Where to Splurge and Where to Save in the Kitchen 
(Clockwise from upper left: Williams Sonoma, Crate & Barrel, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Crate & Barrel)
It’s time for another Save vs. Splurge! We’ve been over how to stock your entertaining arsenal, which you guys loved (thank you!!). Today, I’m tackling all things kitchen. Items here can add up quickly, especially if you’re furnishing a new place or looking to make several updates to your current collection.
Here are 3 of my top saves and 3 of my top splurges…
Save:
1. Kitchen Utensils
(I love these bamboo kitchen utensils – under $25)
Kitchen utensils are a major “save.” They get so much use in any kitchen that refreshing them every so often is a good idea. I always make sure that I have a set of stainless steel utensils (like these or these), wooden utensils, and nylon utensils.
I actually stock up on wooden utensils (here, here, and here) because they’re my absolute favorite. Maybe it’s the fact that I grew up with my parents using a wooden spoon to make sweet iced tea, or that they’re a bit more attractive (in my opinion, of course) than the nylon or steel ones, but I just love them.
Nylon utensils do come in handy. You really can’t go wrong with a nonstick pan (like this one) when you’re making omelettes or fried eggs. Hello, easy cleanup. For nonstick pans, you have to use something that’s not going to scratch off the Teflon, like nylon. A few of my favorite nylon options are here and here.
2. Citrus Juicer
(Citrus juicer under $20 – I have the exact same model)
I’m really focusing on prioritizing my health and sleep in 2018 (one of my goals for the new year). One way I’m doing this is by getting rid of preservatives and cutting back on hidden sugars, which are in so many everyday items. I’m upping my fruit and veggie intake, and there are some great options out there as we get into winter and spring. My personal favorite is citrus, which is in season now. There’s nothing quite as good as freshly squeezed orange juice, and this juicer is absolutely perfect for it.
We looked at a few other brands that were more expensive, but we couldn’t find one that had the storage we needed. Who has time to squeeze juice by the glass every morning (like this one)? If you do, I’ll make plans to join you for breakfast! This juicer by DeLonghi is so easy and cleanup is a breeze. Everything breaks apart into four pieces that you can toss into the dishwasher. You can also adjust how much pulp you want in your juice.
We store our juice in this fabulous (and under $8) glass container from The Container Store that fits perfectly in our refrigerator door. It comes in a larger size (also here) – and another option here, both under $10.
I also have a hand juicer, which is fabulous for squeezing lemon or lime juice quickly and easily for a dish.
3. Nesting and Mixing Bowls
(These mixing bowls come in other colors + lids, all here)
These are other items that get a ton of use in our kitchen. I refresh these early and often. I’m currently in the process of replacing my collection and pink and green ones (sorry Hubby) for white and gray. I love the ones above that come with lids.
I mentioned my favorite glass nesting bowls before in this post and this one. I have to include them here, too, because I use them almost every day. You can find them just about anywhere – here and here, for example.
Splurge:
1. Stand Mixer
(Pictured here in Cobalt Blue; I have the Nickel Pearl)
I’d be willing to bet that a KitchenAid stand mixer is on 90% of all wedding registries. It tends to be a bigger ticket item and, you guys, it is worth it. There are a few different ones: the mini Artisan, the slightly-larger Artisan (very popular), and the Professional.
I opted for the Professional, which is giant. I love it because when I bake, I bake for crowds. That’s why I had so many of these berry oat muffins left over! I knew I needed one that had a higher capacity, and I love the fact that you move the bowl up and down instead of having to tilt the mixer head back to add ingredients. Those extra few inches of clearance between the bowl and the mixer itself make it so easy to add additional ingredients to your batter or dough.
I’m also looking forward to trying out all of the attachments. All KitchenAid mixers have what they call a “universal power hub,” so attachments will work on any of the KitchenAid mixers. This pasta roller attachment and the spiralizer attachment are the first ones on my list.
UPDATE: I should mention that the various KitchenAid mixers do go on sale often, and you can always use discount codes and coupons, which could really bring down the cost!
2. Cookware
(Great value All-Clad starter set here – I have the same set and love it)
I’ve already covered investing in quality knives in this post here (#1 on “splurge”), otherwise that item would go in this #2 place. Instead, I’m going to mention cookware. We invested in this All-Clad set and it has been the absolute best. It’s heavy, durable, and cooks evenly. We loved it so much that we bought the multi-cooker for larger stews, soups, and steams.
3. Kitchen Organization
(Swear by these Oxo storage containers)
I love decorative canisters and containers, like these Williams Sonoma blue and white ones. They are gorgeous, but the reality is: I live in a townhouse in an urban area and counter space just isn’t that plentiful. Countertop real estate is in high demand and our Keurig, KitchenAid, and fruit stand have already claimed most of it.
I always end up turning to OXO Good Grips storage canisters. They’re dishwasher-safe, pretty much unbreakable, and seals things tightly. You can buy the set above or purchase them individually. I recommend splurging a bit and picking up the set above that’s just under $100. You’ll be so much happier for it. Then, you can add on your individual pieces. I find them at Home Goods all the time. These guys are perfect for storing grains, pastas, cereal, nuts – you name it.
Hope this helps, y’all! Happy hunting!
