At CNET, we’ve tested dozens of meal kits to find our favorites across all categories, including ready-to-eat meals, vegan options, the best budget picks and even the best for the popular Mediterranean diet. Throughout this journey, we’ve also discovered the must-have kitchen essentials to get started.
While I don’t use meal kits every single week, during especially busy seasons of my life or when I find myself in need of new recipe ideas, they are my go-to solution. With pre-portioned ingredients delivered directly to my door, it’s so easy (and dare I say, enjoyable?) to have dinner on the table each night. Plus, as someone who isn’t the most experienced home chef, meal kits have given me the confidence I need in the kitchen and the practice to master delectable dishes regularly.
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Although the meal kits come with most of the items and ingredients you need, there are a handful of must-have pantry staples and cooking tools that will make your meal kit journey as smooth as possible. Here’s everything you should have before getting started.
Because you still have to prepare the meals, there is some chopping involved in every meal kit. Whether it’s an onion, shallot, potatoes or a bunch of bok choy, you’ll need a solid chef’s knife to complete the majority of meal kits. These are our top picks.
A cutting board goes hand-in-hand with a chef’s knife, so it’s another must-have. I personally prefer wooden cutting boards but it is nice to have a small plastic cutting board on hand for when you need to cut raw meat or coat something in spices. With a plastic cutting board, the juices won’t soak into the board like they would with a wooden board and you can pop it right in the dishwasher when you’re finished. These are our picks for the best cutting boards, which include both options.
One of the best parts about meal kits, in my opinion, is that many of the meals require minimal effort, making them ideal for busy individuals, new cooks or anyone who simply doesn’t enjoy spending hours in the kitchen. Because there is often a focus on meals that take less than 30 minutes to prepare, we’re seeing more sheet pan recipes (my favorite). Just toss everything in the oven for 20 to 30 minutes, then serve.
Not all meals are sheet-pan meals though, so you’ll still need a frying pan for when you cook stir-fry, meat or other recipe components on the stovetop. You can decide between nonstick, ceramic or stainless steel depending on your preferences. Or, if you’re looking for a full cookware set, here are our favorites.
Many of the recipes I’ve tried use rice or noodles as a base, so a pot is another must-have, unless you plan to avoid those types of meals entirely (which I don’t recommend because they’re usually delicious). You could get away with one pot if needed, but I recommend having a couple in different sizes.
I use Caraway’s cookware set -‘s pick for best ceramic cookware — which includes a saucepan, frying pan, Dutch oven and a sauté pan.
In theory, you could use the aforementioned pot as a mixing bowl if you’re in a pinch but I highly recommend investing in a mixing bowl, or a set of them, to make your life a whole lot easier. My mixing bowls double as popcorn bowls, food scrap holders and more, so I definitely think they’re worth the money.
This is nice to have but not a necessity because you can technically peel potatoes, carrots and other produce with a knife but a peeler is a much safer choice, especially if you’re new in the kitchen.
During my meal kit journey, I’ve also noticed that quite a few recipes call for the zest of one lemon to help elevate the flavor profile. You can use a dedicated lemon zester or a fine cheese grater for this step, but whatever you do, don’t skip it. It adds much more flavor than you might expect.
When cooking meat, especially poultry, I like to err on the side of caution and use a meat thermometer to ensure it reaches the correct internal temperature before serving. This is one tool in my kitchen that I use weekly, if not daily, and it’s also great for summer barbecues.
As you become more experienced, you may get a feel for when meat is ready but undercooked chicken and pork are nothing to play around with if you’re new to cooking.
Many of the meal kit recipes suggest lining your baking sheet with foil to make cleanup a breeze. This isn’t a must but, if you want the easiest cleanup, we recommend keeping a roll of foil on hand. Plus, if you have leftovers, you can use that same foil to wrap them up.
Read more: A Culinary Pro Named the 3 Knives Every Cook Should Have. Can You Guess Them?
Salt, pepper, cooking oil and butter
Although meal kits come with most of the ingredients you need, they don’t typically include these four pantry staples, so make sure to swing by the store and grab them before cooking dinner. This trendy olive oil is one great option, but if you want a breakdown of which oil is right for different cooking situations, take a peek at our cooking oil guide that covers all the bases.
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