Our Recipe Creator Lina Shares Her Favorite Kitchen Tools (All From Amazon!)
Curious to know my top kitchen cooking tools I use most often?
Hi, I’m Lina, and I like to cook – a lot!
In fact, I’ve been cooking and sharing recipes on Hip2Save.com for almost 7 years, and now on Hip2Keto.com, too. Being in the kitchen often is part of my job, and I’m regularly asked which kitchen items I use the most and feel are worth the investment.
The kitchen is my happy place! 😍
I’m not actually professionally trained in the kitchen, but I do enjoy cooking for my family and also taking yummy food pics! Today, I’m sharing some of my favorite must-have items that get lots of use in my kitchen. You may even recognize some as they often appear in my photography when I share recipe ideas.
P.S. It’s was tough only picking just 10 items to feature, but I honestly asked myself, “What would I be sad to live without?”
(Photo of Keto Bagels recipe)
1.) Silpat Baking Mat
This was a brilliant Christmas gift given to me a few years ago, and I absolutely adore this silicone baking mat! It’s perfect for any type of dough, but it’s especially helpful for stickier types of dough and replaces the need for parchment paper.
You can place it on a metal sheet pan, and food NEVER sticks to it while baking. I use my Silpat so often for baking cookies, Fat Head pizza, and even these keto bagels!
Hip Tip: Consider the AmazonBasics version of this mat if you’d like a nice quality non-stick mat, but for just $13.88 for a 2-pack!
2.) J.A. Henckels Knives
Having a set of good quality sharp knives is a must for any home chef! When I got married about 12 years ago, we used a bunch of gift cards to go in on a nice set of J.A. Henckels knives.
I have literally used them every day since, and they’re still going strong! We did have a handle start to separate on one knife 3 years ago, but all I had to do was send it to J.A, Henckels, and they sent me back a replacement.
Read about this brand’s awesome lifetime warranty!
Hip Tip: This year I picked up a 5-piece set of these highly-rated yet budget-friendly TGY set of knives from Amazon, and have been pleasantly surprised by them and how sharp they have stayed!
(Photo of Keto Broccoli Cheddar Soup recipe)
3.) Copper Chef Cookware
I was honestly a little skeptical to try Copper Chef Cookware as some reviews are mixed online, but it turns out that I LOVE this cookware! It’s non-stick (and without the awful coating that quickly flakes off of most non-stick pans). I like that it’s lightweight, can be thrown in the dishwasher, and cleans up easily.
I have a few pieces, like this 9.5-inch set, but find myself grabbing the 11-inch skillet the most. It still looks brand new after months of constant use!
(Photo of Blueberry Cheesecake Dessert recipe)
4.) Glass Batter Bowl with Spout
I use my large 8-cup batter bowl so much, and it’s by far my favorite all-purpose mixing bowl! I like that it’s glass so I can easily microwave recipes when needed, and it’s super convenient to pour using a handle.
I know it’s funny to have a favorite item that’s so simple, but I misplaced it for a few weeks after we remodeled the kitchen, and I felt lost without it! HA!
(Photo of keto Air Fryer Chicken Wings recipe)
5.) Air Fryer
This air fryer is my absolute favorite kitchen appliance over the last 2 years because it’s so convenient! I love how quickly and easily it gives food a crispy and delicious texture, and it’s fun to cook with! I use it so often to make fast & simple chicken wings, vegetable side dishes, donuts, bacon, and so much more.
I personally own and LOVE the As Seen on TV Power XL as well as a Nuwave air fryer!
Hip Tip: Be sure to check out all our yummy air fryer recipes right HERE!
6.) Instant Pot
Even though the Instant Pot pressure cooker can have a little bit of a learning curve initially, once you get into the groove of using it, it’s pretty AMAZING! I love how quickly it cooks foods, and as a last-minute meal planner, I enjoy it so much. I do adore my CrockPot slow cooker too, but I often can’t get myself organized enough in my home life to always remember to put in dinner, so the Instant Pot has saved me a lot!
