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After we got married and I started to move all our wedding gifts into the kitchen, I realized I definitely didn’t have room to keep everything. Some things went into a closet, and some things were returned. What got to stay was things that are tried and true and well-loved, since real estate here is precious.

I tell everyone that I’m sure Andrew’s secretly glad we have a small kitchen, because otherwise I would just keep buying things.  I narrowed down what we have to 12 must have kitchen gadgets for newlyweds, and I’m sharing them below!

If you’re putting together a wedding registry, be sure to check out my post here on wedding registry must haves– what we loved and what we didn’t!

Must Have Electrics

These items are worth splurging on, (or worth adding to your registry 😉 ) because the high quality means you’ll use them for years, and they’ll LAST. P.S., you can click on the photos and they’ll take you right to the item! You can also shop the entire post at the bottom.

Food Processor

This is by far my favorite kitchen gadget. I would take it with me to a deserted island. That had electricity. It makes short work of chopping veggies and nuts, making pesto, making banana “nice” cream, and more. We have a small one like the one linked, but once I have some more space I want to upgrade to one like this.

Kitchen-Aid Mixer

This is something I didn’t know I needed until I had one. My mother-in-law got us the big 5-qt mixer for Christmas last year, and I LOVE it. Making cookies, brownies, and cakes is SO incredibly easy. You just pour in the ingredients and this mixer does all the work. I’m confident this will be used for many holidays, bake sales and birthday parties in the years to come.

 

Blender

I put this NutriNinja on our registry because it was a “recommended registry item”, and I am so glad I did. It makes short work of ANYTHING. I drink smoothies at least 2x a week, and there’s nothing worse than chunks of ice or frozen fruit still in your drink. I use the cup attachment so much for my smoothies. We also use the blender for creamy sauces, soups, and most importantly an easy enchilada sauce recipe that takes less than ten minutes.

Waffle Iron

If you’re serious about breakfast and brunch like we are, this is a no brainer. We love pulling out this waffle maker on the weekends and enjoying the killer waffles that it makes. I’m not lying to y’all when I say I watched our registry for WEEKS to see if anybody had bought this for us yet (Thanks, Hunter & Amanda 😉 ). It goes in my top 5 favorites from our wedding gifts.

 

Coffee Maker

I know you coffee connoisseurs out there are looking at this Keurig and cringing. I’m the only coffee drinker in the house, and even then I’ll have it about once a week. I bought this re-usable k-cup so that I can buy my own grounds instead of the pre-made k-cups (money saving tip!). If you’re a recreational coffee drinker like me, a Keurig is all you need.

Must Have Tools

Knife Set

If you love to cook like we do, this is another no brainer. A quality set of knives will last you years and makes food prep a breeze. This set has steak knives, a bread knife, kitchen shears, and more to serve all your kitchen needs. A dull knife is actually more dangerous than a sharp knife, so make sure you keep them sharpened!

Lemon Squeezer and Zester

These two items aren’t things I use every day, but when I do use them I’m always so glad I have them. If you don’t use lemon a lot in your cooking, you should try it! The acidity brightens up any dish, helps tenderize meat in a marinade, and more. We pick up lemons every week at the grocery store now. This tool is a total lifesaver.There’s nothing worse than getting lemon juice in a tiny cut or having to find the seeds that flew out of the lemon and into your dish.  Another handy lemon tool is this zester! Adding lemon or orange zest to oatmeal and baked goods gives such a punch of flavor. There’s really no other way to do it than with this tool!

Silicone Spatulas

Y’all are going to laugh, but silicone spatulas are my weakness. I reach for them anytime I’m making eggs, baking, sauteeing veggies…ok, I use them just about always. Food doesn’t stick to them, they’re flexible, and they’re just magic. You might think it’s excessive to have four, but you will soon learn that you most definitely need all four because they will constantly be in rotation between the crock next to the stovetop and your dishwasher. I also have these mini ones on my wishlist because 1. they’re adorable and 2. they work wonders in small spaces (i’m looking at you, food processor).

Wine Saver

It keeps your wine fresh. Need I say more? Since it’s usually only two of us, we don’t finish a bottle in one night. I found that sealing a wine bottle with the cork or a re-usable stopper meant that the wine would go bad in a day or two. This wine saver vacuum seals the wine, keeping it fresh and ready to drink!

Old Fashioned Glasses

We got beautiful monogrammed old fashioned glasses for our wedding from Pottery Barn, and we love them. Anytime we serve up margaritas on the rocks or pour some whiskey, these classy glasses just make it seem like a special occasion. They’re so fun to use with guests, or just because! The ones we got from Pottery Barn are discontinued, but I linked similar ones here.

Measuring Cups and Spoons

I can’t stress enough the importance of having two sets of quality measuring cups and spoons. There have been so many times when one set is in the dishwasher and I need another. They nest and don’t take up much space, so go ahead and throw two sets on your registry. You’ll be glad you did. I am in love with this copper set! They’re so pretty, I’d give them as a gift, too.

 

 

I pulled everything mentioned above plus some other favorites below!

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