Most home cooks are familiar with culinary queen, Ina Garten. Also known as Barefoot Contessa, the 77-year-old cookbook author and TV personality is famous for organizing elegant dinner parties and putting out sophisticated-yet-easy recipes. And while Ina is famously classy with a home in the Hamptons and an apartment in Paris, much of her cookware is easy accessible. In fact, most of Ina Garten’s favorite kitchen items are sold at Amazon.
Gadgets, Devices, and Appliances
1. Hamptons-Chic Standing Mixer: As a master in the baking department, it’s no surprise that Ina has a KitchenAid stand mixer to make bread dough, cookies and more. And even though this colorful beauty is totally Hamptons-chic (I mean really, the color is called matcha!), it’s available on Amazon.
2. Easy-Light BBQ Chimney: Another pick from Ina’s website is a charcoal chimney starter. Whether she’s hosting a BBQ for friends or simply grilling up some chicken breasts for Jeffrey, a chimney makes lighting charcoal so much easier. Plus, it’s available at Home Depot for less than $20… which is a major steal.
3. Versatile Food Processor: Every chef needs a food processor for making sauces, dips, and even just to tackle a large amount of chopping. And a classic Cuisinart is Ina’s go-to. It comes in several color options — if we had to guess, Ina picked navy, her signature shade.
4. Chef-Grade Knife Sharpener: Sharp knives are crucial for getting the job done, and for avoiding possible mishaps. Evidently, according to House Beautiful, favorite is Chef’s Choice Model 15XV Knife Sharpener, which she uses regularly. It works with both straight and serrated knives. And best of all? It’s available at Walmart.
5. Simple Salad Spinner:Also on her list of favorite kitchen equipment is the OXO Good Grip Salad Spinner. And for good reason — it has nearly five stars on Amazon. It’s dishwasher-safe, and effectively dries all of your salad ingredients to ensure they stay crisp, even after washing it.
6. Ultra-Convenient Plastic Wrap Dispenser: Ina can’t be bothered with the annoying (and sometimes slightly dangerous) plastic wrap box. According to Best Life, she can’t live without the Stretch-Tite Wrap N’ Snap Plastic Wrap Dispenser, because she doesn’t want to have to “fight the box” whenever she needs it.
Essential Prep Tools
1. Never-Fail Wooden Cutting Board: Plastic lasts forever but not in a good way. Wood cutting boards can last just as long, without poisoning you and Ina swears by John Boos’ Reversible Cutting Board. A maple board costs more than a bamboo one, but it’ll serve you well for decades.
2. Trusty Knife Set: Between writing cookbooks and basically taking over HGTV, knives are one of Ina’s most frequently used tools. That’s why she loves the Wusthof Six-Piece Knife Set because it doesn’t need to be replaced every few years. So why not splurge a little?
3. The Essential Cookie Scoop: Another item on her go-to equipment list is the OXO Good Grips Cookie Scoop. Since Ina is a pro at baking, it comes as no shock this is a must-have in her workspace.
Tools For Measurements
1. Simple Easy-Read Food Scale: Whether you’re tracking macros or following a French recipe, food scales make life easier. According to her site, Ina’s favorite kitchen equipment includes an OXO Good Grips Food Scale. Though you can opt for something more expensive, she has no need for bells and whistles when it comes to taking measurements.
2. Liquid Measuring Cups: If Ina could give you one tip, also according to the same House Beautiful article referenced above, it’s to stop measuring liquids in dry measuring scoops. Instead, she uses a Pyrex four-cup measuring cup, which ensures your liquid ingredients are measured accurately. Meanwhile, they last forever — so you can pass it on for generations.
3. Trust-Worthy Oven Thermometer: Ina doesn’t trust the system — according to Yahoo!, she doesn’t believe the oven thermometer is exactly right. Therefore, she prefers to use a Taylor 2.5 Inch Dial Oven Thermometer. Its large face and accurate read is incredibly helpful, especially to help prevent you from burning anything.
Bowls, Pots, and Pans
1. Staple Dutch Oven: Like many professional chefs, Ina is a fan of Le Creuset, according to The Takeout, and for good reason. Aside from the classic aesthetic of the Le Creuset Dutch Oven, it’s incredibly durable. It can also be used to bake bread, make a hearty stew, or even to roast a chicken.
2. Essential Mixing Bowl Set: It’s easy to splurge on mixing bowls — but it’s also easy to get the job done with a massive set that will last forever. According to the Yahoo! article referenced with the oven thermometer, she considers the Anchor Hocking 10-Piece Mixing Bowl Set a go-to piece of equipment. Don’t mind if we do.
3. Pricey-Yet-Timeless Sauté Pan: Even though it’s expensive, also according to the Tasting Table article referenced above, Ina invests in All-Clad Stainless Steel Nonstick Fry Pans because they’re durable.
My cookware is expensive but I take good care of it and so far, many of the pans have lasted for almost 40 years!
Finishing Touches
1. Zesty Microplane: Taste of Home also reminds us that fresh-grated lemon is one of Ina’s favorite ingredients. And really, can we blame her? She’s a big fan of the Microplane Zester Tool, which is a $10 staple.
2. Fresh Pepper Grinder: There’s nothing quite like a savory dish sprinkled in freshly ground black pepper. And according to Tasting Table, she uses the PepperMate Pepper Grinder, which she showcased in a video about turning stale bread into croutons.
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