Top 7+ kitchen tools Southern Living's senior food editor says belong in every home—starting at $11

The expert has spoken, y’all.

What You Need to Know

• I spoke with Josh Miller, Southern Living’s Senior Food Editor, to learn more about the kitchen items he swears by, and his picks span high-quality knives, wooden spoons, and even a few of our favorites. 
• Out of all kitchen cookware, gadgets, and appliances, Miller believes that every kitchen should have a reliable cast-iron skillet, like this one from Lodge that earned our best overall pick out of 22 comparable options. 
• Another essential in the food editor’s inventory is this $11 little whisk, which he uses for whipping up sauces and mixing spice blends together. 

My foundation in the kitchen began with following the experts—my grandfather and grandmother. Over their 50+ years of marriage, the pair developed a wealth of cooking wisdom, and as their little shadow, I absorbed morsels of knowledge that sparked a passion I still carry with me today. Though they’ve both passed, I still believe in learning from experts in the kitchen, which is why I turned to none other than Southern Living’s Senior Food Editor Josh Miller to share the kitchen essentials he swears by.

There’s a lot to consider when it comes to building an inventory of kitchen items, but Miller says tools that are “sturdy, hardworking, and versatile” carry the most weight. “I’m not a huge fan of single-use tools,” he says. “My kitchen is small and I don’t have a ton of drawer space, so I gravitate toward gadgets that do more than one thing.” 

With this in mind, Miller revealed the heirloom-quality cookware, tools, gadgets, and utensils that have earned a permanent spot in his kitchen. Shop his favorites, including a Lodge cast-iron skillet, Oxo scissors, and more—from $11. 

Josh’s Favorite Kitchen Items

• Hic Kitchen Classic French Beechwood Spoons, $17.99; amazon.com
• Global Classic 3-Piece Prep Knives, $259.95; williams-sonoma.com
• Oxo Good Grips Multi-Purpose Kitchen and Herbs Scissors, $21.95; amazon.com
• Open Kitchen by Williams Sonoma 3.5-inch Whisk, $10.95; williams-sonoma.com
• Microplane Premium Classic Series Zester, $17.95; amazon.com
• Lodge Cast-Iron Skillet with Red Silicone Hot Handle Holder, $29.90; amazon.com
• Männkitchen Pepper Cannon, $199.99; mannkitchen.com

Hic Kitchen Classic French Beechwood Spoons

“I’m a sucker for classic wooden spoons,” Miller explains, adding, “I prefer solid wood spoons like these French beauties; there’s no splitting or chipping that can come with bamboo or pressed-wood spoons.” Versatile enough for a variety of cooking applications, wooden spoons are a staple to have in the kitchen, and this set includes 10-, 12-, and 14-inch sizes perfect for stirring a big pot of soup, sautéing veggies, or mixing up cake batters. Made from solid beechwood, the spoons are lightweight, durable, and safe to use on all cookware materials, including stainless steel, nonstick, and cast iron. 

Global Classic 3-Piece Prep Knives

No kitchen should be without a reliable set of knives, which is why these ones from Williams Sonoma are one of Miller’s top picks. “I recommend investing in good-quality knives,” he shares, adding, “While a nice knife can be pricey, you can often offset the splurge by buying one at a time—they make nice presents!” Whether you prefer to collect your knives one at a time or all at once, this set is a worthwhile investment. The three-piece set comes with a 3-inch peeler knife, 4.25-inch serrated utility knife, and an 8-inch chef knife—all crafted with high-carbon CROMOVA 18 stainless steel that’s built to resist corrosion and rust. 

Oxo Good Grips Multi-Purpose Kitchen and Herbs Scissors

A good pair of kitchen scissors can make you feel truly unstoppable in the kitchen, and Miller says this Oxo pair is not only “great for hundreds of kitchen tasks” but also “a godsend for breaking down and cutting up raw chicken.” These Oxo kitchen scissors don’t just have Miller’s seal of approval—they’re also backed by over 11,00 five-star ratings, too. Constructed with sharp, stainless steel blades, the scissors seamlessly cut through meat, vegetables, pizza, twine, flowers, and much more. Not to mention, there’s a built-in herb stripper just below the cushioned handles to effortlessly remove leaves from basil, parsley, cilantro, rosemary, and more.  

Open Kitchen by Williams Sonoma 3.5-inch Whisk

If you were to ask Miller which one of his kitchen items was in the dishwasher all the time, he’d tell you it’s this darling whisk. “I have several large whisks for baking, but I have this wee little whisk—about the size of a chicken drumette—that I use for mixing spice blends and whisking sauces,” he explains. Measuring 6 inches long with a 3.5-inch whisk head, this whisk is just the right size for beating an egg or two, smoothing out lumps in gravy, or mixing up drinks like matcha or hot chocolate. Plus, the sturdy 18/8 stainless steel material ensures it will last for years to come. 

Microplane Premium Classic Series Zester

As for a kitchen item that Miller can’t imagine cooking without? Look no further than this classic Microplane zester. “I use it just about every time I cook,” he says. “I use it for grating garlic so fine it melts into soups, zesting citrus without a hint of bitterness, and for grating hard cheeses that blend smoothly into sauces.” That’s not all he uses the unsuspecting tool for, though. “One surprising thing I use it for is to finely grate buttery Casteltrevano olives into homemade salad dressing for an extra-savory kick,” he reveals. This beloved Microplane zester is made from stainless steel and designed with a unique tooth set that grates hard spices, citrus, cheeses, and more as smooth as butter.

Lodge Cast Iron Skillet with Red Silicone Hot Handle Holder

No matter how frequently you cook, Miller says that every kitchen should have a reliable cast-iron skillet, like this Southern Living-approved one from Lodge that earned our best overall pick among 22 comparable options. “Whether it’s a family heirloom or brand-new from the store, a good cast-iron skillet is worth its weight in gold,” he shares. “Cast-iron skillets are excellent for searing meats, including steaks, pork chops, and chicken. They’re also great multitaskers—there’s nothing better than starting supper in the skillet on the stovetop, then popping it in the oven to finish cooking.” This 10.26-inch diameter Lodge skillet is great for frying up eggs, searing meats, or making decadent cornbread, which Miller says “shouldn’t be made in anything else, full stop.” The cast-iron construction provides excellent heat distribution and retention, and with proper care and seasoning can last generations. 

Männkitchen Pepper Cannon

According to Miller, this Männkitchen Pepper Cannon is a splurge that’s well worth a spot in your kitchen. “I’ve been obsessed with finding the perfect pepper mill for about 20 years,” he reveals, adding, “My current crush is this Pepper Cannon—it’s the best I’ve found yet!” With hardened, high-carbon stainless steel burrs and an impressive grind adjuster, you can get restaurant-quality ground pepper right at home. It holds up to a half cup of pepper, and the adjuster means you can finely or coarsely grind pepper to your liking. 

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