Key takeaways

  • We spoke to parents across the Healthline team and beyond to find out their family kitchen must-haves.
  • Favorite items consistently save time, energy, and money for busy and tired parents. They can also help little ones get hands-on with meal prep.
  • Some of our family kitchen essentials include box choppers, slow cookers, meal kits, and more.

Box chopper

A staple in many commercial kitchens, a box chopper can be a valuable time-saver in family kitchens, too.

If you cook in large batches to feed a big family or to make extra for freezing, you’re probably spending a lot of time chopping, slicing, dicing, and grating. A box chopper can make this part of cooking quick, easy, and neat. It’s also useful for children wanting to help out with meal prep (with careful adult supervision, of course!).

New mom Lauren* says, “I was actually given a box chopper as a housewarming gift, but I never used it until baby came. I can’t believe I waited so long! It makes food prep much quicker and easier — and there’s less mess, too!”

Blender

A powerful blender can open up a world of potential in a family kitchen. From mixing fresh fruit and veg into a healthy puree to blitzing leftovers for a quick lunchtime soup, a blender or food processor can meet a variety of needs.

“I’ve only had my Nutribullet for a month, but I use it every day,” editor Ruth Eagle says. “I love how few bits there are to wash and how powerful it is. I don’t have to defrost frozen spinach before I blend it up!”

Dad George Knight relies on his family blender to reduce food waste. “I refrigerate or freeze my kid’s leftovers, then at the end of the week, there’s usually enough unwanted fruit and veg to make a tasty breakfast smoothie! I’ve also added leftovers to soup, stews, stock, protein shakes — you name it.”

Slow cooker

A slow cooker is a gift for truly busy families craving satisfying meals. Loved for its “set it and forget it” quality, with a slow cooker you can add ingredients in the morning and have a well-cooked meal when you get home for dinner.

“I wouldn’t go without our Crock-Pot,” says Elliot, dad of two. “The after-work, after-school rush is just [chaos], and we’re all too hungry to wait for cooking. In the morning, I’ll throw some pre-chopped veg into the slow cooker, some stock, then dumplings, and you’ve got a lovely stew by suppertime. I also recommend making chili or a casserole with it.”

Other gadgets

For every family, there are gadgets that are staples in their kitchen. Here are some quick ideas for gadgets for your family’s kitchen:

  • Rice cooker: If your family eats rice regularly, a rice cooker can quickly become an essential in your kitchen. It cooks rice quickly and effectively without you having to watch a boiling pot. Stand-alone rice cookers are available, or a pressure cooker can also cook rice while you wait.
  • Air fryer: Popular in homes hoping to reduce their use of fats in cooking, air fryers can open up a new approach to healthy cooking and encourage experimentation with new recipes. They are a must-have for families hoping to eat healthier and leaner.
  • Bread maker: A long-loved classic. For households getting through multiple loaves a week, a bread maker can save money and present new flavor opportunities. Kids may enjoy experimenting with different flours and settings, and will love the transformation from dough mix to full loaf.

A good kitchen gadget should be something you’d realistically use frequently and consistently. Be mindful of buying “trendy” products over tried-and-true staples that will genuinely help you.

Quality lunch boxes

Investing in a high quality, well-designed lunch box can encourage healthy eating while making transporting food neat and simple.

George Knight, dad of three school-aged kids, swears by lunch boxes with compartments. “The kids like to arrange their food in the lunch box themselves. They take a lot of pride in it! We used to use basic lunch boxes, but the food would get squashed, and the cleanup was messy. Investing in well-designed, compartmentalized lunch boxes was a smart move for us. We use them outside of school, too, for picnics and days out.”

Look for options, like the Bentgo, that are BPA-free, microwave- and dishwasher-safe, and ideally include a built-in ice pack for convenience and freshness.

Bowls and storage

Medical Editor Susan McBratney recommends that every family kitchen have “a good set of mixing bowls — with lids!”

Mixing bowls in multiple sizes can encourage family cooking, allowing young kids to get involved with simple yet essential tasks, such as stirring ingredients and eating leftover cookie dough! A set of bowls with lids also allows for easy and clean transport, refrigeration, and storage.

