It’s amazing to realize how little one needs when all the household goods are packed up and on a boat across the ocean to our new home.

Currently, we have one mixing bowl, one wonky pan, 2 pots, and place settings for 6. There is no peeler or colander. It’s like camping, but somehow worse.

I’m washing a lot of dishes.

Paper items are expensive but convenient at times like these.

I miss some items that I usually use every day, like my blender and stand mixer, but I can mostly work around that.

And we do this transition every few years.

We like to eat real food. Takeout and fast food is expensive and unhealthy.

But over the years, I realize how little I need for a functioning kitchen. I have some essentials that I pack or ship to myself so I have them as long as possible during our transitions.

My kitchen essentials:

1. Silicone Whisk

   My favorites are the OXO, Rösle Flat, and Ball Whisk. I use these all the time – for making scrambled eggs, grits, porridge, pasta, sauces. I pack these in my suitcase when we travel!

2. Silicone Spatula

   I like seamless ones like Silchef or di Oro. I love these for mixing cookies and sauteing foods. The heads don’t come off when the batter is thick!

3. Measuring Cups

   We love these pourable dry measuring cups and these different size liquid cups. These measuring spoons fit into most spice jars.

4. Silpat

   I can’t imagine baking cookies without a silicone mat anymore! These Silpats come in different sizes to fit any baking sheet! Nothing sticks.

5. A Good Pan

   You don’t have to spend a ton of money to get a good all-purpose pan. We’re moving away from the nonstick coating that peels and bubbles and is not healthy!
   Nonstick pans only last about 3 years. We use stainless for most of our cooking.
   We’ve found these nonstick to get the job done, and quite well, but we’re trying to move away from aluminum:
   Cuisinart GreenGourmet

   Green Pan

   Tramontina Professional Nonstick Restaurant Fry Pan

   

   These pans are great for omelets and stirfries!
   

6. Good Knives

   We’ve had a Henckel’s knife block set for almost 15 years and still love it! I’d buy it again.

7. Thermometer

   No one wants undercooked or overcooked meat! Our longtime favorite meat thermometer is the Thermapen.

8. Cheese Grater

   We love a a simple box grater for block cheeses. Also love a microplaner for small jobs, like Parmesan, citrus zesting, and frozen ginger root.

9. Electric Kettle

   I love that these are called “water cookers” in German. This glass electric kettle is similar to the one we love. I don’t have to use the stovetop to boil water!

10. Coffee Maker

    I still love my Bodum French Press. We haven’t gotten into the pour-over craze. We still have a drip coffee maker with thermal carafe for most mornings. I’d love to have a Moka Pot if we had a gas stove. You’ll never, ever see me with any coffee pods!

We have lots and lots of kitchen equipment. We love cooking and I love teaching my kids to cook our favorite foods. But, we really only need a few great tools to get the job done right!

View our favorite family recipes.

What are your favorite kitchen items?