The Best Utensil Set Is No Utensil Set

Manufacturers love making sets. They package up a bunch of stuff and sell it to you for a discounted rate. However, you’re still likely paying way more than you would for just one or two items from the brand. And think about it: if you own a cookware or knife block set, how often do you pull out every single item in said set? Likely, one or two (maybe three) things make it into your most-used rotation while the rest languish in a drawer, cabinet, or in the block. 

Actual utility versus price is one of the reasons we generally don’t recommend sets. Instead, it’s a much better use of your money to select things that’ll best suit your needs. Plus, there’s the matter of performance. As our reviews show, not every brand makes the best of everything.

The Best Kitchen Utensil Crocks

A Spacious Utensil Crock

Williams Sonoma Pantry Porcelain Utensil Holder

$35 at Williams Sonoma

So, if you’re looking to invest in a kitchen utensil set, your best bet is to first buy a utensil crock you like (there are a ton out there with various finishes to match your kitchen/style and with different features, like dividers). We’re partial to this simple, classic offering from Williams Sonoma—in our tests, it held a whopping 33 utensils (!!) and was the perfect height—there was no danger of it toppling over. We also liked this sturdy, compact pick from OXO.

Once you've got a crock you love, it’s time to choose the utensils you’ll use the most. There are some things (like a pair of tongs and a fish spatula) we recommend every home cook has, but other items depend on the kind of cook you are. Bake a lot? Get two spatulas. Make a ton of smash burgers? An offset turner is a must-have. A fan of making over-easy in a nonstick skillet for breakfast? Then you’ll probably need a nonstick-safe turner. 

Here’s what you should put in your utensil crock (divided by must-haves and nice-to-haves), with links to our full reviews so you can see how we tested and read more about why we chose our winners.

Must-Have Kitchen Utensils

A Pair of Kitchen Tongs

OXO Good Grips 12-Inch Tongs

$16 at Amazon $24 at Walmart $24 at Walmart

Finding a great pair of kitchen tongs is way, way more difficult than you might think. Seriously, we tested more than 40 pairs to land on three models we recommend. The scallop edges on the OXO securely grasp a range of foods, and they can be opened (but not closed) with one hand by turning them upside down and pushing the handle lock back into the tongs. If you cook with a lot of nonstick (which we don’t recommend) or scratch-prone enameled cast iron, OXO’s silicone-tipped model is a good bet.

The Best Fish Spatula

Wusthof Fish Spatula

$65 at Amazon $15 at Walmart View on Wusthof.com

The Best Left-Handed Fish Spatula

Lamson Flexible Slotted Spatula (Fish Turner) for Lefties

$40 at Amazon $40 at Walmart View on Lamsonproducts.com

Our favorite fish spatula is pricey, but so incredibly nimble and has a solid, smooth, grippy handle. The blade-like edge easily fits under food—deftly flipping delicate fish fillets and fragile pancakes. For a left-handed option, we recommend the one from Lamson. We prefer the one with the synthetic handle, rather than the walnut option, which can't be tossed in the dishwasher.

A Versatile Spatula

Tovolo Flex-Core All Silicone Spatula Turner

$11 at Amazon $12 at Walmart $11 at Kohls.com

A Spatula Available in a Number of Sizes

GIR Ultimate Spatula

$13 at Amazon View on Gir.co

For scraping batters out of bowls, scrambling eggs in a skillet, and getting the last bit of smoothie out of a blender, you need a silicone spatula. You’ll probably find getting more than one spatula is better than having to just keep a sole model constantly clean. In that case, we like spatulas from Tovolo and GIR. The latter is available in a number of sizes.

A Handy Rasp-Style Grater

Microplane Premium Classic Series Zester/Grater

$18 $17 at Amazon $18 at Williams Sonoma $18 at Sur La Table

A rasp-style grater is helpful for zesting citrus, grating hard cheeses like Parmesan, grating fresh nutmeg, and manufacturing garlic and ginger. Our top pick is from Microplane and has a comfortable handle that’s available in an array of colors and prints. For storing, please, please put the case on it. You’ll save your Microplane’s blade, keep it from nicking other utensils, and prevent any accidental finger scrapes.

A Scoop-it-Up Ladle

Cuisinart Stainless Steel Ladle

$10 at Amazon View on Jcpenney.com View on Newegg.com

A ladle might not be your most-used utensil, but when you need one (for soups, stews, sauces) there’s nothing like it. We like this one from Cuisinart, which has an extremely curved handle that allows you to swoop into a variety of vessels with ease. For a non-metal ladle, this one from Le Creuset fits the bill.

A Do-it-All Wooden Spoon

Jonathan’s Spoons Spootle

View on Woodspoon.com

A Classic Wooden Spoon

FAAY Teak Cooking Spoon

$12 at Amazon

A good wooden spoon is great for scraping, stirring, and tasting. When we tested wooden spoons, we came away with a few favorites, including the Jonathan’s Spoons Spootle and FAAY 13.5" Teak Cooking Spoon, Both are great—and come at two different price points (the former pricier, the latter inexpensive). And, hey, if simply cooking with a wooden spoon doesn’t convince you of its utility, maybe this list of 11.5 things you can do with one will.

