List of 101 Kitchen Essentials for New Homes

The kitchen is a versatile room that is often the heart of most homes. It’s where families and friends gather to prepare meals, talk about the day’s events, do homework, enjoy a morning cup of coffee, and more. As such, the kitchen should include a wide range of tools and equipment to make doing these activities easy. 

If you haven’t given much thought to the types of things your new kitchen should include, this article is for you.

Most Important Kitchen Items For A New Home

When it comes to outfitting a kitchen with the proper essentials, the list of tools, equipment, and gadgets is never-ending. What one person considers ‘essential’ may not be the same as the next. While the list of kitchen essentials below is long, it is not exhaustive. In it, I will include items that are required to conduct basic kitchen activities such as meal prep, cooking, cleaning, and more. You are welcome to tailor this list to your preferences and needs for a kitchen that works for you. 

List of Kitchen Essentials for New Home

In the following paragraphs, I will cover several kitchen must-haves including appliances, cookware, tableware, utensils, cleaning supplies, and storage options for new homes. Like I said before, this list is not all-inclusive, but it does contain the basics – some of which many new homeowners don’t even consider. For each section, there will be a short description of the item followed by why I think it’s an essential item every kitchen should have.

So, without further ado, let’s dive into the list of kitchen essentials for new homes.  

Kitchen Appliance Every New Home Needs

At the heart of every kitchen are a few vital appliances that make the kitchen a kitchen. For instance, every kitchen needs to include a refrigerator and a stove. With that said, there are some other appliances you should consider for your new home. 

Kettle/Coffee Maker

If you are a tea drinker, you will want to invest in a quality kettle. If you are a coffee drinker, it pays to purchase the best coffee maker you can afford. Nothing starts a morning off right more so than a good cup of tea or coffee, so that’s why this item tops my list of kitchen essentials. 

Microwave

Where would we be without the microwave? Designed to heat food in seconds, this small appliance is a must-have in most kitchens. I know my microwave sees lots of use, especially by the teenagers in my home, so that’s why it’s included in this list. Whether you’re reheating takeaway food or defrosting frozen meals, the microwave has to be near the top of any kitchen essentials list.

Toaster

Toasters have come a long way, and they are good for more than just toasting bread. This small but powerful appliance comes in a wide range of sizes, allowing you to toast multiple slices of bread, bagels, and more. It’s a great time-saver in the mornings when the kids are hungry but you’re short on time. 

Slow Cooker/Crockpot

If yours is a busy home, a slow cooker/crockpot will be a lifesaver for sure. The Internet is full of yummy crockpot recipes that you literally throw into the cooker, turn on, and forget it. When you return home at the end of a long day and the family is starving, you will have a delicious meal ready and waiting – no major meal prep or cooking required.  

Hand Mixer

Regardless of the type of cooking, you do; a hand mixer comes in handy (pun intended) for a lot of different applications. Why waste time manually stirring and combining ingredients when you can get the job done faster and easier with a mixer? 

If you do a lot of baking, though, you may want to consider purchasing a stand mixer as they are capable of much more than just mixing, and they are more durable, too. 

Optional Appliances

The world of kitchen appliances is vast, with many of the available options unnecessary, albeit, convenient. Once you’ve acquired the essential kitchen appliances to meet your needs, you may want to consider buying the following to make your kitchen duties faster and easier. 

• Dishwasher
• Toaster oven
• Blender
• Immersion blender
• Food processor
• Air fryer
• Pressure cooker
• Egg cooker
• Bread maker
• Pasta maker

Essential Kitchen Cookware for New Home

Having the right pots and pans for the task at hand can make or break a meal. You don’t have to be a seasoned chef to enjoy the benefits of good cookware, but you should have the following pieces to ensure you have the right tools to create a delicious meal. 

Cast Iron Skillet

A cast iron skillet is versatile and durable. It’ll last forever if you care for it correctly. A seasoned cast iron skillet is non-stick and can be used on the stovetop and in the oven for a multitude of cooking applications. No home should be without an old-fashioned 10 or 12-inch cast iron skillet. 

Roasting Pan

A large roasting pan will allow you to cook large cuts of meat complete with veggies, casseroles, and other dishes for large groups of people. A roasting pan without a non-stick surface is best as it allows you to make gravies and sauces without having to worry about scratching the delicate surface. 

