Must Have Kitchen Tools for the Menu Planner

It may not be the most trendy cookware available, but it is a Southern staple. I grew up watching my mother’s cast iron skillet get blacker and blacker over time. Did you know it doesn’t come looking that dark? It doesn’t. Cast iron is insanely durable, and non-stick when seasoned well and cared for carefully, but it’s genuinely low maintenance. The trick is to never submerge it in water. Ideally, you would just wipe it out with a damp cloth after cooking. Over time it becomes perfectly non-stick. (Pro Tip – Never EVER put it in the dishwasher. It will rust.) This is a tool that will last forever and can be passed down through generations. 

2. A Good Knife (Gnistra Knife, Ikea $14.99)

I know what you’re thinking. “$14.99?” But hear me out. I have expensive knives in a nice knife block. We’re talking, big fancy brand knives. Guess what? Since I bought this beauty – I rarely touch them. No joke. This fifteen dollar knife from Ikea beats them out every single time. We’re still stunned that it’s so awesome, but it really is. A good knife makes all the difference in cutting veggies and meats. This one works great for both.

3. Slow Cooker $39.99

I’ll touch more on this on our slow cooker cooking day, but I really urge you to get one if you don’t already have one crammed in the back of your cabinet. It is the perfect go to appliance for busy families of any size. We use it all. the. time. At least once a week. Mine is similar to this, but an older model and I’m fairly certain ours is smaller, which is perfect for us since it’s just the two of us. 

4. Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer $450 

This is pricey, yes. Though I promise you I did not pay that price for it. Wait for a sale and use rebates when you can find them. I used the last of our wedding money. It was worth it. And that’s my color up there too! I love it because I can buy extra attachments that eliminate the need for other things like food processors, juicers, etc. Right now we own the meat grinder attachment and plan at some point to get the food processing attachment, the pasta makers and the ice cream maker. This is an investment piece, but so worth the time it would take to save up for it.

5. Food Saver $80

I know it seems hokey and old fashioned; hubby and I laugh about owning a vacuum sealer since both of our parents had “Seal a Meal” and never used it, but we use the heck out of this thing. We just have this basic model, but it is fantastic. This is how I buy meat in bulk and store it. It takes a little time up front to separate meat (I even do ground beef into individual pounds) when you get home, but because of the vacuum sealing, it will last twice as long in the freezer and no freezer burn! The bag rolls can be pricey, but their website is always offering coupons and special deals that we take advantage of. By buying meat BOGO and doing some work at home, I’ve slashed our meat budget in half – that is the truth! Half.

6. A Really Good Basics Cookbook

I giggle at this cookbook title every time I pick it up out of my cookbook stash, but it really is a wonderful, easy to understand and use cookbook. It gives tips and tricks for how to do the simple things like hard boiling an egg. It might seem too basic for the advanced home cook, but it’s perfect as a kitchen reference. It has easy basic recipes for things like pot roast, eggplant parmesan, homemade salad dressings, pork chops, etc and it is chock full of tips and cooking basics – no weird ingredients here! Just simple, basic stuff. It even outlines how to set up a good home kitchen and pantry! I use it quite a bit. 

So, what’s your favorite “go to” kitchen tool?