Best Splurge Utensils Set
Hestan Ultimate Chef’s Tools, 8-Piece Set
Pros
- Stainless steel is durable and dishwasher safe
- Included tools are useful basics most cooks will appreciate
- Comes with a ceramic crock for storage
Cons
- Could scratch nonstick cookware
- Many of the tools (like the ladles) are heavy
Key Specs
- Material: 18/10 stainless steel
- Nonstick safe: No
- Dishwasher safe: Yes
- Heat resistance: Not specified, but stainless steel can handle high temps
Stainless steel is one of the most stable nonplastic materials you can find in cookware. It’s attractive, typically dishwasher safe, and unless you have an industrial forge, you’re unlikely to damage it when cooking at a high temperature. This set from Hestan is particularly beautiful, with a mirror-like finish and a ceramic crock to provide storage you won’t mind leaving out on your countertop.
Of course, the trade-off here is that you’ll want to keep the stainless steel well away from your nonstick cookware, since it could easily scratch the surface (which you definitely want to avoid). And while we chose it as a splurge for a reason, it’s worth repeating that this set is quite expensive. But it’s also dishwasher safe, and it comes with tools I love, like a fish spatula (seriously, you probably need one).
Best Budget Utensils Set
Larder & Vine Kitchen Utensils With Ceramic Crock, 12-Piece Set
Pros
- Food-grade silicone won’t scratch delicate cookware
- Heat-resistant up to 500 degrees F
- Dishwasher safe for easy cleanup
- Comes with a ceramic crock for storage
- PFAS-free and BPA-free
Cons
- Popular colors often sell out
Key Specs
- Material: Food-grade silicone, stainless steel handles
- Nonstick safe: Yes
- Dishwasher safe: Yes, but hand-washing crock is recommended
- Heat resistance: Up to 500 degrees F
For a more wallet-friendly option that gives you a very comprehensive utensils set in a wide range of attractive colors, Larder & Vine offers a great alternative. This set includes items you won’t always find in a ready-made set, such as a silicone brush (an excellent tool for basting) and a skimmer (which is handy for straining and skimming the fat off of soups and stocks).
“This set comes with pretty much everything you need: 11 metal-handle and silicone utensils that are very pretty to look at inside a crock,” says editorial director Simone Scully, who tested this set. “I received the white one, which wouldn’t have been my first choice — I like the vibrant colors they offer — but the utensils are still very pretty.” Scully also appreciated the way this set could handle the wear and tear of an average kitchen. “They have nice metal handles that look durable, and the silicone can withstand temps up to 500 degrees. It’s also easy enough to clean,” she adds.
Best Stainless Steel Measuring Cups
OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Measuring Cups, 4-Piece Set
Pros
- Magnetic handles nest together for easy storage
- Dishwasher safe
- Silicone-coated handles for comfortable handling
Cons
- Measurement markings can rub off over time
Key Specs
- Material: Stainless steel
- Nonstick safe: N/A
- Dishwasher safe: Yes
- Heat resistance: Not heat rated
When it comes to utensils, it pays to invest in the basics, and this stainless steel measuring cup set from OXO has everything you’re looking for in dry measure cups. These are dishwasher safe, made from stainless steel, and, in what I find to be a particularly clever touch, have magnets embedded in the handles to help keep them nested neatly together when stored.
This set has the essentials most home cooks are looking for, with quarter-cup, third-cup, half-cup, and 1-cup measurements. Some reviews have indicated that the numbers can wear off over time, though it should be noted that I have not personally experienced this with my set, and they see quite a bit of use (and trips through the dishwasher).
Best Wooden Utensils
Woodenhouse Wooden Spoons, 6-Piece Set
Pros
- Simple, plastic-free design
- Won’t scratch delicate cookware
- Comfortable handles and a classic look
Cons
- Must be hand-washed and dried thoroughly
- Wood requires oiling to keep in top shape
Key Specs
- Material: Teak wood
- Nonstick safe: Yes
- Dishwasher safe: No
- Heat resistance: Not listed, but wood has a high heat resistance
If you prefer to avoid synthetic materials but want to protect your more delicate cookware, wood is often a good compromise. This six-piece set from Woodenhouse is made from teak wood, which gives the utensils a warm, rustic feel, and the salad fork and stirring spoon can double as serveware.
