What makes an item a kitchen essential?
You know when you’re cooking, and there’s that one tool you always reach for? That’s what makes something a kitchen essential – it’s the thing that makes your life easier, faster and more enjoyable when you’re in the middle of meal prep.
A kitchen essential is a tool you can count on. It’s reliable. Like your best knife that slices through everything or your stand mixer that kneads dough to perfection. You don’t have to think twice; it’s just there, doing its job like a pro.
It’s also versatile. Like a good blender that’s as handy for your morning smoothie as it is for making soups or sauces. Or a food processor that shreds, slices, and chops to rescue your dinner routine. The kind of stuff that saves you time and makes cooking feel less like a chore.
And let’s not forget, a kitchen essential lasts. It’s built to take on the everyday grind and still perform like new. You know the feeling – when you’ve used something for years, and it’s still as dependable as the day you bought it.
So, what makes something a kitchen essential? It’s simple: it’s the gear that’s always there for you, helps you get more done, and brings a little extra joy to your cooking.
Now let’s get down to it – here are our 21 kitchen essentials (in no particular order).
Essential kitchen appliances
Artisan 4.7L stand mixer
The Artisan stand mixer isn’t just a kitchen appliance – it’s your sous-chef. This powerful 10-speed mixer tackles heavy doughs, whipped batters and everything in between. Use it to knead dough for bread, mix cake batter to perfection, or easily whip up a meringue. And with its classic shape and stylish finishes, it’s a showpiece on your benchtop.
How to use it: Picture yourself prepping pizza dough for a family movie night. Set it to knead while you relax and enjoy a drink. The mixer’s doing the hard work, and you're free to plan your toppings.
Or, use the whisk to make light-as-air pavlova or the flat beater to mix cookie dough for a weekend bake. With the right attachments, this mixer can even roll pasta or grind meat. Learn more in our guide to stand mixers.
Recipe inspiration: Check out this classic crusty bread or whip up a tasty pavlova to see the mixer in action.
Stand mixer attachments
3-piece pasta roller & cutter attachment
Fresh pasta is easier than you think with this pasta roller and cutter attachment. It rolls out thin, even pasta sheets and cuts them into perfect strands of fettuccine or spaghetti. You’ll be serving restaurant-quality pasta in no time.
How to use it: Mix up a batch of fresh pasta dough with your stand mixer, then run it through the roller to get smooth, even sheets. Switch to the cutter to make fettuccine or spaghetti, and all that’s left is to cook it up and toss it with a homemade sauce. Whether you're prepping for a dinner party or feeding the family, this attachment will make you feel like a pro.
7-blade spiraliser with peel, core & slice attachment
When you think of a spiraliser, you probably think of veggie noodles. But there’s more to this kitchen essential. It peels, cores, and slices fruits and vegetables with precision. Use it to enjoy healthier meal options or get creative with your presentation.
How to use it: Try spiralising zucchini for a low-carb alternative to pasta, or slice apples thinly for a beautiful tart. The spiraliser makes light work of fruit and veg so that you can prep healthy meals faster.
Metal food grinder attachment
The metal food grinder gives you control over what goes into your food. Enjoy fresh sausages and homemade burgers – made from quality cuts and without added preservatives. Grind meat or vegetables to your preferred texture while cooking from scratch and avoiding processed ingredients.
How to use it: Use the fine plate to grind your own sausages, adding spices and herbs to suit your taste. Switch to the coarse plate for chunky burger patties, perfect for your next BBQ. The metal food grinder also works wonders for making falafel mix from chickpeas or grinding vegetables for veggie burgers.
Shave ice attachment
Beat the Aussie heat with this fun shave ice attachment. It transforms regular ice cubes into fluffy, snow-like ice – perfect for cooling drinks and refreshing desserts.
How to use it: Fill the machine with ice cubes and watch as it shaves them into a fine, soft texture. Add your favourite syrups or mix with fresh fruit for snow cones or granitas. Serve it up at a summer party or to cool down after a day at the beach. You can also use it to top off cocktails for a memorable summer night.
Flex edge beater
The flex edge beater is a stand mixer attachment that scrapes down the sides of your bowl as it mixes, ensuring even incorporation of ingredients. Use it to make your best cake batter, crumbly cookie dough, or thick mixes that need a little extra help.
