Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Thank you so much for helping me keep this blog running!

Here I am, finally at 28 years old buying actual furniture (not getting them from the street anymore LOL) and looking up kitchen essentials.

Quarantine aka “The Big Q” truly forced me to spend more time in the kitchen. I mean, did you see me being Betty Crocker last weekend baking these slightly overdone yet tasty treats?!

This brings me to my next point. Before moving to my new place, I had NO idea what I’d need. I mean, I WAS that girl relying on Trader Joe’s frozen section and calling myself a chef.

And now here we are, growing up (and of course, getting motivated by Brian LOL). If you’re moving or simply looking to revamp your kitchen, I’m sharing a few essentials I tried and love!

Ninja blender

• This one’s loud and powerful. It only takes a few blends to make the perfect smoothie or avocado crema 😉

Pour over and/or matcha set

• I used to drink instant coffee and while it’s great for super busy days, nothing beats a good ol’ fashioned cuppa Joe. Fun fact – I never knew what a “cup of Joe” meant until one day, a patient came in to my work (back then at the VA) and he asked me where he could find a cup of Joe…. LOL. Seriously though, this pour over coffee maker set is amazing bc it comes with the pour over, a reusable filter, gooseneck kettle with a thermometer, and a coffee mill grinder!
• If you’re not into coffee, matcha works just as well! I’m not queen of whisking, but I do enjoy making a yummy cup of matcha every now and then. I’ve tried making both iced and hot matcha and love them both.

Good knife set

• I never knew the importance of a good knife set until I gave Brian a couple of knives for his birthday last year. He sent me the links bc I didn’t know what to look for in a knife (LOL). After experimenting with a few knives, I can tell the difference when I cut into my meats and veggies. It’s seriously life changing!

Air fryer

• I never had one until recently and wow! I’ve made coconut shrimp, sweet potato fries, chicken tenders, etc. It’s efficient and truly makes me feel like a real chef LOL

Cast iron skillet

• We have both sizes (10″ and 12″). Shoutout to my sister for gifting us with one! We love cooking on these bc it honestly adds “flavor” to what we’re cooking. It also gives off that charred finish plus making pizzas in these have never been more convenient.

Instant pot

• Love the ease of making dinners using this! I can’t wait to make all the fall + winter soups when the time comes 🙂

What are some of your must-have kitchen essentials?! I’m just now adulting, so it’d be great to hear your take on this! As always, thank you so much for reading!!