I own and love all of these things. You will too.

Looking for gift ideas? Building a wish list? Getting married and have no idea where to start with stocking your kitchen? This list is for you. I compiled the things I use most often that have made my kitchen an enjoyable and efficient place to cook in. Plus, they’re all awesome for healthy cooking! All of these are in my kitchen right now and get used multiple times a week (ask my husband), so I’ve been able to do the vetting for you. I may make a small commission on some of these links, so it’s a win for both of us! Let’s dive in, shall we…

Air Fryer

If I was on a desert island with one appliance, I’d hope it was this one. I use this without a doubt every day. It’s ~3x faster than cooking in the oven and makes food even crispier. Also a better alternative to the microwave for heating leftovers! When looking for one, the bigger and wider the basket (for max surface area), the better.

Citrus Squeezer

Because I hate using my hand to keep the seeds from getting in the dish, and let’s face it, I never get all the juice out on my own. Less waste, less mess, more efficiency! We love. I use this the most for making salad dressings and cocktails.

Microplane

Zesting is essential for less fat more flavor cooking. Not only is this great for citrus juice, but I also grate garlic and ginger to get that perfectly-fine mince.

Serving Dishes

Some of my favorite wedding gifts. Food looks better in white/neutral dishes. These come with fun wooden holders so you can take them right from the oven to the table without scrambling for a pot holder that looks embarrassingly from the 80’s (no offense, mom). There’s a whole set, but I love the large bowl and platter best!

Slanted Spatula

Gets those hard to reach areas of the pan. It flips, stirs, and scrapes. I learned this one from Queen Pioneer Woman.

Stainless Steel Cookware

I upgraded to these stainless steel pots and pans when getting married, and I’m so glad I did. After all the questionable things I’ve read about cookware, especially ones with Teflon, it’s been good to have peace of mind that stainless steel is one of the least toxic materials to cook with. This is a good set that isn’t cheap, but is on the lower end of price for the quality. My only complaint is that eggs stick so bad, but a little extra scrubbing never hurt anyone.

Pyrex Storage 

Plastics can be full of toxins that build up in your body and disrupt your metabolism and hormones. I always store food in glass to avoid these chemicals leeching (leaking) into my food. Plus, no gross discoloring from tomato sauce or that curry smell that never goes away. Glass storage containers are more expensive up front, but they last forever and hold up in the dishwasher, unlike the plastic ones.

Meat Thermometer

If you have an existential crisis every time you cook chicken, get a meat thermometer. This way, you can rest assured your meat is cooked properly before taking it off the heat and not be left questioning every decision you’ve ever made (surely that’s not just me?).

Everyday + Hosting Dinnerware

We use this set every day, and it just adds a little sophistication to the otherwise ~what are we doing??~ feeling of being adults. I also know that presentation helps psychologically with savoring food and eating mindfully, so get yourself some nice dishes and eat a slow, peaceful dinner. Your sanity is worth it.

Crock Pot

Despite what you may think, Crockpots are still in. I prefer them to Instant Pots (hot take, I know) because they don’t tend to overcook food as much, and you can leave it alone for much longer. This is that thing that saves me when I know I won’t have time/energy to cook later, but we’ve already eaten out plenty. I just toss in the ingredients in the morning and let them simmer all day (or all night, like these Breakfast-All-Week Steel Cut Oats) and my future-self thanks my past-self.

Knife Set

I love this knife set because it’s one that you can use every day, whether cooking or eating, because the knife quality is so great. I don’t know about you, but my previous experience with steak knives has been pretty meh. The chef’s knives are great too for prep work, so you really get an all-in-one set here.

Let me know if you try any of these out or gift to someone you love! Happy cooking!