“I was not expecting to like these wooden utensils so much,” admits editor Olivia Campbell, who tested this set. “I am all about ridding my kitchen of plastic, and these utensils can help [with] that switch. Plus, there are times when you can’t use stainless steel utensils, like on nonstick pans, which wooden utensils are perfect for.” She found this set surprisingly useful, and says, “I used these utensils to bake, make stir-fries, and other things, and they worked really well.”
Best Splurge Wooden Utensils
Caraway Wooden Cooking Utensils, 5-Piece Set
Pros
- Made from FSC-certified wood
- Gentle enough for all kinds of cookware
- Classic design
Cons
- Doesn’t come with storage
- Hand-wash only
Key Specs
- Material: Birchwood
- Nonstick safe: Yes
- Dishwasher safe: No
- Heat resistance: High (wood)
If you like a clean, minimalist aesthetic, this wooden utensil set from Caraway might be just what you’re looking for. The pieces are made from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)–certified birchwood, which means they’re sustainable, and they’re gentle on nonstick and other delicate cookware finishes. The natural wood gives them a warm, classic look that will fit seamlessly into most kitchens, and the handles feel comfortable in hand, whether you’re stirring sauces or folding batter.
However, because these are wooden tools, they need a little extra TLC: Hand-washing and thorough drying are key to keeping them in good shape, and occasional oiling helps prevent the wood from drying out and cracking. But if you want to avoid synthetic materials entirely, this set is durable and classic.
Best Kitchen Gadgets
Caraway Kitchen Gadgets, 5-Piece Set
Pros
- Durable stainless steel construction
- Comes with storage
- Useful selection of common kitchen gadgets
Cons
- Hand-wash only
Key Specs
- Material: Stainless steel
- Nonstick safe: No
- Dishwasher safe: No
- Heat resistance: High (stainless steel)
The drawer where I keep most of my kitchen gadgets is, admittedly, a bit of a disaster. It’s one thing when your spoons and ladles can be contained in one vessel, but what do you do with the kitchen gadgets that seem to defy any attempts at organization? Caraway, per usual, has the answer, with a selection of five commonly used (and commonly misplaced) kitchen gadgets — a can opener, a peeler, an ice cream scoop, a garlic press, and a pizza cutter — that come with their own birchwood storage tray. All are made from a hefty-feeling stainless steel, with a rounded, retro design.
“There’s a lot of love about this set: For one, it’s beautiful,” says Scully. “All five tools are made of stainless steel and are completely plastic-free. They also come in a birchwood organizer, which has been carved to perfectly fit each item, allowing for functional (and gorgeous) storage. This wooden organizer also fits perfectly in most kitchen drawers, though it’s pretty enough to be left out somewhere if you want to.”
One caveat: These gadgets can’t go in the dishwasher. However, Scully observes, “Each item is fairly easy to clean by hand (and the brand recommends using white vinegar, lemon juice, or a stainless steel cleaner if they start to lose their shine).”
Best for Mixing and Meal Prep
Viking Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls With Lids, 10-Piece Set
Pros
- Dishwasher safe
- Good range of sizes
- Silicone bottoms prevent slipping
- Bowls nest for easy storage
Cons
- Heat-conductive, so they can get hot to the touch
- Lids are plastic, but BPA-free
Key Specs
- Material: Stainless steel, silicone, BPA-free plastic
- Nonstick safe: N/A
- Dishwasher safe: Yes, but hand-washing lids is recommended
- Heat resistance: High (stainless steel)
Remember, plastic kitchenware isn’t just spatulas and spoons. Prep work matters too, and stainless steel bowls are a relatively painless way to upgrade. This 10-piece set includes nesting bowls with matching lids (which are plastic, but BPA-free), so they’re equally good for mixing batters or storing leftovers in the fridge. I like the variety of sizes in this set, and the silicone bottoms mean they won’t go sliding across my countertop at inconvenient times. They’re dishwasher safe, nest for easy storage, and will last you pretty much forever.
