One Knife, One Pot, One Spoon: The Only Kitchen Tools You Actually Need
A minimalist guide to cooking well.
For my 21st birthday, I asked my grandmother for a Le Creuset.
I had moved into a freezing flat in Manchester, and by the time I unpacked, it was too late for a proper grocery run. So, my first meal was a potato that had moved with me from the previous rental.
Desperate to use my new pot, I placed the potato inside and into the oven. I was secretly relieved—it meant my brand-new Dutch oven wouldn’t be tarnished by a bubbling stew on day one. Though it did take bloody ages to make a baked potato so I wouldn’t recommend it, just throw the potato directly on the rack like a normal person. But! It was my first meal in the Le Creuset I was full (of potato and triumph).
The Myth of the Fully Stocked Kitchen
There’s a weird mindset we slip into when moving into our temporary or new living spaces —rentals, holiday homes, student flats. We don’t invest in proper kitchenware but instead get sold out on the multipack specials. Its one of the first things we do, we make a trip to a giant home goods store, stand in the aisle overwhelmed by a sea of Tefal (or is it T-fal? Who cares) and leave with a cheap five-piece saucepan set, a pack of flimsy plastic utensils, and a multipack of knives. Quantity over quality.
And why? Why do we do this? I love a deal as much as the next person, but I’ve learned the hard way—owning a lot of crap is far worse than owning a few brilliant things. Because here’s the truth: you only need three tools to cook well.
The Only Three Kitchen Tools You Actually Need
- A vessel to cook your food in
- Something to cut your food up
- Something to stir/scoop/scrape
That’s it. Invest in these, and you’re set. You can build out your collection later, but start with these, and you won’t need to replace them for decades.
@SISTER_SISTER_INTERIORS
The Buy-It-for-Life Essentials
The Pot: Enamel Cast Iron
A Dutch oven is the ultimate kitchen workhorse—it works on any stovetop, from gas to induction to open flame. It’s bloody resilient. And, after a decade, the baked-in stains will serve as a reminder of everywhere you’ve lived and every meal you’ve made.
Best Option: Le Creuset
Lifetime warranty. Global availability. Comes in every amazing colour. (A quick note on cleaning: you do not need heavy chemicals. A little baking soda, warm water, and patience will do the trick.)
The Knife: Stainless Steel
If you’re only buying one knife, make it an 8-inch chef’s knife. You can use it for everything. The only time it might struggle is slicing delicate fruit and tomatoes—but that’s where a small serrated knife (like a Victorinox) comes in as a secret fourth tool of this list.
Best Option: Wüsthof
Lifetime warranty. Classic design. The kind of knife that makes chopping an oddly meditative experience.
Yes, these cost money. Yes, the price of both could run you over $300. But they will last a lifetime. If it’s out of reach right now, look secondhand to begin with and save up or ask for them as gifts (like I did).
The Spoon: Wooden
Here’s where you can go wild. A flat wooden spatula, a deep wooden spoon—even a stick from the garden if it’s sturdy enough. You’ll accumulate a collection over the years, but at the end of the day, you really only need one.
Best Option: Wood. Any wood. No brand. Doesn’t matter.
Buy one, use it forever.
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