Kitchen Accessories: 10 Kitchen Gadgets That Simplify Cooking

Walk into any kitchenware shop and the sheer variety of tools, gadgets and clever utensils on offer can make the head spin. Drawers fill up faster than they should, novelty items collect dust, and the genuinely useful kit tends to get buried under everything else. The honest truth is that the average home cook needs surprisingly little to turn out wonderful meals, but a small handful of well-chosen helpers really do transform daily cooking from a chore into a pleasure that you actively look forward to most days.

The list below picks out ten kitchen accessories that earn their space on a typical six-square-metre worktop. None of them takes up more than a small drawer or hook, none costs the earth, and every one will pay for itself in saved time and frustration within the first month of regular use. Skim through, tick off what you already own, and keep the rest in mind the next time you find yourself browsing the aisles of a kitchen shop on a quiet weekend afternoon.

Reading time: 10 minutes.

Kitchen knives

Anyone who has ever battled a head of cabbage or a tomato with a dull blade understands the value of properly sharp knives in everyday cooking. Most home cooks manage perfectly well with three or four: a small paring knife for vegetables, a serrated bread knife, a long-bladed chef's knife and a narrower meat knife. Steel remains the traditional choice, but titanium and ceramic alternatives have grown in popularity. Store sharp knives in a wooden block, dry them thoroughly after washing, and invest in a basic sharpener to keep dull edges working hard for years to come.

Vegetable peeler

The first official patent for a vegetable peeler dates back to 1936, before which housewives relied entirely on a sharp knife and a steady hand. Today the modest peeler shines for thick-skinned produce such as potatoes, carrots, asparagus and apples, where it removes only the very outer layer and leaves precious flesh untouched underneath. Adventurous cooks also use peelers to shave thin ribbons of courgette or carrot for vegetable noodles, salads and quick decorative garnishes that look genuinely impressive on the dinner plate.

Kitchen scissors and can opener

Roast chicken lovers know that a sturdy pair of kitchen scissors makes carving infinitely easier and safer than wrestling with a sharp knife on hot meat. The same scissors handle herb stems, pizza slices, packaging and string with equal ease. Pair them with a reliable can opener for tinned vegetables, beans, fruits and tuna, and you have two of the most-used items in any home kitchen sitting comfortably together in the utensil drawer.

Wooden spoon

The humble wooden spoon may look like an afterthought, but it is the secret to long-lasting non-stick pans. Wood will not scratch coatings the way metal does, stays cool to the touch even when stirring boiling sauces, and quickly becomes the favourite tool of any cook who values gentle handling above all else. A single sturdy wooden spoon serves a household well for years.

Cutting board

With sharp knives and a peeler in place, the next essential is a good cutting board, ideally two of contrasting colours. Reserve one for raw meat and fish to avoid cross-contamination from bacteria, and use the other for vegetables, fruits and bread that will be eaten without further cooking. Aim for boards that resist scratches without being so hard they dull your knives. Plastic, wood and bamboo all strike a sensible balance, with wood and bamboo offering an extra dose of natural beauty alongside their practical merit on every kitchen worktop.

Square box grater

Gone are the days of two-sided graters with only large and small holes. The modern four-sided box grater offers a different cutting style on every side, including thin slicing, fine grating, coarse shredding and the larger ribbons needed for hash browns or French fries. One sturdy unit replaces several specialist tools and stores away neatly in any standard kitchen cupboard.

Measuring cups or jugs

Bakers, in particular, depend on accurate measurements, and even experienced cooks reach for a measuring jug whenever the recipe calls for precision. Keep at least one transparent jug for liquids and one set of nesting cups for dry ingredients, and you will sail through bread, cake and pastry recipes with calm confidence rather than hopeful guesswork.

Colander

Drain pasta, rinse berries, wash leafy greens or strain stock, and you will quickly understand why the colander earns its place as one of the most-used items in any home kitchen. A separate finer-mesh sieve also pays its way for sifting flour, dusting cocoa over desserts or making clear berry jellies. Both stack neatly together and take up almost no cupboard space at all.

Whisk

You can certainly whip egg whites with a fork, but you will be at it for a very long time and your arm will protest loudly. The traditional balloon whisk and its smaller flat cousin make short work of meringues, pancake batters, vinaigrettes and silky sauces. Most modern hand mixers also accept whisk attachments, so you can graduate to motorised assistance without abandoning the familiar wire shape.

Immersion blender or mixer

Some cooks call the blender the most universal tool in the kitchen, and they have a point. It chops, purees and emulsifies in seconds, turning out velvety soups, smooth sauces and silky smoothies with very little fuss. Hand-held immersion models tuck away in a drawer when not in use, while a full-size blender or food processor handles tougher jobs such as ice, frozen fruits and dense vegetables with confident ease.

Tips and Tricks

Tip 1. Quality matters more than quantity when stocking a small kitchen with essential gear. Two excellent sharp knives will outperform a drawer full of cheap cutlery every single time, so buy the best you can afford in any given category and treat the kit with the respect it genuinely deserves to make sure it lasts through years of regular daily use without needing replacement.

Tip 2. Sharpen knives at home with a basic ceramic or diamond sharpener at least once a month, and have them professionally honed once a year. To put your sharp knives to immediate good use, try slicing the boiled meat in our beautifully tender how to properly boil beef guide for the freshest possible results in any salad.

Tip 3. Wash all wooden tools by hand rather than in the dishwasher, since prolonged exposure to hot water and detergent will eventually crack and warp the grain. Rub a little food-safe mineral oil into wooden boards and spoons every few months to keep them looking smart and to prevent the wood from drying out and splitting along its natural lines over time.

Tip 4. A good blender opens the door to dozens of healthy quick recipes that would otherwise feel too fiddly to attempt. Put your machine to work on our refreshing kiwi and banana smoothie in a blender, which transforms four basic ingredients into a thick milkshake-style breakfast in less than ten minutes flat.

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