Kitchen Essentials • Robyn's Southern Nest

Happy Friday y’all! We do a lot of cooking in our home so I thought it would be cool to round up my favorite kitchen essentials that I use every single week. I’ve tried to include items that I couldn’t live without. So if you’re a bride to be and are looking for items to register for or just want to expand your kitchen collection than this blog is for you my friend!

Instant Pot

I don’t know how I lived without this thing in my life! Yes it’s that good! I use it for soups, one pot meals, cooking meats or roasts. The possibilities are endless with the Instant Pot! It’s like a crock pot on crack! Meaning….it cooks food soo quickly. My husband mentioned getting one, and I can’t thank him enough! It’s been one of my favorite appliances in the kitchen!

Kitchen Aid Mixer

This is one appliance that I wish I had registered for when we were getting married. I love to bake and it hands down makes baking so much easier! You can also get additional attachments for it as well. They come in a bevy of different colors. I’m boring and went with white because it thought it was the most classic looking. Another thing that I use it for all the time is shredding chicken breasts. I throw the breasts in there with the paddle on the lowest setting and it perfectly shreds your chicken. No more using two forks. It’s a perfect time saver.

Calphalon Fry Pan

Even though it says it’s just for omelettes we use this Calphalon Fry Pan ALL the time! It heats up perfectly and there are no weak spots. I think because it’s for omelettes it evenly disperses the heat. It’s the perfect size as well. Not too big…not too small…juuuust right! I feel like everyone needs a non-stick pan in their lives. After I just wrote this sentence it reminded me of this horrible experience I put my husband and I through just to get a free trip.

Funny Story!

So I get an email that I’ve been selected from a small group from a drawing I entered at a bridal show for either wedding rings or a voucher for a “free” trip to the Bahamas minus airfare. So I was told to go to a hotel for which I won’t name so I could claim this awesome prize right? Wrong! Chris and I both sat in the lobby for what seemed like forever. We noticed about 5 other couples also arriving for whatever this was. So finally a guy in his early twenties who was trying to look much older comes out with trip hop music playing on the speaker of his cell phone in his hip holster, remember those? He says he’s ready for us. So we all slowly follow him to a small conference room where we see some cookware demonstration being set up. I even asked my husband if we could leave. He said, “Oh no.. you put us up to this so we are staying”. Needless to say they were trying to sell us this cookware in exchange for these vouchers. It was horrendous. And what did they cook in these futuristic cookware you ask? Broccoli! So not only do we have this weird music playing in the background, but we are having to endure the smell of broccoli in a not so ventilated space. Needless to say, I really messed up! If anything I have this story. And no, we didn’t cash in the vouchers because it probably meant having to deal with the cookware people for life! So if it sounds too good to be true. It is!

Trudeau Toss & Chop Salad Tongs

Trudeau Toss and Chop Salad Tongs — photo cred: @amazon

If you like chopped salads this little gadget will be your best friend! The toss and chop salad tongs are like scissors with tongs so you can easily chop up your salad while tossing it. They are a game changer!

Cuisinart Smart Stick

This little immersion blender by Cuisinart is perfect for blending soups or even mashing potatoes. It’s one of those things that you don’t think you’ll need but wish you had when the time comes. Whenever I make my butternut squash soup it’s a dream. It blends like a dream! It also has a whisk attachment that also comes in handy if you’re wanting super fluffy eggs.

Pyrex Glass Storage Containers

We have been married for over 5 years now and I still have this Pyrex glass container set completely intact! I wrote our last name on all the lids and surprisingly enough all the tops and bases are still accompanied for. I love glass food storage containers because they last longer and are safer for reheating leftovers. They wash really well too!

Pyrex Glass Containers
Robyn's Southern Nest

KitchenAid Mixing Bowls

We use these KitchenAid mixing bowls every single week! They are the best! I love the pour spout and each size is perfect. So if I had to recommend a set of mixing bowls these would be it! Definitely a kitchen staple in my book. I’ve had this set for over 10 years now.

Dutch Oven

I couldn’t find my exact Dutch Oven online but I’ve linked a similar one. My parents gave us one for Christmas one year and I’m so glad they did. They are great for one pot meals! You can also put them in the oven as well. It’s the convenience of having a cast iron skillet but in a different shape. They are also easy to clean. My sister has a whole set of Le Creuset pots and she loves them. They are an investment piece but you will have them for life. I have this white 9 quart Le Creuset round pot on my wish list for sure! It’s beautiful!

Knives

I have this knife set from Global on my Amazon wish list. They are super pricey but completely worth it! We’ve been through so many sets of cheap knives and there is nothing better than preparing your food with a good set of knives! One of my friends who is a foodie and one of the the best cooks absolutely loves these knives so I thought I’d include them. They are a kitchen essential indeed.

Butcher Block

This butcher block was a wedding gift that we didn’t register for but I’m so happy someone bought for us. It’s a heavy duty large butcher block you can put next to your sink. Or only do they look nice out on your counter but you have plenty of space to chop and prep. I’ve also used mine as a charcuterie board as well.

Mini Food Processor

I purchased this Cuisinart Food Processsor almost 10 years ago and it’s almost on its last legs. The plastic has been melted a few times in the dish washer. So I recommend hand washing it. The motor is still kickin’ though! I’ve used it for making hummus, creamy guacamole, grinding nuts. I like it because it’s small. I’ve had a larger one in the past, but I never really went to use it as much as I did this one.

Salad Spinner

We use the heck out of this OXO Salad Spinner. It’s perfect for getting your lettuce clean and rung out. I also recommend not putting this in the dishwasher either. Even the top rack I think is still too hot for it. I learned the hard way. And if you don’t want to purchase another separate strainer this comes with one. So essentially it’s two essentials in one.

Can Opener

I’ve probably been through more can openers than I can count. I finally sprung for this electric one from Proctor-Silex and I’ve never looked back. All the handheld ones work for awhile and then they just don’t. I don’t think they make them like they used to. I remember the one we had growing up always worked without fail.

Vegetable Peeler

I flippin love this silly orange vegetable peeler from Kitchen Aid. I can’t stand the ones that are all metal. They end up hurting your hand and are just not fun to use. This one has a large handle and it works like a dream! I like getting colorful utensils so I can spot them quickly in the drawer. Just a little tip. I know to always look for orange when I’m trying to find this baby!

Measuring Spoons and Measuring Cups

Hearth and Hand Measuring Spoons
Robyn's Southern Nest — photo cred: @target

I picked up the Hearth and Hand measuring spoons and measuring cups and have been loving them. They are metal which I love. You also don’t run the risk of not being able to see the size. Sometimes plastic ones have the size labeled and it eventually washes off in the dishwasher over an extended period of time. This has happened to me twice now. They even have a cute leather loop that snaps so you can hang them up! I have a feeling these will last a lifetime.

Hearth and Hand Measuring Cups
Robyn's Southern Nest

Well y’all I think that about covers my kitchen essentials. I’m sure my list will grow over time, but I feel like these are the things that I use the most and can’t live without in the kitchen. If you’re interested in any of my recipes you can find them here. Thank you for flying by today and I hope y’all have a wonderful weekend!