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While checking on an Amazon order today, I started thinking about the many purchases I’ve made through this e-tailer. And boy, have I made a bunch! When you’re in a somewhat rural area, you do a lot more online shopping.
And while reminiscing about my hundreds of orders over the years, I got to thinking about which have been my favorites. This includes the ones with surprisingly good quality and the ones I find myself using over and over again.
As it turns out, most are kitchen/food related. Who knew?!
We all love a good merch tip, so today, I’m sharing our top 10 kitchen faves. Let’s have a look!
1. Lodge 6-Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven
First up is this Lodge Dutch oven. This may be my favorite purchase and it’s also featured in our Shop. The excellent quality at a fraction of the cost of Le Creuset makes it a standout.
At our place, it’s in constant use during the winter months – and I mean constant use. I make soup for Hubby’s lunch every week, so it sees a lot of action. But it’s equally great for stews and braising. You simply cannot go wrong with this essential piece of kitchen gear.
2. Tramontina Professional 10-Inch Non-Stick Skillet
If you’re in the market for a new non-stick skillet, look no further! This 10-inch Tramontina skillet is neck-and-neck with the Lodge Dutch oven for our number one favorite kitchen buy. It receives consistently high reviews among pros and amateur cooks alike. We LOVE it.
The professional grade pan features a superior non-stick surface, even heating, easy cleaning…need we go on? Oh, and at just under $30, it’s incredibly affordable. I fully intend to get one of the larger sizes soon.
3. Duxtop Whole-Clad Stainless Steel Saucepan
Next up is this awesome saucepan from Duxtop. While I’m a big fan of All Clad, I don’t love the high price point, so I wanted to try something similar at a lower cost. This gamble paid off.
We purchased this 3-quart saucepan and loved it so much, that when we needed a stockpot, we went with Duxtop again. It’s heavy duty, heats evenly, and cleans up beautifully. If you’re looking for a lower-cost alternative to All Clad, Duxtop is a great option.
4. SHARDOR Electric Coffee/Spice Grinder
Another can’t-go-wrong-with-it kitchen staple is this coffee/spice grinder from SHARDOR. It grinds coffee beans, spices, and nuts with ease. I use it regularly to grind flax seed and peppercorns, which takes mere seconds for perfection each time.
There’s also an enhanced version that includes two grinding bowls – one for dry ingredients and another for fresh ingredients, like herbs. When our current coffee grinder conks out (we like having one dedicated for just coffee beans), we’re getting another one of these.
5. Silicone Pastry Mat
Why did it take me so long to buy this?? If you make pie, pizza, or bread, do yourself a favor and get one of these silicone pastry mats. It’s nice and big, so you have room to work. It’s non-stick (thank you!), easy to clean, and I love, love, love that it includes a boatload of handy measurements printed right on the mat.
There’s a circular guide perfect for sizing pie and pizza dough. There’s a ruler along the bottom and sides that takes the guesswork out of getting your dough to the right length and width. You know when it says to pat your dough into a 9×14-inch rectangle? Now you can actually get it to that size. Awesomeness!
6. Silicone Splatter Covers
If you want an easy way to reduce your use of bad-for-the-environment plastic wrap, get yourself some silicone splatter covers. We use two types: a dome-shaped lid that’s vented and is great for reheating plates of food in the microwave, and a set of flat lids perfect for using on bowls and other deeper containers.
The dome lid is collapsible and doubles as a strainer. The flat lids are great for the microwave and for covering food in the refrigerator. They’re both BPA free and dishwasher safe.
7. Toshiba EM131A5C-BS Countertop Microwave Oven
When it was time to buy a new microwave, I did a lot of research and this one from Toshiba came up as a top pick time and time again. Honestly, it’s been fantastic and at less than $125, it’s truly a great buy.
What we love most is the sleek and simple design, one-touch cook modes (just press “1” for one minute, “2” for two minutes, etc.), and even heating. At 1.2 cubic feet, it’s just the right size for dinner plates and even our larger casserole dishes.
8. KAF Home Soho Kitchen Dish Towels
Okay, dish towels may not seem very exciting, but they are to me! Finding a good quality, cotton towel that looks good and functions well (read: is absorbent), isn’t always that easy. Plus, they can get kind of expensive.
This set has been a mainstay in our kitchen for years now. I was so pleased with it, I bought a second set that I haven’t even used yet (but that time is coming – it’s been four years and these towels see a ton of use). You get 10 absorbent, durable towels that look great, and your choice of colors (we opted for charcoal).
9. Pfaltzgraff Trellis White 16-Piece Dinnerware Set
This was one of those impulse buys that worked out. I saw this Pfaltzgraff set while looking for some other dishes and just loved the look. It’s a bit “rustic meets modern farmhouse.”
I knew I’d use them if they looked as good as the photo, and it was a limited time deal with a price under $40 for the set, so I rolled the dice and…Yahtzee! I’ve used them a bunch and they mix and match really well with lots of other dishes. The quality is great and they’re a unique spin on a neutral pattern.
If you’re looking for new dinnerware and this style appeals to you, I recommend giving them a go. Also, they go on sale frequently on Amazon, so keep tabs on them for price reductions.
10. Thermos Stainless King Vacuum-Insulated Food Jar
Sometimes the simplest things make the biggest impact. That’s been the case with this Thermos food jar. Purchased so Hubby could take hot soups and stews for lunch during the winter (he doesn’t always have access to a microwave for heating things up), I gave this thermos a try and it’s been a winner.
Not only is it super cute, it’s also got a wide mouth that makes ladling food into it a breeze and it comes with a foldable spoon, so you never forget to include one – brilliant! It keeps food and beverages nice and hot (or cold, depending on what you’re serving), and it’s very durable. We bought the 16 oz. version, but there’s also a 24-ouncer if you need something bigger. And it comes in several colors.
Well, that’s a wrap for our kitchen top 10! For more of our favorite kitchen and home items, just visit our Shop!