These 7 Big-Ticket Items Are All You Need To Become A Better Cook. Instantly.
by Audie Metcalf
I mean listen, technically you don’t “need” them. Do any of us “need” 90% of the crap we have? No. But if you want an efficient, uncluttered, perfectly outfitted kitchen that will make you excited about cooking, these are the essential investments.
No, you won’t see air fryers and ice cream makers and spice grinders on this list because 1. They’re pretty inexpensive and 2. They’re not actually essential.
But these are essential.
But you can still feel free to yell at me in the comments if your favorite thing didn’t make the cut.
1. A Vitamix
What: Vitamix A3500
We begin with the mother lode.
I saved up for 3 years to buy my Vitamix. I’ve used it nearly every single day since then. And given I’ve had it for about 10 years, that means I’ve used it roughly 1,820 times, which means my cost is down to 33 cents per use. This is how I justify the gut-punch of a price.
I make hot soups (it makes hot soups!!), green goddess dressing, gorgeously creamy hummus, all manner of smoothies and bowls, my 2 minute gazpacho, and during the summer, I make WHOLE LEMON BLENDER LEMONADE wherein I throw in a whole lemon, 2 cups of water, a big handful of ice, a squirt of honey, and blend it all up for a minute or so. I serve this to guests and they think I’m some kind of miracle-worker and it literally derails the entire conversation for 8-17 minutes. This magic does not work in a regular blender. I’ve tried. Ohhhhh I’ve tried.
A Vitamix means all opportunities are available to you. Kitchen-wise. It’s a good feeling.
Price: $599-$650
2. A huge cutting board
What: Epicurean Chef Series Cutting Board
Look.
You can throw out those 12, dumb cutting boards that you hate that are cluttering your cabinet.
You only need one. But it has to be huge.
Fine, if you want a separate board for raw meat, go for it. That one doesn’t have to be fancy. But your main cutting board should be high quality, and enormous. Mediumish boards are why you’re always frustrated when chopping.
Having a big, luxurious expanse in front of you for all your herbs and scallions and avo and tomatoes is what your life has been missing. And you can solve that right now.
Price: $99-$144
3. A Good Hand Mixer
What: Cuisinart Power Advantage 9-Speed Handheld Mixer
This is going to upset people. But I’m not including a stand mixer on this list.
And that’s because unless you’re truly a baker who bakes all the time, you just don’t need one. And if you are a baker who bakes all the time and you do need one, THIS ONE is hands down the best.
But for the rest of us amateurs who made 27 banana breads over quarantine and are committed to “baking more,” a really good hand mixer is all you need. Plus it’s just not a huge chore because you don’t have to lug some 400 pound BEAST onto your countertop just to make that easy lemon pie recipe you just saved on Pinterest.
It can feel very breezy and casual to fetch your hand mixer, like it’s no big deal. And that’s actually the trick to all cooking. Cooking has to feel fun and effortless. Not like some mind numbing task that you have to steel yourself to do. I’m sure there are some inspirational Instagram quotes to be found in this idea but I’m not quite there yet.
In the meantime, this is the handmixer that will make you an easy, breezy baker.
Price: $80
4. A Food Processor
What: Breville’s Sous Chef 16 Pro
A dream for chopping and prepping and shredding.
Whip up zucchini fritters in mere minutes. Shred a gigantic number of potatoes to make your soon-to-be-famous potato latkes for a brunch at home because we can do things like that now. Make homemade brioche, entirely in the food processor. Or cauliflower pizza crust. Or homemade fruit roll ups. Or peanut butter. Or lamb burgers. Or homemade potato chips.
Once you have one, you’ll become the cook you always know you could be. Truly.
Price: $400
5. An Excellent Knife
What: Global G2 8-inch Chef’s Knife
A secret: you don’t need a knife block to be low-key profesh in the kitchen.
You know what you need? One good knife.
And this is that knife. Comfortable in the hand with its unique dimpled grip. Retains sharpness for an impossibly long time. Not so long that it becomes unwieldy. Not too small that you can’t put some real heft into cubing up that butternut squash.
And speaking of sharpness: If you’re skittish about sharp knives because you’re not a chopping pro, don’t be. It’s much easier to cut yourself with a dull blade, so invest in one good one. And make it this.
Price: $159
6. A Dutch Oven
What: Great Jones The Dutchess
A beautiful Dutch oven is more than cookware. It’s a beacon of adulthood. A shining signal to yourself that you have, indeed, arrived.
And there is none more joyful a signal than The Dutchess.
First of all, she comes in the most beautiful array of colors including BROCCOLI and BLUEBERRY. We’re almost faint from happiness in writing those words.
The oval shape allows for a variety of foods, including a whole goddamn chicken if you’re so inclined, and you can also toss the whole pot into the dishwasher for the easiest breeziest cleanup imaginable. She also has a rose gold handle. We are faint again.
She’s a beaut. She’s worth it. You’ll legitimately cook more. And you’ll use this pot for the rest of your natural life.
Price: $155
7. This cookware Set
What: Scanpan Classic 8-Piece Cookware Set
Have you heard of this brand? Scanpan?
It’s sort of the newest innovation of nonstick cookware, and it’s truly remarkable. Normally we don’t traffic in “sets” but we found the only set where you’ll use every, single product. All the time.
Designed to work perfectly with zero oil, these pots and pans are sort of a game changer if you’re trying to find ways to eat healthier without any effort—aka all of us.
They’re PFOA-free, family run, eco-friendly, and use 100% recycled aluminum. And they’re the best pans we’ve ever used. By far.
Price: $400
Audie Metcalf is the Editor-in-chief of The Candidly, and lives in LA with her family. You can find more of her articles here.
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
We have to eat.
