LITTLE MESSY KITCHEN

Welcome to my Cooking Equipment page, where I share the kitchen tools I actually use and rely on in my everyday cooking and baking. From essential basics to a few well-loved appliances, these are the items that consistently show up in my recipes on Little Messy Kitchen.

Whether you’re setting up your first kitchen or looking to upgrade a few staples, this guide is meant to help you choose practical, reliable tools — not trendy gadgets. You’ll see many of these linked throughout my recipes.

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Small Appliances

These are the small appliances I rely on most often in my kitchen. Some are everyday staples, while others come out for specific recipes or occasions. I’ve included a short note for each to explain how I use it and when it’s most helpful, so you can decide what makes sense for your own kitchen.

• Air Fryer
  • I use the air fryer for quick meals and snacks when I want something crispy without turning on the oven. It’s especially handy for busy days and reheating leftovers.
• Blender (Kitchen staple)
  • This is one of my most-used appliances, especially for smoothies, sauces, and blended recipes. A good blender makes a big difference when working with frozen fruit or thicker mixtures.
• Food Processor
  • I reach for the food processor when I need to chop, shred, or blend larger quantities quickly. It’s great for prep-heavy recipes and anything that would take too long by hand.
• Hand Blender (Immersion Blender)
  • This is perfect for blending soups, sauces, and smaller batches directly in the pot or container. It’s compact and easy to grab when I don’t want to pull out the full blender.
• Hand Mixer
  • My go-to for smaller baking tasks like whipped cream, frostings, and light batters. It’s quick, easy to store, and ideal when a stand mixer feels like overkill.
• Slow Cooker
  • I use the slow cooker for set-it-and-forget-it meals. It’s especially helpful on busy days when I want dinner ready with minimal effort.
• Stand Mixer (Kitchen staple)
  • This is my most-used appliance for baking. I rely on it for doughs, cakes, cookies, and larger batches where consistent mixing really matters.
• Stand Mixer Food Grinder Attachment
  • This attachment is great when I want to grind meat or make homemade sausage. It’s not an everyday tool for me, but it’s useful for specific recipes and projects.
• Waffle Maker
  • We use the waffle maker for weekend breakfasts and special treats. It’s simple, fun, and one of those appliances that gets pulled out again and again.

You’ll see many of these appliances used throughout my recipes, especially the blender, hand mixer, and stand mixer.

Utensils & Gadgets

These are the everyday kitchen tools I reach for constantly while cooking and baking. Most of these live in easy-to-grab drawers because they’re the small tools that make recipes smoother, faster, and more enjoyable to prepare.

• Cheese Grater
  • I use a cheese grater for freshly grated cheese, citrus zesting in a pinch, and even chocolate shavings for desserts. Freshly grated ingredients make a noticeable difference in flavor and texture.
• Colander
  • A colander is essential for draining pasta, rinsing produce, and prepping ingredients quickly. It’s one of those tools that gets used far more often than you expect.
• Cutting Board (Kitchen staple)
  • I rely on a sturdy cutting board for nearly every recipe. A good cutting board makes prep safer, easier, and more efficient.
• Ice Cream / Cookie Scoop
  • This is perfect for portioning cookie dough, muffins, and even meatballs. It helps keep portions consistent and makes baking feel more organized.
• Ladles
  • I use ladles for soups, stews, and sauces when serving or transferring liquids. They’re especially helpful when working with slow cooker meals.
• Lemon Juicer
  • A lemon juicer makes it easy to add fresh citrus juice without seeds. I use it often for dressings, marinades, and desserts.
• Mandoline
  • I use a mandoline when I want evenly sliced fruits or vegetables quickly. It’s great for salads and side dishes, but I always recommend using it carefully.
• Measuring Cups (Kitchen staple)
  • Accurate measuring cups are a must for both cooking and baking. I use these daily for dry ingredients and recipe prep.
• Measuring Cups Glass (Kitchen staple)
  • I prefer glass measuring cups for liquids because they’re easy to read and microwave-safe. They’re especially helpful for sauces and melted ingredients.
• Measuring Cups Shot Glass
  • These are great for small measurements like vanilla, lemon juice, or other ingredients that need precision in small amounts.
• Measuring Spoons (Kitchen staple)
  • Measuring spoons are essential for baking and seasoning. A reliable set makes following recipes much easier and more consistent.
• Mesh Strainer
  • I use a mesh strainer for rinsing small ingredients, dusting powdered sugar, and straining sauces. It’s a simple tool with a lot of uses.
• Oil Sprayers
  • Oil sprayers help control how much oil I use when cooking or baking. They’re especially handy for air frying and roasting.
• Peeler
  • A sharp peeler makes prepping fruits and vegetables quick and easy. It’s one of those tools you don’t think about until you don’t have a good one.
• Potato Masher
  • I use a potato masher for mashed potatoes and other soft foods. It’s simple, durable, and does exactly what it’s meant to do.
• Salad Spinner
  • A salad spinner makes washing and drying greens fast and easy. Dry greens hold dressings better and stay fresher longer.
• Silicone Brush
  • I use a silicone brush for brushing butter, oil, or glazes onto baked goods. It’s easy to clean and works well for both sweet and savory recipes.
• Silicone Spatula
  • I use silicone spatulas constantly for mixing, scraping bowls, and folding ingredients. They’re gentle on cookware and very versatile.
• Spatulas
  • Standard spatulas are useful for stirring, spreading, and general cooking tasks. I keep a few on hand for different uses.
• Spoons
  • I rely on sturdy cooking spoons for stirring sauces, soups, and batters. Having a few different sizes makes everyday cooking easier.
• Tongs
  • Tongs are one of my most-used tools for flipping, tossing, and serving foods. They’re especially useful for grilling, sautéing, and roasting.
• Whisk
  • A whisk is essential for mixing sauces, dressings, and batters smoothly. It’s one of the simplest tools with the biggest impact.
• Wide Spatula
  • I use a wide spatula for flipping pancakes, cookies, and larger foods. The extra surface area makes handling delicate items easier.
• Zester
  • A zester is perfect for adding citrus zest or finely grating ingredients like garlic and cheese. A little zest can completely change the flavor of a dish.