How to use it: Use the flex edge beater for mixing thicker batters like brownie or cookie dough. Its silicone edge scrapes the bowl as it mixes, so you don’t have to stop and do it manually. It’s a real time-saver, especially for large batches.
Pouring shield
The pouring shield fits onto your stand mixer bowl, helping prevent splatters and spills when adding ingredients during mixing. It’s a simple but effective tool that keeps your kitchen cleaner and makes baking more fun (because there’s less mess to clean up afterwards). Saving you cleaning time? Yep, we call that a kitchen essential.
How to use it: Attach the shield when adding flour to a cake batter or sugar to a meringue, and avoid the mess. It’s especially useful for recipes that require ingredients to be added gradually.
Dough hook
Have you ever had warm, fresh bread straight from the oven? The dough hook is your ultimate tool to make fresh bread at home. It mimics the kneading action of hand-kneading but does all the hard work for you. Once your mixer stops quietly whirring, your dough is perfectly kneaded and ready to rise.
How to use it: Use it to knead bread dough, pizza dough, or even brioche. Your dough will come out smooth, elastic, and ready for the oven.
So that’s the stand mixer and attachments covered, now let’s take a quick look at our other essential kitchen appliances.
Food processor
The reason we have a food processor on our essentials list is because it saves you the most valuable thing you have – your time. Food processors shine during batch cooking and meal prep. They slice, dice, chop, and shred in seconds. You can use our food processor comparison to find the right size for you.
How to use it: Prep large batches of veggies for stir-fries, salads, or roasted veg. Use the shredder for cheese, carrots, or potatoes, and the chopper for onions, garlic and nuts. You can even make dough and pie crusts in the processor, cutting down on prep time.
Recipe inspiration: Make a quick dinner with these spiced chickpea patties, egg and bacon pies or bake a traditional deep dish apple pie.
K400 variable speed blender
The humble blender is sometimes a bit of an unsung hero in the kitchen. Our K400 blender can take on everything from green smoothies to thick soups. Its powerful motor and special tamper easily blend tough ingredients like nuts, seeds and fibrous vegetables. No matter what you throw at it or how hurried you are, the K400 is always up for the job.
How to use it: Toss in frozen fruit and greens for a smoothie that’s packed with nutrition, or blend roasted veggies into a velvety soup. Its variable speed lets you choose the right consistency for every recipe, and the self-cleaning cycle makes tidying up effortless. Add ice for cocktails or crush nuts for homemade nut butter – the possibilities are endless. See how your blender is for more than just smoothies.
Recipe inspiration: Try this creamy cauliflower soup for a warming dish, or blend up a quick banana & peanut butter Smoothie for breakfast.
Electric Kettle
Speaking of unsung heroes, a good kettle is a must-have kitchen staple. Ours are quick and stylish – they heat water fast and their sleek design fits any kitchen space, big or small.
How to use it: Whether you’re brewing a pot of tea, making French press coffee, or boiling water for a quick batch of pasta, a KitchenAid kettle will get the job done fast. Get it started and then take a moment to admire how lovely it looks in your kitchen.
2-slice toaster
This isn’t your average toaster. With multiple settings, it toasts bread, bagels, crumpets, and more just the way you like them. You can even defrost frozen bread or use the keep-warm setting so your toast stays at the perfect temperature.
How to use it: Toast a couple of slices of sourdough for breakfast or use the bagel setting to crisp up the outside while keeping the inside soft – just like at your favourite cafe.
Espresso coffee machine
Depending on your lifestyle, caffeine is absolutely a kitchen essential. Use a KitchenAid espresso machine to sip rich, full-flavoured espresso with a velvety crema – just how you like it. Create your favourite drinks easily and explore varieties like espresso, latte, cappuccino and much more (espresso martini, anyone?). We designed our premium colours and metal-clad construction to fit your life, whatever that looks like.
How to use it: Use our semi automatic coffee machine to follow your curiosity and mix things up. Or explore a world of rich, dark espresso at the push of a button with our fully automatic machines.
Cordless appliances
Whether you like your bench clutter-free or regularly cook outside (or even while on the road), these cordless appliances will help you cook delicious, nutritious meals.
