Want to create a minimalist kitchen? Here’s a list of essential kitchen tools we use daily, plus simple decluttering tips.

A big part of this blog is sharing our minimalism journey — what we declutter, habits that simplify life, and small changes that make a difference.

Recently I decluttered our kitchen drawers, cleaned out crumbs and splatters, and made a list of the tools we actually use. Because we have generous storage, clutter tends to accumulate. I also do recipe development and food photography for clients, so extra pans and props have crept in over time.

As I sorted each drawer I noted the must-have tools and the items I could let go of.

Our Essential Kitchen Tools

• Aluminum baking sheets — get the largest that fits in your oven
• Food processor & dicer
• Citrus reamer
• Garlic press
• Silicone spatulas
• Wooden spoons
• Turning spatulas
• Metal whisks
• Box grater
• Can opener
• Microplane
• Hinged wine + bottle opener
• Vegetable peeler
• Large cutting board, plus a couple of smaller boards
• Tongs
• Silicone ice cube trays — great for freezing toddler-sized portions or small leftovers
• Vegetable brush
• 5″ Santoku knife — my go-to knife for most tasks
• Blender
• Instant Pot
• Cast iron skillets — 10″ and 12″
• Dutch oven
• Chainmail scrubber — ideal for cleaning cast iron
• Basic pots and pans — 1 large soup pot, several saucepans and skillets
• Bakeware — 9×9 and 9×13 pans, 12-cup muffin tin, mini and standard loaf pans
• Steamer basket
• Cookie scoop — useful for fritters, meatballs, cookies and small ice cream portions
• Measuring spoons & cups — measuring spoons that fit inside spice jars are handy

A few extras I use sometimes but could live without include a ginger grater and an immersion blender for quick purees when I don’t want to use the full blender.

What I Got Rid Of

Most items we removed were duplicates, gadgets we rarely used, or pieces whose purpose I couldn’t identify. Single-purpose tools that don’t justify drawer space were the first to go.

• Extra whisk
• Handheld grater (dangerous to use)
• Excess oven mitts — I cleared out the surplus
• Avocado slicer
• Extra cutting boards
• Old slow cooker — replaced by the Instant Pot
• Mesh tea strainer — replaced by our French press
• Stainless steel Rubaway
• Cut gloves
• Extra can opener
• Extra peeler
• Rubber mason jar drinking tops
• Extra measuring cups
• Rice paddles

I moved lesser-used items to drawers a bit farther from my main prep area. Even a little extra space in the everyday drawers makes them feel more organized. I also wiped down each drawer as I worked — it’s incredible how much better it feels to open a clean, crumb-free drawer.

Tips for Decluttering Kitchen Tools

Starting with the drawers you use most will have the biggest immediate impact. Here are practical tips to help you pare down and organize kitchen tools.

Start with one or two of your most frequently used drawers

Set aside 10–15 minutes. Tackle the rest when you have time.

Toss or donate

• Items you don’t use or no longer love
• Multiples of the same tool
• Broken or unsafe tools
• Loose parts you can’t identify
• Single-purpose gadgets that a common tool can replace

Group frequently used tools into one or two accessible drawers

Keep everyday tools close at hand and move seldom-used items farther away. Wipe out drawers as you go to keep things fresh and inviting.

For fringe items — ask yourself three questions

• Can another tool do the same job?
• Does it save significant time or effort?
• Is it used often enough to justify keeping, or could you borrow it when needed?

Have 10–15 minutes this weekend? Declutter one or two drawers.

Removing a few unnecessary items can transform those drawers. You’ll enjoy opening them again—and again.

If you’re on Instagram, we’d love to see your favorite kitchen tools and what you’re decluttering! Tag @modernminimalism and use the hashtag #modernminimalism.

See ya there!

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