The Best Kitchen Gear
1 – Chef’s Knife
Summary: A good chef’s knife is arguably the most essential tool in any kitchen, since it gets used to prep for every meal. The key to a good, buy it for life knife is High-carbon stainless steel that is all one piece with the handle. The Cuisinart 8 Inch Chef’s knife on Amazon is a great knife that meets those qualifications, and only costs 15 dollars. With proper sharpening and care, it will last decades.
3 – 4 Qt Saucepan
Summary: Stubborn Gear recommends the Cruisinart 4 Qt Sauce Pan for around 60 dollars, and have used ours for countless meals. You can upgrade to an All-Clad D3 for around $200. Both are fully clad and have a rivited handle, meaning they distribute heat better and will last decades.
4 – Measuring Spoons
Summary: Like measuring cups, stainless steel measuring spoons are essential for precision in cooking and baking. Durable and resistant to bending or rusting, they last a lifetime with proper care. This set has engraved measurements that won’t fade and bowls narrow enough to fit into spice jars.
5 – Lodge Cast Iron Skillet
Summary: Lodge is the name we trust in cast iron cookware, and is the #1 selling skillet on Amazon. Plus, it won’t break the bank. The versatile 12 Inch Lodge Skillet only costs around $25. The Lodge can be passed down through generations if properly cared for, and comes pre-seasoned, building up its non-stick properties over time.
10 – Can Opener
Summary: A good can opener should be effortless to use, safe, and built to last. We dedicated an entire article and video to reviewing can openers, and after rigorous testing, the Rosle emerged as our top pick. Though slightly pricier, it stands out by opening cans cleanly without touching the contents or leaving any jagged edges.
We found 10 essential kitchen items that are built to last a lifetime. Whether you’re setting up your first kitchen or upgrading to high-quality, durable tools, these items are designed to be the only ones you’ll ever need. Say goodbye to constant replacements. Each product on this list combines timeless design with unbeatable longevity, making them indispensable investments for any kitchen.
VIDEO REVIEW
Our video review of the best kitchen gear, showing how we tested.
ESSENTIAL GEAR
Chef’s Knife
A good chef’s knife is arguably the most essential tool in any kitchen, since it gets used to prep for every meal. This might be controversial, but we don’t think you need to spend 100’s of dollars on a fancy knife made out of Damascus steel by monks living on a Japanese mountain. If sharpened regularly, a much cheaper knife will perform great for most home cooks. The ones we have had for several years cost $20 from Ikea and work flawlessly. The key to a good, buy it for life knife is high-carbon stainless steel that is all one piece with the handle. We have had much more expensive knives that have failed at the handle to blade connection. If there is not an Ikea near you, the Cuisinart 8 Inch Chef’s knife on Amazon is also a great knife that meets those qualifications, and only costs 15 dollars. With proper sharpening and care, a quality chef’s knife will last decades.
Measuring Cups
A set of measuring cups is a kitchen staple. They are used for everything from baking to making rice. Stainless steel measuring cups maintain their shape and accuracy, unlike plastic, which can crack or warp over time. They’re ideal for both dry and liquid measurements and are dishwasher-safe, ensuring easy cleaning and longevity. Look for sets with clearly marked measurements and a comfortable handle. The weak point of a stainless steel measuring cup is the handle to cup connection. We recently upgraded to the All Clad measuring cups that have a pinned connection like their pot and pan cousins. They are incredible, but if that’s overkill for you, you can also get a good quality set for much cheaper that includes measuring spoons.
4 Qt Saucepan
A sturdy, reliable saucepan is a true workhorse in any kitchen, making it a must-have for daily cooking.
We think the 4-quart stainless steel version is the right pan to start with and is indispensable for soups, sauces, rice, pasta and more. Stainless steel offers excellent durability and resistance to rust, but is not a good conductor of heat. That’s why it’s important to get fully clad stainless steel pans. Fully Clad means the pans will have the aluminum or copper core throughout, including the sides. Cheaper pans will only have a conductive layer in a disc at the bottom.
Another durability feature to consider is the handle to pan connection. For durability we recommend a riveted connection used by the best pans. Welded connections tend to break over time. This will ensure this thing outlives you.
One last consideration is your method of cooking. If you will be using an induction cooktop, you need a pan that is compatible. A quick test with a magnet will tell you if a pan is compatible with induction cooking.
Stubborn Gear recommends the Cruisinart 4 Qt Sauce Pan for around 60 dollars, and have used ours for countless meals. You can upgrade to an All-Clad D3 for around $200.
Measuring Spoons
Like measuring cups, stainless steel measuring spoons are essential for precision in cooking and baking. Durable and resistant to bending or rusting, they last a lifetime with proper care. Look for sets with engraved measurements that won’t fade and bowls narrow enough to fit into spice jars. We recommend this set of measuring spoons and cups.
Cast Iron Skillet
If we had to choose one pan for our kitchen, it would be a cast iron skillet. They retain heat exceptionally well, ensuring even cooking, whether you’re searing, baking, or frying. A layer of carbonized oil, called seasoning, gives cast iron its classic black patina and helps prevent rusting. Seasoning also creates a natural, easy-release cooking surface that gets better with age.
