My Favorite Kitchen Tools for Scratch Cooking (2024)

Sharing is caring!

These are my favorite kitchen tools for scratch cooking and making homemade food that is fast, efficient, and affordable. I’m moving beyond gadgets and sharing the kitchen essentials that have reshaped how I cook and bake.

What we need in the kitchen changes with each season and phase of life. And over the years, I have cycled through practically endless iterations of kitchen gadgets and tools.

But lately, I’ve been trying to pare down what I have in the kitchen and focus on the kitchen essentials that genuinely help me make nutritious, delicious, and affordable food for my family.

I think it’s safe to say that in 2024, food is beyond expensive, and it’s hard to find quality, nutrient-dense food unless you make it yourself.

As I dive deeper into my cooking journey, I am curating my essentials to help me become more self-sufficient at home and in the kitchen without overhauling my life and adding extra work to my busy days.

About My Favorite Kitchen Tools for Scratch Cooking

Making affordable food is part of my goal, but I should note that some of these items are investments.

I’ve included only the investment pieces that will last a lifetime, contribute to cooking in unique and valuable ways, help you make delicious meals, and save money in the long run.

This list is not exhaustive. I use many standard tools, such as a food processor, sheet pan, fish spatula, wooden spoon, immersion blender, and silicone spatula.

But this list extends beyond basic gadgets and tools and dives into the kitchen essentials that have reshaped how I cook and bake.

Of course, what I use and love in my kitchen might differ from what you find in other scratch kitchens. But these are my favorite kitchen tools for scratch cooking right now.

Move over, professional chefs, because we are about to make the best food ever with these kitchen essentials.

What Is Cooking from Scratch?

Cooking from scratch is making a meal or dish using simple, real ingredients and without any premade or packaged foods.

Scratch cooking generally offers more options for nutritious foods because you can control what goes into it. And because from-scratch food is usually made with real ingredients, it is healthier.

Cooking from scratch is not always low-calorie. I mean, you’ve seen how much butter I use, right? But even still, scratch cooking encourages better-quality diets and nutrition.

I try to stay realistic with scratch cooking. Getting caught up in the daily grind is easy, so I aim to make 80% of my family’s meals from scratch.

Scratch-made food features fresh ingredients over convenience food or packaged food. Though I consider myself a from-scratch cook, I still rely on store-bought staples like ketchup, hot sauces, and other condiments.

I don’t want you to feel pressured to make every meal and ingredient from scratch. That isn’t realistic for me, and I don’t want you to feel that pressure either.

Instead, I hope you find ways to incorporate bits and pieces of scratch cooking into your days that work for you.

What I Consider When Choosing Kitchen Tools for Scratch Cooking

Over the years, I’ve made kitchen purchases that ended up being a pretty big waste of money. Either the products didn’t last, or I never used them.

These days, I am making a concerted effort to make better buying decisions when it comes to my kitchen tools for scratch cooking.

That doesn’t necessarily mean I am shopping for the cheapest kitchen products (though I like a deal). Instead, I consider these factors when buying kitchen equipment:

Kitchen Tools for Scratch Cooking – Shopping Checklist

• Durability – I check to make sure the product is well-built and will last. My husband will research the mechanics (that’s his area of expertise), and I double-check the fit and finish.
• Materials – I don’t buy cookware with Teflon or other coatings; I check that the materials are as durable and non-toxic as possible.
• Where it is made – When possible, I buy items that are made in America or, even better, made locally. That is hard to find, but my cutting board and gnocchi board were handmade locally. And my beloved Lodge cast iron is made in America.
• Reviews and reputation – Always check out the reviews online. Look at sites like Amazon, Reddit, and YouTube.
• Functionality – If an item has too many functions, none work well. So I try to buy single-purpose items. The exception is if the function is the same but works for different projects.
• Storage – Space is at a premium in our kitchen, so I ensure it has a permanent home before buying It.
• Countertop footprint – Some items, like a grain mill, live on the counter permanently. Double-check that you have enough space for it and that it won’t disrupt your daily groove in the kitchen.
• Price and return policy – I look around online and in discount stores like HomeGoods first. I always make sure there is a good return policy. Costco and Sam’s Club have the best return policies (two years for most items!), so I buy there when possible.
• Aesthetic – Call me vain if you must, but if I don’t like the way a kitchen tool or appliance looks, I won’t buy it. I’m investing in products that will last decades or more. So I prefer a timeless look that matches my home aesthetic.

