My Everyday Kitchen Favorites (From Scratch Cooking to Time-Saving Essentials)

Our kitchen gets used hard. Between feeding little mouths (some with food allergies), cooking most meals at home, and baking for the joy or it, I’ve learned this: the right tools & gadgets make everyday cooking feel lighter instead of overwhelming.

Now, I’m by no means a minimalist when it comes to kitchen tools— my mom sold Pampered Chef my whole childhood, so I’m raised by the woman who has a tool for everything. BUT, I do try and be intentional about the kitchen tools I bring into my home so that my kitchen isn’t overwhelmed by things.

These are the kitchen items I reach for daily, the ones that have earned their place in our cabinets and on our counters. If I had to set up a kitchen again tomorrow, these are what I’d buy first.

(Some links below are affiliate links. I only share things we genuinely use and love.)

My Everyday Kitchen Essentials

The first two are coffee related because, well, that’s where we start our morning.

1. An Espresso Machine that Makes Coffee an Experience (My Morning Non-Negotiable)

Let’s start with the obvious. Coffee is fuel in this season. And it brings me a whole lot of joy.

Having a good espresso machine at home saves us money (seriously have you seen the cost of a latte out?), but more importantly, it turns my morning coffee ritual into a moment. I genuinely go to bed looking forward to making and drinking my morning latte. And then once I’m done with my morning latte, I look forward to my afternoon one:)

👉 Link: Espresso machine we use

2. My beloved Ember Mug

Please please hear me out, I know it sounds crazy to spend upwards of $100 on a mug, but I promise you it is worth every. single. penny. I use mine every morning and am not really sure what I did without it? It’s a mug that self heats so your coffee stays hot the whole time you drink it. Seriously a dream for moms with littles. I’ve gifted Ember mugs many times because it’s one of those things that you think you don’t need so maybe you don’t buy it yourself. But once you have it, it’s a non-negotiable.

👉 Link: No More Cold Coffee with Ember Mug

3. A Cast Iron, A Good Non-Stick Pan & A Dutch Oven

I rotate between these three constantly.

  • Cast iron - I’m a cast iron lover and use it for cooking meats, cobblers, cornbreads, you name it!

  • Non-stick - for eggs, reheating leftovers & daily use!

  • Dutch oven- a MUST HAVE. Mine looks like it’s been to war I use it so much. Soups, baking bread, roasts!

4. A Simple Kitchen Scale (Especially for Baking)

This is one of those tools I didn’t use growing up but now wouldn’t want to be without.

It’s helpful for:

  • Baking (especially bread and pastries)

  • Measuring ingredients accurately

  • Sourdough

👉 Link: Kitchen scale

5. A Good Cutting Board (or Two)

We keep one large board for prep and one smaller one for quick tasks.

I prefer boards that:

  • Are wood/bamboo

  • Are easy to clean

  • Can handle daily use

👉 Link: I love this set of 3

👉 Link: Mineral oil for boards


6. Our Wonder Oven (Air Fryer / Toaster Oven Combo)

The Wonder Oven has become a countertop favorite because it’s so versatile & beautiful.

I use it for

  • Reheating leftovers

  • Baking cookies

  • Morning toast

  • Heating frozen nuggets for the kids

  • Melting cheese on sandwiches

It’s like having an extra oven — but faster and way more efficient.

👉 Link: THE Wonder Oven



7. My Go-To Knives (Sharp Knives = Faster Cooking)

Good knives make cooking feel easier. I love this knife set! It’s served us so well. Are there nicer/sharper sets? Yes I’m sure, but knives can be so expensive.. and this set is a great value!

👉 Link: Knife set we use



8. Glass Storage Containers for Leftovers & Prep

We cook once and eat twice whenever possible. Glass containers help with:

  • Storing leftovers

  • Prepping snacks ahead

  • Keeping the fridge organized

  • Reducing plastic

  • Easy to reheat in the oven!

👉 Link: Glass storage containers

👉 Link: Weck Glass Containers

👉 Link: Mason Jars

9. Our Bread Machine (Homemade Bread with EASE)

Fresh bread feels so good — but when life is busy, I lean on our trusty bread machine.

We use it for:

  • Sandwich loaves

  • Dough for rolls

  • Overnight doughs ready to shape

If you want homemade bread without the fuss of shaping, this is a game changer.

👉 Link: Bread machine we use & love

10. A Set of Mixing Bowls

A good mixing bowl set is essential! I have a whole bunch of mixed matched mixing bowls, but if I were starting over, here’s the set I would buy.

👉 Link: Mixing bowl set

Why I Share These Favorites

These are tools that support our everyday rhythms — cooking real food, feeding our family, and creating a home that feels calm and lived-in.

If you’re building or refreshing your kitchen, start with the things you’ll use every day. Those are the ones that make the biggest difference.

Click the images below for all my kitchen favorite links!

Carrington Winkelmann