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I am obsessed with kitchenware, in case you haven’t read my previous articles. There is nothing that makes me happier than a package full of new appliances arriving at my door, ready to be opened and used immediately. For example, my most recent splurge: a nice air fryer, which I’ve been eyeing for months now. (It’s amazing, thank you for asking.)
I’m always looking for my next purchase, so I have a folder on my laptop entirely dedicated to kitchen splurges of mine. Here are my top 12 kitchen must-haves that are worth the extra expense.
Le Creuset Fig Signature 5.5-Qt. Dutch Oven
This dutch oven is made with a smooth enamel, ideal for braising, roasting, and slow cooking. Its heat retention means uniform cooking through and through, and it can withstand any heat source, be it glass cooktops or gas stoves. The Fig color from Crate and Barrel turns it into countertop decor.
Anova Precision Cooker Nano
Sous vide steak is my favorite, and Anova’s Precision Cooker makes it super tender and full of moisture. This cooker is Bluetooth enabled, so you can set your temperature and cook time, then keep track of it through an app. Stop, start, or simply follow the cooking progress in real time.
Wüsthof Gourmet 12-Piece Block Set
Everyone needs an incredible knife set — a sharp cut is one thing you should never sacrifice for affordability. I own Wüsthof knives, and they are easily the best ones I’ve ever used. This 12-piece block set contains each knife you’ll need, with blades made from durable, high-carbon, no-stain steel.
Breville Hot Wok Pro
You can’t make a stir fry without a proper wok. This one is electric, allowing for precise heating, browning, and stir-frying each time. Steam vegetables and control the moisture thanks to the vent on the lid, then add the rest of your ingredients for an evenly-cooked dinner.
Caraway Cookware Set
One of our writers bought this cookware set, then proceeded to throw out every other pan she had. This set includes a fry pan, saucepan, sauté pan, and dutch oven, and the non-stick ceramic cookware is made without any chemicals that will taint your food. Really — who needs other pans?
Vitamix Smart Blender
Sure, I’ve had really nice blenders…but none of them compare to the Vitamix Smart Blender. Aside from being extremely high-tech — like, it has a motor base that can read the container size and adjust timing automatically — it can grind nuts, make soup, and mix batter and dough. Can your blender do all of that?
Café – Drip 10-Cup Coffee Maker with WiFi
Aside from the many benefits of a drip coffee machine (we wrote an article with its pros and cons), this one connects to a SmartHQ app, Alexa, and Google Home, allowing for Voice-to-Brew. It also remembers temperature settings, amount of cups brewed, and brew strength, so you don’t have to reset the machine each time you turn it on.
Our Place 8-in-1 Always Pan
I didn’t get the obsession with the Always Pan at first. A pan that does it all…can’t other pans do that? I am here to tell you no. It braises, sears, steams, strains, sautes, fries, boils, serves, and stores. It has an aluminum body for optimal heating, a non-stick ceramic finish, and, one of my favorite parts: a spout, so you’re not dripping everywhere when you’re serving straight from the pan.
Prepdeck Recipe Preparation Kit and Storage
It’s a cutting board, it’s a food storage rack, it’s a utensil holder, it’s all of the above! The Prepdeck does so much in its tiny body. The magnetic cutting board attaches to the preparation station, where there are 15 containers for ingredients, space for utensils, and a drawer for scraps, making mise en place a breeze.
Coolina PROMAJA Cleaver Knife
I still definitely recommend Wüsthof’s knives, but if you’re choosing to invest in a cleaver, make sure it can do more than cut meat. Coolina’s PROMAJA can cut through bones and through veggies; the carbon steel blade stays sharp no matter what you’re chopping.
Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro
This. Air. Fryer. It’s not just for frying chicken wings and potatoes, like the vast majority of air fryers out there. This one has options to toast up to nine pieces of bread, cook pizza, bake cookies, slow cook, simply warm — you want it to jump, it’ll ask how high. It’s definitely worth the extra dollars for all it offers.
Smeg Citrus Juicer
There is nothing better than a fresh glass of juice…and there is nothing more annoying than slicing, juicing, and then removing seeds from a juicer. Smeg’s Citrus Juicer takes the pain out of that process, automatically juicing, straining, and pouring into a cup (with a no-drip system, no less). Store-bought juice? I don’t know her.
What have been your best kitchen investments? Let us know in the comments!
For More Kitchenware Recommendations, Read These:
These Are The Best Blenders To Make Perfect Summer Smoothies
These Coffee Machines Will Help You Make Your Best Cuppa Joe, Promise
