Free: Healthy 5-Ingredient Meals Ebook
Get It NowMoving across the country has been no joke (so much planning!), but something really great also came out of it: I got to pare down my kitchen to what I truly love and pick up some new items! Here is my collection of kitchen favorites that made the cut — a combination of my best items I’ve used for years and new items that I picked up after hours of research (an average of 2-3 hours per item). Plus, I tested them all out for 2 months before publishing this post.
I also have all of these on my Amazon list here. I hope you find something you love!
Spice Organizer
If you have the drawer space, this spice organizer has been a game changer for me! I love seeing all my spices at a glance.
If you don’t have enough room in drawers, I had these organizers at my last house and loved them as well. And if you’re just starting your spice collection, this spice set is a good value compared to buying them individually.
Cutlery Trays
These bamboo organizers let you maximize drawer space for cutlery, because the width is adjustable to fit your kitchen drawers.
The bamboo material is really nice, feels high quality and wipes clean. They also come in different colors — the gray is my fave for my kitchen!
I actually got three of these, ha! This one has smaller sections that are perfect for silverware. Then I got two of these larger ones, one for various cooking and baking items (pictured), and one for serving utensils (not pictured).
Air Fryer
This is the air fryer you’ll find me using for all my air fryer recipes! The basket is roomy, it doesn’t take up too much space on my counter, and it’s super easy to clean. Several of my friends got the same one after trying mine and couldn’t be happier.
Cutting Board
For years, I used flexible plastic cutting boards for the convenience of pouring things into bowls. But I realized that they were dulling my knives, so I did a ton of research on cutting boards, and this one I got is amazing. The teak wood is super durable, sustainably sourced, doesn’t dull my knives, and lasts a lifetime.
Paper Towel Holder
What’s so special about a paper towel holder, you ask? This one lets you tear off sheets with one hand. I tried 4 different ones and most don’t live up to that claim, but this one does. Very convenient when my hands are dirty while I’m cooking.
Cast Iron Skillet
I had a few of these already, but couldn’t resist expanding my collection because these skillets are the BEST! I have them in 10 inch (pictured), 12 inch, and even grill pan options. They are perfect for a sirloin steak (or really, any of my steak recipes) to get that perfect sear, quickly sauteing vegetables, and more.
Salt & Pepper Grinders
These salt and pepper mills check all the boxes. They are beautiful, work well, and the clear glass allows me to see when they are running low.
High Power Blender
I’ve had this high-power blender for almost a decade, so the jar is not so pretty anymore, but it still works as well as the day I got it. It’s unbelievably powerful for everything from soups to smoothies to making nut butters.
Butter Dish
I have to admit this butter dish was a bit of a splurge, but I really wanted one that looks nice on the counter and can fit my Costco-sized blocks of butter. Most that I tried can’t fit those larger ones.
Utensil Holder
I tried several utensil holders, and most of them were flimsy or very small. This holder I settled on fits a lot of them in a compact way, plus it rotates and has dividers inside.
Baking Dish
I have a couple of these baking dishes in white (you’ll spot them in my recipe photos, like chicken bacon ranch casserole), but more recently decided to get this fun turquoise color. Whatever color you get, it heats evenly and looks so pretty going straight to the table.
Drawer Organizers
When we moved into this new house, I vowed that I won’t have another junk drawer of random stuff! This organizer set comes in different sizes that are perfect for our utility drawer. I also have them in bathrooms and other places to organize small items.
Oil Dispensers
I love the convenience of keeping cooking oil next to my stove, but heat and light are not ideal for keeping it fresh. I searched high and low for cruets that will keep the oil protected and don’t leak. These work great, plus they look awesome and come in over a dozen different colors. I keep olive oil in a gray one and avocado oil in a white one.
Spoon Rest With Lid Holder
There are many spoon rests out there, but my pet peeve was having to set a dirty pot lid onto the countertop, so I was excited to find this spoon rest that has a built-in lid holder. It’s sturdy enough to support even my cast iron lids, and even fits more than one utensil on the spoon rest if needed.
Glass Mugs
You might recognize these mugs from some of my recipe photos, like bulletproof coffee. I got some extras for the new house, because we drink so much coffee and tea! I love how sturdy they are, the handle is comfortable, and they actually keep my coffee warm a bit longer than the cups I had before. I also like to use them with this coffee warmer!
Measuring Cups And Spoons
I brought this set of measuring cups and spoons from our last house, but love them so much that I had to include them on the list!
The colors make it easy to spot the size I’m looking for, but of course they are labeled too — and the labels have lasted without coming off.
Both the cups and spoons are stackable, so they don’t take up much space. The measuring spoons are magnetic, too. My favorite part, though, is that the spoons come in two shapes on opposite ends, and the oval-shaped ones fit into my spice jars!
I also have these liquid measuring cups, as liquids don’t measure the same.
Oven Mitts & Trivets
I switched from cloth to these silicone oven mitts a few years ago, and will never go back. They are so easy to clean, have a soft lining, and come in many colors (but I picked neutral gray).
