Second to my home office, my kitchen is where I spend most of my time. I enjoy cooking meals for my family and baking with my kids. However, I have come to the realization that I enjoy cooking because I have the tools and functionality I need in my kitchen. Here are 10 kitchen items I cannot live without and you should seriously consider adding to your kitchen.

1. Emulsion Blender

I bought my first emulsion blender after I got tendinitis in my right hand. As a Mexican-American household, we cook and eat a lot of refried beans. But after I got tendinitis I found it quite painful to mash the beans with a regular bean masher. My emulsion blender makes it so much easier to make beans, mashed potatoes, and salsas. Here is the Emulsion Blender I use, it comes with three attachments all of which work perfectly for many things. If you suffer from arthritis or joint pain in your hands this little tool can be a game changer for you. You can check out the one I own here. 

2. Bamboo Drawer Dividers

Organize your kitchen! You probably spend as much time as I do in my kitchen, why not prioritize the functionality of it. And I know we can’t all remodel our kitchens to ensure functionality, but there are simple ways to organize your kitchen without having to do so. Start with organizing your drawers. Don’t just dump stuff in drawers, you’re gonna have to spend valuable time searching every time you go to cook. Add some drawer dividers to separate the items inside. This will make it easier for you to find what you need, when you need it. You can find the drawer dividers I have here.

3. Pull Down Kitchen Faucet

If you are looking to replace your kitchen faucet, invest in one that has a pull down function. This feature makes doing dishes, filling pots, and simply cleaning my sink so much easier. It is so simple to use the spray setting to rinse off any food before sending our plates and cookware into our dishwasher. The price of a pulldown faucet with a spray function might be a little steeper than the standard, but it is so worth it! Here is the faucet we installed in our home & we love it. 

4. Nespresso Milk Frother

I knew I wanted a milk frother before I knew I needed an espresso machine in my house. There is nothing I love more than a rich and creamy coffee on a cold morning. I have the Nespresso milk frother and it works amazing! This frother has the option for hot or cold. Which means you can add cold milk froth to your favorite iced coffees in the summer! I love this thing and if you’re a big coffee drinker I think you’d really enjoy this tool even if you don’t have a Nespresso machine. You can buy the same milk frother I use here. 

5. Mini Kitchen Aid Mixer

Having a stand mixer has definitely been the reason why I enjoy baking now. I used to hate making cookies and pizza, mainly because of the pain it caused me due to the tendonitis. With the stand mixer I don’t have to deal with it. We have a Mini Kitchen Aid Mixer, since we have a pretty small kitchen, a smaller mixer works for us. 

6. Over the Sink Colander

This over the sink colander is one of my favorite kitchen tools. It’s so simple but also very functional. The handles extend so it can sit perfectly over your sink to easily drain water from your noodles or wash your fruit without it sitting inside your sink. It is super convenient to use while you’re cooking and don’t have the time to clean and sanitize the sink in between your cooking process. I use this colander from Zulay Kitchen use the code THISLUCKYMAMA20 for 20% off your order.

7. Garlic Press

I cannot believe I manually minced garlic for every meal for as long as I did. I bought my first one a year ago and it was one of the best $12 I have spent. This is the garlic press I use in my kitchen. It’s from Zulay Kitchen, don’t forget my code THISLUCKYMAMA to get 20% off your order. 

8. Alaskan Ulu Knife

A few years back I was given this beautiful curved knife and cutting board set. I’d never seen one like it before. The cutting board was more like a shallow bowl and had a small slit big enough to house the blade. This Ulu knife has become an indispensable tool in my kitchen. I use it for mincing herbs, leafy greens, and even for cutting out pizza slices. 

These are the indispensable kitchen tools from This Lucky Mama’s kitchen! What kitchen tools do you know of that I shouldn’t continue to live without? Tell me in the comments or subscribe to my email list so we can connect!