My 10 Must-Have Kitchen Items I Recommend

Good morning from Nashville. I’ve been here the last two days meeting with the ABLE team to review samples for my fall collection. All I can say is that I am so beyond excited for this collection. The ABLE team is absolutely incredible, and the work they are doing in the fashion space from an ethical and sustainable perspective is so unique. They truly put people over profit and are so passionate about empowering women through opportunity. It’s incredibly inspiring and solidified why I am so honored and thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with them. More to come on that soon!

For my newsletter subscribers this post may look familiar from a while back, but I wanted to share it here for anyone that missed it. I rounded up my favorite kitchen items that I would recommend again and again. If you’re looking for more pots, pans, and cookware recommendations check out this post. For more details on our kitchen renovation see here.

My 10 Must-Have Kitchen Items I Recommend

DASH Safe Slice Mandoline Slicer

Love slicing veggies really thin but hate almost chopping your finger off? Let me introduce you to the Dash Safe Slice Mandoline! This is a total game changer that makes slicing so much easier and safe. Get slices, dices, julienne and more. It took a little bit for me to figure it out but it took Craig about 2 minutes and he does most of the cooking so he has been very happy.

Café Appliances Coffee Maker

I’ve always loved this coffee maker because it looks so nice and keeps coffee hot for a long time but when we had company over the holidays I realized how incredible it is. It barely makes a sound when you’re brewing coffee (nice when you’re trying not to wake people up) and it makes a pot of coffee SO quickly. It’s also very easy to use the auto brew so you can set it the night before AND you can customize your brew strength.

Nespresso Aeroccino Milk Frother

It could not be any easier to froth milk with this. I find that for non-dairy milk, oat and soy froth the best. It’s like having a coffee shop right in your kitchen. I have my coffee with some frothed milk and a dash of maple syrup every morning. I blame Vermont. 

Casafina Dishware

Casafina may sound familiar because I talked about the brand a lot towards the end of last year. I was really sick of buying dishes that broke easily or scratched after a few weeks. Then I found Casafina. I bought them a year ago because I loved the neutral color for our kitchen, but they’ve proven to be incredible quality. They’re fine stoneware crafted in Portugal and they are microwave, oven, freezer and dishwasher safe. I started with this set but added the ramen and soup bowls too. 

Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet

It was named the Best Cast Iron skillet by Wirecutter for a reason. We have a few cast iron skillets, some very expensive, and this one from Lodge ($29) always comes out on top. It’s pre-seasoned and can do everything including sear, saute, bake, broil and fry. It is a bit heavy, so if you’e looking for something lighter go with the Lodge Chef Collection Skillet. 

Kitchen Essentials

ALL-CLAD Classic Round Waffle Maker

I won’t get into how often Craig eats waffles, but it’s a lot. Admittedly he’s the one that uses this, but he’s also the one that cooks almost all of the meals so his opinion weighs heavily. We’ve gone through a few waffles makers that just did not make the cut. We’ve had this one for a long time now and not only does it make a great waffle but it’s not huge (great if you don’t have a lot of space in the kitchen) and it’s easy to clean.

Zwilling Vintage 1876 18/10 Stainless Steel Flatware Set

I wanted flatware for our Vermont house that had a vintage look and feel. This set reminds me of the flatware my Great Aunt had at her house. The quality is exceptional for the price and they’re very well balanced. You know how some flatware is too heavy or feels weird when you’re holding it? Hopefully that’s not just me, haha. I bought Marin this similar looking set and she loves it.

Organic Linen Napkins

There’s just something about a cloth napkin that elevates a meal. I love the classic French stripe and thick organic cotton in this set. It’s such an easy way to make your table look nice with minimal effort and while I love them for entertaining they’re equally as great for casual dinner at home. Especially since we’re not dining out these days it’s a nice way to make dining at home feel special. Plus it’s very eco-friendly!

Nordic Ware Naturals Sheet Pans

A sturdy, simple sheet pan at a great price. This set of 2 is really all you need. We use them all the time for one pan dinners, roasting veggies, and baking.

Follain Everything Soap 

Everyone’s washing their hands more these days and the Follain everything soap makes it feel a little more luxurious. I always get comments from guests about this soap because the scents are so nice. It’s also biodegradable, vegetable-based, synthetic-fragrance free and made in the USA. Use my code JESSANNKIRBY15 for 15% off your purchase (one-time use, some exclusions apply).