7 Kitchen Tools That Make Cooking at Home Way Cheaper

Cooking at home saves serious money compared to eating out or ordering delivery. The right kitchen tools make meal prep faster and easier, which means you’ll actually use them. Here are seven items that help you cook better food at home while keeping your grocery budget under control.

A Sharp Chef’s Knife

Struggling with dull knives makes cooking feel like a chore. A quality chef’s knife costs $30 to $80 and transforms your entire cooking experience. Sharp knives cut through vegetables, meat, and bread cleanly and safely. Dull knives slip and require more pressure, which actually causes more accidents.

One good knife handles 90% of kitchen cutting tasks without needing a whole block. Proper care means sharpening it occasionally and hand washing instead of using the dishwasher. People who upgrade to a decent knife report enjoying food prep more and cooking at home more often. The connection between good tools and actually wanting to cook is real and measurable.

A Slow Cooker

Dump ingredients in the morning and come home to a finished meal. Slow cookers cost $30 to $80 and make tough, cheap cuts of meat tender and delicious. A $4 pork shoulder becomes pulled pork that feeds your family for days. The hands off cooking method means you’re not standing at the stove after a long workday.

Energy costs stay low since slow cookers use less electricity than ovens. You can make soups, stews, whole chickens, and even desserts without much effort. Saving money on food becomes easier when cooking at home feels simple instead of stressful. People who use slow cookers regularly cut their takeout spending dramatically.

An Instant Read Thermometer

Overcooked meat is dry and disappointing while undercooked meat is dangerous. A digital thermometer costs $15 to $30 and takes the guesswork out of cooking proteins. Knowing exactly when chicken reaches 165 degrees or steak hits your preferred doneness prevents mistakes. No more cutting into meat to check if it’s done and losing all the juices.

The tool pays for itself by preventing ruined expensive cuts of meat. Cooking with confidence means you’ll attempt more recipes instead of defaulting to restaurants. Ground beef, pork chops, and roasts all benefit from accurate temperature readings. Making better meals at home gets easier when you have the right tools.

Quality Food Storage Containers

Leftovers going bad in the fridge waste money and groceries. A set of good containers with tight sealing lids costs $25 to $40. Clear containers let you see what’s inside so food doesn’t get forgotten and spoiled. Proper storage keeps ingredients fresh longer and prevents frequent grocery trips.

Meal prepping becomes practical when you have enough containers to store several days of food. Microwave and dishwasher safe options make reheating and cleaning effortless. Taking lunch to work in real containers beats buying lunch out five days a week. The containers pay for themselves in a month by reducing food waste and restaurant spending.

A Cast Iron Skillet

Cast iron pans last forever and cook everything from steaks to cornbread. A quality skillet costs $20 to $50 and becomes more nonstick over time with proper seasoning. They work on stovetops, in ovens, and even over campfires. The even heat distribution makes cooking restaurant quality meals at home totally achievable.

Cast iron requires simple care but rewards you with decades of use. Eggs, burgers, chicken, and vegetables all cook beautifully in a well-seasoned pan. People pass these skillets down through generations because they literally never wear out. One pan replacing multiple specialty cookware items saves money and cabinet space.

A Rice Cooker

Perfect rice every time without watching a pot or timing anything. Rice cookers cost $20 to $60 and make a cheap staple food foolproof. A 20 pound bag of rice costs $15 and provides dozens of meals as a base. Set it and forget it while the cooker handles everything automatically.

Many models have settings for different rice types, quinoa, and even steaming vegetables. Rice as a meal foundation costs pennies per serving compared to pasta or bread. The cooker keeps rice warm for hours without drying it out or burning. People who eat rice regularly consider their cooker an essential appliance.

A Good Cutting Board

Trying to chop on a small flimsy board makes prep work frustrating and slow. A large wooden or plastic cutting board costs $20 to $40. Adequate space lets you chop multiple ingredients without constantly clearing the board. Stable boards don’t slip around while you’re cutting, which makes prep safer and faster.

Wooden boards are gentle on knife edges and last years with proper care. Plastic boards are dishwasher safe and often come in sets with different colors for different foods. Fast efficient prep work means cooking feels less overwhelming after a long day. The right board makes you more likely to cook instead of ordering out.

These tools make home cooking more enjoyable and less time-consuming. The initial investment pays back quickly through reduced restaurant and takeout spending. Having the right equipment removes common frustrations that push people toward expensive convenience options. Better tools lead to better meals, which reinforces the habit of cooking at home and saving money.

This article first appeared on Cents + Purpose.