When you’re midway through a recipe and realize you should’ve purchased a Microplane zester for citrus ages ago — or when you’ve plowed through an entire 12-pack of paper towel rolls because you keep forgetting to grab cotton kitchen towels — it’s time to finally put together a quick cart of kitchen essentials. To help, I spoke with our editors, professional chefs, and expert home organizers to see what items people most commonly forget to buy — and why they matter. Shop a humble salt cellar, a high-powered Cuisinart mini food processor, and more items they recommend double-checking in your kitchen tool collection.
Most Common Kitchen Tools People Forget to Buy
Zeppoli Classic 100% Cotton Dish Towels
Amazon
Food & Wine Writer Nick DeSimone was a professional chef for almost 10 years. According to them, dish towels are one of the most commonly forgotten kitchen essentials. “I’ve seen a lot of folks with two or three decorative ones,” they said, “but these flour sack towels are total multitaskers. I use them to clean up spills but also as replacements for hot pads, oven mitts, and trivets.”
Pyrex Essentials 3-Piece Liquid Measuring Cup Set
Amazon
Breana Killeen, senior editor at Food & Wine, recommends checking your cabinets for glass liquid measuring cups. “I’m always shocked when I see people measuring wet ingredients in dry measuring cups,” she said. Liquid measuring cups like this Pyrex set make it easy to see exact measurements at a glance. The sturdy handle, clear measurement markings, and pour spout make it easy to read and pour without making a mess.
Landneoo 10-Inch Non-Skid Lazy Susan, Set of 4
Amazon
“One kitchen organization feature people often overlook is lazy Susans, especially in pantries and deep cabinets,” said professional organizer Angelia York, vice president at Saint Louis Closet Co. “Lazy Susans create natural zones and make it easier to maintain order long-term. I always tell clients: If you’ve ever bought a duplicate ingredient because you couldn’t find the first one, a lazy Susan would have saved you.”
Jalz Jalz Marble Salt Cellar
Amazon
“A salt cellar to keep next to your stove” is one of the most commonly forgotten kitchen items, according to Food & Wine Food Editor Paige Grandjean. According to Grandjean, a salt cellar allows you “easy access” to your go-to salt for cooking. This marble option has a wood lid that you can nudge on a swivel while you’re in the heat of cooking.
Etekcity Food Kitchen Scale
Amazon
Food & Wine Editor Kristin Montemarano urges you to grab a kitchen scale if you don’t have one: “It doesn’t have to be a fancy one with a ton of bells and whistles. Just get one that can measure ounces, grams, and pounds, and both baking and cooking will be much easier and more consistent.”
Mercer Culinary 10-Inch Carving Knife
Amazon
Tim Harris, CEO of La Tienda, said that customers often “realize they do not have the proper knife for slicing meats thinly.” He recommends buying a carving knife with a “long, thin, and flexible blade” to slice cleanly and evenly without tearing your cut of meat apart.
Microplane Premium Classic Series Zester
Amazon
Recalling her own frustrating experience of using a knife to achieve finely chopped zest, Odette D’Aniello, founder and CEO at Dragonfly Cakes, said zesters are easy to forget when stocking a kitchen. “For zesting and fine grating, the Microplane Premium Classic Series Zester is perfect and practical. I recommend Microplanes with handles, rather than a board zester, to have more maneuverability around citrus but still be practical for aromatics like garlic and ginger.
Meater Pro: Smart Bluetooth Wireless Meat Thermometer
Amazon
California-based chef Nick Reynolds of Bird’s Kitchen suggests you stop overlooking meat thermometers. He uses a Meater Pro because its wireless app connectivity can account for carryover cooking. “It’s especially useful for larger cuts like roasts, tri-tip, and whole chickens, but just as helpful for everyday cooking when you want precision without hovering over the stove or grill,” he said.
OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Multi-Purpose Scraper & Chopper
Amazon
“I’ve organized a lot of kitchens, and I’m always surprised by how many of my clients don’t have a bench scraper,” said Lenora O’Keith, professional organizer and certified KonMari consultant. “I always recommend opting for a stainless steel one instead of plastic. OXO makes an amazing bench scraper. It’s one of those tools that is super durable, so you really don’t have to spend a lot to get a quality one.”
Gorilla Grip Anti-Fatigue Kitchen Mat
Amazon
According to Food & Wine Photo Editor Doan Nguyen, “anti-fatigue mats for the kitchen are often forgotten.” This one from Gorilla Grip aced our kitchen mat tests because it’s durable, easy to clean, and offered in various colors. Plus, its rubber backing won’t slip all over your floor.
Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor
Amazon
Jessica Formicola, owner of Savory Experiments Food Media, said her most used kitchen tools are food processors: “I use both a full-size and a mini. So many folks think they are unnecessary, but for basic chopping, making sauces, blending, soups, grating, and more, it’s an essential kitchen tool.” Formicola recommends this affordable mini Cuisinart model, a consistent winner in our food processor tests.
Sharp Pebble Premium Whetstone Knife Sharpening System
Amazon
On a recent visit to my brother-in-law’s house for the holidays, I noticed that all of his knives were dull,” said Food & Wine Senior Editor Joe Morales. “He was in dire need of a honing steel and a knife sharpener. It made me wish I brought my knife kit (which I’ll do for future visits).”
Dining and Cooking