The Best Kitchen Tools for Two

When you are cooking for two, you don’t need a kitchen stocked with special tools. All that most home cooks need is the basics with a focus on items that match your cooking style. Keep it simple and cooking will be enjoyable, not stressful. I’ve put together a list of essential kitchen tools that can help prepare meals for two both easy and fun. Whether you are just starting, or downsizing, these items are suggestions — choose what fits your needs and kitchen space.

Cookware

Pots and pans

When it comes to pots and pans, you don’t need to clutter your kitchen with a full set of pots and pans if you are cooking for two. A medium and small saute pan, medium pot and small pot are all that you need.

Saute pans are perfect for frying and browning, while a medium pot is perfect for pasta and soup. Then there’s the small pot which is perfect for melting butter or heating sauces. I recommend using high-quality stainless steel pots, and cast iron for sauteeing.

Small Dutch oven or braising pan

A small Dutch oven or braising pan is a must-have. You can simmer soup, braise, make stews, and even bake bread in them. I recommend a cast iron enamel Dutch oven; they are sturdy and they make smaller-sized ones for reduced portions.

Sheet pan

Sheet pans are so practical; they can handle baking, roasting, broiling, freezing, and preparing entire meals. Having at least one sheet pan on hand can simplify your kitchen tasks significantly and two sheet pans is perfect for small-batch cooking. I recommend one regular-sized sheet pan and a smaller-sized one.

Small casserole dish

Casserole dishes are another piece of versatile bakeware that has many uses. They are durable and easy to clean. Many casserole dishes are for large portions, but there are a few that are smaller casserole dishes that are perfect for small-batch cooking.

Slow cooker

A slow cooker is not a must-have, but they are very helpful in the kitchen, especially when you are cooking for two. You can prepare the ingredients for meals in the morning and come home to a fully cooked dinner. It’s perfect for busy days when you don’t want to spend time in front of the stove.

Slow cookers aren’t just for stews and soups, you can make casseroles, meatloaf, and much more. They are also great for keeping food warm when you are entertaining.

Slow cookers come in various sizes from two quarts up to 8 quarts. If you already have a large slow cooker, you can also buy inserts that divide your slow cooker in two for smaller portions.

Pressure cooker

Like the slow cooker, a pressure cooker is not a must-have but they are nice to have. They cook with high-pressure steam, reducing the amount of time to prepare meals that would normally take hours. They are perfect for those days when you want a hearty dish without all of the wait. There are a few small versions of Instant Pots that are perfect for small-batch cooking, and there are also combo cookers which slow cook and pressure cook.

Prep Tools

Equipping your kitchen with the right prep tools can make cooking so easy. Below are some simple tools that will help you cook with ease.

Knives

A quality chef’s knife or kitchen knife is very helpful. You can use it to do most of your chopping, slicing and dicing. Investing in a high-qualitysharp knife will not only enhance your efficiency in the kitchen but will also keep your ingredients looking great.

Every kitchen also needs at least one high-quality paring knife which is perfect for detailed work such as trimming and coring. Paring knives are perfect for peeling fruit or timing the ends off of green beans.

Wooden spoons

Wooden spoons are gentle on your cookware and perfect for stirring soups or mixing batter. Unlike a metal spoon, wooden spoon won’t scratch your pans.

Kitchen scale

A kitchen scale can be very helpful in the kitchen, especially when cooking for two people. It ensures that you get the portions just right. It’s also handy for accurately measuring ingredients like flour for baking or pasta and rice.

Measuring cups and spoons

Measuring cups are also very helpful tools to have in cooking for two kitchens. They allow you to precisely measure the ingredients which is important when you only need a small amount of something.

Vegetable peeler

A vegetable peeler makes it easy to peel potatoes, carrots, winter squash or any fruit or veggie that has skin. They are also great for thinly sliced zucchini. With a good vegetable peeler, you will speed up your prep time.

Garlic Press

If garlic is a staple in most of your recipes, a garlic press is a must have. Toss a clove in, give it a squeeze and you have perfectly pressed garlic in seconds. It’s saves time and keeps your hands from smelling like garlic.

Finishing tools and food storage

Here are some kitchen tools that I call finishing tools. They add final touches to your dishes and handy to have in the kitchen. And food storage containers are important, to store those leftovers in!

Cheese grater

Freshly grated cheese is better than any pre-shredded cheese. Aside from the flavor, there are extra ingredients in the pre-shredded cheese to keep it from sticking together. A simple handheld cheese grater is all that you really need. They are inexpensive and easy to use.

Microplane

A microplane grater or a fine cheese grater is not a must-have, but a nice to have. You can grate hard cheese such as parmesan cheese with a microplane or fine cheese grater and you can use it to zest citrus fruits or grate garlic or fresh ginger. Some cheese graters will come in a set with a microplane.

Pyrex bowls with lids

Using Pyrex containers with lids makes storing leftovers and meal prep a breeze. I serve my food in Pyex containers and when dinner’s over, I snap the lids onto the leftovers and pop them in the fridge for easy storage. It saves time and cuts down on cleanup. I have a collection of different shapes and sizes which come in handy in my kitchen.

Reusable bags

Reusable bags such as stasher bags are also very helpful for storing veggies, or anything solid that’s leftover. They are also great for the freezer. They are durable and easy to clean too.

Food Processing Tools

You can get overwhelmed with all of the kitchen appliances that are available, but having at least one type of food processor is a must. They are great for making sauces, smoothies, dips and soups. Choose one that works with your cooking style

Immersion blender

An immersion blender is a handy tool that works magic by blending directly in your pot, saving you from pouring hot liquids into a blender. Some immersion blenders have different containers to blend in too. I like the ones with the cup and small bowl which doubles as a mini food processor. If you can find one of these, it might be all that you need from this category.

Mini food processor

Mini-food processors are perfect for small-batch cooking. Regular-sized models might seem essential, but they often sit untouched, and take up a lot of space. Mini food processors blend, chop and puree with ease making them a smart choice especially if you are cooking for one or two.

Blender

Blenders aren’t must-haves, if you have a food processor or immersion blender. But if you enjoy using a blender, there are lots of compact options available. Small blenders fit easily on your counter or in your storage space. They are perfect for quick smoothies or small batches of soups and sauces.

Do you have a favorite tool?

Investing in high-quality kitchen essentials that suit your cooking style can make cooking for two enjoyable and efficient. Do you have a favorite kitchen tool? If so, share it in the comments to inspire others to make their cooking fun and effective!