After almost fulfilling my MOP of 5 years, I’ve learned what I actually use every day in my kitchen. If I had to start again, these are the exact items I’d get, no questions asked. This guide is quick and practical, designed not to break the bank, or if it’s something on the pricier side, it’s definitely gonna be worth the spend in the long run:)

I’ve linked the exact items I’ve tried & tested!

(Wood) Cutting Board

For this section, I’ll recommend 2 options – Wood & Rubber material (more expensive).

I actually started out by using plastic cutting boards. I’ve since tried to reduce my usage of plastic in my kitchen wherever possible. Going to wood from plastic is an easier switch since there are a lot of options out there and you’ll be able to find one which suits you in terms of price & design.

In general, thinner wood boards may be lighter and easier to carry around, but they may warp and slide around your countertop. I’ve recommended one on the weightier & more durable side:

If you have apprehensions about using a wooden cutting board for the first time and are not ready to spend too much on it, this is a good starter option but will likely need replacing down the road:

As for rubber, I’m certain this would be the cutting board of choice for the years to come. It’s dishwasher-safe and has incredible grip for my food when cutting, which helps me use my knife better. It’s Japan-made and is what sushi/sashimi chefs use. The surface is anti-bacterial. It’s also excellent for preserving the sharpness of your knives.

Stainless Steel Knife

I learnt the hard way that full stainless steel knives are the easiest to care for. They pretty much don’t need any special care, except maybe to dry them completely or they will start to rust. Having a dishwasher helps a lot with this and our knives have stayed pristine.

I think knives with wood or plastic handles are a lot more common, but those degrade overtime so I’ve learnt not to spend on them. They are beautiful though, so if you collect kitchen knives like my husband, they are still worth buying and using occasionally haha.

Nonstick Pan

If you’ve been following me for quite some time, you know I rarely use nonstick cookware. But this still exists in my kitchen and I’ll actually recommend it!

Not every dish can be made in a non nonstick cookware. Well, you can, but half your dish will stick. If I’m making pancakes, I definitely won’t risk trying it in my stainless steel pan in fear that I won’t get a proper breakfast. So a nonstick pan is still needed for times like these:)

My one and only nonstick pan is from this set:

It is on the pricey side, but it’s one of those brilliant designs for small and compact spaces. There is also a dupe of this set, but I haven’t tried:

If you already have a favourite nonstick pan, and are not short on space in your kitchen, WMF (one of our favourite kitchenware brands), has several sets that will be useful to you. I bought a set of 5 (Gourmet Plus series) before I moved in and still use all the pots diligently today. It’s one of those “one & done” purchases.

Stainless Steel Pan

Riding on the same note above, I’m pretty much a stainless steel homecook through and through. I’ve thrown away SO MANY nonstick pans that I’m embarrassed to count and tell you the number…

Nonstick pans are not made for all sorts of cooking – it can’t do a steak or proper stir fries. It’s also a hassle to care for them as a person who wants to use the dishwasher for everything. So a stainless steel pan is best! For starters, I’ll get a large and small size, but if I really had to pick 1, I’ll go for the larger one since it can do everything the smaller size can.

Spatula

Im really really confident to recommend this! I think it’s affordable for how it lasts, I’m still using it after close to 5 years. If you’re not keen on stainless steel cookware and only use nonstick cookware, you truly truly need this.

& if you’re the occasional baker, this works for baking too! I pretty much use this for everything – making my omelettes, scrambles, banana bread & stir fries. My most used kitchen tool definitely!

Fish Spatula

This is useful for stainless steel pans! If you’re looking to make the perfect pan fried fish (or any protein really) & crispy sunny side up eggs in your stainless steel pan, this is the G.O.A.T. It has a super slim and thin profile which slips itself under any food that is typically difficult to flip in pans. Also another oldie in my kitchen!

Hope you’ve found my kitchen recommendations useful~ Feel free to go through my older guides:)