Video – Must-Have Kitchen Tools for Scratch Cooking

Check out the video below for an overview of the essential kitchen tools in this post.

This post contains affiliate links. Any purchases from links outside of moon + magnolia may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

End-Grain Cutting Board

Over the years, I have purchased many cheap wooden cutting boards. But within a few months, they were completely spent and had to be tossed.

I invested in a quality end-grain cutting board about five years ago, and I haven’t looked back.

From easy dinners like Cuban chickpea stew and veggie and cheese chicken muffins to simple sides and snacks like cucumber salad and watermelon jerky, I use my cutting board for practically everything we eat.

Benefits of an End-Grain Cutting Board

• Better for your knives – The knife slides between the grain on an end-grain cutting board, keeping your knives sharper.
• Anti-microbial – An end-grain cutting board naturally kills bacteria because it absorbs the water the bacteria need to survive. As the wood dries, the bacteria die. Plus, the seasoned (oiled) surface makes it difficult for bacteria to permeate the wood.
• Can be refinished – If your end-grain cutting board has knife marks or needs to be fully reseasoned, it can be sanded and refinished. I just had mine refinished, and it is as good as new, even though it is five years old.
• Lasts a lifetime – With proper care and maintenance, an end-grain cutting board can last a lifetime.

KitchenAid Stand Mixer

In the last ten years, I have purchased three stand mixers. By far, the best has been my KitchenAid 7-quart bowl lift mixer.

Though the others worked, they couldn’t keep up with my dough-making habits. Had I invested in a better one off the bat, I would have saved a ton of money.

I mostly use my stand mixer to make enriched dough, such as sourdough sandwich bread, sourdough donuts, and maple oatmeal bread.

For me, a stand mixer is the deal breaker between being able to make homemade bread or not. It takes about 15 minutes to make the dough in a stand mixer. And no mess is involved––no kneading by hand or messy floured countertop.

Benefits of a Stand Mixer

• Easy kneading – Enriched doughs need an “intense mix” for about 10-15 minutes. Though you can do this by hand, it takes muscle and time, neither or which I have much of.
• Helpful accessories – KitchenAid sells practically endless accessories that can help streamline your cooking processes.
• Mess-free – Stand mixers contain the mess for recipes that would otherwise wreck the counter.
• Hands-free – Making treats like meringues, homemade marshmallows, and whipped cream by hand requires a lot of effort. But it’s totally hands-free with a stand mixer.
• Heavy-duty – A stand mixer can handle dough and dense ingredients better than a hand mixer.

Grain Mill

A grain mill is one of my newest can’t-live-without kitchen tools.

I recently posted my Mockmill unboxing and review on YouTube.

Since then, I’ve been using my grain mill to create new recipes like einkorn cheddar drop biscuits. I’ve also been adding fresh-milled flour into my no-knead sourdough bread and sourdough Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

In short, a grain mill grinds whole wheat berries into flour. And though it might not be a necessary kitchen tool for everyone, for those who bake bread, it can boost their bread skills to the next level.

Grain mills come in a wide range of brands and prices. I opted for the Mockmill Professional 200 because it is more durable and has an aesthetic that matches my home.

Benefits of a Grain Mill

• More nutritious flour – Store-bought flour has most of the bran and germ removed, which are the most nutrient-dense parts of the berry. Also, flour oxidizes and begins to lose its nutritional composition as soon as it’s milled, and store-bought flour sits around for a long time. Fresh-milled flour, however, retains almost 100% of its nutritional value.
• Wheat diversity – With a grain mill, you can make flour from grains that are not sold as flour in most grocery stores.
• Creativity – You can make unique flour blends to suit your and your family’s preferences.
• Cheaper – Milling ancient grains like einkorn and kamut is much more affordable than buying pre-ground, especially if you buy wheat berries in bulk.

Cast Iron Skillet

If you have watched any of the videos on my YouTube channel, you have seen my 13.25″ Lodge cast iron skillet about a million times.

When I first started using cast iron, I hated it. I didn’t understand the fundamentals of cast iron cooking, and everything I cooked burned and stuck to the pan.

