Five Kitchen Tools I’m Thankful For This Year – These are the five kitchen tools I am thankful for this year.
There are so many things that I’m thankful for this year. My new husband, our new house, our new life together. And of course…all of you, my readers! I am having such a blast with this blog and it’s been so much fun to share my recipes with you and hear all about your experiences recreating them.
Six months ago, I was wishing I could share my passion of food with more people. And here I am, with almost 17,000 views for this month alone! I never thought I’d be here. I am so thankful to each and every one of you, because without you, I wouldn’t have had the strength to continue doing what I love.
Okay, enough with the mushy stuff…let’s talk about some other things I’m super thankful for this year: kitchen tools! A few months ago, I talked about important baking tools for beginners. But now, I want to talk about kitchen tools that help make my life so much easier. These will make some great gifts for the cooks and bakers in your life, if they don’t have them already. So let’s get started!
1. Wooden Spoons

I use these every single time that I cook or bake. Wooden spoons are perfect for stovetop cooking because they won’t scratch the bottom of your pots or pans (like metal will) and they won’t melt under extreme heat (like plastic will). This is the exact set I have.
2. Garlic Press
This is my favorite new tool for 2016. Honestly, I am shocked that it took me this long to buy one. I hate mincing garlic. It takes me forever to get it the small size that I need for most recipes. No more! This press is so amazing because you just place a clove or two in the compartment and just press it and bam! The garlic is now the perfect mince. And it takes 1/10 the time! Love love love this tool. Here’s the one I have from OXO Grips.
3. Citrus Squeezer
This tool is my one of my favorites for the same reasons as the garlic press: (1) it cuts out time and (2) requires much less effort. I hate squeezing lemons and limes with my hands. I just don’t have the strength to get all the juice out. And you better believe I am getting every drop of juice out of that piece of citrus. I could use my juicer but sometimes I only need to squeeze 1/2 a lemon directly into a sauce and I don’t want to wash the whole juicer just for that. Enter: citrus squeezer. This is the one I have from Bed, Bath, and Beyond. I love it because it’s sturdy, machine washable, and it has two sizes (one for lemon and one for lime). And it keeps the seeds from getting into your food. Love it!
4. Food Processor
I used to be resistant to using a food processor. But I just couldn’t deny how much easier it made many of my baking tasks. I use it to evenly crush cookies and crackers for pie crust, make sauces, and chop nuts. Have you ever tried to chop nuts by hand? Those dang nuts go everywhere and make it impossible to chop many at time. Now, I just throw them into the food processor, pulse 3 or 4 times and they’re ready to go! I don’t have a fancy shmancy food processor either. This one is super affordable and perfect for your average kitchen.
5. Cookie Scoop
Last but not least…the cookie scoop. You have probably heard me talk about how much I love this scoop in many of my cookie recipes. And today is no different. This scoop is one of my favorite tools because it helps scoop even portions. This is so important for cookies because your cookies will not finish cooking at the same time if they are different sizes. But I don’t just use it for cookies. I use it for meatballs, ice cream, scooping into muffin tins, anything with a batter, really. It makes cooking and baking much less messy and produces perfect, even sizes. I cannot live without it! They no longer produce the cookie scoop I have, but here’s a similar one.
I hope you found this list helpful! Did you learn anything new? What tools are you thankful for this year? Let me know in the comments below!
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Great picks babe. I didn’t get anything on Black Friday so I’m praying there’ll be some great deals for Cyber Monday! I want a new garlic press! xo, sharon
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A garlic press is so useful and I love my food processor
Thanks for sharing!
I agree with you. I don’t know why people don’t use wooden spoon more! They are so cheap and make cooking so much easier. Good post!
Thanks so much! I never used them growing up but then saw them all over the Food Network shows and finally gave in. I’ve never looked back since!
These are excellent picks! Especially the garlic press. I kind of hate mincing garlic and having my hands smell like it for so long! Thanks for the picks 🙂
Omg you’re so right! I forgot how much my hands smelled like garlic after mincing it!
A good scoop is such a handy kitchen tool! I’m adding some of these to my Chrismas list!
Awesome! Glad I could inspired new things for your list!
