My Kitchen Essentials: Top 10 Must-Have Items for Everyday Cooking

I think, like most people, I love making my life easier. But I also REALLY enjoy homemade stuff, and that's not always compatible.

I love tips and tricks that make life just 2% easier because when combined, they add up, and everything runs smoothly.

So, I thought I would share the items I can’t imagine cooking without.

1 - Coffee Maker

I have always loved coffee. As a child, I preferred it to hot chocolate (not black - I wasn’t THAT weird) and adored coffee-flavored ice cream, éclairs, and religieuse pastries. As an adult, my love for it only grew, culminating in my Erasmus in Milan. I developed such a habit that I had a week-long withdrawal headache when I returned to France - but I digress.

For coffee, I like options, so I use two things:

• An Italian Moka from Bialetti – Perfect for a classic espresso, cappuccino, or making tiramisu. I also own and love a gorgeous red Fiammetta (this one is induction) – So cute!

• A Vietnamese coffee filter – Bought on a trip to Vietnam, mostly used for their incredible iced coffee.

I strongly recommend using it with this coffee and adding condensed milk (yum!).

I’ve never owned a high-tech coffee machine, and I don’t plan to. These are compact, practical, and give me all the versatility I need. Plus, they encourage me to savour my coffee instead of overindulging.

2 - Pasta Maker

I will forever stay loyal to pasta as my main carb. It’s the most delicious, simple base for any meal, and it makes me happy. That said, I’m picky with brands - I only like:

• Barilla

• Garofalo

• De Cecco

• Rummo

Others? Mediocre. I avoid them.

Above all, I love fresh pasta, which is why I impulse bought this Philips pasta machine. It’s not something you should impulse buy, but I have zero regrets. It’s SO good!

The result rivals handmade pasta (which I do for fun but not daily) and is done cleanly, easily, in 5 minutes. I toss some cherry tomatoes into a pan, start the machine, and by the time the tomatoes have softened, the pasta is ready to cook. One minute in boiling water and DONE. If you know a pasta and cooking lover, this is an amazing gift!

3 - Slow Cooker

I mentioned this in my meal prep article, but I’ll say it again: Get a slow cooker!

Years ago, I had a multicooker that I used for French classics (Blanquette de Veau, Boeuf Bourguignon, etc.), but I didn’t bring it when I moved to England. I missed the convenience of food cooking itself overnight and bought a Crockpot (this small one first). I initially got it for hosting so I wouldn’t spend the whole time in the kitchen - then I fell in love and bought a bigger one.

I use it at least once a week, often more. It’s fantastic for:

• Melt-off-the-bone meats

• Simmering sauces

• Lazy “dump everything in and leave it” meals

Because of its size, I can make larger batches of food that freeze well, which always comes in handy. Of all the items here, this is my top recommendation for price vs. usage.

4 - A Cast Iron Enamel-Coated Dutch Oven

A must for casseroles and bread. Most one-pot recipes work best in a Dutch oven, and it’s both stove and oven-friendly.

If you’ve read my bread-baking article, you know it’s essential for that fluffy inside, crusty outside texture.

Beyond its versatility, it looks great! Tons of pretty colors, giving a touch of farmhouse aesthetic to any kitchen. Mine lives on my stove full-time.

💡 DO NOT buy cheap ones from Amazon—I did, and the enamel disintegrated in two months. Instead, go for:

• Le Creuset (if budget allows)

• Tefal (It's the one I have)

I have also heard good things about:

• Lodge

• Staub

5 - Non-Stick Pan

Something like the Tefal set I have works perfectly for everyday cooking and saves time on washing up.

I own some stainless steel pans, and while they’re lovely, I got tired of food sticking.

💡 Be gentle when washing both non-stick pans and Dutch ovens. Scratching them ruins the coating, so NO scrubbing brushes or rough sponges!

6 - A Good Handheld Blender & Whisk Set

I’ve owned a few, and this one is the best.

I use at least one attachment daily - it’s amazing for:

• Soups & sauces

• Replacing a pestle & mortar

• Frothing cappuccino milk

• Making smoothies

• Whisking egg whites or Dalgona coffee

It may feel unnecessary at first, but once you start using it, you’ll never go back.

7 - Good Knives + A Chopping Board

Knives: Three good knives > 12 cheap ones.

Aim for:

• One large knife (for most tasks)

• One serrated bread knife

• One small knife

💡 Go for full stainless steel - wooden/plastic handles tend to loosen over time.

Chopping board: I love wood, especially wide boards (I need space!). I avoid small plastic ones - they feel cheap, and I suspect they leave microplastics in food (no science to back this, just a gut feeling).

8 - A Food Processor

I got this Kenwood mini food processor a few years ago, and from the first use, I kicked myself for not buying one sooner.

• Batch-chopping onions (my eyes are on fire anytime I cut onions so I suffer once, cry once and get it done)

• Prepping a week's worth of veggies in 10 minutes

• Effortless grating (carrots, parmesan, etc.) Grating 'manually' is such a pain and a hazard for me…

9 - A Scale

Not much to say here. Digital or mechanical, just don’t pay more than £10. This is similar to what I use.

💡I find that a new digital scale is often cheaper than replacing its batteries.

10 - Baking Tray

A large, wide baking tray that doesn’t warp in the oven is a must.

Perfect for:

• Tray bakes

• Homemade pizza

Non-stick is nice but not essential. Something like this is great!

The right tools make all the difference - pair them with my meal prep guide for effortless planning and my mother dough recipe for fresh bread with minimal effort!

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