I've created recipes for my food blog, Hot Pan Kitchen, since 2017. These are some of the tools I've come to rely on and highly recommend.
Sections
2
Prep
Cooking
Prep
Items I use when preparing food.
A pair of all purpose kitchen shears are so handy in the kitchen. Cutting meat, lettuce, bread - just anything - is made easier with these.
KitchenAid All Purpose Kitchen Shears
I have had my Pyrex glass mixing bowls forever and they are fantastic. They've held up so well and seem indestructible.
Pyrex® 3-piece Mixing Bowl Set
I know a food scale feels lame and boring, but it honestly makes cooking so much easier when you're following a recipe (especially for baking). This one is relatively inexpensive and has lasted me for over 7 years.
Escali Digital Food Scale
This thing is so handy, and great when you don't want to haul out a large food processor (or don't have one). I use it to chop small amounts of nuts, to quickly mix a filling, and a whole host of other things.
24-Ounce Small Food Processor, Mini-Prep Plus
These are so small you have to wonder how handy they actually are, but the answer is very! I use them for sauces, dressings - anything that needs a quick whipping up. I tend to have 3 or 4 as I use that that often.
Mini Whisk
Okay, I know this is expensive and more than other blenders, but it's by far the best blender I've ever owned. I do make a lot of smoothies, but I also use it for sauces, mixing soups, and making banana “nice” cream.
Explorian Series E310 - Classic Blenders
I know these say they're for custard, but I prefer to use them as little mixing bowls. I make spice blends, stir up a little sauce, or even just use them to give my kids a snack. Really handy to have around.
Pyrex 6-Ounce Custard Cups, Set of 4
Cooking
Items I use when I'm actually cooking the food.
This might be my all time favorite kitchen utensil. It is SO handy and does a great job with cooking eggs or stir fries or anything of that nature. My mom gave it to me years ago and I recommend it to anyone who will listen.
Supoon Silicone Spoon - Scoop, Measure, Scrape
This is a specific but incredibly useful tool if you cook with ground meat at all. I probably use it weekly and it does a great job of really separating ground meat so it's not in large clumps.
FARBERWARE Nylon Meat and Potato Masher
I use these for baking and cooking - great for making cookies as well as cooking chicken nuggets for my kids. And makes clean up a lot easier.
Amazon Basics Silicone Rectangular Baking Mat
These are pretty much the only oven gloves I use - they beat out an oven mitt or pot holder as they make it so much easier to grab items. Get two so you can have one on each hand.