The 41 tools that make weeknight dinners easier

12-inch nonstick skilletStart here

The weeknight workhorse — eggs, stir-fries, quesadillas, chicken.

12-inch cast-iron skillet

Gets screaming hot for a real sear on steak, chops and smash burgers; goes stovetop to oven.

5–6 quart Dutch ovenStart here

Chili, soups, braises and one-pot pastas — one heavy pot that holds heat evenly.

3-quart saucepan with lidStart here

Rice, sauces, boiled potatoes, mac and cheese.

Carbon-steel wok

Fast, high-heat stir-fries and fried rice with room to toss.

Grill pan / griddle

Grill marks and burgers indoors, pancakes on the flat side.

Rimmed sheet pans (half sheet, set of 2)Start here

Sheet-pan dinners: protein and vegetables on one pan, one thing to wash.

9x13 baking dishStart here

Casseroles, enchiladas, baked pasta, and leftovers that go straight in the fridge.

Parchment paper

Nothing sticks, almost nothing to scrub.

Heavy-duty foil

Foil-packet dinners and covering dishes in the oven.

12-cup muffin tin

Egg bites, mini meatloaves and muffins.

Oven-safe wire rack

Crispier oven wings and chicken — air gets underneath.

8-inch chef's knifeStart here

One sharp, comfortable knife does 90% of the chopping.

Paring knife

Small jobs — trimming, coring, peeling.

Large cutting boards (set of 2)Start here

One for raw meat, one for everything else.

Knife sharpener

A sharp knife is a safer knife.

Kitchen shears

Cut chicken, herbs and pizza without a board.

Silicone spatula & turner setStart here

Safe on nonstick, flips and scrapes.

12-inch locking tongsStart here

Turn chicken, toss pasta, pull things off the grill.

Wooden spoons

Stirring sauces and soups without scratching pots.

Balloon whisk

Sauces, dressings, eggs.

Ladle

Soups and chili into bowls without the drips.

ColanderStart here

Draining pasta, rinsing beans and produce.

Instant-read meat thermometerStart here

No more cutting into chicken to check it.

Measuring cups & spoonsStart here

For the recipes that need it to be right.

Box grater

Fresh cheese, zucchini, carrots.

Microplane zester

Lemon zest, garlic and parmesan in seconds.

Y-peeler

Potatoes, carrots, ribbons of zucchini.

Can opener

Beans, tomatoes, coconut milk — weeknight staples.

Potato masher

Mashed potatoes, refried beans, guacamole.

Nesting mixing bowlsStart here

Marinating, tossing, mixing — you always need one more bowl.

Glass food-storage containers

Leftovers and lunches that go oven-to-fridge.

Gallon zip-top bags

Marinate with no dishes; freeze extras flat.

Salad spinner

Dry greens and herbs so dressing sticks.

6-quart electric pressure cooker

"I forgot to start dinner" becomes dinner in 30 minutes.

6-quart slow cooker

Start it in the morning, dinner is done when you walk in.

Air fryer (5–6 quart)

Crispy chicken and vegetables faster than heating the oven.

Blender

Smoothies, sauces, blended soups.

Immersion blender

Blend soup right in the pot.

Mini food processor

Pesto, salsa and chopping onions without tears.

Rice cooker

Perfect rice with no watching — one less burner.