Collapsible storage containers can be a handy alternative to fixed-size Tupperware. They reduce neatly for travel or storage.

Molds

In hot weather, nothing beats a popsicle. For some kids, it can be a needed source of cooling hydration on hot, busy days.

You can save money on buying popsicles from the store and give your kids an opportunity to make their own healthy alternatives by using silicone popsicle molds. Healthline Editor Ruth Eagle says, “I often use silicone [lollipop] molds — my kids love frozen orange juice.”

Another editor and mom, Alice Porter-McLaughlin, also recommends reusable popsicle sleeves to keep little hands safe when enjoying an ice pop.

Equipment for kids

Getting children involved in food prep or cooking, whether they’re toddlers or teens, can teach important life skills and make them more enthusiastic about what they eat. It could also take some tasks off your hands!

While older kids can use the same equipment as adults, younger children may benefit from some tools adapted to be safe and easier for small hands to use.

Here are some quick suggestions to get young kids involved in the kitchen:

  • Aprons: These are essential for saving on laundry and getting kids excited to cook. Having fun and colorful aprons (or even matching ones for the whole family!) can add an element of dress-up for budding chefs.
  • Toddler tower: Essentially a step stool, this can give little kids a safe boost to get involved in kitchen counter activities. Many different designs are available, including foldable ones for compact storage, ones with blackboards and activities integrated, and others that fold down into table and chair sets.
  • Safety knives: Designed to be safe for toddlers and young children to use with adult supervision, these learner knives can help little kids develop their dexterity and learn how to handle knives properly and safely. Though it can seem a scary prospect for some, demonstrating trust and teaching skills to toddlers can boost their confidence and independence.

Grocery delivery

Keeping the cupboards, fridge, and freezer well stocked with fresh foods can be a challenge, particularly if you have a busy schedule and hungry mouths to feed.

Grocery delivery services can be a quick and convenient alternative to shopping in-store, helping to curb impulse buying, reduce travel expenses, and save you time.

Most online grocery retailers offer auto shipping or subscription options, so you get your regular essentials as and when you need them. Thrive Market is a popular option for its quality products and high standards.
Some online markets, such as Imperfect Foods or Misfits Market, offer discounts on good food items by selling retailer surplus, fruit and vegetables that look “ugly,” and products in outdated packaging.

Meal delivery

When planning and cooking meals becomes a daunting task instead of a source of joy, you might need some help.

To ease the stress of cooking as a new parent, editor Alice Porter-McLaughlin tried meal kits. “The transition to full-time working mom came with a steep decline in the quality of our meals. I struggled to find the time or energy to plan and properly cook nutritious dinners, so it quickly became a chore I dreaded.”

“I used to be skeptical about meal delivery, but finally signing up for Green Chef was the game-changer my family needed. It took away the chore of meal planning and grocery shopping. It even got my husband cooking more and has taught him new cooking skills! It’s been a huge weight off my shoulders, and the meals are healthy and tasty.”

For many families, hitting daily nutritional needs can prove challenging. Ensuring that your whole family is getting the right vitamins and minerals can offer reassurance about their health and diet.

Any parent of fussy eaters will know the worry that your kids aren’t getting the nutrients they need. Multivitamins and supplements designed for children and teens, such as those from Hiya, can be a staple in every home, providing nutritional backup to a varied diet. However, keep in mind that supplements aren’t meant to be a replacement for a balanced diet, and it’s important to talk with your child’s pediatrician before use.

Busy parents need to remember their own needs, too. A daily multivitamin may help reduce the risk of fatigue, aches and pains, and hidden deficiencies.

A family kitchen should be equipped to keep everyone fed and healthy, while minimizing time and energy spent on meal prep and cleanup.

To kit out your family kitchen, think about the dynamics of your family. The following questions can help you get started:

  • Who spends the most time in the kitchen? Would anyone like to spend more or less time there?
  • What are they doing? What kitchen tasks would they like to spend more or less time on?
  • Would you like to eat a more nutritious and balanced diet? What tools could encourage this?

Investing in clever gadgets and handy tools can ease stress in the kitchen and encourage your family to get involved in food prep and cooking.

*Pseudonym used on contributor request.