A Better Balloon Whisk

GIR Premium Stainless Steel Whisk

$14 at Amazon View on Gir.co

This all-purpose balloon whisk was our favorite after testing and we found it to be particularly good at aeration thanks to its wires that varied in height. Its diamond-patterned, silicone handle was comfortable to hold, too. What do you use a balloon whisk for? Here’s a primer on the various styles of whisks out there and what they’re good at.

A Straining Spider

Hiware Solid Stainless Steel Spider Strainer

$12 $11 at Amazon

While we don’t have an official review on these, editor Grace Kelly loves using her spider strainer for blanching foods, deep-frying, and wok cooking. All stainless steel models are easy to clean and can be thrown into the dishwasher (unlike ones with wooden handles), but whatever handle material you prefer will work.

Sharp Kitchen Shears

Shun Multi-Purpose Kitchen Shears

$55 at Amazon $55 at Williams Sonoma $55 at Sur La Table

Kitchen shears often find themselves on a kitchen essentials list. And while they are sometimes included in knife block sets and can be stored on a magnetic knife strip, we still think it’s worth mentioning that you definitely need a good pair of kitchen shears. They’re as useful for cutting out a chicken’s backbone as they are for snipping chives.

Nice-to-Have Kitchen Utensils

A Slotted Spoon

Cuisinart Stainless Steel Slotted Spoon

$15 at Amazon $15 at Walmart $10 at Macy's

This is another item we haven’t formally tested (yet), but that’s still worth your consideration. For draining fresh mozzarella curds, fishing a soft-boiled egg out of a pot, or making poached eggs, a slotted spoon makes easy work of any precision “lift and drain” tasks.

A Smashing Offset Turner

MANNKITCHEN Professional Grade Stainless Steel Spatula

$25 at Amazon

For making smash burgers, flipping giant portions of hashbrowns, or serving lasagna, an offset turner is helpful. We like the one from MÄNNKITCHEN best: it’s super-angled, precise, and just the perfect size (not too big, nor too small).

A Nonstick Turner for, Well, Nonstick

OXO Good Grips Silicone Flexible Turner

$12 at Amazon $12 at Target $12 at Sur La Table

While nonstick isn’t our preferred cooking material for 99.9% of things, there are some applications (eggs, crepes) where its super-smooth, stick-free surface is an asset. For these times (and if you’re an electric griddle fan), use a nonstick-safe turner to keep your nonstick pan in tip-top shape for as long as possible. We like this one from OXO that has a razor-thin head and have a few other top picks here.

Nimble Kitchen Tweezers

Küchenprofi 12-Inch Tweezers

$22 $18 at Amazon

Ah, kitchen tweezers: useful for removing bits of eggshell, serving pasta, flipping a steak, and more. If you’re going to have just one size, the 12-inch ones are a good investment, though a smaller pair is worth considering, too.

A Whisk Just for Doughs

Zulay Kitchen Danish Dough Whisk Large Hand Mixer

$10 $9 at Amazon $18 at Walmart

If you bake bread, a Danish dough whisk may be a worthwhile addition to your utensil crock. As we explained here, “Because a dough whisk is made from rigid wire only a few millimeters in diameter, its limited surface area means that thick doughs cannot gain much purchase on it, so they pass right through the loops.” It works with everything from high-hydration doughs to thicker, super-stiff ones.

A Sauce Spoon for Plating

Mercer Culinary 18-8 Stainless Steel Plating Spoon with Solid Bow

$17 at Amazon

This is no ordinary spoon. Say you want to create a beautiful swirl of ricotta to put under a plate of roasted vegetables or drizzle a portion of steak with au poivre sauce—this is where the sauce spoon shines. Its wide, shallow bowl and slightly offset handle give you control and finesse. While we haven't formally tested sauce spoons, editor Grace has had this option from Mercer for years and loves its wide bowl and ridged grips on the handle.

A Teeny, Tiny Whisk

Kuhn Rikon 6-Inch Balloon Wire Whisk

$15 $12 at Amazon $14 at Walmart

Okay, okay, we really like whisks, alright? We have balloon whisks and bread whisks, but your utensil crock wouldn't be *truly* complete without a mini whisk. These tiny wire options are perfect for mixing up a spot of salad dressing, whisking an egg or two, or blending a small amount of spices for a rub.

A Portion Scoop

Winco No.40 Ice Cream Disher with Plastic Handle

$13 at Amazon $15 at Walmart $14 at Target

While not a necessity, portion scoops are pretty darn helpful to have on hand. They come in a variety of sizes and excel at scooping cookie dough, portioning perfect meatballs, and can evenly scoop ice cream in a pinch.

FAQs

What’s the best kitchen utensil set? 

We recommend assembling the set yourself—you’ll get the most for your money and can select the best, highest-performing products in each category. 

Which brand is best for kitchen utensils? 

There is no one brand that makes the best of every single kitchen utensil out there. As you can see from our recommendations above, we have utensil suggestions that span a variety of brands—including OXO, GIR, Le Creuset, Cuisinart, and more.

Why We're the Experts

• Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm is an associate editorial director for Serious Eats. She's worked at the company for about three years and has reviewed kitchen equipment professionally for the past five years.
• She's written many reviews for the site, including on Ooni pizza ovens and air fryers.
• As a site, we've extensively reviewed many kitchen utensils over the years—landing on the best in each category (from fish spatulas to ladles).