These utensils are the small tools that show up again and again in my recipes, and they make everyday cooking feel more manageable.

Cookware

These are the core pieces of cookware I use regularly in my kitchen. Each one serves a specific purpose, and together they cover almost everything I need for everyday cooking — from quick stovetop meals to slow, cozy dishes.

• Cast Iron Skillet (Kitchen staple)
  • I use a cast iron skillet for high-heat cooking, searing, and oven-to-stovetop recipes. It retains heat beautifully and works well for everything from meats to baked dishes.
• Dutch Oven (Kitchen staple)
  • A Dutch oven is one of my most versatile pieces of cookware. I use it for soups, stews, braises, bread, and slow-simmered meals. It’s especially helpful for one-pot recipes.
• Frying Pan
  • A frying pan is great for everyday cooking like eggs, vegetables, and quick sautéed meals. It’s one of those pans that gets used almost daily.
• Saucepan (Kitchen staple)
  • I rely on a saucepan for heating sauces, cooking grains, and preparing smaller portions. It’s essential for both cooking and baking prep.
• Saucier
  • I use a saucier when I want smoother sauces and easier stirring. The rounded sides make it ideal for custards, gravies, and anything that needs constant movement.
• Skillet
  • A skillet is useful for sautéing, shallow frying, and pan-based meals. It’s a flexible option for many stovetop recipes.
• Steamer
  • I use a steamer for vegetables and foods that benefit from gentle cooking. It’s a simple way to preserve flavor and texture.
• Stockpot
  • A stockpot is essential for making soups, stocks, pasta, and larger-batch meals. I use it when cooking for family meals or meal prep.
• Wok
  • I use a wok for quick stir-fries and high-heat cooking. It’s great for fast meals where ingredients cook quickly and evenly.

These cookware pieces cover most of my everyday cooking needs and are the ones you’ll see used most often in my recipes.

Bakeware

These are the bakeware pieces I use most often for everyday baking and special projects. From simple sheet pan recipes to cakes and desserts, these are the tools that help keep baking organized, consistent, and enjoyable.

• 8×8 Baking Pan
  • I use an 8×8 pan for smaller-batch recipes like brownies, bars, and baked desserts. It’s perfect when I don’t need a full-sized pan.
• 9×13 Baking Pan (Kitchen staple)
  • This is one of my most-used baking pans. I rely on it for casseroles, sheet-style desserts, and recipes meant to feed a crowd.
• 9×9 Baking Pan
  • A 9×9 pan is great for square cakes, bars, and desserts that need a little more room than an 8×8. It’s a nice in-between size to have on hand.
• Angel Food Cake Pan
  • I use this pan specifically for lighter cakes like angel food and sponge cakes. It helps achieve the right structure and texture for these recipes.
• Cake Decorating Supplies Kit
  • This comes in handy when decorating cakes or cupcakes. I use it for piping frosting and adding simple decorative touches.
• Casserole Baking Dish
  • I use casserole dishes for baked meals, pasta dishes, and family-style recipes. They’re great for oven-to-table meals and leftovers.
• Cookie Cutter
  • Cookie cutters are fun for baking cookies, especially for holidays and themed treats. They’re a simple way to make baking feel more festive.
• Cooling Rack (Kitchen staple)
  • I rely on cooling racks to cool baked goods evenly. Proper cooling helps prevent soggy bottoms and improves texture.
• Deep Roast Pan
  • I use a deep roast pan for larger cuts of meat and oven-roasted meals. It’s especially useful for recipes that release more liquid while cooking.
• Dough Cutter
  • A dough cutter is helpful for portioning dough, cutting butter into flour, and working with pastry dough.
• Dough Scrapper
  • I use a dough scraper for bread making and cleanup. It’s great for handling sticky dough and keeping work surfaces tidy.
• Loaf Pan
• I use loaf pans for breads, quick breads, and loaf-style desserts. It’s one of those pans that shows up in many baking recipes.
• Mixing Bowl (Kitchen staple)
  • Mixing bowls are essential for baking prep. I keep multiple sizes on hand for mixing batters, doughs, and ingredients.
• Muffin Pan
  • I rely on a muffin pan for muffins, cupcakes, and portioned baked goods. It’s great for breakfast baking and snacks.
• Pie Plate
  • I use a pie plate for pies, quiches, and baked desserts with crusts. It’s a staple for classic baking recipes.
• Rolling Pin
  • A rolling pin is essential for rolling out dough evenly. I use it for cookies, pie crusts, and pastry recipes.
• Round Cake Pan
  • Round cake pans are my go-to for layer cakes and classic cake recipes. They’re versatile and easy to use for many desserts.
• Sheet Pan (Kitchen staple)
  • Sheet pans are incredibly versatile. I use them for cookies, roasting, and sheet-pan meals. They’re one of the most-used items in my kitchen.
• Silicone Pastry Mat
  • A silicone pastry mat is helpful for rolling dough without sticking. It also makes cleanup much easier after baking.
• Springform
  • I use a springform pan for cheesecakes and delicate desserts that need to be released cleanly from the pan.

These bakeware pieces cover most of my everyday baking needs and are the ones you’ll see used throughout my dessert and baking recipes.