Essential Kitchen Products For Every Personality
These Are the Essential Kitchen Products You Need, Depending on Your Personality
As POPSUGAR editors, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. If you buy a product we have recommended, we may receive affiliate commission, which in turn supports our work.
One of the joys of cooking is that no two people behave exactly alike in the kitchen. That applies to world-renowned chefs, but it goes for home cooks, too. Each of us has developed our own kitchen personality. For instance, you might be the type to whip up something delicious from random fridge items, or you may follow a recipe faithfully and precisely. Either way works — there's no right or wrong approach, as long as you enjoy the process (and, of course, the food).
So when you shop for kitchen essentials, keep your cooking personality in mind. If you're more Chef Boyardee than Chez Panisse, look for tools and gadgets that make your life simpler. Or if you're determined to become a high-profile foodfluencer, perhaps now's the time to try your luck with sous-vide eggs. However you approach cooking, you really can't go wrong with the selection at Bed Bath & Beyond — which, BTW, is having an enormous Beyond Cooking Event (read: sale).
If you think you like to cook now, just wait until you see what we've found for you.
For the DIYer
If you've never tasted homemade yogurt, have you really lived? Find out with the Euro Cuisine Greek Yogurt Maker With Stainless Steel Strainer ($31). You can use it with milk to create your own satisfyingly thick Greek yogurt or Icelandic skyr or strain store-bought yogurt for a richer consistency. Either way, this little device does all the work and delivers all the deliciousness.
For the Super-Modern Chef
If you do everything on your phone, why not cook with it, too? The Joule Breville Sous Vide ($250) allows you to cook a wide array of foods to sous-vide perfection, just like a master chef. It heats food to the optimal temperature, and it's got plenty of state-of-the-art features like voice control and iOS/Android controls — so it's smart on every level.
For the Neat Freak
Snacks, meal prep, and more fit nicely into a Stasher Half-Gallon Silicone Reusable Food Storage Bag ($16, originally $22). Made of top-quality and food-safe silicone, these reusable bags can be used thousands of time and are more durable than throwaway sandwich bags. Plus, they come in various sizes, so organization is just a zip away. (PS — these work great with the sous-vide device. Just saying.)
For the Cheesemonger
The Capabunga Cheese Vault ($36-$74) is a simple, ingenious container specifically designed to keep Gouda (and other cheeses) tasting its best. The silicone container holds up to two pieces of cheese, keeping them fresher longer with a moisture-wicking lid.
For the Kid at Heart
The Zipzicle Ice Pop Molds ($3-$7) allow you to create your own custom frozen treats. Pour crushed fruit or juice into the reusable container, zip it up, pop it in the freezer, and enjoy your icy dessert. Yes, it really is that easy.
For the Fresh-Never-Frozen Advocate
Making homemade fettuccine and spaghetti is infinitely easier with the KitchenAid 3-Piece Pasta Roller Attachment Set ($180, originally $200). Mix up some dough, roll it out, then feed it into the attachment. Presto! Ready-to-cook pasta that tastes like it came from Italy.
For the Ambitious Cook
Anyone who's ready to do some serious cooking needs a Cuisinart 14-Cup Custom Food Processor ($250). This model is the right size for larger jobs: kneading dough, chopping vegetables, pureeing fruits — you get the idea. No matter the task, this powerful Cuisinart does it easily.
For the Perfectionist
When it comes to selecting exactly the right tool for the job, reach for the J.A. Henckels International Forged Accent 16-Piece Self-Sharpening Knife Block Set ($190, originally $220). Not only does it include a set of eight steak knives, it also contains every cooking knife you could need — and sharpens the knives every time they're removed or replaced.
For the Weekday Chef
Full-size blenders have their use, but lots of people don't want to haul them out for Tuesday-night dinner. Enter the Crux Artisan Series 7.5" Cordless Immersion Blender ($54, originally $90), which blends and purees easily without requiring a cord. Soup from scratch? Smoothies in a flash? This does all that and more, minus the hassle.
For the Pastry Chef
Crème brûlée, chocolate mousse, and a host of other sweet treats are easy — OK, OK, easier — to create when you have the right equipment. This CorningWare French White 14-Piece Bakeware Set ($55, originally $65) has two round dishes, three oval dishes, and four ramekins to suit just about any fancy-dessert needs.
For the Potluck Princess
Casseroles cook well and look so cute in the Great Jones Hot Dish ($75). The 9"x13" triple-fired ceramic dish is ideal for making everything from lasagna to cobblers, and the retro pattern makes it look like an item that's been in the family forever. Hot dish, indeed.
