I Made These 7 Kitchen Equipment Upgrades, and They’ve Been Paying Off for Years

When I first started cooking for myself, I had $1 baking sheets that warped with a whisper of heat and hand-me-down saucepans with burnt bottoms. Sometimes, you just have to make do with what you have. Afterall, it’s the cook that makes the meal. But, there’s no denying that good gear can take you a long way (it’s why we spend so much time reviewing it). 

There are plenty of kitchen upgrades that have significantly impacted my cooking for the better, but only a select few have been standout investments that have paid off over the years. From helping me make a more vibrant cup of tea to sharpening my knife skills, these upgrades have practically paid for themselves.

My 7 Favorite Investments, at a Glance

Fellow Stagg EKG Electric Gooseneck Kettle

When I learned that different types of teas should steep at various temperatures, I knew I had to get a temperature control kettle. The Fellow Stagg EKG gooseneck kettle has been on my countertop for over five years, and still helps me brew the perfect cup of tea each morning. This model aced our tests with its incredible accuracy (you can control it down to the degree) and, it’s not just functional—it’s beautiful, too. This is an appliance I use every day, and it has saved me from spending plenty of money at cafes. 

Good to Know

• Wattage: 1200 watts
• Materials: Stainless steel, plastic handle
• Capacity: 0.9 liters
• Length of time it holds temperature: 1 hour

Breville Smart Oven Pro

My Breville toaster oven, a model we’ve recommended for over seven years, is one of my favorite kitchen appliances. Making the jump from a pop-up toaster to the Breville toaster oven was a game-changer for my toast and my cooking in general. Throughout our tests of 19 toaster ovens, the Breville Smart Oven Pro outperformed the competition with its precise and even heating, its versatility, and its longevity. My toast has never looked better and I’ve even used it for baking cinnamon rolls, broiling a tray of nachos, and heating up frozen pizza. I’ve had mine for over four years, and I use it every day.  

Good to Know

• Dimensions: 18.9 x 15.9 x 10.9 inches
• Interface: Digital display
• Functions: Toast, bagel, bake, roast, broil, pizza, cookies, reheat, warm, slow cook
• Accessories: One oven rack, 12 x 12-inch enamel baking pan, 12 x 12-inch enamel broiling rack, 13-inch non-stick pizza pan, removable crumb tray

Escali Primo Digital Food Scale

As a baker who’s working on some glutenous project weekly, my Escali digital food scale (and our budget pick for food scales!) is invaluable. When I started using a digital kitchen scale, there was a noticeable change with my bakes (as in, they were turning out as they were actually supposed to). Achieving precise ratios between ingredients is key to getting the right taste and texture. While measuring cups and spoons have their time and place in the kitchen, like loosely dumping beans into a Dutch oven or measuring out a mound of chickpeas for a salad, they don’t provide the accuracy needed when baking. In our tests, the Escali scale was spot-on across all of our tests, easy to clean, and nearly half the price of its competitors. 

Good to Know

• Dimensions: 8.5 x 6 x 1.6 inches
• Units: Grams, ounces, and pounds:ounces
• Maximum weight: 11 pounds (5 kilograms)
• Power source: Two AA batteries

Vitamix 5200 Professional-Grade Blender

Before I made the upgrade to a progressional-grade blender, I had a personal blender that did many things well, but I often found myself having to dig between the blades for chunks of banana or strands of basil. As I started to cook more seriously, I realized I would need a more powerful blender to make the luxurious, fully-emulsified sauces and purées I aspired towards. We’ve recommended the Vitamix 5200 for over 10 years, and it still out-blends the competition by a long shot. It’s simply a super powerful, no-frills blender that gets the job done thoroughly. Plus, it comes without any presets, so you’re in full control of your blending. After four years of use, I still swear by it.

Good to Know

• Capacity: 64 fluid ounces
• Weight: 10.5 pounds
• Number of Speeds: 10
• Warranty: 7-year

Hamilton Beach 2-Speed Hand Blender

Speaking of blending, very few kitchen experiences bring me more joy than watching butternut squash soup become smooth directly in the stockpot. For smaller blending tasks that need to happen quickly, I turn to my immersion blender. For someone who makes a lot of soup, I like the versatility of a hand blender since I don’t have to transfer my soups into a blender then back into a pot. The Hamilton Beach hand blender was a sleeper hit during our tests, often outdoing pricier units and even keeping up with our overall winner, the Vitamix immersion blender. It also comes with attachments for making perfectly whipped cream or mayonnaise and by the way, it (literally) crushed our ice test. 

Good to Know

• Dimensions: 14.75 x 3 x 2.75 inches
• Material: Stainless steel
• Weight: 1.75 pounds
• Accessories: Blending wand, whisk, 3-cup chopping bowl

Global 7-Inch Vegetable Knife

When I became vegetarian, getting a high-quality Nakiri knife made all the difference in my vegetable slicing, dicing, and chopping. The magic of the Nakiri is that it’s designed specifically for cutting vegetables, with a blade that’s broad and squared at the end instead of pointed. Because it slides instead of rocks (like a chef’s knife), it’s easier to make a clean cut through tricky vegetables and fruits like sweet potatoes or tomatoes. The Global vegetable knife is our favorite mid-priced Nakiri knife for its durability and accessibility. It’s a great entry point for those new to this style, yet sharp enough to please experienced knife users. 

Good to Know

• Weight: 194 grams
• Handle & blade material: Cromova 18 stainless steel
• Blade length: 7 inches
• Total knife length: 12 inches

KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer

The first thing I did after I finished paying off my student debt was save up enough to purchase a KitchenAid mixer. Before that, I learned how to feel gluten development in dough by hand, knowledge I still lean on when I make sourdough loaves. For other bakes, like brioche or cinnamon rolls, I turn to my KitchenAid mixer, which has been a beloved part of my kitchen for over five years. The KitchenAid Artisan series mixer came out on top as the best mixer for casual bakers in our tests of 12 stand mixers, and is an all-round workhorse. It kneads a well-developed pizza dough and whips up cream and egg whites beautifully. As an avid baker, I use mine at least twice a week. My spouse’s parents have had their KitchenAid mixer for over 30 years, and I’m betting mine will go on to see just as many days.

Good to Know

• Weight: 19.4 pounds
• Dimensions: 13.5 x 13.75 x 8.75 inches  
• Wattage: 325 watts
• Attachments: Paddle, dough hook, whisk, plus splash/pouring guard

FAQs

What type of knives are essential in the kitchen?

If you find yourself working often with vegetables, it’s definitely worth getting a Nakiri knife. A chef’s knife is another essential that’s a versatile all-rounder in the kitchen. We also love paring knives for smaller tasks that don’t require a big blade. That said, everyone is different and an essential set of knives will vary from person to person.

What are other long-lasting upgrades for my kitchen?

From a sturdy wooden cutting board to a beautiful pie plate, we’ve rounded up 16 kitchen items you’ll (probably) never have to replace.

What can I do with a professional-grade blender?

What can’t you do with a professional-grade blender? We have plenty of recipes that make use of blenders, including creamy soups, kefir smoothies, flavorful sauces, and more.

Why We’re The Experts

• An Uong is a Commerce Writer for Serious Eats and Food & Wine
• An has spent years curating her kitchen equipment and tools. Only the most invaluable pieces make it to her countertop.