15 Best Minimalist Kitchen Essentials in 2024: Keeping it Simple
There’s nothing like coming into your kitchen in the early morning, robe, slippers, and bedhead, ready to make a steaming cup of tea (or joe) and have things simple, neat, and tidy.
Call me a freak, but a clutter-free counter space can make my day. And having a stress-free cooking space is everything when cooking healthy, satisfying meals for you and your family.
If you’re my people, get ready to turn your cooking space into a minimalist haven with the best minimalist kitchen essentials of 2024.
This article contains affiliate links. Clicking on these links and making a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Doing so helps keep this blog running, and I only recommend products or services I believe in. Visit my disclaimers page for more info.
What are the best minimalist kitchen essentials?
When it comes to achieving the perfect minimalist kitchen, it’s all about embracing simplicity without sacrificing your cooking needs.
From essential cooking utensils to cutting-edge kitchen appliances, I’ve been on a mission to create a clutter-free kitchen oasis.
Here are minimalist kitchen essentials that make healthy cooking a breeze without drowning you in unnecessary gadget chaos.
1. Measuring Cups and Measuring Spoons Set
In a minimalist kitchen, measuring cups and measuring spoons take center stage as the unsung heroes of precision without the clutter. These space-saving essentials ensure accuracy in your recipes while making every inch of drawer space count.
Key Benefits
- Sturdy, easy to clean, and the markings won’t rub off.
- The measuring spoon shape allows you to measure straight from your spice jars, saving frustration and spills.
- The 15-piece set has every measurement you need for dry measuring and will last long enough to pass down to your grandkids.
My Take
One word: nesting – which is a big space saver. I also love that there are secondary measurements in the larger cups so that you can use one cup for more than one measurement.
2. Glass Measuring Cups
While the stainless steel versions above are great for dry measuring, you will need just a few glass ones for easy liquid measuring.
Key Benefits
- These measuring cups can take the heat while the handles stay cool.
- You can easily use these for melted oils and scooping out hot pasta or potato water.
- The four-piece set allows for any measurement, from small amounts of liquid to large.
My Take
I love the 5-ounce measuring cup for measuring lemon juice. And the cups nest within each other, another minimalist kitchen essential taking up very little space.
3. Mixing Bowls
Mixing bowls are one of those kitchen tools that can do triple duty. You can use these bowls for prep, serving, and storing.
Key Benefits
- Stainless steel means durability, food-safe, and long-lasting.
- Food-safe because toxic plastic or aluminum is not leeching into your food.
- Another product you’ll pass on to the kids.
My Take
I use these daily. I love that if I need to refrigerate or store some ingredients after mixing, I pop the lid on and bam. It is excellent for licking the gluten-free cookie dough out of, too.
4. Wooden Cutting Board
My cutting board and I are best friends. It’s there when washing and prepping my celery juice in the morning, making chopped salads for lunch, and prepping veggies at dinnertime.
Key Benefits
- Spacious enough to get a lot of work done at once.
- Worth the investment. When cared for properly with food-safe oil, it will be a legacy you pass on to your children.
- American-made and eco friendly.
- You also want to avoid plastic cutting boards. Plastic cutting boards can allow small pieces of microplastic to get into your food, which is unsafe and can cause health issues.
My Take
This wooden cutting board is a food prep god that will last. It looks good on display too, giving your minimalist kitchen an authentic pro chef vibe.
5. High Quality Knives
Knives are one of those kitchen tools that you need less than you think. One quality chef’s knife and one quality serrated knife will do. A knife block looks clunky. And you can get around not having a set of steak knives or a paring knife by going high quality.
Key Benefits
- The go-to knife for nearly everything. From chopping to slicing meats, this is another minimalist kitchen essential you can use daily for nearly everything.
- With proper care (no dishwasher), will not warp or rust and will last multiple lifetimes.
- Lifetime Guarantee
Key Benefits
- This bread cutter is a must-have for cleanly slicing through bread, bagels, and more.
- With proper care (no dishwasher), will not warp or rust and will last multiple lifetimes.
- Lifetime Guarantee
My Take
You will also want to get a simple knife sharpener, and consider taking your knives to a professional knife sharpener now and then to ensure they last.
6. Cooking Utensils Set
If you’ve ever been to a department store with a kitchen utensils section, you know how many kitchen tools there are: a ton. This set gives you everything you need but without the fluff.
Key Benefits
This 15-piece set gives you both stainless steel options where you need them (whisk, pizza slicer, masher, ice cream scoop, and a few others) and the nonstick pan-safe silicone and plastic options where you don’t.
It also has a handy crock to hold them all, looking clean on your counter.
My Take
My kitchen utensil drawer can end up like a monster junk drawer with endless things I don’t need or multiples of the same thing. With this set, you can ditch all the useless tools and know you have a durable version of what you need.
7. Baking Sheet Set
Healthy cooking goes excellent with the oven. I love roasting veggies in the oven; it gives that carmelized goodness without much fat, if any. If you have a convection oven, there is no need for an air fryer with a good baking sheet set.
