7 Must-Have Kitchen Accessories That Are Essential for Every Culinary Space
Apr 23, 2025
What makes a kitchen complete? Is it having all state-of-the-art tools and appliances under one roof? Or having every set and piece handpicked by a seasoned chef? Here at Artarium, we like to keep things simple. For us, a complete kitchen is a place where you can cook simple dishes and enjoy making them.
With that being said, you don’t need to collect high-end tools like a nitrogen whipper, sous vide wand, or spiralizer, before you get things rolling in your culinary space - a simple pan, a set of ladles, knives, and a few other items, are enough to get you started.
So, this guide helps you choose 7 must-have kitchen accessories that will always come in use no matter which dish you are making.
Spice Boxes
Here’s a hot take: every kitchen (whether traditional or modern) needs a good masala box or spice box. These charming utensils are not only about storing spices but also about convenience, accessibility, and cooking without breaking your flow. When your salt, cumin, turmeric, coriander, and other spices are all neatly organized in one place, cooking becomes smoother and more rhythmic. You can choose a wooden or brass masala box to add a touch of old-world charm to your kitchen shelf.
Saucepan 
From boiling pasta to brewing chai, the humble saucepan does a lot of heavy lifting. When thoughtfully purchased, this essential kitchen utensil holds the power to distribute heat evenly and allow you to cook with precision. With a deep design, it is perfect for soups, gravies, and everything in between. Consider investing in a sturdy piece, and you’ll find yourself reaching for it more often than you’d expect.
Frying Pan
Everyone, from celebrity chefs to new beginners, will agree that no kitchen is complete without this must-have cooking utensil. A reliable frying pan can make flipping omelets, sautéing vegetables, or simmering hot sauces feel like a breeze. The trick is to look for a well-balanced frying pan with a non-stick or traditional brass surface to make your everyday cooking a lot easier. A brass pan not only does all that, but it is also super easy to clean and doesn’t compromise heat distribution. Plus, it looks sleek stacked on your kitchen rack.
Plates & Thalis Sets
Those who have never attempted to create difficult dishes will never appreciate how useful plates are even in the preparation stages of creating a meal. Undoubtedly, attractive plates elevate the presentation of even simple recipes, but they make the cooking process easy as well. If you are preparing a dish with 5-6 different ingredients, you cannot keep all of them handy on the countertop. This is where plates help.
In the case of serving, brass thalis, in particular, bring a traditional vibe and are known to offer health benefits as well. Whether it’s a casual dinner or to bring culinary ease, the right plate or thali set is among the top must-have kitchen accessories.
Ladles
Ladles might seem ordinary, but they are an essential kitchen utensil. You’ve got one for soup, another for vegetables, one more for deep-frying, and another one for flipping your omelet. So, having a ladle set (of the right size and the right kind) can make all the difference. Choose wooden, steel, or brass to make your stirring, serving, and pouring effortless and sustainable.
Knives
Sharp, balanced, and comfortable in your hand - a good set of knives can transform your cooking. While some people prefer keeping at least three: a chef’s knife for chopping, a paring knife for delicate stuff, and a serrated knife for slicing through bread or butter – you can keep only one that does the job of many.
Graters & Peelers
A good grater and peeler can shred cheese and zest lemons, all the while wowing guests with your culinary performance. Every chef needs these essential kitchen utensils for various everyday culinary tasks. A sharp peeler ensures uniform potato skins for mashed potatoes, effortlessly preps apples for pies, and even helps create elegant vegetable ribbons for garnishing. Meanwhile, a quality grater can handle everything from hard cheeses to garlic, ginger, and nutmeg – speeding up prep while enhancing flavor.
Bottom Line
While it may seem attractive to have an air fryer or rice maker adorn the shelves of your kitchen, think twice, or the only thing going anywhere near them will be dust. Start with these must-have kitchen accessories and you won’t feel a grain of buyer's remorse.
However, as your skills grow along with the ingredients of your recipes, you can always invest in those fancy electric peelers, compact vegetable choppers, and other kinds of tools.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. What are the essential kitchen accessories?
A. Essential kitchen accessories are the tools and equipment that support everyday cooking tasks efficiently. These include items like a masala box for organized spice storage, saucepans and frying pans for various cooking, knives for chopping and slicing, ladles for serving, and plates or thalis for dining. These accessories form the backbone of a functional kitchen.
Q. What are the 3 most important kitchen tools?
A. While every kitchen is different, the top three important kitchen tools are:
> Sharp chef’s knife – for chopping, slicing, and precision work.
> Sturdy frying pan – for sautéing, pan-frying, and searing.
> Cutting board – to provide a clean and safe surface for food prep.
Q. What are the 10 kitchen tools and their uses in order?
A. Here are 10 key kitchen tools and their primary uses:
>Knife – For chopping, slicing, and dicing.
>Cutting Board – To protect countertops and provide a hygienic prep area.
>Saucepan – Ideal for boiling, simmering, and making sauces or tea.
>Frying Pan – Used for frying, sautéing, and browning food.
>Ladles – For stirring and serving soups, veggies, or curry.
>Masala Box – Keeps everyday spices accessible and organized.
>Grater – For shredding cheese, vegetables, or zesting citrus.
>Peeler – For efficiently removing skin from fruits and vegetables.
>Plates & Thalis – Essential for serving and enjoying meals.
>Baking Tray – For baking rich, sumptuous dishes.
Q. What's the most useful piece of equipment in a kitchen?
A. The most useful piece of equipment is often the frying pan. It’s used in nearly every recipe. Whether you’re stir-frying, shallow frying, simmering, or simply cooking with a lid on, a frying pan can be used to make almost any recipe.