Such a great list!! I’ve been looking for a new garlic press, so thanks for sharing!
You’re so welcome!
What a great spread! Wooden spoons and garlic presses are some great kitchen tools to appreciate.
Thank you! They sure are!
Great selection. I need some quality wooden spoons…not the cheap dollar store variety. The citrus squeezer is great…love mine. I really need a good garlic press. I’d rather do it with a knife rather than clean my old one.
Thanks so much! This garlic press is amazing. So well-made and sturdy. And I can just throw it into the dishwasher so I don’t have to spend any time scrubbing it at all!
I would love to have a citrus squeezer. Was wishing I had one today.
It’s such a life-changer!
I LOVE that you put wooden spoons on this list! They are my absolute favorite and I often choose them over plastic. I really do need to get a garlic press, I spend WAY too much time chopping it by hand. thanks for sharing <3
Oh yessss. You will fall in love with the garlic press once you use it for the first time!
I never thought I needed a food processor either! But now I have one I use it all the time! I love the look of your garlic mincer too – mine is so old and broken, I may need to invest in one of those!
Yesss! That’s so funny that you had the same experience with the food processsor. But it really is so useful!
My best kitchen took this year is a new blender I bought and a garlic presser. Think I’m gonna buy a good processed next year.
Typing error! I meant, I think I will buy a food processor next year.
Happy Thanks Giving!!!
No worries!! I have typing errors wayyy too often so I knew what you meant. I hope you had a great Thanksgiving!
Ahhh the blender! Such a good one! I wish I used mine more. I usually just pull it out for smoothies, shakes, and sorbets. But I hope to find more uses for it!
I LOVE my food processor SO much! I actually just used it to make myself a pumpkin pie that fits with my food allergies! I also can’t live without my blender and of course, my coffee maker! 😉
Oh girl…the coffee maker is a MUST! We have one that is so-so but we’re eyeing a new one for Christmas!
What a great idea for a post – I love the concept of Thanksgiving (even though I’m English). For months now I have been journalling three things I am grateful for every morning and evening and it is really changing my outlook on the world. I love your selection of kitchen goodies – those garlic presses are a great design aren’t they?
Aw I love that idea! It’s so important to remember what you’re thankful for. And yes, I love love love my garlic press!
Ohhh sadly, I’m missing most of these. I really want a food processor – hey there’s always Christmas, right? Great post.
Haha exactly! Check out the cyber Monday deals! I’m sure you can get one really cheap!
I love my wooden spoons! I prefer them over any other spoon! And I am addicted to my garlic press and my food processor!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks Chrissy!!
These are necessary tools in the kitchen. Now you have me thinking about which I need to replace this year 🙂
Nice! I’m glad the list inspired you!
Great kitchen gadgets. I’m definitely not grateful for my garlic mincer. But if I had a nice new one that actually worked – then I might be!
The one I have is sooo amazing. It’s really well-made. You should give it a try!
I am the most grateful for my food processor. Cannot imagine my life without it!
Amen to that!
I have to agree my garlic press is my favourite! And congrats on all those milestones, how exciting!!! I’m almost surprised you don’t have more pageviews – your photos are stunning and your blog is so professionally set up 🙂
Aw thanks so much for saying that! I’m hoping I can continue doubling my page views each month 🙂
I love all these things too! My fav new thing is my espresso maker though.. I’m all heart eyes over it lol
Yessss I love my espresso machine too!
Nutri Bullet is my tool of the year, all the stuff you listed are just must have for all kitchens xo
Thanks for sharing!
My favorite kitchen tool that I am so very thankful for …. Is one that I am showcasing on Tuesday’s video – OH MAN, so so so pumped to show it off, it’s the best thing EVERRRRR!!
Oh ok cool!
I love my food processor! It actually doubles as a garlic mincer for me, haha. I just buy those pre-peeled cloves and throw them in and let it do it’s magic!
Haha what a great tip!
I need to purchase some great wooden spoons to use in my kitchen
I love these wooden spoons! They’ve lasted me forever!
I need a new garlic press& I love that smaller food processor!!!
That garlic press is awesome! Super sturdy and well-crafted