However, once I learned how to care for cast iron and the difference between seasoned and unseasoned cast iron, I became a convert.

My cast iron skillet has replaced almost all of my stainless steel cookware. It’s like a one-stop shop for cooking. I use it for baking, braising, frying, and everything in between.

Every kitchen needs a nonstick pan, and I firmly believe cast iron is the best choice for everyday use.

Benefits of a Cast Iron Skillet

• Affordable – A Lodge skillet like the one I use is less than $40 on Amazon (as of September 2024). That’s significantly cheaper than a high-end stainless steel skillet. I found mine for a great price at HomeGoods.
• Non-stick skillet – With proper care, cast iron is naturally non-stick. Learn more about how I season my skillet in my cast iron care video on YouTube.
• Versatile – Cast iron is the most versatile kitchen tool I own. It can be used for frying, sautéing, searing, baking, and more.
• Easy care – Cast iron is easy to care for. If it is well-seasoned, cleaning is a cinch. Usually, I just wipe mine out. Contrary to popular belief, you can wash it with dish soap and water (just dry it thoroughly).
• Lasts a lifetime – With proper care, it can last many generations. I hope that one day, my daughter will cook in my cast iron skillet.

Note: Cast iron skillets come in many different sizes. Check out my cast iron skillet size guide to see which is best for your needs.

Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven

I use either my Staub 5.5-quart Dutch oven or my Cuisinart 7-quart Dutch oven just about every day, and on busy cooking days, I use both.

They are my go-to for batch cooking and cozy meals like cheddar broccoli soup and homemade Cheeseburger Helper.

An enameled Dutch oven is essentially a cast iron stock pot with a glass coating and tight-fitting lid.

Many folks claim that enameled cast iron is non-stick, but that isn’t true. Instead, the glass coating protects the cast iron from rusting.

Dutch ovens range in price and size. Staub Dutch ovens and Le Creuset are on the higher end, while Cuisinart is mid-range.

I found my Staub at HomeGoods for a decent price, and I regularly see Le Creuset Dutch ovens at TJMaxx, Homesense, and other discount retailers.

Benefits of an Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven

• Tight-fitting lid – The heavy, tight-fitting lid traps steam so your food doesn’t dry out. It’s perfect for slow cooking in the oven and baking rustic sourdough bread.
• Aesthetic – An enameled cast iron Dutch oven sits beautifully on the stovetop.
• Versatile – You can use a Dutch oven on the stove and in the oven for versatility.
• No seasoning needed – Unlike old-school cast iron, enameled cast iron doesn’t need seasoning. However, you will need to use oil or butter to prevent sticking when cooking.
• Longlasting – High-quality enameled cast iron can last a lifetime.

Lodge Combo Cooker

The Lodge Combo Cooker might be the best bang for your buck on this list because the lid and the base can be used together or individually.

Though there are fancier Dutch ovens out there (like the Staub I mentioned earlier), I much prefer the Lodge Combo Cooker for baking sourdough bread.

Switching from open baking sourdough to baking in the combo cooker has been a game changer. The lid traps the steam and creates a beautiful oven spring and crust.

Benefits of a Cast Iron Combo Cooker

• 3 for 1 deal – The base and the lid can be used either together or separately, so it’s like getting three pieces of cookware for the price of one.
• Affordable – As of September 2024, the Lodge Combo Cooker is only $60 on Amazon.
• Bread oven – The combo cooker is the perfect tool for baking rustic sourdough. It works just like a fancy bread oven but without the fancy bread oven price.
• Versatile – Like all cast iron, it can be used on the stove and in the oven. I use the bottom for deep frying and the lid for sautéing.
• Non-stick – Well-seasoned cast iron is a natural non-stick surface. The lid is like a bonus nonstick skillet!
• No knob – Though decorative knobs on Dutch ovens add aesthetic, they are usually heat safe up to only 450° F. Because there is no metal knob, the combo cooker can handle high heat up to 650° F.
• Durable exterior – Sourdough is usually baked at 500° F, and that high temperature can discolor and stain enameled cast iron. But that isn’t an issue with the combo cooker.

Gnocchi Board

We love homemade pasta. I mean, to be fair, I like all pasta. But homemade pasta is by far the best, especially when it’s smothered in a creamy sage sauce.