Saucepan

Saucepans have high sides that help keep moisture in. They are great for making sauces and soups, so you should have at least two of them on hand, especially if you cook large meals. Be sure the saucepan you buy comes with a lid. 

Dutch Oven

Made of enameled cast iron, a Dutch oven has thick sides and bottom and comes with a tight-fitting lid to trap moisture and flavor. This pot works great for searing meat or roasting vegetables, and transfers to the oven for even, thorough cooking. If you cook homemade soups, roasts, etc. a Dutch oven is a must. 

Non-stick Skillet

Every kitchen needs a non-stick skillet. There’s little more frustrating when cooking a meal than struggling with food that sticks to the pan. A 10 to 12-inch skillet is best as this size should accommodate most cooking needs. Be careful, though, as you’ll need to purchase plastic or silicone utensils to cook with as the non-stick surface is susceptible to damage by metal. 

Tableware and Serving For New Homes

Whether you normally serve your small family or regularly host large dinner parties, you’ll want to keep plenty of dishes and silverware on hand. These items may seem like no-brainers but trust me when I say you can never have too many!

Flatware

I recommend having teaspoons, soup spoons, dinner forks, salad forks, and butter knives for up to 12 people. 

Everyday Dish Settings

Again, you can never have too many, especially if you like to cook for family and friends. To create a cohesive and impressive display, be sure you have dinner plates, salad plates, and soup bowls for 6 to 8 people. 

Dessert Bowls/Plates

No meal is complete without a good dessert at the end. Forgo the mismatched plates and bowls and have matching dishes designed for the treat. 

Cereal Bowls

Your dish set may come with cereal bowls but having extra ones for everyday use will help when it comes to busy mornings. For daily use, these bowls don’t need to match your set. They just need to be versatile as they can be used for lots of different foods. 

Coffee/Tea Mugs

You may have your favorite coffee or tea mug, but make sure you have plenty of others in the cupboard for when friends stop by for good coffee and conversation. 

Serving Bowls

Your family may not mind serving themselves from the pots and pans the food was cooked in, but your guests will appreciate pretty serving bowls on the table. 

Serving Platter

Large cuts of meat deserve a grand presentation, so make sure you invest in a stunning serving platter that does your cooking justice. Not only will your table look great, but it’ll also be easier for guests to help themselves. 

Must-Have Kitchen Utensils for New Homes

It’s almost impossible to create a great meal without the right utensils to cut it, cook it, and serve it. Some tools you can improvise, but when it comes to creating a noteworthy meal, you need the right utensils. I suggest the following must-have utensils in your new kitchen. 

Knives

First and foremost, you can’t do without sharp knives. Your best bet is to invest in a good set of knives with sizes and shapes to handle all your cutting needs. At the very least, you should have a 10 to 12-inch chef’s knife, which can be used for a variety of cutting tasks. Other essential knives to consider include:

• Bread knife
• Utility knife
• Boning knife
• Kitchen shears
• Paring knife
• Carving knife
• Steak knives
• Cheese Knife

Other Important Kitchen Utensils

The following utensils list covers the basics. Regardless of the type of cook you are, all these items will be useful at some point. 

• Spatulas
• Cheese grater
• Vegetable peeler
• Potato masher
• Measuring cups/spoons
• Ladles
• Tongs
• Colander
• Trivet
• Knife sharpener
• Pizza cutter
• Bottle opener
• Whisk
• Ice cube trays

Basic Kitchen Cleaning for New Homes

Your new home may be spotless when you move in, but it won’t take long for the kitchen to start getting dirty, especially if you love to cook. Below is a list of the basic cleaning supplies I like to keep on hand for cleaning the kitchen and all its essential surfaces. 

All-purpose Cleaner

Choose your favorite and keep it stocked for wiping up spills, disinfecting, and just cleaning up in general. All-purpose cleaners are a dime a dozen at the grocery store, so pick one that does the job to your standards. 

Baking Soda/White Vinegar

If you prefer a green household, you can’t go wrong with white vinegar and baking soda as cleaning agents. Both kill bacteria and leave behind a fresh scent when dry. Combine the two for a powerful foaming cleanser that removes baked-on, built-up deposits on all surfaces in your kitchen. 

Stainless Steel Cleaner

If you have stainless steel appliances, this cleaner is a must as it removes fingerprints and leaves behind a shiny, mirror-like finish. 

