster
- Rags
- Windex
- Pot scrubber
Don’t forget a place to eat! Here are some Dining Room sets for under $200 to help you get started.
Download our Kitchen Essentials Checklist and Stock Up This List
No doubt about it, there is an abundance of things you find in the kitchen. From the smallest measuring cup to the largest appliance there are a lot of things to buy if you are starting to buying things for your kitchen.
If you want to start stocking up your kitchen with supplies and you want to make sure you have everything you need, you can download this free checklist as a printable pdf of our kitchen essentials. It has everything you need and will help you the next time you go shopping.