Best Kitchen Utensil Set
Cooking can be such a fun activity; it’s an amazing feeling to be able to create something from scratch that fulfills our nutritional needs but is also deliciously satisfying. But it takes a lot more than good ingredients and the best of intentions to make it all work – every chef, from novice to expert, needs a set of kitchen utensils to get the job done right.
Decades ago, most kitchens were equipped with only the basics – a spatula or two, a soup ladle, some knives and perhaps a whisk for baking. Over the years, in an effort to make cooking easier and more efficient, task-specific utensils came on the market, with home chefs happily embracing the notion of increasing their arsenal of cooking tools. Do we need all of them? Probably not, but no matter how you slice it, a good set of kitchen utensils will take the hard work out of food prepping.
We feature five kitchen utensil sets you can purchase online. Read on to find the set that best suits your needs.
1. Editor’s Choice: Kaluns Kitchen Utensil Set
For anyone just starting out and moving into their first apartment, aside from the bedroom, the kitchen is the first room that needs to be equipped. Kitchen utensils, those tools we use to handle hot and cold food, are some of the first things we look for. And while having every single utensil available on the market is not necessary, an affordable set that includes a large selection is a good way to start.
We recommend this 24-piece kitchen utensil set from Kaluns. For an affordable price, it includes pretty much all anyone starting out would need to handle any cooking need, from whisking, peeling, cutting and stirring to mixing, basting, baking, grilling and frying. Made from a combination of nylon and stainless steel, these kitchen tools won’t scratch your pots and pans. Polished with a special oil to prevent them from rusting, they are also safe to clean in the dishwasher, are lightweight and non-stick, and heat resistant to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
This set includes: a soup ladle, solid spoon, slotted spoon, solid turner, slotted turner, potato pusher, can opener, whisk, grater, spatula, tongs, ice scream scooper, wine opener, peeler, measuring cups and measuring spoons.
Pros:
- 24-piece set
- Made from stainless steel and nylon
- Lightweight and dishwasher safe
Cons:
- Not recommended for heat over 350 degrees Fahrenheit; nylon on spatula may melt.
- Does not include a container to hold the utensils
2. Runner Up: HOME HERO Stainless Steel Kitchen Utensil Set
Most people start out with a complete kitchen utensil set, but over the years, for one reason or another, the number of items in the arsenal starts to dwindle until many pieces are missing. Sometimes items break, wear down or get lost, especially if they have been taken to a friend’s house for a potluck dinner – think of all those spatulas and serving spoons that went out with the disposable pans. Whatever the reason, if you’re looking to update, upgrade or replace the kitchen utensils that you have, you can’t go wrong with this awesome-looking stainless steel 29-piece set.
Strong and durable as they are beautiful, these utensils are crafted from high-quality stainless steel and heat-resistant, non-stick silicone heads that are flexible and designed to last. With 29 pieces, you’ll have everything you need, and even items you didn’t think you’d need, including a tea strainer and wine opener.
Sleek looking with a polished finish, this set also makes a great wedding or housewarming gift, as it would go well with any kitchen style and décor. This set includes: four large and four small measuring spoons, a skimmer, a slotted turner, a garlic press, a cheese knife, a tea strainer, a wine opener, a potato peeler, an egg whisk, a solid turner, an extra-wide Asian-food turner, a cheese knife, a pizza cutter, a bottle opener, a can opener, a potato masher, kitchen/barbecue tongs, a spatula, a grater, a serving spoon, ice-cream scoop and a pasta spoon.
Pros:
- 29-piece set
- Made from high quality stainless steel with heat-resistant silicone heads
- Attractive, sleek polished look to suit any décor
Cons:
- More expensive than other sets
- Does not include a container to hold the utensils
3. Most Complete Set: Home Hero 44 pcs Kitchen Utensils Set
You have a large family and everyone want time in the kitchen. Sometimes there are three or four of you in there at the same time vying for pots, pans and cooking utensils. Between your house and the cottage, there never seems to be enough of everything. If you’re looking for a really complete collection of kitchen utensils that even includes scissors, meat claws and a juicer, then take a look at what this 44-piece set has to offer.
The utensils in this set feature heat-resistant nylon heads and 430 stainless steel handles, making them non-toxic, durable and safe to use. These nylon cooking tools have moderate hardness and will not scratch or damage your quality non-stick pans.
Convenient and thoughtful details include spatulas with hoops so they can be hung from hooks on the wall out of the way to save counter space, as well as all of the utensils, except for the can opener, are easy to clean in the dishwasher.