I also got these silicone trivets to match. They are great for placing hot pans on the counter or dining room table, but they are also flexible, so you can use them for grabbing hot pans as well.
Dish Rack & Drying Mat
We didn’t get to pick everything about our kitchen layout, and one of the things I was worried about was having the sink on the kitchen island. Where was I going to dry my dishes (without taking up space inside the sink itself)?
I’ve been really pleased with the solution I came up with. This dish drying rack doesn’t look like an eyesore, has a little drain that flows into the sink, and also converts to fit over the sink if you prefer that.
I also got this dish mat for larger items, which has been a lot more absorbent than the microfiber towels I used to use. It comes in different colors and patterns to match your decor. (But speaking of dish towels, these are fantastic — so soft, absorbent, and lint free!)
Dish Soap Dispensers & Sink Caddy
I’m probably a bit too excited about something as silly as a sink caddy, but it maximizes the space so well. There’s space for brushes, a sponge, and these two touchless soap dispensers (one for hand soap and one for dish soap) that I’m also kind of obsessed with.
Saucepan
It’s not so pretty anymore because I use it so much, but this saucepan is my absolute favorite. The size is perfect for just about anything, it has a solid weight to it for great heat retention, and the best part is the curved bottom.
Microwave Cover
Ever had a big mess of splatters in your microwave after warming up a bowl of chili or leftovers with tomato sauce? If you know, you know. This microwave cover keeps the mess contained, it’s dishwasher safe, and it’s collapsible for storage (but I just keep mine inside the microwave).
Vacuum Sealer
This little tool has saved me so much money! It practically doubles the storage time for all my leftovers, as well as fresh produce that goes bad quickly, like berries and zucchini. You can use it with vacuum seal bags like a normal sealer, but I use it more often to keep leftovers in the matching glass storage containers.
Lid Organizer
Anyone else have a big mess of storage container lids? Mine certainly were, and this lid organizer fixed that problem. The total size is expandable to fit your shelves or drawers (I put mine in a pullout drawer inside a cabinet), and the dividers are adjustable depending on the lid sizes you have.
Hand Mixer With Storage
I’m obsessed with the convenient storage that this handheld mixer offers — all the attachments store right inside the included case. It’s also super powerful, with 9 speed settings. In fact, it’s so powerful that I don’t even need (or have) a stand mixer.
Mixing Bowls
Who knew I’d be so happy about a set of mixing bowls? This set has a non-slip bottom, tight-fitting lids, and the sizes you’d use most often. The stainless steel finish has been durable and truly doesn’t stain. Plus, one of the lids even comes with a few different grating attachments.
Baking Sheet With Rack
This might look familiar if you’ve make my healthy recipes often, because these are the sheet pans I use over 90% of the time. I have them in all sizes! The patented silicone surface never sticks, they don’t warp, and they’re made in the USA. My favorite is this set with a rack, which is great for getting foods crispy (like bacon in the oven).
Food Processor
Other than my air fryer, this food processor is my most used kitchen tool. It’s a workhorse for making pizza dough, fresh salsa, mashed cauliflower (or cauliflower rice), soups, and so much more.
Wooden Salt Cellar
We love flaky sea salt at my house, but it comes in this annoying cardboard box. I finally gave in and got this salt box for it. It’s a small thing that makes meals more enjoyable!
Box Grater
I use my food processor (also on this list!) to grate most of the time, but when I want less cleanup, I reach for this box grater. It’s so sturdy with a comfortable handle. There are holes in different sizes on the different sizes, so you can get the size you want.
Magnet Knife Holder
After trying out various knife blocks for years, I finally settled on this magnetic knife strip, and it’s the best decision I’ve made! Now all my knives don’t take up any counter space, and I can see them at a glance to grab the one I want easily. Here I have it attached with the included 3M tape (no-drill option!), but after we installed our textured backsplash, we used the option with screws instead.
Airtight Food Storage
This is still a work in progress, so I only have a few of them in the picture, but I have dozens of these to organize my pantry. I use the large ones for almond flour, Besti sweeteners, and oats, and use the smaller ones for most other pantry baking staples. They are 100% airtight, so I’ve noticed my pantry items definitely last longer, and the clear design with (included) labels makes it easy to find everything.
Wholesome Yum Pantry Ingredients
Of course I’d be remiss if I didn’t include the ingredients I use so often for cooking and baking! Besti and Besti Brown are my go-to natural sweeteners. I use Wholesome Yum Zero Sugar Honey and Zero Sugar Maple Syrup for breakfast foods, marinades, salad dressings, glazes, and more.
5 Comments
Helene
0Thanks for sharing your kitchen tools and organizers with us. I have many of the items that you use already in my kitchen and use them all the time. I love the drawer organizers.
Elan
0Could you give me recipies for simple rotisserie chicken or salmon with no pork, thanks!
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Elan, I have many recipes on my sight that fit this criteria, you can search chicken or fish to find them.
Cindy
0I want to cook cutie oranges in the Instant Pot, instead of 2 hours on the stove for the Clementine Cake. How long should I cook them. (Whole Cuties]
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Cindy, I have never made a clementine cake so I don’t have a recipe to make a recommendation.