Front left: chicken & rice soup
Front right: chicken broth
Back right: simmering pot
Today, I had a rare day off, so what did I do? I spent time in my kitchen. Having the right tools for cooking and baking makes it easier for me since I cook six nights a week and bake for major holidays and special occasions. I've also learned through the years of working in a kitchen with limited workspace and counterspace what single-use tools won't lay claim to space in my house. Below, I am going to share five of my favorite kitchen tools that make my holidays easier.
Strainers
Photo credit: Freepik
In my not-so-humble opinion, a set of three stainers in various sizes is a must for anyone who cooks and bakes. From rinsing fruits and vegetables to screening broths and gravies to sprinkling powdered sugar over cookies, a strainer has numerous uses in the kitchen. I truly can't function in my kitchen without them. My favorite use for a strainer is to sift dry baking ingredients (like in the above photo), which means I don't need to store a separate flour sifter in my cabinets.
Greek sugar cookies for Christmas
Funnels
Photo credit: Freepik
Right up there with the sifters are funnels in a variety of sizes. Have you ever tried to pour liquid from a pan into a bottle without a funnel? Disaster in the making. Especially if you enjoy canning liquids, you need at least one funnel. My favorite is the set below from Pampered Chef. There is even a strainer in one of the funnels, which I just used today when pouring broth into mason jars.
Photo credit: Freepik
Speaking of mason jars, I always have them on hand. They aren't just for canning, though that's why I started using them. With concerns about microplastics and the movement toward homesteading and self-sufficiency, content creators are talking about the varied uses of mason jars: keeping fruits and vegetables fresh longer, food prep, dry goods storage, drinking glasses, and food gifts. I keep at least a dozen in my kitchen all year round.
Dutch oven
I use my enameled Dutch oven at least once a week, especially around the holidays. Though I haven't tried making bread in it yet--that task is coming in 2026, I use it for big batches of soup, chili, chicken broth--which I make to keep on hand for making dinner and pet food, and tonight's goulash, so that I can give some to the kids when they come home for supper. My Dutch oven came from Walmart.
Photo credit: Modern Prairie
The spoonula is a tool that I never really understood until I bought one from Modern Prairie. I love all my wooden utensils for cooking, but the spoonula is one of those flexible tools that you can use to mix flour when you're baking, stir to blend ingredients for your evening meal, and more. The MP website says you can also use it as a serving tool, which I haven't tried yet. I ended up buying wood butter from another online vendor to condition and protect my spoonula and other wooden utensils to extend their life.
Having these handy tools in my kitchen definitely made my holiday baking and cooking go much more easily.
I do not get affiliate income from the above-mentioned companies. I'm simply spreading the word about products I enjoy.
