7 Kitchen Essentials for Every Home Cook

Feature photo by @homeandhallow

Whether their hobby is preparing Instagram-worthy dishes for friends or they relax by whipping up comforting classics for the family, home cooks know the value of a well-appointed kitchen. This goes beyond the basic appliances and tools they use to boil pasta, chop vegetables, and heat up sauces. The right fixtures can simplify cooking tasks and set the stage for creating memories.

Working in the kitchen is a personal experience. What one cook never uses may be something another cannot live without. The kitchen essentials on this list are useful for every home cook, as they are practical and simplify processes. Best of all, they can be added to the room without a complete kitchen renovation.

1. Aerator

An aerator is a small device that screws on a faucet's spout. When the water is turned on, it passes through the holes in the aerator's screen. The added air gives the user more control over the stream and reduces the amount of water coming out of the faucet, so there is less waste.

Many home cooks never pay much attention to the aerator until it becomes clogged. Dirt and debris trapped in the aerator can reduce water flow or change the direction of the water, which can make a mess. Fortunately, the aerator is easy to replace and requires no special tools.

2. Bar sink and faucet

A bar sink is a versatile addition to the kitchen that expands the workspace. Although they are smaller and shallower than a traditional kitchen sink, these sinks have just enough space for rinsing vegetables and washing hands. This frees up the main sink for bigger tasks.

Bar sinks are surprisingly useful. Set up an extra workspace at the bar sink to create space for a friend or family member who wants to help prepare the meal. Add one to a kitchen island and add a water filtration system to create an easy-to-access beverage center.

3. Deep big solid surface sinks

If a bar sink is convenient, the main sink is a workhorse in the kitchen. It's a place to wash dishes, rinse vegetables, defrost ingredients, and much more. A deep sink provides plenty of space for these tasks and gives home cooks a place to hide dirty dishes until they're ready to wash them.

A solid surface sink with smooth sides has a polished appearance that looks good and is easy to clean. There's no rim to collect food particles and dirt around the edge of the sink, and anything left on the countertop can be wiped into the sink easily.

4. Garbage disposal air switch

Water and electricity are never a good mix, which is why a traditional garbage disposal switch gets placed on a wall. This keeps electrical components away from water and other liquids, but reaching across the counter to flip the switch can be inconvenient.

A garbage disposal air switch uses a puff of air to operate the disposal, making it possible to move the switch to a more convenient spot, like the edge of the sink. Not only is this convenient, but it's also safer. People using the garbage disposal often have wet hands, which should not go near a wall switch connected to electricity.

5. Pot filler

A pot filler faucet simplifies your kitchen routine by letting you fill pots and tea kettles directly at the stove. Instead of emptying the sink and carrying large, heavy pots filled with water, turn on the pot filler and let it work while you take care of other tasks.

Pot filler faucets can be installed in the wall above the stove or a counter and typically feature a swinging arm that extends to reach the pot that needs to be filled. Even better, pot fillers fill more than pots. They also work well for filling items that don't always fit well in the sink, like buckets and tall vases.

6. Pull-down faucet

A pull-down faucet combines the traditional kitchen faucet with a side sprayer in a single fixture. With the head in place, it works like any other kitchen faucet. Pull down on the head to turn it into a side sprayer that reaches all the corners of the sink. Stretch it out to fill a pot resting on the counter and make rinsing veggies (and dishes) a breeze by bringing the water stream directly to them.

Another faucet/sprayer combo is the pull-out faucet with a spray head that detaches from the faucet. This faucet typically splashes less, making it a good choice for a shallow sink. It's also convenient in smaller spaces since the head stretches farther to reach pots on the countertop.

7. Soap dispenser

Home cooks frequently stop to wash their hands or utensils between steps in the recipe. A built-in soap dispenser is a convenient addition to the kitchen. It's a hands-free device that makes it easy to get the right amount of soap for the job.

As an added bonus, a soap dispenser keeps the edge of the sink and counter free of clutter, reduces waste, and saves money. Instead of filling the trash can with empty plastic bottles, homeowners can refill the dispenser from an environmentally-friendly package.

Design a dream kitchen with Kingston Brass

Every great meal starts in a kitchen that gives home cooks the space and fixtures they need to prepare and cook food. Kingston Brass carries a variety of kitchen essentials that bring form and function to the kitchen, from pot fillers and faucets to soap dispensers and other accessories from multiple collections.

If it's time to update the kitchen, consider the features and fixtures you'd like to incorporate into the space. Then browse the kitchen collection at Kingston Brass to find the fixtures you want in the styles and colors to tie the look together with the rest of the room. From black to white, matte to shiny, and traditional to modern, you'll find pieces that suit your life and design styles.