Until recently, I used a pasta roller and cutter. But it takes a long time to roll and cut batches of pasta dough.

On the other hand, using a gnocchi board for pasta is a much more efficient process, especially for small batches.

I use the custom gnocchi board from Schlosser Millworks. The owner is our family friend, and he makes the boards right here in North Carolina.

Benefits of a Gnocchi Board

• Easy pasta – Making homemade pasta with a gnocchi board is easy. You don’t need any prior pasta or dough experience.
• Fast – Shaping pasta on a gnocchi board only takes a few minutes.
• Easy to store – A gnocchi board is small and easy to store. And since this one has pretty designs, it looks nice on display.
• Affordable – A gnocchi board is much more affordable than a quality pasta roller.
• Aesthetic – Hand-rolled pasta is rustic and pretty in a way that a machine can’t replicate, especially if your board has unique patterns.
• Delicious – A gnocchi board creates grooves and texture in the dough that holds extra sauce.

Linen Bread Bags with Plastic Lining

Keeping homemade bread fresh can be little tricky. Sure, if it goes stale, you can make homemade breadcrumbs and sourdough fried chicken with it.

But making bread takes a lot of time, effort, and love, so it’s important to ensure it stays fresh.

I make 100% of my family’s bread from scratch and store all of my homemade sandwich bread in plastic-lined linen bags.

Benefits of Lined Bread Bags

• Great for enriched dough – Sandwich bread is best stored in plastic to retain moisture.
• Aesthetic – These bags look much prettier than a plastic ziplock bag sitting on the counter.
• Prevents food waste – Using the right storage method will extend the shelf life of your homemade bread.
• Great gift – These particular bags come in a 4-pack, so you can give a few to your bread-baking besties.
• Reversible – If you don’t want the plastic touching your bread, turn it inside out. The plastic will still retain the moisture, but only the linen will touch the bread.

Note: If you are making a crusty sourdough boule, I recommend wrapping it in a kitchen towel so it can have airflow. The plastic’s moisture retention will soften the coveted sourdough boule crust.

Slow Cooker/Proofing Box Combo

I know I said earlier that I usually avoid kitchen tools that boast multiple functions, but the Brod & Taylor proofer and slow cooker is the exception.

In my experience, a proofing box is one of the essential tools for busy home bakers.

In short, a proofing box allows bakers to control the temperature for bulk fermenting bread dough. The warmer the temperatures, the faster the dough will ferment.

Because it uses low heat, the proofing box can also be used as a slow cooker. I use this thing all the time to activate my starter, proof bread, and cook.

I even got rid of my old-school slow cooker because I stopped using it when I got the Brod & Taylor, and it was taking up too much valuable cabinet real estate.

Benefits of Slow Cooker/Proofer Combo

• Collapsible – The Brod & Taylor proofer/slow cooker is collapsible, making storage simple. Since storage space is limited at my house, I keep mine folded up in the pantry.
• Controls humidity – Sourdough fermentation benefits from a humid environment, and the Brod & Taylor proofer allows you to choose between humid and dry conditions.
• Control bulk fermentation – You can set the temperature to speed up the bulk fermentation for sourdough. So, if you know you need it done before you take the kids to soccer practice, bump up the temp.
• Multiple uses – It is not only a proofer and slow cooker, but it can also be used to make homemade yogurt, brew kombucha, and more.

Note: Check out my Brod & Taylor proofer review for more details.

Video – Full List of Kitchen Tools for Scratch Cooking

Check out this video to see all of the kitchen tools I use for scratch cooking. I share practically everything in each drawer and cabinet in my kitchen.

What are your must-have kitchen appliances and tools? Leave a comment below and let me know what kitchen tools for scratch cooking you can’t live without.

And don’t forget to pin this post and follow Moon + Magnolia on Pinterest. You can save all my recipes on your boards and keep up with the latest happenings!

More Posts You’ll Love

• What Types of Flour Can You Feed Sourdough Starter?
• How To Do the Windowpane Test for Dough
• How to Stretch and Fold Sourdough – Sourdough Basics
• How To Use a Cast Iron Waffle Maker – Complete Guide
• How To Deglaze a Cast Iron Skillet Without Ruining It
• Can You Freeze Sourdough Starter? Yes, Here Is How.
• How to Freeze Sourdough Bread Dough – Complete Guide