With enough utensils to suit every cooking need and to share with many cooks in the kitchen at the same time, this awesome set includes tools for preparing – an egg whisk, 2 egg poachers, potato masher, peeler, cheese grater, flat grater, measuring cups (1/8-cup, 1/4-cup, 1/3-cup, 1/2-cup and 1-cup) and measuring spoons (1/4-teaspoon, 1/2-teaspoon, 1-teaspoon, 1/2-tablespoon and 1-tablespoon) and a basting brush; tools for cooking – solid turner, Chinese turner, slotted turner, fish turner, soup ladle, basting spoon, slotted spoon, cooking tongs, meat fork, spaghetti server, icing knife, set of baking spatulas, and extra helpful gadgets – 2 silicone heat resistant mats, pizza cutter, bottle opener, can opener, kitchen scissor, scrapers set, fine mesh tea strainer, garlic crusher, ice cream scoop, meat claws, and a juicer. This amazing set would also make an exceptional and thoughtful wedding or housewarming gift for the chef in your life.
Pros:
- Large 44-piece set
- Includes cooking utensils and kitchen gadgets
- Crafted from stainless steel and nylon
- Heat resistant and doesn’t damage non-stick pans
- Spatulas have loops so they can be hung on the wall out of the way
Cons:
- Does not come with a container to hold the utensils
- Quality varies from tool to tool
4. Best Durable: OXO Steel 15 Piece Utensil Set
Sometimes it’s not about the how many of something we have, but the quality of the item that matters. When it comes to kitchen utensils, there are basic ones we can’t do without, some that enhance what we have, and then a whole slew of extras that we can add on slowly on an as-needed basis. Whether you want to add to the collection that you have or are looking for a stunning quality new set, you may want to consider this 15-piece collection from Oxo.
Crafted from durable stainless steel with comfortable non-slip handles, this set includes everything you need for prepping and serving. We love this set not only because every piece is beautifully crafted, but also because it is manufactured in the United States.
Includes a spoon, a slotted spoon, a serving spoon, a turner, a lasagna turner, a spaghetti server, tongs, a stainless steel fish turner, a stainless steel flex turner, a whisk, a pie server, a pizza wheel, a swivel peeler, a can opener and a stylish stainless steel container to keep it all together neatly on the kitchen counter.
Makes a very special wedding gift for a friend or family member.
Pros:
- 15-piece stainless steel set
- Manufactured in the US
- Includes a stylish stainless steel container to hold the utensils
Cons:
- More expensive than other sets
- May not include everything you need
5. Best Versatile: Wooden Kitchen Utensil Set
Some people like to purchase a few items at a time when it comes to kitchen utensils, and that’s fine, because over the years, as their cooking skills develop, so does their need for specialized kitchen tools. If you’re the type of person who plans on doing a lot of cooking but wants to start off with a versatile set, then you might want to consider this set that includes hanging hooks and a container and is beautiful to look at, too.
This attractive-looking set contains 11 kitchen utensils, a storage bucket, 15 hanging hooks, two silicone washing scrubbers and for the items that don’t hang, a convenient bucket to store them in. The silicone parts of the utensils are able to withstand temperatures up to 446 degrees Fahrenheit, so there is no worry about anything melting. Everything is food-grade, 100 percent non-toxic and BPA-free and carries no odors or sticky residue.
The lovely wood handles create a nice contrast to the gray silicone tops for a pleasing aesthetic. As well, these utensils are lightweight, easy to handle, have a nice ergonomic grip and won’t rust. The spatulas and cooking spoons have holes on the ends of the handles so they can be hung on the wall using the hooks that come with the set.
The utensils include a spatula, a slotted turner, a food turner, a pasta server, a soup ladle, a slotted spoon, a round spatula, tongs, a basting brush, a solid spoon and an icing spatula. Perfect for all your cookware, they will not damage non-stick surfaces.
Pros:
- Attractive wood and silicone combination
- Silicone is heat-resistant up to 446 degrees Fahrenheit
- Includes 11 utensils
- Also includes hanging hooks and a container
Cons:
- Not dishwasher safe and should not be soaked in water
- Hand wash only
Things to look out for:
Consider these things when looking for a kitchen utensil set so you will choose one that best suits your needs:
Use: Perhaps the most important thing to consider is how much cooking you do, how often you will use the utensils, and how many people are in the kitchen at the same time cooking. This will determine exactly what you need. If you are on your own, then you really just need the basics and a smaller set will do. If many people cook at the same time, you’ll want a large set with many pieces. Also, if you know your cooking habits will change over time, it may pay to get a large set at once so that you don’t have to add on pieces as time goes on.
Material: Kitchen utensils are usually made from stainless steel, nylon, plastic, wood, silicone or a combination of two of these materials. Stainless steel is more durable and can withstand higher heats. It also looks nice with a polished finish. Silicone, too, is durable and has a high heat resistance, and can be attractive, especially since it is available in different colors. Nylon is good for non-stick cookware but it can melt at high temperatures and is not considered very durable. Good quality plastic is durable but can also melt if close to a high heat source. A combination of wood and silicone works nicely, as does a combination of stainless steel and silicone.
This is a great list of tools for the kitchen. I love the OXO set.