7 kitchen essentials I use every single day

Everything except the kitchen sink!!!

Courtesy of Our Place, because sadly my kitchen absolutely does not look like that

If you follow me on Instagram you will know that I really enjoy being in the kitchen. I love cooking, baking, making myself a little coffee, I don’t even mind having to wash up by hand. I know, I’m a fully-fledged weirdo, but at least it means I can happily live without a dishwasher (fun fact: I lived with a dishwasher for six years in my old flat but only ever used it a handful of times. Does that count as psycho behaviour? Maybe don’t answer that).

One of the things that – I assume – goes hand-in-hand with being a kitchen lover (lol) is that I am also a big fan of buying new things for the kitchen. I love a new discovery that’s actually useful, whether it’s (yet another) gadget I probably don’t need, a specific washing up sponge or a great-smelling surface spray, pretty much anything goes. Now, for the first time in my life, I have a kitchen that I don’t have to share with anybody and so I’ve discovered that there are a few essentials that I find myself using (almost) every day.

So, to mark my grand return to Substack – I’m hoping to keep posting every Tuesday, you heard it here first! – I thought I’d share them with you. Please note there are some affiliate links below because I’m literally just trying to make a little bit of money over here.

John Lewis Check Terry Cotton Tea Towel

I swear there is nothing worse than a horrible thin tea towel that either repels water or is immediately wet through, but these John Lewis ones are a godsend. They cost a literal fiver, they’re a good size and thickness, are super absorbent so you can get through a decent amount of drying up before it needs swapping out and they come in a few different colours. I think everybody in my family has them and we’re all big fans.

Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 Portable Glass Air Fryer

Now, let me start this by saying I have literally no intention of taking this with me anywhere, and despite the fact it’s billed as being portable and lightweight, I don’t think it’s really either of those things (although I guess it is in comparison to others, but still, I think it would be heavy to carry around).

That said, I’ve wanted an air fryer for a few years but the main problem is that I’ve never really had enough counter space for one, so when I moved into this flat, I knew I needed something that could be put away. This one fits the bill perfectly. I like that it comes with two different sized easy-to-clean glass bowls that are dishwasher safe (if that’s relevant to your interests!!!). I was a bit sceptical about whether it worked in the same way as a ‘traditional’ air fryer, but it’s so good, although I’d say it’s only really ideal for one or two people. It has four settings – air fry, recrisp, roast and keep warm – and although there’s no temperature control, I haven’t found that to be an issue at all (I think the pro model does, but it’s a lot more expensive). I mostly use it on either air fry and recrisp mode, which is great for reheating chicken without drying it out.

One final thing: don’t buy it full price because I always see it on offer – it’s currently £115 down from £149 on Amazon.

Method All Purpose Cleaner Spray in Cream Custard

This might be a marmite kind of scent, but this Cream Custard surface spray is my all-time favourite. It’s sweet but not sickly sweet, and it does legitimately smell like custard – plus Method are my favourite cleaning brand because of how gentle but effective all their products are. I’m also a big fan of the almond floor cleaner.

Cream Custard was/is supposed to be limited edition (I think it was to complement the bestselling rhubarb spray, which, for the record, gives me a piercing headache lol), but I’ve been buying it for a few years now and have never had any trouble getting hold of it, so who knows, maybe it is permanent. And for my sake, I hope it is.

Our Place Mini Griddle Pan

I know Our Place is a brand people love to hate, but I’ve got a few bits that I like and use a lot, but this griddle pan is the best thing I’ve bought. I got it on a bit of a whim last year because I had some points that were (allegedly) about to expire. I didn’t really do any research, but it’s great and I’m so glad I got it.

It’s not massive (there are bigger ones available) but it’s big enough to use as a one-person roasting tray, and my favourite thing about it is that it can also be used on a gas hob. Hindsight says the clue’s in the name, and I’ve used it to cook steak, halloumi, even a rectangular omelette(!). It’s genuinely non-stick (better than the pans I’d say) and it just somehow feels more effective than using a regular pan – and I really don’t think it’s just the novelty of it…

Dunelm Black Marble Glass Hob Cover

I have my mum’s genius brain to thank for suggesting I look into getting hob covers, and lucky for me Dunelm really came up trumps with something that doesn’t look wildly out of place in my kitchen. I know they don’t look like much, but for anyone else who also doesn’t have much surface space, get yourself two of these and I swear your life will change for the better.

I had an induction hob in my old flat so that doubled up as extra space when it was needed, so I found it a bit annoying when I couldn’t use the gas hob I now have in the same way. But I spent £17 on two so they cover the whole hob rather than just half of it, which means I have so much extra space that can be used to put things on, or to chop/prep/serve up without feeling overwhelmed or like there’s nowhere to put anything. A true game changer.

Seep Eco Sponge Scourers

I could probably incorporate more eco-friendly products into my life than I currently do, but using these Seep washing up sponges is one thing I am good at. Instead of being made of microplastics like most other sponges, these are 100% plastic-free and use sustainably sourced loofah and wood pulp, plus they’re compostable (so I throw them straight into my food waste bin).

They’re the most effective sponges I’ve used and I the fact that they’re two-sided means they make light work of anything burnt on. My mum bought me a year’s supply so I have a box under my sink, but you can also buy them in packs of four or individually in some supermarkets.

Ninja Luxe Café Premier Espresso Machine

Let me start this by saying I was very kindly gifted this coffee machine just before Christmas, but it was on my list to buy as soon as I completed on my flat (which still wouldn’t have happened if I stuck to that rule lol). I do truly believe it’s the best machine out there if you want to make good quality bean-to-cup coffee at home without any faff.

There’s no guesswork when it comes to grind size and there’s no need to use scales while the coffee is extracting – this machine does almost everything for you, but you still get to tamp the coffee, install the portafilter and generally feel as if you’re cosplaying as a barista. It makes a few different types of coffee, from espresso to drip and cold brew, plus it comes with an automatic milk steamer that froths different types of milk (including cold foam!!!!) and I just love it so much.

I haven’t bought a single coffee since I’ve moved into this flat, and I was previously somebody who would buy multiple £4+ oat flat whites/iced oat lattes multiple times a week, sometimes a day. I don’t think I’ve done any justice describing just how good it is, so if you have any questions please feel free to ask.