Cordless hand blender
The cordless hand blender is a versatile tool for quick blending jobs. Use it for quick and easy soups, smoothies, and sauces. You can move it around your kitchen, blending directly in the pot or pan without transferring ingredients. It doesn’t get any simpler than this!
How to use it: Blend your tomato soup right on the stove, or whip up a fresh sauce for pasta without dirtying another dish. Use the variable speeds to control whether you give it a quick blitz or a more thorough blend.
Cordless food chopper
This cordless food chopper is a compact, portable tool for chopping veggies, nuts, and herbs. It’s great if you have limited counter space, but it’s even better if you’re not in a kitchen. Maybe you’ll use it outside to prep for a BBQ, or maybe you need it to make healthy meals on the road.
How to use it: Prep salsa for taco night, chop onions without the tears, or quickly dice garlic for stir-fries. Use it wherever it's most convenient, whether in your tiny apartment kitchen or by the BBQ.
Cordless coffee grinder
There’s no better smell than freshly ground coffee. But do you know what’s even better? The rich, bold flavour. With a cordless coffee grinder, you can grind your beans wherever and whenever you like.
How to use it: Grind your favourite beans in the morning for the freshest brew possible, or take it with you on weekend getaways so you never have to settle for stale coffee.
Cookware
Cast iron Dutch oven
A Dutch oven (also known as a casserole dish) is one of the most versatile pieces of cookware you can own. Use it for slow-cooking, roasting, braising, or even baking bread. The cast iron construction retains heat exceptionally well, meaning your food cooks evenly and stays warm longer.
How to use it: Braise a beef stew for a winter’s dinner or slow-cook a pot of chilli for a family gathering. You can also bake a crusty loaf of sourdough bread or roast a whole chicken. The casserole dish transitions seamlessly from stovetop to oven, making it a must-have for any kitchen.
Must-have prep tools and utensils
Classic swivel peeler
The classic swivel peeler is a kitchen essential for prepping fruits and vegetables. Its sharp blade makes peeling your fruit and veg quick and easy, and the ergonomic handle makes it really comfy. It’s the little things.
How to use it: Peel potatoes for mashed potatoes, slice up apples for a pie, or prepare carrots for a hearty roast.
Silicone spatulas
A good set of silicone spatulas is a must for mixing, folding, and scraping every bit of batter or sauce from your bowls and pans. Our spatulas are heat-resistant and flexible – made for cooking and baking. All you need to do is decide whether you need the spoon or the scraper shape.
How to use it: Scrape down the sides of your mixing bowl to get every last bit of cake batter, or fold delicate ingredients like whipped cream into your desserts. Use the spatulas to stir hot sauces or saute ingredients in the pan. Silicone is gentle on non-stick surfaces, so you won't have to worry about scratching your cookware.
Balloon whisk
The balloon whisk is your go-to tool for whipping with light, airy results. Its large, open shape is perfect for incorporating air into eggs, cream, or batter. Use it to make your baked goods fluffy and your sauces smooth.
How to use it: Whisk cream into soft peaks for a pavlova or whip eggs for a sharp and tasty omelette. You can also use it to make smooth hollandaise sauce or mix the perfect pancake batter.
Kitchen shears
A good pair of kitchen shears is a multi-functional tool every cook needs. Whether you’re snipping herbs, trimming fat from meat, or opening packages, these sharp, sturdy shears are indispensable.
If you have regular recipes you return to, you can get shears specific to herbs, poultry and seafood. But our universal shears are great all-rounders. Kitchen shears are more than just scissors – they’re a versatile tool you’ll find yourself reaching for again and again.
How to use them: Use the shears to cut fresh herbs for garnishing, trim chicken thighs, or snip open plastic packaging. They’re also great for cutting up pizza or snipping bacon into pieces for a salad.
Final thoughts
So, there you have it. Our essential kitchen cooking tools list. The kitchen essentials that really pull their weight, whether you're whipping up a quick weeknight meal or diving into a full-on Sunday bake. These tools are the ones that stick with you, making your life in the kitchen easier, faster, and honestly, way more fun.
Want to know more? Read five tips for living in a small kitchen, or discover what tools are our baking essentials.