Oven Cleaner

If your oven doesn’t have a self-cleaning mode, you will need an oven cleaner to remove any baked-on food and grease. 

Sponges and Microfiber Cloths

You can’t clean effectively without sponges and cleaning cloths. Some of today’s kitchen surfaces (stainless steel, marble countertops, etc.) require a little TLC. Microfiber cloths are great for cleaning these surfaces as you won’t have to worry about damaging them during the cleaning process. 

Sponges make for great cleaning tools as they can be used, disinfected, and used again. Or you can simply use them and throw them away when you’re done. 

Broom and Dustpan

For everyday floor cleaning, a broom and a dustpan are a must. You can sweep the floor, knock down cobwebs, and even clean up some of your outdoor spaces with a simple broom and dustpan. 

Mop and Bucket

There are probably as many mops and mopping systems on the market today as there are cleaners to use with them. Choose one that fits your needs best. Some mops are designed for wood floors, and some are all-purpose, meaning you can use them on any flooring surface. 

Kitchen Storage for New Homes

Whether your kitchen has plenty of cabinets and drawer storage, you can make better use of the space by utilizing the following kitchen storage solutions. 

Drawer Organizers

Drawer organizers help keep everything inside a given drawer neat, organized, and easy to find. There is a drawer organizer for just about everything from silverware to office supplies, so choose the ones that fit your needs best. 

Clear Plastic Containers

The trend in kitchen storage these days is clear plastic containers. Whether you’re storing baking ingredients, cereal, or snacks for the kids, these containers keep things fresh while creating an aesthetically pleasing display in your cabinets or pantry. 

Kitchen Essentials for New Home Owners

Kitchens come in all shapes and sizes, and depending on the type of home it is, the kitchen essentials will differ. 

First Apartment

If this is your first apartment, you likely need everything. While all the bells and whistles are tempting, your best bet is to start with the basics like a simple cookware set, a few place settings to eat off, and a small set of silverware. This will give you a good start that you can add to as it becomes necessary. 

College Apartment

In a college apartment, you may be less concerned with cooking meals and organizing a kitchen than other homeowners. Depending on whether you like to cook or will take your meals in the school cafeteria, you’ll want to stock your kitchen accordingly. Many college students live off things like cold cereal, Ramen soup, and other things that can be easily microwaved, which means you’ll definitely want to invest in a microwave. 

Just Married

Newlyweds may or may not need much when it comes to kitchen essentials, especially if they are combining two households into one. With that said, you and your new partner should take inventory of the things you already have for the kitchen and then decide what, if anything, you need to make your new couple’s kitchen work for you. 

What to Consider Before Buying Kitchen Essentials

Before heading out to the nearest retailer to buy all the things you’ll need for your new kitchen, take a moment to consider the following. 

The ‘No Brainer’ Essentials

Many of the items listed above are ‘no brainers.’ They’re essential in almost every kitchen. Having said that, think about why you need them – or if you need them at all. Everyone is different, so every kitchen will be unique. Don’t buy something simply because you think you need it when you actually don’t. 

Your Preferred Methods of Food Preparation

How do you like to work in the kitchen? Are you a meal prepper that does the grunt work once and enjoys the same meal all week long? Or are you an avid chef that enjoys planning meals out and making delicious dishes every night? This is an important consideration as the things you stock your kitchen with will need to work when you do. 

How Much Dinnerware or Glassware

Do you cook for yourself and your family or do you enjoy hosting dinner parties with lots of guests? Think about this as you purchase dinnerware and glassware for your kitchen. 

Storage or Counter Space

Does your kitchen have lots of cabinets and/or counter space? Maybe it doesn’t. Either way, you need to figure out how you’ll store all the essentials in your new kitchen. Consider drawer/pantry organizers and storage containers to help you keep things tidy. 

Your Budget

Lastly, none of this is possible without a strict budget. You could spend a pretty penny outfitting your new kitchen with all the latest gadgets and basics, but when it comes right down to it, your budget dictates what you can and cannot afford. Set a budget before you even start shopping and stick to it, so you don’t spend too much or end up with things you don’t really need. 

Verdict: Must Have Kitchen Equipment

Now that we’ve reached the end of this article, you should have a better idea of the basics your new kitchen needs. Like I said earlier, everyone is different, so what one person considers essential in a kitchen, the next may not. The goal is to outfit your kitchen with the items that you need to make it work for you. The list above is just a place to start.