If you’ve been following me on social media, you’ll know that my fiance Finn and I just moved to Nashville, TN. We visited a few times to scope out apartment buildings, and probably toured at least 12.
I had a mental list of things I wanted in our new apartment… big windows for light, a washer and dryer, dishwasher, you know things most people want.
But at the TOP of my list: STORAGE
Specifically kitchen cabinets. I need lotsssss of kitchen cabinets. Below the sink, above the sink, under the island, AS MANY AS POSSIBLE.
You might be wondering why? It’s because over the years I have collected, accumulated, been given by my mom SO many kitchen gadgets, tools, machines, etc….
And all of these gadgets need a home! Coincedently I’m also one of those people who doesn’t want any of these things on my counter. It needs to be in a specific place in a specific cabinet, which is a fun task in an apartment!
ANYWAY, when we were packing up to move I decided it was time to clear out some kitchen stuff. I made a big pile of things that I didn’t use, whether it was because I had multiple or because it was one of those silly little kitchen tools that only serve one superrrr specific purpose.
I really got granular about my favorite items, what tools I used everyday, and what machines genuinely made cooking more efficient.
Anything that didn’t make the cut got packed up and donated to my local charity, then we packed our U-Haul and set off for Nashville.
Nespresso Machine: A Morning Ritual
Every morning I look forward to my coffee. There’s something truly magical about the aroma of freshly brewed coffee that kicks my morning off to a great start. I use to be able to drink any coffee, even instant, but I have to say that my Nespresso machine has ruined a lot of other coffee for me! It’s spoiling me…
It is seriously like having a coffee shop in your own house. The coffee is rich and delicious, you can choose different pods depending on what you like, and all you need to do is press a button. It’s a little bit of an investment, but when you break down the cost it’s less than $1 a day for coffee – which I will GLADLY pay over the now-normal $8 latte.
Oh and just a note – this is THE ONE machine that lives on my counter. It’s sleek, it’s compact, and it truly makes my morning, every morning.
Milk Frother: Perfect Foamed Milk Every Time
Continuing on with my coffee obsession… the milk frother that accompanies my Nespresso machine on the counter. This amazing little frother TRANSFORMS regular coffee into a cafe-worthy latte. I add whole milk and a dash of vanilla and within 30 seconds I have velvety-smooth foam that I pour over the top of my Nespresso coffee.
Side note – it heats and froths your milk at the same time. AND it also has a feature that makes cold foam, so if you are an iced latte girl you will love this thing.
Air Fryer: The Cheat Code for Easy, Healthy Cooking
Air fryers have become super popular, and for a good reason. I am not kidding when I say I use this thing almost every day. It just makes cooking SO. EASY. There is nothing an air fryer cannot do, whether you are cooking up chicken breasts, roasting veggies, or whipping up a single serve dessert, it’s got you covered.
If you are a multi-tasker, you will LOVE having an air fryer. I’ll season up my chicken thighs, pop them in the air fryer, and be able to prep the rest of dinner or do the laundry while it cooks for me. It’s low-maintenance, low-mess cooking at it’s finest. AND one of it’s top perks is that you get all of the delicious crunch and crisp without added oil, so you can make your favorite dishes minus the extra fat and calories.
Nutribullet: The Smoothie Champion
I use my Nutribullet blender multiple times each day. I love having smoothies for a snack, and this is hands down the best compact blender I have ever used. You just add all of your ingredients to the cup, screw on the lid and blend. After it’s perfectly creamy and smooth you can drink the smoothie right out of the cup! Meaning you only have to wash ONE thing. It’s also so much easier to clean than normal blenders, and you can throw everything in the dishwasher.
My Knife Set: High Quality and Affordable
A good knife set is crucial for any home cook. With that being said, you do NOT need a $400+ knife set to make delicious meals for you and your family. I found this set from KitchenAid and have been using it for years. It has a great selection of beautiful stainless steel knives including 6 steak knives, a serrated bread knife, a chef’s knife, and a pair of kitchen scissors. My most used is probably the chef’s knife – from slicing meat to dicing herbs, it can do it all! It also comes with a chic storage block, I have the sleek matte black color which I love. It also has a knife sharpener IN the block which is so handy!
Rice Cooker: Perfect Rice Everytime
I use to make rice the ‘normal’ way, in a pot on the stove. Ever since I got my rice cooker I haven’t made rice on the stove ONCE. There’s no more starchy water boiling over, no more guessing if the rice is done, and no more gooey rice stuck to the bottom of the pot. You just add the rice and water, select which type of rice you are using, and press the button. In less than an hour you have perfectly cooked, fluffy rice EVERY SINGLE TIME. This rice cooker makes meal prep a breeze, and I could not live without it.
Non-Stick, Non-Toxic Pans: Functionality and Style
I’m conscious about the food that I put into my body, I try to opt for organic, whole foods and try to avoid over processed foods. It crossed my mind that I should be thinking about what I am cooking my food ON, and after a lot of research I found that a lot of pans contain heavy metals and chemicals that I didn’t want near my food. This pan set is an investment, but they are not only an investment for your kitchen but for your health. They are made with non-toxic materials while still being non-stick, so you get the best of both worlds! They are also STUNNING and come in a wide range of colors to fit your kitchen aesthetic. I have the white set with gold handles and they elevate my cooking experience every time I use them. Luckily, I was able to get a 10% off code for Caraway so you can save around $60 on this pan set that will last you years to come. Just use the code: CLAIRENOLANN10VIP at this link
(If you’d rather shop Caraway on amazon click here.)
That wraps up the list of my favorite kitchen items that I use every single day, some of them multiple times each day. I recommend these products to everyone, especially for the home cook who wants high quality, durable kitchen items that won’t break the bank. Let me know if this was helpful and I will do more product roundups!
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