Shop My Kitchen

These are the tools we actually use. No fluff — just honest recommendations organized by what you're cooking. Start with the basics and add specialty items as you need them.

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For Gluten-Free Baking

Kitchen Scale ⭐ Most Important

Accurate gram measurements are THE key to successful GF baking. This is the one tool worth buying before anything else.

Our pick: OXO Good Grips 11-lb Digital Scale ~$50
Budget: Etekcity Digital Kitchen Scale ~$12

Silicone Baking Molds (Silpat Flexipan)

Flexible silicone molds that release baked goods cleanly — especially useful for cheesecakes and delicate items.

Cheesecake/layer cake (our pick): Silpat Flexipan Round Layer Cake Pan
Cheesecake (alternative): Sasa Demarle Flexipan Cheesecake Mold
Mini muffins: Silpat Flexipan 12-Mini Muffins Mold
Muffin pan: Silpat Flexipan Muffin Pan — what we use

Mixing & Measuring

Pyrex Glass Mixing Bowls 8-Piece Set ~$25
OXO Good Grips Measuring Cups ~$15
OXO Good Grips Measuring Spoons ~$10
Pyrex 2-Cup Glass Measuring Cup ~$8
Folksy Super Kitchen Silicone Pastry Mat 28"×20" — non-slip, measurements printed on mat, great for rolling dough when counters and cutting boards don't cut it

Cooling Racks

HIWARE Stainless Collapsible Stackable Cooling Racks ~$18

For Canning & Food Preservation

Canning is one of the most practical sustainability skills you can develop. The right equipment makes it safe and easy.

Canners

Water bath (high-acid foods — jams, pickles, salsa): Prep N Cook 21.5-Qt Water Bath Canner ~$50 — induction compatible, stainless steel
Pressure canner (low-acid foods — meat, broth, vegetables): Presto 01784 23-Qt Pressure Canner ~$90 — induction compatible
Pressure regulator: Presto 3-Piece Pressure Regulator (5-10-15 lb) ~$10 — essential accessory for Presto pressure canners

Canning Tools & Jars

Ball Canning Utensil Set ~$12 — jar lifter, funnel, ladle, and tongs
Ball Quilted Crystal Half-Pint Jars ~$10 — for jams
Ball Wide Mouth Pint Jars ~$12
Ball Wide Mouth Quart Jars ~$15
Stainless Steel Jelly Strainer Stand with Bags ~$15 — for clear jams and jellies
New Star 3-Piece China Cap Strainer Set ~$25 — for straining broths and stocks
3-in-1 Electric Mason Jar Vacuum Sealer Kit ~$30 — works with bags, wine bottles, and mason jars

For Indian Cooking

Dutch oven: Lodge Essential Enamel Cast Iron Dutch Oven, 6-Qt ~$90 | Le Creuset Enameled Signature Round Dutch Oven ~$175
Immersion blender: Vitamix Immersion Blender 3-piece set
Spice grinder: KRUPS Electric Spice Grinder ~$20 | ChefSofi Mortar and Pestle Set ~$30
Chef's knife: Henckels Collection Razor-Sharp Chef's Knife
Cutting board: OXO Non-Porous Double-Sided Cutting Board

For Norwegian Heritage Recipes

Krumkake iron (electric): Cucina Pro Krumkake Baker
Krumkake iron (stovetop): Nordic Ware Norwegian Krumkake Iron
Lefse griddle (standalone): Bethany Heritage Griddle
Lefse starter kit (griddle, rolling pin, turning stick): Bethany Lefse Starter Kit
Lefse rolling pin: Bethany Housewares Corrugated Lefse Rolling Pin
Lefse rolling square: Bethany Housewares Lefse Rolling Square
Lefse rolling pin cover: Bethany Housewares Rolling Pin Cover
Lefse turning stick (replacement/extra): Bethany Housewares Lefse Turning Stick
Lefse cozy: Bethany Housewares Lefse Cozy

General Cooking

Slow Cooker & Instant Pot

Crock-Pot 6-Qt Slow Cooker ~$50
Instant Pot Duo 6-Qt ~$90
Instant Pot Duo 8-Qt ~$100 — for larger batches

Pots & Pans

Bread Machine

Our pick: Neretva 3.3LB Bread Maker 15-in-1 with Ceramic Pan & Auto Nut Dispenser — what we use
Budget: Hamilton Beach Programmable Bread Maker with Dispenser

Utensils & Small Tools

Cuisinart Stainless Steel Strainers Set ~$15
STOCKPOT Stainless Steel Colander Set, 3-Piece (2Qt, 3Qt, 5Qt)
Winco 12" French Whisk ~$8 — restaurant-grade, what we use
KITCHENLOVE Premium Silicone Spatula Set
Natural Wood Cooking Utensils Set
Spring Chef Pastry Blender
ThermoPro TP509 Digital Candy Thermometer

Dehydrating

Dehydrating is one of the most versatile preservation methods — tomato powder, eggshell powder, dried herbs, jerky, and more.

For grinding into powder: NutriBullet Pro 900 Special Edition (Matte Black) — what we use to grind dehydrated tomatoes, eggshells, and more into fine powder
Dehydrator (our next purchase): Excalibur Performance Dehydrator with Adjustable Temperature — the gold standard for home dehydrating

Storage

BOROHOUSE 12-Pack Glass Containers with Lids — what we use for meal prep
Pyrex Glass Storage Set ~$30
Rubbermaid Brilliance Storage Containers
Ziploc Gallon Freezer Bags — for freezing rhubarb, bananas, and broth
FoodSaver VS0150 PowerVac Vacuum Sealer — what we use for long-term freezer storage
Cotton Beeswax Bread Bags (2-Pack) ~$20 — reusable, freezer safe

Specialty Ingredients

A few hard-to-find ingredients worth buying on Amazon rather than hunting down locally.

GF 1-to-1 Flour: Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour — our go-to for GF baking; contains xanthan gum, no adjustments needed
GF Rolled Oats: Bob's Red Mill GF Old Fashioned Rolled Oats
Cinnamon: McCormick Culinary Ground Cinnamon 18oz — restaurant-grade bulk size; if you bake regularly this is worth it
ClearJel (Modified Cornstarch): Wincrest ClearJel Thickener — the only USDA-approved thickener for canning pie fillings; also great as a cornstarch substitute in recipes like meatballs
Kaffir Lime Leaves (dried): Premium Dried Kaffir Lime Leaves — essential for authentic Thai curry; hard to find locally but keeps well dried

Where to Start

If you're just getting started, buy these first — under $100 total:

Kitchen scale — the single most important tool for GF baking
Mixing bowls
Measuring cups and spoons
9×13 pan and cookie sheet

Also Worth Reading

I keep a recommended reading list — books on leadership, project management, food preservation, and cooking that I've read and stand behind.