Simple tools, better cooking
A kitchen that works for you.
Start with the equipment you own. These everyday tools help with vegetarian cooking, but you can build your collection gradually around the meals you actually make.
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This is a guide to equipment categories. We do not claim hands-on product testing, display unverified prices, or rank individual brands.
Kitchen essential / 01
A dependable chef’s knife
For chopping onions, cubing squash and preparing a tray of vegetables.
What to look for
A comfortable handle, a blade you can sharpen, and a size that feels manageable. A 20 cm blade suits many home cooks.
Work with what you have
A sharp smaller knife is fine for most recipes; cut large squash carefully in stable sections.
Kitchen essential / 02
Kitchen scales
For repeatable baking, measured grains and scaling a recipe to more servings.
What to look for
A clear gram display, a tare function and a stable platform. Check capacity if you use a heavy mixing bowl.
Work with what you have
Use the US weights in our ingredient lists if your scales measure ounces.
Kitchen essential / 03
A wide skillet
For tofu scrambles, sautéed mushrooms and one-pan dinners.
What to look for
A flat base, a secure handle and enough cooking area to avoid crowding. Check whether it works on your hob.
Work with what you have
Cook in batches in a smaller pan. Choose an oven-safe pan only for recipes that finish in the oven.
Kitchen essential / 04
A sturdy baking tray
For roasted vegetables, crisp chickpeas and baked patties.
What to look for
A rim to catch juices, a size that fits your oven and a material that tolerates the recipe’s temperature.
Work with what you have
Use two smaller trays and rotate them halfway through cooking.
Kitchen essential / 05
A lidded saucepan
For lentil soups, rice, dal and creamy sauces.
What to look for
A stable base and a lid that fits well. Leave room for liquids to simmer without spilling.
Work with what you have
A larger pot works too; watch evaporation and add liquid if needed.
Kitchen essential / 06
An immersion blender
For blending soups directly in the pot and making smooth bean sauces.
What to look for
An easy-clean removable shaft and a comfortable grip. Follow the manufacturer’s hot-liquid instructions.
Work with what you have
Mash for a rustic soup or blend cooled portions in a countertop blender, then reheat.
Kitchen essential / 07
A food processor
For falafel mixtures, hummus, nut-based sauces and energy bites.
What to look for
A bowl sized for your usual batches and parts that are easy to clean. Pulse control helps preserve texture.
Work with what you have
Mash hummus by hand for a coarse dip; finely chop ingredients where the recipe permits it.
Kitchen essential / 08
A practical baking dish
For cottage pies, fruit crumbles and pasta bakes.
What to look for
A dish that holds the recipe’s quantity, is oven-safe and has handles you can grip with mitts.
Work with what you have
Split the filling between two smaller ovenproof dishes and check doneness earlier.
Before buying, check dimensions, hob compatibility, care instructions and the retailer’s current price. A useful tool should earn its space.