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Agnes's Top 10Kitchen & Dining
The buy-it-once kitchen. Ten essentials that serious home cooks trust and keep for years.
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Let me tell you something about kitchens: I spend a LOT of time in one. Mostly supervising. Occasionally catching a rogue green bean. So I know the difference between a tool that looks great in the box and one that's still earning its spot on the counter ten years later.
This list isn't about what's new. It's about what's best. These are the essentials people keep coming back to: the blender that outlasts three cheaper ones, the pan that sears like a restaurant's, the knife you actually want to reach for. A few are real investments, so I'll tell you straight up who each one is for.
Think of it as the starter set for a kitchen you'll love for years: coffee done right, weekend baking, weeknight searing, slow Sunday braises, and a pizza night your friends will still be talking about next month.
Agnes says: I even included a free recipe download to show you just how good these essentials are, and to help you impress your family and friends while you're at it. Slow-braised short rib pizza, then espresso affogato. You're welcome.
Agnes's Top 10 Kitchen & Dining Picks
The essentials I'd stock a kitchen with, in order.
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1
Vitamix E310 Explorian Professional-Grade Blender
This is the blender people buy after burning out two cheaper ones. The 2-horsepower motor and 48-ounce container handle smoothies, hot soups and nut butters without breaking a sweat, and the variable speed dial gives you real control. It's an investment, but it's the kind you make once.
Best for: Daily smoothie makers, soup lovers and anyone done replacing blenders
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2
Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine (BES870XL)
A built-in conical burr grinder takes your beans from whole to espresso right on the counter. You control the grind, the dose and the milk texture, so the machine grows with your skills. Your coffee shop is going to miss you.
Best for: Latte lovers ready to learn real espresso at home
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3
KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer (KSM150PS)
There's a reason this mixer shows up in so many kitchens. The 5-quart stainless bowl handles a double batch of cookies, the tilt head makes adding ingredients easy, and it kneads bread dough while you do literally anything else. Choosing the color is the hardest part.
Best for: Bakers, bread makers and holiday cookie marathons
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4
All-Clad D3 Stainless Steel 10-Inch Fry Pan
Three bonded layers of stainless steel and aluminum heat evenly and sear like a restaurant pan. It goes straight from stovetop to oven, and with a good preheat and a little oil, eggs slide right out. Treat it well and it'll outlast most of your other cookware.
Best for: Searing, sautéing and pan sauces, every single night
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5
Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Signature Round Dutch Oven, 5.5 Qt
The pot that turns a Sunday into an event. Enameled cast iron holds steady, even heat for braises, stews, soups and crusty bread, and there's no seasoning to fuss over. It's heavy, gorgeous and very likely to be handed down.
Best for: Slow braises, homemade bread and big family dinners
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6
Fellow Stagg EKG Pro Electric Gooseneck Kettle
Set the exact temperature you want, and the gooseneck spout pours as slowly and precisely as you need. Pour-over coffee fans swear by it, and tea drinkers get the right water for green, oolong or black every time. It's also the best-looking thing on my counter. Well, second best.
Best for: Pour-over coffee fans and serious tea drinkers
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7
Ooni Koda 16 Gas-Powered Outdoor Pizza Oven
Pizza night, upgraded to legendary. This gas-powered outdoor oven gets hot enough to cook a 16-inch pizza in about a minute, with the blistered, leopard-spotted crust you'd expect from a pizzeria. Practice pizzas still count as dinner.
Best for: Backyard hosts and homemade pizza fans
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8
Nespresso VertuoPlus Coffee and Espresso Maker by De'Longhi, with Aeroccino Milk Frother
Great coffee with zero learning curve. Pop in a pod, press one button, and it brews anything from an espresso to a full mug with a rich layer of crema, while the Aeroccino whips up the milk for lattes. It's the easy, no-mess partner to the Breville.
Best for: Busy mornings and one-button coffee households
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9
ZWILLING Four Star 8-Inch Chef's Knife
One great knife beats a block full of mediocre ones. This German chef's knife is forged from a single piece of ice-hardened steel to hold its edge, and the molded handle stays comfortable through long prep sessions. Keep it honed and it'll handle nearly everything you cut.
Best for: Everyday chopping, slicing and dicing, for years to come
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10
Ninja CREAMi XL Deluxe 11-in-1 Ice Cream and Frozen Treat Maker (NC501)
Turn a frozen pint of almost anything into ice cream, sorbet, a milkshake or a slushy. You choose the sugar, the flavors and the mix-ins, which makes it a favorite for families and anyone with dietary preferences. The XL pints mean there's enough to share. In theory.
Best for: Dessert lovers, families and custom-flavor fans
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Save to Pinterest (opens in a new tab)How I choose the best of the best
- Built to last. Proven over years, not weeks. Every pick has a long track record with home cooks and professionals.
- Brilliant at its main job. I care about how well it does the one thing you bought it for, not how many extra buttons it has.
- A joy to use. Comfortable, well designed and reasonable to clean, so it gets used instead of stored.
- Worth the investment. A premium pick only makes the list if it saves you from buying a cheaper version twice.
Prices and availability on Amazon change often, so check the current details on the product page before you buy. Got your new essentials? My free recipe download puts every one of them to work, and it's right below.
Free: Agnes's Short Rib Pizza & Affogato Dinner
A showstopper dinner that puts all ten essentials to work: slow-braised short rib and roasted garlic pizza with a silky blender sauce, then a vanilla bean and espresso affogato. Printable, two pages.