Cultivating Healthy Habits : Kitchen tools

The following are tools in the kitchen that I cannot do without! I got a little out of hand. It turns out I cannot do without 95 kitchen items ;)

1. Rubber scrappers, especially the small ones. My son always asks me to hold a rubber scrapper when he is emptying the dishwasher and then commences to bow to me saying, "All hail the rubber scrapper Queen!"

2. Santoku Knife. I only use this type of knife in the kitchen and I have multiple sizes.

3. 1/4 cup measurer. I think I have 3 of these.

4. shot glass measurer. I have 6 of these. I love using the ones that have been so used that the lines and measurements are all gone for measuring my salad dressing for lunch. I just fill it to the top and dump on my salad.

5. adjustable measuring spoons

6. zester

7. lemon/lime reamer

8. pinch bowls. I love to use these when a recipe calls for adding in a lot of dry ingredients. I measure them all out and put them in one of these to just dump in when ready. I think I have about 15 of these.

9. mixing bowls.

10. electric knife sharpener

11. electric wok

12. Big pizza cutter

13. apple corer

14. cast iron pan. I love cooking with these. I have everything but the dutch oven. Over medium eggs are great on the low lip one! I do not do all my cooking with these. I do cajun cubed potatoes and lime salmon in the large pan (12 inch). I do scrambled eggs in the smaller pan (10 in). And I do steaks, grill cheese sandwiches, and over medium eggs in the small lip pan.

15. Stainless steel cookware. If you have an induction cooktop you need to make sure that your cookware is magnetic on the bottom!

16. Induction cooktop. I am the worst at keeping a clean cooktop. But with having an induction cooktop it is spotless all the time. I mainly just have to wipe away dust before cooking!

7. food scrapper. I use these in the sink to get food off dishes.

18. multiple sizes of scoopers. 1 Tablespoon scooper is perfect for mini muffin pans and cookies. The actual ice cream scooper is perfect to fill muffin pans.

19. mini muffin pan. I have about 3 of these and contemplating getting more! And I guess it is good to have muffin pans too :) And it is good to have smaller muffin and smaller mini muffins too for when you don't need so many cups.

20. crock pot/slow cookers. All sizes. I think I have one of every size. Hamilton Beach is my favorite but that might be because it was my first ;) So handy!

21. Trivets! I love collecting trivets. I have them all over the kitchen and on the dinner room table.

22. tenderizer. I rarely use this for meat. It is mainly my go to tool for pounding nuts. Make sure you put the nuts in a zip lock bag and pound with a sturdy cutting board underneath the bag or you will hurt your countertop.

23. Cutting boards. I might be a collector of these too :) I just don't like not having one when I need one! I also love small ones because when I just have to cut an onion it takes up less room in the dishwasher.

24. measuring cups. I need them to be heavy duty, handles not raised above cup level, and handle and cup one piece. I break way too many when they are separately constructed. These nest so nicely.

25. 2 Tablespoon measurer. Too many things call for this to not just have one around!

26. liquid measuring cups. All sizes. I think I have two of every size.

27. Adjustable measuring cup.

28. Salad spinner. I spin so much more than just lettuce in here. Great thing to have even though expensive. Make sure you get a large one. You will wish you had if you don't.

29. Pastry mat. Pampered chef is the one I use because it doesn't slip and slid. LOVE IT!

30. Rolling pin I like this weighted one.

31. Wire mesh strainer. Get one that has hooks on the end so that you can put it on any size bowl to strain liquids.

32. Double sided waffle iron. Expensive but well worth it!

33. Airbake cookie pans. I think I have about 7 of these.

34. Jelly roll pans. Only have 2 of these! The lid really makes a difference especially when you are making taco dip and it takes up a lot of space in the fridge. This way you can set things on top of it.

35. Pizza pan. Get one with a lip. I have a much larger one than I need for pizza because I use it for so much more, especially for my pineapple upside down cake when I flip it to hold in the juices.

36. Spaghetti Pot. LOVE IT. I really need a new one because I have used mine ever since I got it as a wedding present over 15 years ago! I think the reason I have never gotten a new one even though I am in desperate need of one is because I cannot find an enamel one like the one I have.

