Kitchen Utensils: 50+ Must-Know Tools with Examples

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Kitchen utensils are the everyday tools used to prep ingredients, cook meals, and serve food. Some pieces look nice on open shelves, but most are chosen for one reason: they make kitchen tasks quicker and easier. Below you’ll find common kitchen utensils with short, natural examples and clear pictures.

Kitchen Utensils Names

Kitchen utensils vocabulary poster showing common cooking tools and kitchen items

These utensils can be grouped by how they are typically used in the kitchen—prep tools, cooking tools, measuring tools, and serving items.

Prep Tools

Apron

Could you tie this apron for me?
Apron worn while cooking to protect clothes from stains

Basting brush

Use a basting brush to coat the chicken with sauce before baking.
Basting brush used to spread butter, oil, or sauce on food

Chopping board

Let’s chop the vegetables on a clean chopping board.
Chopping board used for cutting vegetables and preparing ingredients

Kitchen shears

Grab the kitchen shears to cut the herbs and open the packaging.
Kitchen shears used for cutting herbs, meat packaging, and food items

Knife

She was slicing an apple with a sharp knife.
Kitchen knife used for slicing and cutting ingredients

Cleaver

Use the cleaver to cut the chicken into pieces.
Cleaver knife used for chopping meat and cutting through bones

Peeler

The peeler is in the drawer next to the knives.
Vegetable peeler used for peeling potatoes, carrots, and fruit

Grater

Use a grater to shred the cheese for the pasta.
Cheese grater used for shredding cheese, lemon zest, or vegetables

Garlic press

Crush the garlic with a garlic press to save time.
Garlic press used to crush garlic cloves into small pieces

Lemon squeezer

Have you got a lemon squeezer for the dressing?
Lemon squeezer used for extracting fresh lemon juice

Funnel

Use a funnel to pour the sauce into the bottle without spilling.
Kitchen funnel used for pouring liquids into bottles or jars

Colander

Drain the pasta in a colander.
Colander used to drain pasta and rinse vegetables

Strainer

Pour the soup through a strainer to remove the solids.
Strainer used to separate liquid from solids when cooking

Rolling pin

Use a rolling pin to flatten the dough before cutting cookie shapes.
Rolling pin used to flatten dough for baking cookies and pastries

Cookie cutters

We used cookie cutters to make star-shaped cookies.
Cookie cutters used to cut dough into shapes like stars and hearts

Pizza slicer

Cut the pizza into slices with a pizza slicer.
Pizza slicer wheel used for cutting pizza into slices

Egg slicer

An egg slicer makes neat slices for salads and sandwiches.
Egg slicer used to cut boiled eggs into even slices

Ice tray

Fill the ice tray and put it in the freezer.
Ice tray used for making ice cubes in the freezer

Meat mallet

Use a meat mallet to pound the steak until it’s even.
Meat mallet used to pound and tenderize meat

Skimmer

Use a skimmer to lift noodles out of boiling water.
Skimmer utensil used to lift food from hot water or oil

Cooking Tools

Frying pan

Heat the butter in a frying pan over medium heat.
Frying pan used for frying eggs, meat, and vegetables

Wok

Stir-fry the vegetables in a wok for a quick dinner.
Wok pan used for stir-frying vegetables and meat

Saucepan

Heat the soup in a large saucepan.
Saucepan used for heating soup and cooking sauces

Pot

Bring the water to a boil in a pot.
Cooking pot used for boiling water and making soups

Casserole dish

Bake the pasta in a casserole dish until the top turns golden.
Casserole dish used for baking meals like pasta and casseroles

Spatula

Flip the pancakes with a spatula.
Spatula used for flipping pancakes and turning food while cooking

Whisk

Whisk the eggs until they become light and foamy.
Whisk used for beating eggs and mixing batter

Wooden spoon

Stir the sauce with a wooden spoon so it doesn’t scratch the pot.
Wooden spoon used for stirring soups, sauces, and stews

Tongs

Use tongs to turn the meat without burning your fingers.
Tongs used for gripping and turning hot food while cooking

Ladle

Serve the soup with a ladle.
Ladle used for serving soup and pouring liquids into bowls

Measuring & Timing

Measuring cup

I can’t find the measuring cup. Have you seen it?
Measuring cup used to measure liquids and dry ingredients

Measuring spoons

Use measuring spoons for small amounts like salt, sugar, and baking powder.
Measuring spoons set used to measure small amounts of ingredients

Scales

Measure the flour on the kitchen scales.
Kitchen scales used to weigh ingredients like flour and sugar

Timer

Set a timer so the cookies don’t burn.
Kitchen timer used to track cooking and baking time

Serving & Table Items

Bowl

Mix the salad in a large bowl.
Kitchen bowl used for mixing ingredients and serving food

Plate

She dropped the plate, and it broke into pieces.
Plate used for serving meals at the table

Dish

Put the lamb in the center of the dish and arrange the vegetables around it.
Serving dish used for presenting food like roast meat and vegetables

Cup

Who broke the cup? I dropped it.
Cup used for drinking tea, coffee, or water

Glass

After work, I like to relax with a glass of juice.
Drinking glass used for water, juice, and other beverages

Spoon

He stirred his tea with a spoon.
Spoon used for eating soup and stirring drinks

Fork

Steam the corn until it can easily be pierced with a fork.
Fork used for eating food and checking tenderness while cooking

Cutlery

We bought a set of cutlery as a wedding present.
Cutlery set including knives, forks, and spoons for dining

Chopsticks

At many Chinese restaurants, people use chopsticks instead of a knife and fork.
Chopsticks used for eating Asian food like noodles and rice dishes

Napkin

She placed the cutlery on a napkin before serving dinner.
Napkin used at the table for wiping hands and mouth during meals

Tray

Carry the drinks on a tray to avoid spills.
Serving tray used for carrying drinks and plates

Tupperware

Store leftovers in Tupperware and put it in the fridge.
Tupperware food container used for storing leftovers and meal prep

Heat Safety & Storage

Oven glove

Use an oven glove to take the tray out of the oven.
Oven glove used to protect hands when handling hot trays and pots

Pot holder

Place a pot holder under the hot pan to protect the table.
Pot holder used to protect hands and surfaces from hot pots and pans

Garbage can

Throw the food scraps into the garbage can.
Garbage can used for disposing kitchen waste and food scraps

Cooking utensils vocabulary infographic poster with labeled kitchen tools

Last Updated on February 12, 2026

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