Kitchen Equipment Guide

These are the tools we actually use. No fluff — just honest recommendations organized by what you're cooking. Start with the basics and add specialty items as you need them.

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For Gluten-Free Baking

Kitchen Scale ⭐ Most Important

Accurate gram measurements are THE key to successful GF baking. This is the one tool worth buying before anything else.

• Our pick: OXO Good Grips 11-lb Digital Scale ~$50
• Budget: Etekcity Digital Kitchen Scale ~$12

Stand Mixer

• Our pick: KitchenAid Artisan 5-Qt Stand Mixer ~$350
• Budget: Hamilton Beach 6-Speed Stand Mixer ~$70

Hand Mixer

• Our pick: KitchenAid 5-Speed Hand Mixer ~$50
• Budget: Hamilton Beach 6-Speed Hand Mixer ~$20

Baking Pans

• USA Pan 9×13 Baking Pan ~$20
• Fat Daddio's 9" Round Cake Pans (2-pack) ~$25
• USA Pan 9×5 Loaf Pan ~$15
• LIANYU 9×5 Stainless Steel Loaf Pans (4-pack) — great value set
• USA Pan 12-Cup Muffin Pan ~$18
• Nordic Ware Half Sheet Pans (2-pack) ~$25
• Silpat Silicone Baking Mat ~$25
• If You Care Unbleached Parchment Paper ~$8

Silicone Baking Molds (Silpat Flexipan)

Flexible silicone molds that release baked goods cleanly — especially useful for cheesecakes and delicate items.

• Cheesecake/layer cake (our pick): Silpat Flexipan Round Layer Cake Pan
• Cheesecake (alternative): Sasa Demarle Flexipan Cheesecake Mold
• Mini muffins: Silpat Flexipan 12-Mini Muffins Mold
• Muffin pan: Silpat Flexipan Muffin Pan

Mixing & Measuring

• Pyrex Glass Mixing Bowls 8-Piece Set ~$25
• OXO Good Grips Measuring Cups ~$15
• OXO Good Grips Measuring Spoons ~$10
• Pyrex 2-Cup Glass Measuring Cup ~$8
• Folksy Super Kitchen Silicone Pastry Mat 28"×20" — non-slip, measurements printed on mat, great for rolling dough when counters and cutting boards don't cut it

Cooling Racks

• Checkered Chef Cooling Racks (2-pack) ~$18

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For Canning & Food Preservation

Canning is one of the most practical sustainability skills you can develop. The right equipment makes it safe and easy.

Canners

• Water bath (high-acid foods — jams, pickles, salsa): Prep N Cook 21.5-Qt Water Bath Canner ~$50 — induction compatible, stainless steel
• Pressure canner (low-acid foods — meat, broth, vegetables): Presto 01784 23-Qt Pressure Canner ~$90 — induction compatible
• Pressure regulator: Presto 3-Piece Pressure Regulator (5-10-15 lb) ~$10 — essential accessory for Presto pressure canners

Canning Tools & Jars

• Ball Canning Utensil Set ~$12 — jar lifter, funnel, ladle, and tongs
• Ball Regular Mouth Quart Mason Jars ~$15
• Stainless Steel Jelly Strainer Stand with Bags ~$15 — for clear jams and jellies
• New Star 3-Piece China Cap Strainer Set ~$25 — for straining broths and stocks
• 3-in-1 Electric Mason Jar Vacuum Sealer Kit ~$30 — works with bags, wine bottles, and mason jars

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For Indian Cooking

• Dutch oven: Lodge 6-Qt Enameled Dutch Oven ~$80 | Le Creuset 5.5-Qt ~$400
• Immersion blender: Cuisinart Smart Stick ~$40 | Mueller Austria ~$25
• Spice grinder: KRUPS Electric Spice Grinder ~$20 | Mortar and Pestle ~$30
• Chef's knife: Victorinox Fibrox Pro 8" ~$35 | Wüsthof Pro 8" ~$60
• Cutting board: OXO Good Grips Carving Board ~$30

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For Norwegian Heritage Recipes

• Krumkake iron (electric): Nordic Ware Krumkake Baker ~$60
• Krumkake iron (stovetop): Bethany Housewares Krumkake Iron ~$45
• Lefse griddle: Bethany Housewares Lefse Grill ~$100
• Lefse rolling pin: Bethany Lefse Rolling Pin ~$20
• Lefse turning stick: Bethany Lefse Turning Stick ~$12

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General Cooking

Slow Cooker & Instant Pot

• Crock-Pot 6-Qt Slow Cooker ~$50
• Instant Pot Duo 6-Qt ~$90
• Instant Pot Duo 8-Qt ~$100 — for larger batches

Pots & Pans

• Lodge 12" Cast Iron Skillet ~$35
• Cuisinart 12-Qt Stockpot ~$55
• T-fal 3-Qt Saucepan ~$25

Bread Machine

• Our pick: Neretva 3.3LB Bread Maker 15-in-1 with Ceramic Pan & Auto Nut Dispenser — what we use
• Also good: Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso ~$350
• Budget: Hamilton Beach Bread Maker ~$60

Utensils & Small Tools

• Cuisinart Fine Mesh Strainers Set ~$15
• OXO Good Grips Colander ~$18
• OXO Good Grips Balloon Whisk ~$10
• Di Oro Silicone Spatula Set ~$15
• OXO Wooden Spoon Set ~$12
• OXO Good Grips Pastry Blender ~$12
• Taylor Candy Thermometer ~$10

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Storage

• Pyrex Glass Storage Set ~$30
• Rubbermaid Brilliance Set ~$40
• Cotton Beeswax Bread Bags (2-Pack) ~$20 — reusable, freezer safe

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Specialty Ingredients

A few hard-to-find ingredients worth buying on Amazon rather than hunting down locally.

• ClearJel (Modified Cornstarch): Hoosier Hill Farm ClearJel Thickener ~$10 — the only USDA-approved thickener for canning pie fillings; also great as a cornstarch substitute in recipes like meatballs
• Kaffir Lime Leaves (dried): Dried Kaffir Lime Leaves ~$8 — essential for authentic Thai curry; hard to find locally but keeps well dried

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Where to Start

If you're just getting started, buy these first — under $100 total:

1. Kitchen scale — the single most important tool for GF baking
2. Mixing bowls
3. Measuring cups and spoons
4. 9×13 pan and cookie sheet