Special note: Avoid the foil on your baking pans and around your food; foil leeches toxic heavy metals into your food.
Key Benefits
- Ceramic Coating: a must-have for healthy cooking as it doesn’t emit harmful chemicals into your air or food.
- Nonstick and will clean up easily.
- Long Lasting
- Storage Organizer included
- All the baking pans you need without extra clutter
My Take
The non-toxic coating is not only worth the money but also a game changer for chronic illness warriors like me. Once again, this is one of those kitchen essentials that saves you money in the long run; a traditional metal baking sheet can be toxic, warp, and become useless over time. The fact that these pans are chemical-free proves that technology has finally put cookware on the winning side of our health.
8. Baking Dish Set
Ahh – enchiladas, lasagna, and so many other yummy comfort foods (even when done healthy) come from the oven, and a simple baking dish set helps deliver the goods.
Key Benefits
- This 8-piece set can go from oven to serving to storage, even with some travel in between.
- Glass is nontoxic, and plastic lids are BPA-free
- 4 dish sizes cover all your needs
- Lids fit tightly
- Freezer and microwave-friendly.
My Take
It’s a nesting set that uses very little storage space. I just used these to bring over yummy side dishes at Thanksgiving, went from oven to car, to table, back into the car, and right into my fridge when I got home. It cleans like a dream, too.
9. Ceramic Cookware Set
It’s stovetop time. It’s ideal to have pots and pans that last over a decade – or even longer. And many of the nonstick pans on the market right now won’t last a year. By the way, nonstick doesn’t just mean easy cleanup; nonstick also means less oil. And yes, you can learn to love cooking without oil with this set.
Gone are the days of choosing Teflon; we now know the effects of this toxic nonstick Coating on our health. This ceramic set will last without giving us health concerns down the road.
Key Benefits
- It does not contain PTFE, PFOA, PFAS (also known as forever chemicals), lead, cadmium, or other toxic materials, which means it is safe for your food and the air you breathe.
- Multiple colors
- Includes oven-safe Dutch oven (also that pasta and soup pot you need), frying pan, saute pan, and saucepan.
- Includes storage rack and lid holder that will prevent damage and scratching.
My Take
Not buying quality, non-toxic, nonstick pans is like not wearing seatbelts in the car; you are putting yourself at risk. These pots and pans are worth it. The money spent on health issues made worse by toxic heavy metals is saved a hundred times over by buying a quality set. The same goes for cooking with too much fat, which these pans help you avoid.
10. Stainless Steel Pan
The point of this pan is a good sear. The only drawback to a nonstick-coated pan is you rarely get an excellent caramelizing sear on your meats. And the trendy hybrid pans release toxins at high heat.
This pan will allow you to turn it on medium, heat some healthy oil (avocado or olive work best), and get a sear on that chicken or steak without heating it on high or releasing toxic fumes.
Check out my Ceramic Vs Stainless Steel Cookware article for comparisons and a quick tip for making your Stainless Steel Pans Nonstick!
Key Benefits
- When heated properly, it can be relatively nonstick and can take your steak from the stove to the broiler like the pros.
- It is long-lasting, heats quickly and evenly, and is sturdy. You want your pan to heat evenly to avoid hot or cold spots while cooking.
My Take
The sear creates caramelization, which gives your meat flavor. This pan is not an everyday pan for me, but it’s one I wouldn’t do without because it gives me that pro-quality to recipes I love.
11. Electric Steamer
The purpose of steaming is simple: low to no fat, lots of flavor, and retaining nutrients. You would be surprised to find what you can do in an electric steamer – anything from healthy fish to oats to steaming veggies.
Key Benefits
- This steamer has a recipe book that makes it easy to get creative.
- Being an electric steamer allows you to cook other food items on the stove.
- You can also take it from the steamer to the table, as the steamer dish is also suitable for serving.
My Take
Cuisinart is a reputable brand that pays attention to quality. This steamer is another appliance I use daily and is a big part of my commitment to healthy eating. This steamer proves we can maintain flavor when we give up the oil.
12. Combination Food Processor-Blender
Confession: I’ve killed two high-speed blenders in the last two years. I blend a nutrient-packed smoothie at least once a day, and on a good day, I also blend soups and sauces. So, a high-speed blender that isn’t going to die on me is a must, and it’s now possible to put blenders on the list of multipurpose tools in the kitchen.
Key Benefits
- The “blendsense” tech makes it easy. You just put it in and press go; it determines speed and time based on ingredients.
- The single-serve blender cup can be used for on-the-go smoothies, small-batch dressings, and sauces.
- Both pitcher and food processor are large, and you can blend, shred, slice, and make dough.
- You can walk away from it as it blends with suction cups holding it in place.
My Take
This blender/processor will give you all the options without multiple appliances.
This blender oven looks sleek and professional on the counter and cleans up quickly – you can take the blades out (carefully) and don’t have to worry about getting stuff stuck under the blades for years.