Hip Tip: Don’t forget to check out this post filled with my favorite Instant pot hacks and tricks!
7.) Garlic Press
Does anyone else love the taste of fresh garlic, but not mincing it by hand? Having a good quality garlic press is a game-changer in the kitchen for garlic fans! This Trudeau garlic press from Amazon.com is super easy to use.
I love that it’s self-cleaning because if you turn it in the other direction after using, the silicone progs poke through the opposite direction to clean.
8.) Roll-up Drying Rack
This is one of my favorite kitchen tools EVER! And I’m not alone, as many of my Hip2Save team members are also fans of this roll-up kitchen sink drying rack. I use it to quickly dry dishes, wash produce, or as an extra spot to set things down when cooking. You can wash it in the dishwasher, and it easily rolls up to tuck behind the kitchen faucet to store.
Hip Tip: I also can’t live without my handy Scrub Daddy as part of my kitchen clean-up routine. Scrub Daddy sponges are also a Hip2Save team favorite!
9.) No-Fiber Zap Cloths
Have trouble keeping stainless steel appliances streak-free? These streak-free washable Zap cloths are my absolute favorite when cleaning up my kitchen.
It appears from the packaging they are marketed to shine cars, but let me tell ya, these are like magic in the kitchen and around the house! They make my counters, appliances, and even glass surfaces shine, and I also use fewer paper towels, too.
10.) Heat-Resistant Silicone Spatula
Tired of your kitchen spatulas melting? I recently went through my kitchen tools to purge and got rid of all my junky ones, and replaced a few with this highly-rated heat-resistant silicone one from Amazon.com. This StarPack spatula is rated to 600 degrees, and comes in lots of different colors.
Totally agree with the J.A.Henckels and air fryer. Macy’s often has the knives on sale..and the air fryers are sold everywhere too now in all different sizes, it’s awesome 😀
Thanks Nita! Yes so many options on air dryers now.
I love all the suggestions, but the garlic press- do you have an easy way to clean it out?? I find it frustrating and easier to suffer through the smell of garlic-y hands over trying to push the cleaning apparatus to clean the left over garlic remnants out??
I actually bought a denture toothbrush to use for gadgets that hack awkward cleaning areas like that … I haven’t tried it with a garlic press but I’m sure it would work. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Equate-Denture-Brush-with-Deep-Clean-Pick-1-Count/49932641
Oh thanks for sharing!
Or if you’d still rather deal with your hands, I use this afterwards Amco 8402 Rub-a-Way Bar Stainless Steel Odor Absorber https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000F8JUJY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_s..kFb90XMR2M
Interesting.. I was watching one of the food shows (don’t remember which one) and they suggesting rubbing your hands on your faucet to get rid of the smell- but never tried it. Learned all kinds of cool things!
So this one has prongs that you flip over and it pokes the other direction to get itself clean in a way. You will still have to rinse it out, but I think helpful.
Cool- thanks for the info, do you remember where you purchased it?
Added a few items to my Xmas wish list; thanks for the suggestions!
Oh cool – thanks Suzanne!
Hi Lina, Have you tried one of those Danish whisks that are so popular now and if you have what do you think of it? Thanks!
Oh interesting! I haven’t but I looked one up in amazon and those do have great reviews and look way easier to clean. I’ll have to test it out! Thanks
Awesome! I would love to know what you think of it.
For us it is a ricemaker/warmer-zojirushi and crockpot. Silicone turners/scraper. Handheld mesh strainer and handcarved seasoning spoon from costa we use for jarred garlic.
Keeps rice warm for days.
Because ready and warm food is a happy place.
Oh I almost put my rice cooker too. I just have a basic one and it gets a lot of use. And that’s interesting – a season spoon. I’ll have to look it up. Thanks for sharing 🤗
Awesome post!! It will help to choose kitchen tools to decor home perfectly. Very informative and helpful post. Thanks!