OXO’s Guide to 16 Must-Have Kitchen Gadgets for Everyday Cooking

Making meals is much more joyful with good quality tools that skillfully do the jobs you need. OXO’s expanded lineup of kitchen gear checks off all the must-haves, providing thoughtful design at budget-friendly prices. So, whether you’re heading back to school and need a dorm kitchen setup or are seeking holiday gifts for a learning-to-cook friend, this list will make sure all the essential kitchen tools are covered. Read on!

Why Quality Kitchen Tools Matter

Ever tried to peel a potato with a dull or flimsy peeler? Then you know that quality tools matter. Not only can you finish cooking tasks quickly and efficiently, but the work is also safer and more fun.

You’ll chop better when your cutting board doesn’t scoot around the countertop. A good salad spinner makes sure your salad is clean and crisp. It’s simple kitchen math: Especially as a beginner cook, simple recipes are made simpler when you work with tools you trust.

OXO Kitchen Essentials

“Home cooks and chefs in professional kitchens need the same things: reliable tools,” says chef Tim Hollingsworth. Consider the below your basic kitchen toolkit, stocked with the items you’ll reach for again and again.

Chef’s or Santoku knife

These kitchen workhorses tackle chopping fruits and vegetables as easily as prepping chicken and steaks. The Santoku knife features dimples along the blade that help prevent foods from sticking to the steel as you slice. OXO’s version is made with a comfortable, non-slip handle and a sheath to slide it into for safe storage.

Vegetable Peeler

Few tools ease your cooking life like a good peeler. OXO’s Pro Swivel Peeler gently turns to follow the curve of fruits and vegetables, and its stainless-steel blade is precise and durable. At the top of the tool is an eyer for removing potato eyes and any produce blemishes.

Silicone Spatula

Cooking with non-stick? Reach for this Silicone Turner. It’s high-heat resistant, simple to clean, and slides easily under foods for fast flipping. Use for folding omelets, sauteing vegetables, or making pancakes.

Measuring Cups and Measuring Spoons

Bakers and cooks unite over the need for reliable, easy-to-store measuring tools. OXO’s Stainless Steel Measuring Cups and Spoons nestle together to save drawer space. A magnet connects the cups and spoons, so they don’t get lost.t.

Can Opener

Make quick work of opening cans with a sharp, comfortable-to-hold can opener. Chef Joanne Chang is a huge fan of OXO’s version: “The first OXO product I remember owning is a can opener! Prior to OXO, I had a flimsy metal opener that worked about 50 percent of the time. When I upgraded to an OXO opener, I remember being so amazed at how easy it was to open cans that I opened all the cans of tomatoes in my pantry and then had to make a big vat of tomato sauce.

Whisk

This tool is your essential sidekick for whipping cream, beating eggs, mixing sauces, and so much more. At OXO, you have options. This steel whisk has a sleek stainless-steel handle. Or you might prefer this whisk’s ergonomic, non-slip handle. Both are nicely weighted for comfortable, efficient whisking. 

Salad Spinner

OXO’S Salad Spinner is chef Melissa Ben-Ishay’s favorite OXO tool: “I never knew I needed a salad spinner until I used the OXO one at my parent’s house—and then I was hooked. I use it to clean all my veggies and fruit, too.” Spin greens dry by pressing the knob on top. The non-slip base keeps the spinner securely in place. The Glass Salad Spinner is pretty enough to take directly to the dinner table.

Non-Slip Cutting Board

The first step of many recipes? To slice, dice and chop your ingredients. OXO’s non-porous cutting board won’t absorb odors and is dishwasher safe. A groove around the perimeter neatly catches juices so they don’t spill onto your countertop.

Mixing Bowls

Making cookies, prepping mise en place for a recipe, or need another serving dish? Sounds like a job for a mixing bowl! OXO’s Mixing Bowls have a non-slip base so they stay in one place while whisking and stirring.

Non-Stick Skillet

Skip the stress over your fried egg (or hash browns or steak) sticking to the pan with a trusty non-stick skillet. OXO’ ceramic pans are lightweight, heat quickly and evenly, and are easy to clean.

Fish Turner

A Fish Turner is good for fish—and so many other foods. Try it for transferring veggies, flipping delicate foods, and, of course, gliding under filets of fish.

Tongs

Think of tongs as an extension of your hand. Use them for turning meat, grabbing veggies, or pulling pasta out of a pot. For chef Bricia Lopez, tongs are a must when she makes her Tinga Tostadas. Choose tongs with a nylon head for the most versatility; they’ll protect your non-stick pans and work with stainless steel.

Instant Read Thermometer

Grill burgers, roast chickens, and pan sear pork chops like a pro. With the help of a meat thermometer, you always know when they’ve reached their ideal temperature.

Sheet Pan

Use it for roasting vegetables in the oven, baking a chicken, or making a batch of cookies. The Non-Stick Pro Ceramic Coated Metal Bakeware Half Sheet Pan is a bakeware solution that’s beautiful, durable and easy to clean.

Spoon

A trusty spoon is another tool you’ll always want nearby. Whether stirring stews or serving chili, a silicone spoon will protect your cookware and simplify your job.

Colander

Making pasta? You’ll need a colander for straining. Rice? Rinse grains in a colander before steaming. Chef JJ Johnson loves OXO’s Rice and Grain Washing Colander: “It’s one of my most-used tools in the kitchen. It’s great how the extra drain holes in the pour spout remove excess water while keeping my rice contained.”

Why Choose OXO Kitchen Tools?

At OXO, we pride ourselves on creating tools that are comfortable, versatile, and will do their jobs well for years to come.
To accomplish this, we rigorously test our tools during the design process. We pay close attention to ergonomics (are the handles comfortable to hold?), durability, and how well products do their job. And because we know the importance of easy cleanup, most OXO products are also dishwasher safe.

As a result, OXO kitchen tools have earned a prized place with beginner cooks and the pros, showing up often on registries and holiday wish lists. “All my OXO tools last forever,” says chef Melissa Ben-Ishay, “and if you cook as much as I do, you know how unique and awesome that is. They stand the test of time.”

Conclusion

The very best way to ensure success—and joy—in the kitchen? Stock it with high-quality, thoughtfully designed kitchen tools. Measuring cups? Mixing bowls? The perfect spoon? Build and upgrade your toolkit with OXO essentials.

Explore the full OXO kitchen collection to find everything you need. Our product guides can also help you fine tune your shopping.