13. Combination Instant Pot
I don’t even know what this appliance doesn’t do. One appliance doing this many things saves you money and storage space. This appliance could be a minimalist’s dream.
Key Benefits
- This instant pot is an air fryer, slow cooker, rice cooker, dehydrator, pressure cooker, and more. So it will replace your slow cooker and all those other bulky appliances you thought you needed.
- One of the best features is its saute function, which lets you get a sear on your food before slow-cooking it, giving it one-pot convenience.
My Take
If you like slow cooking or air frying or need several servings of rice, this is for you. Given that some of my family recipes require pressure cooking, this gives me more options than just that.
The drawback is that it’s big. You’ll need space in a cabinet for this as you won’t want to store it on the counter. With getting it in and out of storage, I might not use it that often.
14. Toaster Oven
Another multipurpose kitchen appliance is the toaster oven. I toast, reheat, and keep items warm in this oven daily. Living in the hot southwest, turning on my oven in the summer is never good. This gem lets me make a healthy oven-cooked meal without heating the kitchen.
Key Benefits
- It only takes up a little space for what it does: toast up to 6 slices, cook a 13-inch pizza, a dedicated air fryer tray perfect for a batch of crispy hand-cut fries, and more.
- It will also only cook as long as you tell it to, shutting off after the timer runs out, which keeps you from burning things and wasting energy.
My Take
The stainless steel looks sleek. And my kids use it safely. You will need a compatible cutting board for the top of the oven, which retains the heat and is useful for prep and slicing.
15. Glass Food Storage Containers
So you’ve made all this healthy food and need something healthy and safe for the leftovers. By having one quality set, you save on having an entire cabinet full of mismatched lids and containers. I know you know what I’m talking about.
Key Benefits
- Glass food storage containers keep toxic plastic out of our foods and are much easier to clean.
- These are freezer-friendly and dishwasher-safe.
- It’s the perfect amount: not too few containers or too much.
My Take
Red isn’t my favorite color in my kitchen, but Pyrex is a name to trust in sturdy glass that won’t break. Compared to other brands, this food storage set will keep you safe, and you won’t have to buy more.
So, what is a minimalist kitchen anyway?
A minimalist kitchen is a haven of simplicity and functionality, where the art of space-saving meets the joy of clutter-free living. It’s not just about sleek designs and clean lines; it’s a lifestyle that transforms your cooking space into a stress-free zone.
By paring down to the essentials, a minimalist kitchen promotes a healthier culinary journey, allowing you to focus on what truly matters—healthy ingredients and the fun of creating delicious meals without chaos.
Each item serves a purpose in a minimalist kitchen, making it a sanctuary of efficiency where every inch of space contributes to a harmonious and stress-free cooking experience.
Why should you have a minimalist kitchen?
Picture this: a kitchen where you can find what you’re looking for without playing hide-and-seek with your utensils. That’s the magic of a minimalist kitchen. Think about it – more storage space means less digging through cluttered cabinets, and that’s a game-changer.
But it’s not just about aesthetics; it’s a lifestyle. A minimalist kitchen paves the way for simple and healthy cooking. It’s a journey of decluttering your physical space and culinary approach, making room for the joy of uncomplicated, healthy, and delicious meals.
So, why have a minimalist kitchen? It’s not just about what you see; it’s about what you feel when you step into that uncluttered haven—a place where simplicity and healthy cooking dance hand in hand, making every meal a celebration of taste and tranquility.
How I did my research
When doing my research to find the best products, I determined using these factors:
- Pricing: How much did each product cost? Would it last long, eliminating my need to replace it? Could this be something my kids keep for their kitchens at some point?
- Features: What are the best features of each product? Does it save me time in the kitchen? Is it made with healthy materials?
- Negatives: What was missing from each product?
- Quality: Would it last?
- Aesthetic: Does it have clean lines, neutral colors, and save space?
Summary
This best minimalist kitchen essentials list unveils the secrets of a minimalist lifestyle, from reclaiming precious counter space to promoting healthy, stress-free cooking.
By using these products, you can embrace simplicity without sacrificing style and join me in creating a kitchen space that’s not just about what you cook but also about how you experience the joy of healthy cooking.
This minimalist kitchen essentials list pairs great (see what I did there) with my article Easy and Healthy Cooking Tips for Beginners.
FAQ
How many dishes should a minimalist have?
It’s not about a specific number but having essentials for your needs. Consider a set of versatile dishes to serve your typical gathering, and donate or discard items you rarely use.
How do you maintain a minimalist kitchen?
Regular decluttering is key. Assess items based on functionality and only keep what adds value. Embrace a one-in, one-out rule for new additions, ensuring a streamlined and clutter-free space.
How do I make my kitchen look minimalist?
Start by clearing your countertops and organizing items into designated spaces. Opt for multi-functional tools, choose neutral colors, and limit decor to a few carefully selected pieces for a minimalist and visually appealing kitchen.
