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Tossing, serving, ladling, and peeling – as a cook, you will need to do it all at some point. With the right supply of kitchen tools, these tasks are a breeze. A kitchen utensil set is a handy investment that can help you prepare food and unify the look of your kitchen.
Not all kitchen utensil sets are the same, however. Some kitchen utensil sets have as many as 29 pieces. If you do a lot of cooking, you may need every one of those utensils. But some home cooks require far fewer utensils.
If you would like some assistance in finding the right kitchen utensil set for your needs, BestReviews is here to help. The shopping guide below provides the info you need to determine which features, materials and utensils are most important to you. Our top choice is the OXO Good Grips 20-Piece Everyday Kitchen Set, which has everything you need to get started in the kitchen.
Editors’ Favorite
Number of Pieces: 20 | Materials: Varied | Dishwasher-Safe: Varies | Utensil Holder Included: Yes
OXO is a favorite and well-regarded cookware and kitchen brand the world over. Its 20-piece Everyday Kitchen Set provides a wide variety of tools and materials to fully outfit a starter kitchen.
The OXO Good Grips set notably includes utensils featuring wood, silicone and stainless steel. Metal utensils feature silicone tips to keep them safe on nonstick surfaces and enamel, while silicone utensils have steel cores for strength. The set includes not just stirrers and tongs, but also turners, spatulas, a grater and even a garlic press. Measuring cups and measuring spoons feature rounded bowls and thicker, textured handles for better grip in wet hands.
This set comes with a handsome stainless steel utensil holder that suits most modern kitchens. The silicone and stainless steel utensils are dishwasher-safe, although the wooden items, like all wooden implements, are best washed by hand. Overall, it’s an excellent choice for people moving into their first home.
Great Value
Number of Pieces: 33 | Materials: Silicone, wood | Dishwasher-Safe: No | Utensil Holder Included: Yes
If you need a matching set of modern kitchen utensils, and you want to do it on a budget, consider the Umite Chef Kitchen Cooking Utensils Set. This 33-piece set features colorful silicone construction combined with the warmth and comfort of wooden handles, and comes at an appealing price.
The Umite Chef utensil collection includes everything you need to start fresh in the kitchen: solid and slotted spoons, slotted and solid turners, a scraping spoon, spatula, whisk and tongs — all with food-safe BPA-free silicone heads and contoured wooden handles. The set also includes measuring cups and spoons, a utensil holder and even a spoon rest. All items are designed in matching colors for a cohesive look in the kitchen.
The wood-handled utensils ideally should be hand-washed, but the silicone is sturdy and designed to stand up to high temperatures and frequent wear. The set also includes a number of steel S-hooks for hanging each utensil should you wish to save counter space.
Best for Heavy Use
Number of Pieces: 8 | Materials: Stainless steel | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes | Utensil Holder Included: No
For experienced cooks who want to invest in durable yet convenient utensils, try the Viking 8-piece Cooking Utensils Set, all in polished stainless steel. This set gives you large, sturdy, heavy-duty utensils suitable for years of everyday use.
This Viking utensil set features eight pieces, including a large cooking spoon, a slotted spoon, a solid turner, a slotted turner and a ladle. It also includes a meat fork for carving, a pasta fork for serving noodles, and even a skimmer for soups and stews. Each utensil is made of 304 stainless steel in a polished finish for visual impact, but they’re also dishwasher-safe for convenient cleanup.
Since these utensils are bare metal, they’re not suitable for use with nonstick pans or enameled cast iron. While dishwasher-safe, they’ll look best if dried and polished by hand. Each item is backed by Viking’s limited lifetime warranty. No utensil holder is included.
If you’re just starting your kitchen, we recommend that you equip yourself with the following pieces at minimum.
Slotted spoon
Serving spoon
Spatula (or slotted spatula)
Pasta server
These aforementioned basics will get you started, but most people will eventually need to add more to their cooking arsenal. As your cooking skills expand, you may wish to add the following pieces.
Whisk
Rubber-tipped spatula
Rolling pin
Potato masher
Zester
Grater
Measuring cups
Measuring spoons
Ladle
Tongs
Garlic press
Cheese knife
Tea strainer
Bottle opener
Potato peeler
Skimmer
Slotted spatula
Kitchen shears
Pizza cutter
Some kitchen utensil sets may include multiples popular utensils – spatulas, serving spoons, and so on. Whether you’d prefer a comprehensive utensil set, a bare-bones set, or something in between depends on your cooking habits.
As you shop around for a kitchen utensil set, you’ll find pieces made of plastic, stainless steel, silicone, and wood. Here’s a look at the pros and cons of each material.