Lodge is the name we trust in cast iron cookware, and is the #1 selling skillet on Amazon. Plus, it won’t break the bank. The versatile 12 Inch Lodge Skillet only costs around $25. The Lodge can be passed down through generations if properly cared for, and comes pre-seasoned, building up its non-stick properties over time.
If you have a larger family like us or often cook for large groups, we recommend the larger 15 Inch Lodge Skillet. Beware though, this thing is heavy!
Also, a quick cooking tip. We often refer back to this Gordon Ramsey video where he teaches kids to cook chicken perfectly. No color, no flavor!
SS Spatula
Every kitchen needs a good spatula for flipping and serving, especially with cast iron or stainless steel cookware. Stainless steel should be the go-to material for its durability and heat-resistance. It also won’t bend or warp with time and use. Stainless steel spatulas are dishwasher-safe, resistant to stains and rust, and offer a lifetime of use, making them a smart investment in any kitchen. We recommend the Cuisinart Spatula (or Turner as some people call it).
SS Spoons
Similarly, a set of solid and slotted spoons are great for serving and stirring. The solid spoon is perfect for stirring and serving, while the slotted one excels at lifting solids out of liquids, making it ideal for draining vegetables or pasta. Invest in high-quality stainless steel versions of each, and they’ll be the last you ever need to buy. Durable and dishwasher-safe for effortless cleaning. Because, honestly, everything in the kitchen should be dishwasher safe! We recommend the Cuisinart Solid Spoon and Slotted Spoon.
SS Tongs
Stainless steel tongs are essential for everything from flipping meat to serving salad. Locking tongs help with ease of storage. High-quality tongs resist bending and can withstand high heat, making them safe for stovetop or grill use. With their multifunctional design, stainless steel tongs are one of those tools you’ll reach for daily. We like the Walfos set of 3.
Can Opener
A good can opener should be effortless to use, safe, and built to last. We dedicated an entire article and video to reviewing can openers, and after rigorous testing, the Rosle emerged as our top pick. Though slightly pricier, it stands out by opening cans cleanly without touching the contents or leaving any jagged edges. For those looking for a more budget-friendly option, our runner-up is the reliable and classic EZ-DUZ-IT. Choose the one that best fits your kitchen needs.
One final cooking tip: Grab some amazing Bachan’s Japanese Barbecue Sauce. It takes mediocre cooking to the next level.
ANALYSIS
At Stubborn Gear every product undergoes a rigorous review process by an experienced mechanical engineer. We only recommend products that perform exceptionally and are built to withstand the test of time.
This matrix shows the weighted scoring for each of the 10 kitchen essentials in our testing. Every kitchen item on our list, with one exception, earns a solid 5 anvils for durability and function. We believe each will stand the test of time – except the Stainless Steel Tongs. Despite their sturdy design, we’re concerned about the longevity of the spring mechanism and pinned connection used in almost every model we could find. If you’ve discovered a pair of tongs built to last a lifetime, share your find with us.
Our findings in the table above include the Stubborn Gear Anvil Score and the price at the time of testing.
We tested each kitchen tool for the following characteristics:
NOT BUY IT FOR LIFE
First let’s discuss what items in a kitchen are not buy it for life. There are lots of glass and ceramic kitchen items that could last forever, that is until you drop them. Wooden spoons are essential kitchen tools, but will need to be replaced every couple years. We have not found a buy it for life cutting board (if you know of one, please let us know). Anything with electronics or microchips tend to break over time.
Therefore, we are only recommending essential kitchen items that we think will last a lifetime and not need to be replaced for decades.
MATERIALS
You will notice that everything we recommend is made of high quality metal. The cast iron skillets are made of, you guessed it, cast iron. While cast iron can rust, if a skillet is cared for as recommended it will last longer than you.
Similarly, everything else on this list is made of good quality Stainless Steel. Not all stainless steel is high quality. The metal in our recommended kitchen essentials is dishwasher safe and wont rust or wear out.
EASE OF USE
Not everything made of metal and durable is easy to use. If you are cooking you want to use tools that fit well in the hand and perform their function flawlessly.
We think the chef’s knife we’ve chosen is perfectly balanced. The handles on the utensils and saucepan are great in the hand. If we had one gripe, it would be the handle on the cast iron skillet seems a little small and gets hot during use.
TESTING
Everything on our kitchen essentials list has been tested in our own kitchen. Some of them have been in use for many years and show no signs of wear.
We cook every single day for lots of people, and use the tools for each meal.
UPGRADE
A couple of the items on the list have alternative upgrade options. We think you will get great use out of the standard item, but the upgrades offer a bit more durability, slightly better function, and usually thicker metal and stronger connections. Those upgrade options obviously come with an increase in price.
REVIEWS
All the items on our list have great reviews on Amazon and other kitchen review sites. However, these can fake or paid-for reviews, so they are taken with a huge handful of salt.
Sites like ReviewMeta and FakeSpot analyze reviews with their algorithm to eliminate suspicious ones and give an updated score.
The Lodge Cast Iron Skillet, for example, had 121,704 ratings on Amazon as of the time of this review. Fakespot review analysis gave it a score of A, showing that the reviews are accurate and high quality.
AMAZON RATING
4.6
ADJUSTED RATING
4.6
*Disclaimer: We don’t accept payment from any company, so you know our reviews are honest and unbiased. We are completely supported our fans. This page contains affiliate links. That means that we are awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost for you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.