A while back I put together an Kitchen Equipment Best Buys I actually own and use — not stuff I was paid to say nice things about, not gear someone sent me for free. My stuff. With my real notes attached.
I've been getting questions about it lately, so I figured I'd pull it all together here in one place and expand on a few things the character limits on Amazon don't let me say. The list is organized loosely by category. If you want to shop the whole thing in one place, this category is at: The Best Cooking Tools.
Let's get into it.
🍳 Cookware — The Pans You'll Actually Cook In
T-Fal Ultimate Hard Anodized Nonstick — 10.25" Fry Pan
The home workhorse. My 10-year-old cooks with it. We all use it. What won me over was that it doesn't warp under sustained high heat — and I have warped more expensive name-brand pans in less time than I care to admit.
T-Fal Ultimate Hard Anodized Nonstick — 5-Quart Jumbo Cooker
If you could only buy one pan, this is it. Boil pasta, fry an egg, make big stews and soups, sauté, make sauces, fry chicken, do stir fry — one pan does the job of several. But besides that, it's just a great pan period.
T-Fal Ultimate Hard Anodized Nonstick — 2-Piece Fry Pan Set (10" & 12")
For $12 more than buying the 10" alone, you get the 12" too. The math makes sense. Same great quality, nonstick, doesn't warp, great design, lightweight, great price. Dishwasher safe — although I hand wash mine. It's like therapy for me.
T-Fal Ultimate Hard Anodized Nonstick — 12-Piece Set
For the price of a few pans, you could own the whole set. I prefer to buy exactly what I want in the quality I love. But I love their products, so this is a smart purchase. Someone let me know how those utensils are — I don't own any of those.
Amazon Basics Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven — 6 Quart
I've cooked with Le Creuset over the years. It's great. It's also expensive. If you want a great dutch oven for home use at a fraction of that cost, this is your answer. PRO TIP: the knob on the lid gets blazing hot. Oven mitts aren't optional, they're mandatory.
Stone & Beam Tri-Ply Stainless Steel Set — 12-Piece
My sister's family bought me a tri-ply stainless set over 20 years ago. Still using it. Still looks fairly new. Tri-ply stainless is how All-Clad is made — at a fraction of the price. Same construction, fraction of the cost.
Lodge Chef Collection 12" Cast Iron Skillet
Sad story first: I let someone keep three Lodge pans while I traveled for work. They were stored wrong, water got to them, and they rusted together. Gone. But I'm pleased with this replacement. The Chef Collection style means less weight, a better handle, and a pour spout — all things that matter when you're actually cooking with it. Cast iron is forever if you treat it right. Learn from my story.
Cuisinart 17×13" Roasting Pan with Removable Rack
This doesn't get used constantly, but when it gets used — turkey, whole roasted chickens, big pork shoulders — it's the right tool. I bought mine years ago on an Amazon sale for $20. Keep an eye out for deals.
🌡️ Thermometers — Don't Skip These
Lavatools Javelin PRO — Instant Read Thermometer
I used to recommend the Thermapen. Then mine got lost. My wife bought a Lavatools Javelin and it honestly performs the same for half the price. 2-second reads, auto-rotating backlit display, water resistant, NSF certified. If there's a slight temp difference between this and the Thermapen I can't detect it in real cooking. This is my current recommendation.
TempPro TP16 — Leave-In Probe Thermometer
The Javelin is for quick reads. This is for long cooks — smoker, oven, anything you're leaving unattended for hours. Digital display, timer function, reliable probe. Lives on my back porch next to the smoker. Does what it's supposed to do.
🥄 Utensils — The Stuff You're Reaching for Every Day
OXO Good Grips 12" Stainless Locking Tongs
These are my everyday tongs. The locking mechanism is the key feature — no more open tongs making a mess of your drawer or being difficult to grab when your hands are full. Mine are over 3 years old. Kid-friendly handle. Use these for anything that goes in the oven, on the grill, or in a sauté pan.
OXO Good Grips 12" Silicone Head Tongs
Same great tong, but with a silicone head for nonstick pots and pans. One note on tongs and kids: don't buy 9-inch tongs because their hands are smaller. The shorter tongs just bring small hands closer to the heat.
OXO Good Grips 11" Silicone Balloon Whisk
Same whisk, silicone-coated wires for nonstick pans. Bonus: my wife says it's the best thing for making caramel in a nonstick pan. I defer to her on this.
OXO Good Grips Nylon Flexible Turner
High-temp nylon, wider spatula head than most slotted options, great handle, dishwasher safe. Kid-friendly. General-use workhorse.
OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Potato Masher
Not just for potatoes. Root vegetables of any kind. Ground beef when you're cooking large amounts and need to break it up fast. The handle doesn't come apart like cheap ones do. I will pay more for quality.
New Star Foodservice Fish Spatula — 6.5" Blade
My current one is over 3 years old. The slots are the key — not just for fish, but for draining grease or hot water when you're boiling, steaming, or frying. Great value. Solid quality. Dishwasher safe.
Helen's Asian Kitchen Spider Strainer — 5" Stainless Mesh, Bamboo Handle
If you cook in boiling water or hot grease and you don't own a spider, fix that. This keeps you safe — skimming, straining noodles, pulling dumplings, lifting things out of a deep fry without burning yourself. The bamboo handle stays cool. Amazon also carries an all-steel version that rates slightly higher; I haven't used it personally, but fewer parts to break is a valid point. Either way, get a spider.
Mercer Culinary Hell's Tools Hi-Heat Slotted Spatula — 12"
Full transparency: I bought this specifically so my kids stop scraping up my nonstick T-Fal pans. Reviews were solid. My concern going in was durability and flex under high-temp use — high-heat nylon can get soft if it's not built right. I'll update this when I have more time on it. Initial impression is good.
Rubbermaid Commercial High-Heat Silicone Spatula/Scraper
I default to commercial-grade products even at home. This is a big, high-temp spatula that handles real work. Made for big hands. Comes in smaller and larger sizes. Lasts a long time. The commercial-grade build makes the difference.
HiramWare Silicone Spatula Set of 4
This was my wife's choice and I'm convinced. High temp, colorful, great for kids, dishwasher safe. The sizes work well for smaller hands. For my big hands and day-to-day cooking I lean on the Rubbermaid, but this set is excellent and a great value.
VCCUCINE 6-Piece Wooden Cooking Spoons & Spatulas
When it comes to straight cooking — stick or nonstick — I like to cook with wood and bamboo. No frills. Long-lasting. Doesn't look cheap. And you can't beat the price. Sometimes simple is right.
🔥 Bakeware — What's Actually in My Oven
Pyrex Easy Grab 2-Qt Baking Dish with Lid
Number one bakeware in this house. The 9×13 is the standard casserole size — versatile for almost anything. The lid makes it easy to transport or store without covering with foil. We have not had any Pyrex or Anchor Hocking glassware break or shatter on us.
Pyrex Basics 2-Piece Set — 3-Qt Oblong + 2-Qt Square
Scalloped potatoes, green bean casserole, coffee cake, brownies, 7-layer dip, jello, salads, marinating meat... these cover all of it. They look good on the table or in the oven.
Anchor Hocking 7-Piece Bakeware Set
Same quality as Pyrex. The key piece here is the loaf pan — think meatloaf, banana bread, yeast bread. We only have three pieces from this set (came as a gift or we bought it — honestly can't remember) but they've been solid.
Nordic Ware Naturals Half Sheet Pans — 2-Pack
These are half sheet pans — make sure you know what size you're buying. They're not the same as jelly roll pans even though people use those terms interchangeably. Half sheets do fit in a standard home oven. The nonstick versions cost twice as much. You don't need them — just get these and pair them with the silicone baking mats below. Problem solved.
Amazon Basics Silicone Baking Mats — 2-Pack
Cookies, cakes, pumpkin rolls, fries, veggies, pork chops — inside a half sheet pan these make everything bake nonstick. I recommend the macaron version (these) over the standard plain ones because I like having the cookie guides printed on them. Dishwasher safe. Lasts a long time.
Unicook 15×12" Cordierite Pizza Stone
Don't buy cheap pizza stones. Even if you only use them in the oven, cheaper stones crack over time from temperature changes. This one handles oven to grill and back. I leave it in my oven. Thermal shock resistant — and it means it. Quality.
🧂 The Little Things
Totally Bamboo Salt Cellar — Magnetic Lid
I haven't had this one long but I love the convenience. Swivel top with magnetic seal, easy access for pinches or a measuring spoon. Salt has been used to preserve and inhibit bacteria for thousands of years — don't worry about your fingers going in.
That's the whole list. Everything on there is something I own, have used, and put my real notes on. No paid placements. No gear I've never touched. There are 5 other categories to check out at Kitchen Equipment Best Buys or click on the button on the right!
If you have questions about any of it, drop them in the comments or shoot me an email at info@tyronebcookin.com. And the full shoppable Amazon list is always at: The Best Kitchen Tools.
— Tyrone
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