Plastic utensils are by far the most affordable option, but they’re also the least durable. Plastic doesn’t always have the strength necessary to work with heavier foods like pancake mix or bread dough. Plastic also melts easier than any other kitchen utensil material.
Stainless steel is durable. It withstands exposure to heat and resists rust. Utensils made of stainless steel look clean and professional, and they can usually be cleaned in the dishwasher. (To avoid water spots, however, hand-washing is recommended.)
Potential buyers should be aware that stainless steel utensils can scratch the nonstick surface of some cookware.
Silicone is relatively new to the utensil scene, but it has proven its usefulness and gained many fans. Silicone is heat-resistant, strong, and safe for the dishwasher. Most of the time, silicone utensils have a stainless steel handle with a silicone head and hand grip.
Notably, silicone can absorb the flavor of some foods. However, this is less of a problem with silicone utensils than it is with silicone cookware.
Wood is the timeless classic of the kitchen. Utensils made of wood look beautiful and help create an earthy atmosphere. However, they don’t fare well in the dishwasher – cracks and splits may occur after exposure to high temperatures. Wood should not be soaked in water, and it should be dried immediately after handwashing.
Some kitchen utensils are made of a combination of different materials. A spatula may have a silicone head and a stainless steel handle. A spoon may have a stainless steel bowl and a wooden handle. Keep in mind that these “combo” utensils are only as durable as the weakest material used in their construction.
Handle design is sometimes overlooked, but it can enhance or detract from your cooking experience. Keep these tips in mind when evaluating a potential purchase.
A kitchen utensil with an ergonomically designed handle is easier to hold.
A “combo” utensil with a silicone or rubber handle allows you to maintain your grip, even if you have slippery hands.
Some utensil handles have a hole, ring, or hook you can use to hang them.
Less Than $15: In this price range, you can get a set of basic plastic kitchen utensils or perhaps a combo kitchen utensil set. A combo set may contain some stainless steel, but it won’t have the high quality of some pricier sets.
$15 to $50: In this price range, you can find many combo sets that integrate stainless steel with wood, silicone, or rubber. You’ll also find a few higher-quality plastic sets in this range. Many of these sets also include some kind of utensil tree or holder in which to store the pieces.
$50 to $100: For this higher price, you can expect to find solid silicone and stainless steel utensil sets, many of which include extra utensils such as measuring cups, measuring spoons, and perhaps even a matching baking pan.
Know your cooking style. Before buying, take a little time to analyze what utensils you use most often. Bakers may want several spoons and a scraper. Frequent fryers may wish to own several sizes of tongs or spatulas. Those who sauté or fry often should probably look for a heat-resistant set of utensils made of stainless steel or silicone.
When shopping, keep your kitchen décor in mind. Your utensils can complement your kitchen style. For example, a colorful silicone utensil set can add a pop of color to your kitchen palette. A stainless steel set of utensils can add a sleek, modern air to your kitchen.
To save space, buy only what you need. If you know you’ll never use a tea strainer or zester, it’s probably best to look for a set without those items. You’ll save yourself money and storage space. Carefully check the list of utensils included in a set before buying.
A. If you don’t cook often, handle design might not make much of a difference to you. However, for the serious home chef, the nature of your utensil handles can make the difference between a set you love and one that is tolerable at best.
Ergonomically designed handles fit the natural grip of your hand, making the utensils easy to maneuver. Silicone handles have a texture you can hold even when your hands are dirty with flour, eggs, or other ingredients.
The nature of a utensil handle can also affect its durability. Wood handles must be hand-washed, as excess water can damage the wood.
A. Your best option would probably be a stainless steel or silicone utensil set. Both are highly heat-resistant, so if you occasionally leave a utensil too close to a burner, it’s less likely to melt.
A. This comes down to personal preference. Many kitchen sets come with some kind of countertop storage device, such as a stand that the utensils hang from or a canister that holds them. You might choose to hang your utensils from hooks on the wall. Or, if you like to keep your utensils out of sight, a drawer could also suffice.
We evaluate products based on research, experience and, when possible, hands-on testing in the BestReviews Testing Lab. We looked for sets that offered all the basic cooking utensils as well as welcome and useful additions, noting whether or not they included their own utensil holder. We made sure to note the materials used, especially those elements which make direct contact with food and cooking surfaces, for durability and safety. We noted ease of use, comfort in handling, and ease of cleaning. We chose a variety of recommendable sets aimed at various levels of cooking skill, from beginners to experienced home cooks. Finally, we noted the value of each set as a combination of item number, materials used, build quality and price.
