The Kitchen Essentials Checklist: Must-Have Appliances, Gadgets and Utensils

From utensils to crockery and appliances, the list of kitchen ‘must-haves’ could go on forever. That’s why we’ve pulled out the real essentials - the pieces it would be hard to live without.

Sitting down to a home-cooked meal is the best part of the day, but how can you eat without crockery? Stock up on these basics, and you’ll never have to struggle with plastic and paper ones again.

Full cutlery set
Make sure you get the lot: knives, forks, spoons and teaspoons. A 16-piece set is usually enough for single people or a couple (with spares for entertaining), but we recommend a larger set for families.
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Full crockery set
At a minimum, you’ll want four bowls, four dinner plates and four side plates - this should be enough for the everyday. But more is usually better, so you’re prepped for hosting or days when the dishes just seem to pile up.
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Cups and glasses
We’d recommend at least four of each - meaning you’ll have spares in case of breakage and can offer drinks to guests. If you enjoy a glass of wine, then wine glasses should also be on your kitchen essentials list.
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Salt and pepper grinder
They’re non-negotiables, if you ask us. Seasoning can make or break a meal, and grinders are such a tidy, efficient way to keep these condiments in easy reach.
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From stir fries to stews and curries to cheeseburgers, you can cook it all - and more - when you have the right tools. Kit out your kitchen with these essentials, and you’ll have no trouble mastering the dishes in your wheelhouse or expanding your culinary horizons.

• Chef’s knife: These are larger knives with a broad, curved blade. They’re ideal for chopping, dicing and slicing.

• Paring knife: These are smaller knives with a sharp, pointed tip. They’re useful for peeling, coring and other work where you need more precision.

• Bread knife: These have a long, serrated blade. They’re perfect for easily slicing through a crust without tearing or crushing your loaf.

Like with most hobbies, you can’t cook without the right tools. Whether you prefer whipping up a quick mid-week meal or an elaborate three course dinner, these utensils will make food prep quick, easy, and much more efficient.

Chopping board
We’d recommend buying three - one for bread, one for veg and one for meat/fish. Wooden, bamboo and plastic chopping boards are equally good, so the choice just comes down to your personal preference.

Cooking spoons
Essential for stirring veg, noodles, sauces, and more, having at least two or three of these will make cooking much simpler. It helps with multitasking too, so you don’t have to wash one spoon in between swirling pasta and flipping raw meat.

Spatulas
Whether you pick a wooden, silicone or metal one, the flat edge on a spatula means you can easily get underneath food in a pan or baking tray. With at least one of these in your kitchen toolkit, it’ll be easier than ever to move and flip veg or meat.

Tongs
Perfect for grilling, tongs can grip food effortlessly. Just the thing when you need to move larger pieces of hot meat, veg or even baked goods, you’ll want to have at least one set in your kitchen.

Serving spoons
There is a difference between cooking and serving spoons. Of course, it’s possible to plate up food with a cooking spoon, but having proper serving utensils not only helps with portion control, but it’s also more hygienic.

Ladle
A ladle is a must for anyone who loves their soups - it’d take forever to serve it with a tablespoon! Making dishing up a breeze, they’re also helpful for scooping sauce and gravy, and even serving punch.

Large mixing bowl
Whether you’re big into baking or like to marinate meat, a mixing bowl is essential for all the tastiest meal prep. Available in glass, wood, bamboo or ceramics, you can even use it as a salad bowl when you’re entertaining guests.

Colander or strainer
Colanders are really the only safe way to separate food from boiling water. It’s essential to have one in your kitchen, but a second can be very helpful when you’re cooking veg and pasta at the same time, for example.

Measuring equipment
When we say ‘measuring equipment’, we mean both a jug and scales. It’d be very difficult to follow a recipe without them.

Tin openers
There’s nothing worse than finding you can’t get into beans, chopped tomatoes or coconut milk when you’re halfway through cooking. Get yourself a tin opener and save yourself the frustration.

Kitchen scissors
It’d be hard to go without a good pair of scissors. From opening food packets to spatchcocking chicken and even cutting pizza, is there anything they can’t do? Every kitchen needs one pair, but it’s always useful to have a spare.

Peelers
The spud saviour! A peeler makes fast work of vegetable skins, and it’s much safer (and more efficient) than peeling with a knife. You only need to add one of these to your kitchen drawers.

Graters
Whether you’re a cheese connoisseur or a fan of raw veg, a grater is a crucial addition to any kitchen toolkit. If you’re looking for a good all-rounder, choose a box one - you can use the other sides for zesting fruit or grating fresh spices like nutmeg.

We’ve broken it down, now we’re wrapping it up with one essential checklist. Save this for later, and it’ll make furnishing your kitchen totally effortless.

• 16-piece cutlery set

• 12-piece crockery set

• 4 cups and 4 mugs

• 4 glasses

• Salt and pepper grinder set

• 2 saucepans

• 1 frying pan

• 2 baking trays

• 1 chef’s knife

• 1 paring knife

• 1 bread knife

• 3 chopping boards

• 2 wooden spoons

• 1 spatula

• 2 serving spoons

• 1 ladle

• 1 mixing bowl

• 1 colander

• 1 measuring jug

• 1 set of electronic weighing scales

• 1 tin opener

• 1 pair of kitchen scissors

• 1 vegetable peeler

• 1 box grater

• 1 kettle

• toaster

• 1 drying rack

• 1 set of food containers

• 2 bins

Explore our complete range of kitchenware today, and make your kitchen the heart of your home.