Best Cutting Board
Boardsmith Maple End-Grain Cutting Board
Pros
- Surface is gentle on knives
- Silicone feet prevent slipping
- Made from sustainably harvested maple
- Hand-finished
Cons
- Quite heavy
- Wood needs periodic treatment to keep in good shape
Key Specs
- Material: Maple (also comes in walnut or cherry)
- Nonstick safe: N/A
- Dishwasher safe: No
- Heat resistance: Heat not recommended; can scorch
Don’t get me wrong, this board is big and heavy (it’s 2 inches thick and weighs about 10.5 pounds), and you have to hand-wash it, dry it promptly, and oil it regularly (or apply Board Butter). It’s a beast to store. But it’s also like a (very useful) piece of art, and with proper care, it will last you for decades.
Best Glass Measuring Cups
Great Jones Beyond Measure Duo in Blue
Pros
- Dishwasher safe
- Microwave safe
- Size is ideal for both baking and liquid prep
Cons
- Breakable if dropped
Key Specs
- Material: Borosilicate glass
- Nonstick safe: N/A
- Dishwasher safe: Yes
- Heat resistance: Borosilicate glass is microwave safe and heat tolerant
A liquid measuring cup is a kitchen essential, and this duo from Great Jones comes with 4-cup and 2-cup sizes. The 4-cup one is big enough to hold batter and stock. The cups are made of borosilicate glass and feature measurements in cups, ounces, and milliliters. They’re also dishwasher and microwave safe, in addition to looking nicer than more utilitarian glass measuring cups.
“Like all Great Jones bakeware and cookware, this measuring cup is very pretty,” Scully says. “It’s very easy to read the measurements on the side, and it makes for a good liquid measuring cup because you can easily see how much is in it.”
One thing she did note: “This feels a little fragile (even if it is made from borosilicate glass),” Scully says.
Why Trust Everyday Health
Katie Tuttle
Author
Katie Tuttle is an editor and writer specializing in food, nutrition, and product testing. Her work has appeared in EatingWell, Food & Wine, The Spruce Eats, and Real Simple. She has written about meal kits, kitchen tools, fitness, and wellness, and has tested and reviewed a wide range of products, with a particular focus on meal delivery services and their impact on nutrition and convenience.
Beyond food, Katie has covered fitness and wellness topics, drawing from her own experience as a powerlifter and an occasional runner. She’s always interested in how products and services can make healthy living more accessible and practical.
When she’s not researching or writing, Katie is usually surrounded by houseplants or spending time with a foster dog. She firmly believes there’s no such thing as too many books or too much coffee.
Reyna Franco, RDN
Medical Reviewer
Reyna Franco, RDN, is a New York City–based dietitian-nutritionist, certified specialist in sports dietetics, and certified personal trainer. She is a diplomate of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and has a master's degree in nutrition and exercise physiology from Columbia University.
In her private practice, she provides medical nutrition therapy for weight management, sports nutrition, diabetes, cardiac disease, renal disease, gastrointestinal disorders, cancer, food allergies, eating disorders, and childhood nutrition. To serve her diverse patients, she demonstrates cultural sensitivity and knowledge of customary food practices. She applies the tenets of lifestyle medicine to reduce the risk of chronic disease and improve health outcomes for her patients.
Franco is also a corporate wellness consultant who conducts wellness counseling and seminars for organizations of every size. She taught sports nutrition to medical students at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, taught life cycle nutrition and nutrition counseling to undergraduate students at LaGuardia Community College, and precepts nutrition students and interns. She created the sports nutrition rotation for the New York Distance Dietetic Internship program.