37. Binder clips. You find these in the office supply section but I love them for chip clips and anything that needs to be closed. I collect these. Anytime I find a cute one I get them.. Can never have too many around. So many things need to be closed! Target is so good about having cute ones.

38. hanging towels. A must so we do not use a million paper towels after rinsing hands! These are a lot harder to find. You can buy towels that you like and sew a piece of cord about an inch down on two sides of a corner. Sorry for picture being sideways.

39. A collection of nice serving utensils. Walmart has a great selection of stainless steel ones that I love.

40. Upright bread containers. I have 3 and they fit perfectly on one self in my cupboard!

41. Containers for flour, sugar, etc. All sizes. These are my favorite

42. Mini cast iron pots for salt and pepper next to the stove. I got mine at HEB in Texas! I have one for table salt, pepper, and one for Kosher Salt. I have seen some at Home Goods but they do not have links for items they sell online. If you find some get them. They are so cute!

43. Stand mixer. I have my mother's that is over 40 years old. I use it so much that I bought a second one. Love KitchenAid!

44. Food processor.

45. Toaster oven. So handy when you do not want to heat up the whole oven and you can toast a lot of slices at one time!

46. Place mats. The ones that look quilted and are scalloped are the best.

47. Table runner. I love to have these on our table! Again, quilted are the easiest to wash and keep looking nice.

48. Little bowls for dessert and side dishes. Bigger than pinch bowls but smaller than cereal bowls. Bowls of this kind are hard to find so when you do buy them!

49. Whisk. I like the long because the steam starts to burn my hand. The small one comes in handy. Do not really use the medium one unless the long one is dirty.

50. Pastry brush. Silicon, no hairs getting in your food!

51. griddles. I have 2 so that I can do bacon and eggs in one and pancakes in the other.

52. Tongs. I love both, but the ones with the rubber tips are great for turning bacon! Make sure they are scalloped tips.

53. Oven mitt sets. I have lots because I am always misplacing them ;)

54. Cast iron cook book stand. When you are not using it just looks pretty!

55. Veggie/fruit bowl.

56. Spoon Rest

57. Cookie cooling rack. I have 5. Love these!

58. Sturdy flatware. These are our absolute favorite!

59. Stackable cereal bowls

60. Chinese strainer

61. Spaghetti spoon

62. Stirring spoon

63. Turners

64. Metal Turner for cast iron pans. These really help to make sure you get everything when turning food without pieces staying behind.

65. Ladle

66. Potato masher

67. Colander

68. Garlic peeler

69. Garlic press

70. strawberry huller

71. Serving spatula

72. Grilling tools.

73. Grilling gloves

74. Electronic scale.

75. Fire Extinguisher

76. Gravy Boat. It is hard to find cute ones online. In the fall they come out in stores for gifts.

77. Pie storage

78. Pyrx set and 9x13 pan with lid.

79. Deep dish and regular pie plates.

80. Drying mats I have lots of these and just love them so that when a set is in the washing machine you still have more to dry your dishes.

81. Wax paper sheets. I use these for heating food in the microwave and for setting my tools on when cooking so I do not mess up the counter. I divide one sheet into four when I am doing tuna burger patties to make transferring them to the pan easy. So handy.

82. Zip lock bags. Sandwich and Gallon size. I use the sandwich for putting into my adjustable 2 cup measuring cup and pouring cooled bacon fat into. I use the gallon size when pipping filling like manicotti or lemon/lime tartlets.

83. Paper towel holder. I like this one because there is resistance so I only get the sheets I want to tear off.

84. Corningware

85. Storage containers. The large plastic tub great for freezing banana slush.

86. Bottom freezer double door refrigerator

87. napkin basket

88. Salt and Pepper shaker set with holder

89. Stainless steal trash can

90. Kitchen Floor Mats

91, Small coffee cups only 6 oz. This is my ultimate all time favorite cup. It works perfectly for what I need in the microwave without getting hot and menions are so darn cute ;)