I Asked My Private Chef Friend What Kitchen Essentials I Should Buy — She Swears by These 9 Products

One of my favorite parts of my job as a shopping writer is tapping friends or family members for expert product recommendations. Luckily, my longtime friend is a Le Cordon Bleu-trained professional chef, so, of course, she’s my go-to for all things cooking and kitchen-related. While she’s based in Paris for most of the year, she spends her summers as a private chef in the Hamptons, creating content that offers an inside look into the elusive culinary industry. 

Before her busy season begins, I decided to ask Chef Julia Dudley for the kitchen essentials she thinks every kitchen should have. Some of her recommendations surprised me, like a fish turner that’s excellent for flipping pancakes and eggs. She also shared the cookware set she swears by and a space-saving kitchen appliance under $100. Keep reading for her nine kitchen essentials, all from Amazon, starting at just $16.

Private Chef-Approved Kitchen Essentials at Amazon

• Cuisinart 11-Piece Chef’s Classic Cookware Set, $170, originally $180
• OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Fish Turner, $16
• Hamletoff Store Premium Magnetic Knife Holder for Wall, $25
• Cuisinart CSB-179 Smart Stick Variable Speed Hand Blender, $70, originally $80
• M Mcirco 8-Piece Deep Glass Baking Dish Set, $40
• KnifeSaga Nakiri Chef 7-Inch Knife, $22, originally $28 
• ThermoPro TP19H Digital Meat Thermometer, $17, originally $20 
• Fire More Baking Sheet Cookie Pans Set, $31
• Microplane Premium Classic Series Zester, $18

Cuisinart 11-Piece Chef’s Classic Cookware Set

Whether you’re moving into a new space or in need of a pots and pans refresh, investing in a brand-new cookware set is a big decision. Dudley says this Cuisinart 11-Piece set has “everything you could need” when it comes to stovetop essentials. She says this particular set is her go-to because it’s “easily stackable” and “induction, gas, electric, oven, and dishwasher safe.” The comprehensive set includes three saucepans, two skillets, a stockpot, and a steamer basket, and it’s on sale for $170.

OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Fish Turner

As someone who lives in a small space, I love multifunctional products, which is why I was thrilled when my friend shared this versatile kitchen product from OXO. “Although this tool is technically a fish spatula, it is helpful for so many other things like flipping pancakes and eggs, removing cookies from a hot sheetpan, sauteeing, plating, and more,” says Dudley. She adds that the thin design of the offset spatula “can easily slide underneath” whatever you’re cooking, unlike other thicker, more popular spatulas. 

Hamletoff Store Premium Magnetic Knife Holder for Wall

“There is nothing that hurts me more than when I see people who just have their knives thrown into a kitchen drawer,” says Dudley — thankfully, she has never taken a peek into my drawers, which are a messy scene. She recommends this self-adhesive magnetic knife holder, which is equally as functional as it is sleek-looking. “I bought this when I was in my tiny NYC apartment with little to no storage or counter space, and it really helped to give me more work space,” she told me. 

Cuisinart CSB-179 Smart Stick Variable Speed Hand Blender

When it comes to compact kitchen appliances, Dudley says this three-piece immersion blender is a great stand-in for a blender, whether you’re making sauce and dips or soups and purees. 

“It’s incredibly easy to clean and store, plus it has six functions of chopping, pureeing, blending, grinding, emulsifying, and whipping,” says Dudley. With over 2,000 Amazon purchases in the last month and thousands of perfect ratings, the handheld blender is also a shopper favorite, and it’s currently on sale for $70.

M Mcirco 8-Piece Deep Glass Baking Dish Set

Leftover lovers, listen up! Dudley said a baking dish is one of her must-haves because it’s great for storing leftovers from a one-pan meal. “This set is a level up as it comes with perfectly sized lids, so no more plastic wrapping or aluminum covers that rip and let the food odors leak into your fridge,” she explains to me. “They are also able to go straight from the freezer to the oven, meaning they are great for meal prep or those lazy days that you don’t want to cook,” she continues. The baking dishes in this 8-piece glass set also have wide handles that are helpful when taking them in and out of the oven. 

KnifeSaga Nakiri Chef 7-Inch Knife

Dudley says that a Nakiri knife is one of her favorite knives “for many reasons,” but she primarily points to the way it feels in her hand. She explains that the lightweight design “is perfect for chopping without having the food go everywhere,” because of its height and nonstick blade. “I love my chef’s knife, but this Japanese one is something I will never regret having in the rotation,” she says. 

ThermoPro TP19H Digital Meat Thermometer

Professional chefs — they’re just like us! Dudley tells me that she still relies on this digital meat thermometer for measuring the internal temperatures of steaks, fish, and oils. “I love how compact it is, it can switch between Celsius and Fahrenheit, and has a light feature for the moments you’re cooking outside or can’t see the screen clearly,” she shares. Other benefits? Dudley says that it’s waterproof, making it easy to clean, and the magnetic backing can stick to an oven, so it’s less likely to be misplaced.

Fire More Baking Sheet Cookie Pans Set

This baking sheet cooking rack hybrid set is another essential in Dudley’s kitchen. “ I hate the traditional baking sheets that are big, clunky, and annoying to store,” she says. “These organize perfectly in your oven, and allow you to bake, dredge, cool, and store in the fridge anything easily,” Dudley continues. She also notes that the six-piece set is ideal for those cooking for one, making it perfect for preparing a one-sheet pan meal.

Microplane Premium Classic Series Zester

“One of my all-time favorite kitchen tools is the Microplane, and I bet if you were to ask any other chef, they’d say the same,” Dudley raved. She says the product is “amazing” for zesting citrus, grating cheese, shaving chocolate, mincing garlic, and grating whole herbs. She pointed out that it’s made of stainless steel and is easy to clean by hand or in the dishwasher. Also, Dudle appreciates how it’s “thin and easy to store in your kitchen, unlike the classic graters or wide-faced ones” and doesn’t look unsightly out on the dinner table when guests are over. “If you use this, people will think you are a chef!” she concludes. Suffice to say, I’m sold.