She is the chair of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine's Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist Member Interest Group. She is also the treasurer and secretary of the New York State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, having previously served in many other leadership roles for the organization, including as past president, awards committee chair, and grant committee chair, among others. She is active in the local Greater New York Dietetic Association and Long Island Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, too.
Ray Finch
Fact-Checker
Ray Finch is a content specialist with expertise in fact-checking, copy-editing, sensitivity reading, and content management, and has worked with publishers including Health.com, Parents, VeryWell Mind, Medium, Everyday Health, and VeryWell Health.
Their longtime interest in mental health, chronic illness, disability, neurodivergence, and LGBTQIA+ issues was sparked first by their own firsthand experiences, and was further refined during their academic career, having earned dual bachelor's degrees in Anthropology and Women's and Gender Studies.
Finch is committed to producing inclusive, scientifically sound content that takes into account such nuanced factors as socioeconomic status, clinician bias, and cultural competence, all of which influence how people engage — or don’t — with medical professionals and the healthcare system.
Nicole Bonaccorso
Editor
Nicole Bonaccorso is a writer and editor with more than 12 years of journalism experience. She has been writing for Everyday Health since 2025, and has also been published on NBCNews.com, Treehugger, Verywell, Mashable, and Upworthy, among other publications.
Nicole was also a senior editor at Weather.com for more than 11 years, covering everything from weather and climate change to health, science, and travel.
In addition to writing, Nicole has also found a passion in helping new parents reach their breastfeeding goals and is working towards becoming a certified breastfeeding specialist.
In her free time, Nicole enjoys hiking, camping, cooking, reading, and spending time outdoors with her two young sons, husband, and dog.
Olivia Campbell
Tester
Olivia Campbell is the New York Times bestselling author of Women in White Coats: How the First Women Doctors Changed the World of Medicine and Sisters in Science: How Four Women Physicists Escaped Nazi Germany and Made Scientific History. She is a freelance editor at Dotdash Meredith and a freelance journalist. Her work has appeared in The Atlantic, National Geographic, New York Magazine, Health, Parents, History, and The Guardian, among other outlets.
Campbell received a journalism degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and a master's in science writing from Johns Hopkins University, where she now acts as a thesis advisor. She is a member of the National Association of Science Writers.
Campbell lives outside Philadelphia with her husband, three children, and two cats.
Simone Scully
Tester
Simone Scully is the editorial director for service commerce and marketplace content at Everyday Health. She has nearly 15 years of experience as a professional health and science journalist, covering topics such as the psychological impacts of living with chronic conditions, nationwide gaps in menopause healthcare, grief, neonatal loss, and the latest wellness trends over her career. Her byline has been published by over 35 publications, including Healthline, Well+Good, InStyle, Psych Central, Romper, Narratively, Nautilus magazine, and more.
Before joining Everyday Health, Simone was an editorial director of health and parenting commerce and service content at Dotdash Meredith. She oversaw a team of editors and writers that published content across nine different sites, including the Verywells, Parents, Health, and Shape. Prior to this, she also worked as an editor at The Weather Channel's Weather.com, Upworthy, theSkimm, and Business Insider. A project Simone oversaw at Weather.com on the health and environmental impacts of global water shortages won several awards in 2020, including the CMA award for Best Series of Articles, an IAC award, and an Eppy award, among others.
Simone received a master's degree in Journalism from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, where she focused on science and health long-form reporting and photojournalism. Her master's thesis explored the treatment of prolonged grief disorder following a miscarriage or the loss of a child. She was also awarded the John Horgan Award for Critical Science and Health Journalism at graduation.
Born in Minnesota, Simone lived 14 years in France until she graduated high school, then three years in London to get her bachelor's degree at the London School of Economics and Political Science. She currently lives in the Hudson Valley of New York with her husband, son, dog, and cats. When she's not working, you can find her writing fiction or plays, hiking in national parks, or tending to her garden and indoor plants.