My approach to “budgeting” has long been defined by completely irrational spending habits— notably, avoiding the purchase of affordable necessities while continuing to splurge on things I absolutely do not need.
Despite thoughtlessly clicking “add to cart” on various nonessentials like, say, yet another pair of black boots, I can never bring myself to purchase far-more-useful items for my home at a fraction of the cost. Why spend $4 on a kitchen tool or utensil I desperately need when I could buy a seventh pair of high-waisted straight leg jeans?
For years, I rationalized this behavior by telling myself I didn’t eat dinner at home frequently enough to buy something as indulgent as a saucepan or a paring knife. Then the pandemic hit. And then I turned thirty.
With a considerably less-crowded social calendar and reduced tolerance for nights out, I decided it was finally time to invest in the kitchen essentials I’d avoided purchasing for so long. Ahead, the twenty items that have transformed my approach to home cooking.
Baking Basics
Like so many others, I spent the first several weeks of quarantine baking increasingly elaborate cakes, breads, cookies, and muffins. While my output has slowed considerably since those early days, I don’t regret investing in a few essential tools. If anything, their presence in my cabinets motivates me to bake more frequently than I would have pre-pandemic.
Calphalon Premier six-piece countertop-safe bakeware set $120 CRATE & BARREL Shop Now Made by Design 10-inch beechwood rolling pin $9 TARGET Shop Now
Great Jones Hot Dish four-quart rectangular baking dish $75 NORDSTROM Shop Now West Elm Kaloh stoneware mixing bowls, set of three $80 WEST ELM Shop Now
Essential Utensils
I’ve been using a partially melted tablespoon measure for about five years now, meaning it’s possible that everything I’ve baked in that time has contained the incorrect amount of an essential ingredient. Meanwhile, these Kitchenaid measuring spoons are literally six dollars! Similarly, I’ve been using the same disfigured spatula since I moved to New York in 2013. Four apartments and eight roommates later, I was long overdue for an upgrade.
OXO Good Grips three-piece silicon spatula set $21 AMAZON Shop Now Equal Parts kitchen utensil set $59 PATTERN BRANDS Shop Now
All-Clad set of five measuring cups $50 CRATE & BARREL Shop Now KitchenAid set of five measuring spoons $8 $7 AMAZON Shop Now
Sustainable Food Storage
More cooking means more leftovers, which in turn means more food storage. After flying through disposable plastic bags, I purchased these reusable silicone alternatives, along with these easy Anyday bowls that pull double duty as serving dishes and storage containers.
Anyday the Everyday set $140 $120 ANYDAY Shop Now Stasher stand-up mid bag $22 $17 STASHER Shop Now
Golden Rabbit set of three enamelware nesting bowls $42 NORDSTROM Shop Now Bee's Wrap reusable beeswax food wrap $18 $15 AMAZON Shop Now
Grownup Serveware
Having spent most of my twenties eating in bed while watching Netflix (or worse, over the sink while scrolling my phone), it never occurred to me that one day I might become the kind of person that invites guests over for dinner. Now that I finally have room for a dining table (it’s the little things!) I’ve found myself cooking for friends at home and in need of serveware that’s not paper or plastic.
Beau Rush Cry Baby serving platter $185 BEAU RUSH Shop Now Nambé Nara salad bowl and servers $120 BLOOMINGDALE'S Shop Now
Brooklyn Slate cheese boards $50 WILLIAMS SONOMA Shop Now Farmhouse Pottery Classic Baker's pie dish $100 FARMHOUSE POTTERY Shop Now
An Aesthetic Indulgence
Now that cooking takes up so much more of my time, I’ve started to treat my kitchen less like an afterthought and more like I would treat the rest of my living space. That means being thoughtful about the items I use every day—especially those that aren’t always tucked away in a drawer or cabinet.
West Elm Kaloh spoon rest $10 WEST ELM Shop Now East Fork horn salt and pepper shakers $28 EAST FORK Shop Now
