I have a confession to make. I own a waffle maker. I use it once a year, and I'll never be without it. In fact, I was tempted to buy a new one for Waffle Day this year. I think everyone has something in their kitchen that is rarely used and that survives every spring clean. We all need a little unnecessary clutter in our lives, don't we? There are some kitchen tools that are absolutely necessary, though, and others that most definitely are not. Of course, necessary is subjective. A waffle maker might be an essential part of your kitchen. (Lucky you!) Hear me out, though. Grab a cup of coffee and let me convince you that you need these 4 basic kitchen tools. And if you're swimming in clutter, check out my 3 suggestions of kitchen tools you need to bin.

Kitchen Equipment You Need In Your Life

Y-Peeler

Most people have a vegetable peeler in their kitchen. If you're particularly hardy, you might use a paring knife, but since peelers are cheap and readily available, you probably have a peeler. It's fair to say that some vegetable peelers weren't exactly designed with ease of use in mind. (I'm looking at you, swivel peelers.) Enter the Y-Peeler. This is vegetable peeling for dummies. Its super-sharp blade allows for quick, easy peeling (essential if you're making this crunchy carrot salad) and it's much more comfortable to hold than any other type. I love my OXO Good Grips Y Peeler but any peeler with a decent grip will do.

Sharp-Edged Spatula

I'm a bit of a spatula junkie. I have more than you'd think I'd need, but I often manage to use every single one of them while making even the simplest of meals. (I know, I need help.) It's safe to say that I know what to look for in a good spatula, and for less than a Euro I've found exactly what I've been looking for. These rubber spatulas from Ikea cost next to nothing, so you have no excuse not to grab a few. They wash well in the dishwasher and I love that their sharp edges allow me to scrape every single bit of cake batter out of the bowl. The only drawback is that the handle will bend if you leave it in the saucepan while you're cooking (or the oven - yes, I did leave a spatula in the oven) but that's a minor issue that is easily avoided. 

Microplane Grater

Microplane graters are a little pricey when you consider that you can buy a box grater for a few pounds, but a box grater can't do what a Microplane grater does. The way I cook changed when I bought a Microplane grater. Ginger was always a bit of a pain to grate, so I avoided it. Now I keep a stash of peeled ginger in the freezer and my Microplane makes quick work of it. It's great for garlic too, as well as citrus zest, chocolate and hard cheeses - I love the delicate parmesan strands that fall from the grater. I'll still use my box grater if I'm grating cheddar for a comforting mac and cheese, but the Microplane works for most of my other grating needs. There are loads of options to choose from, but this Microplane Gourmet Fine Grater is exactly what you need.

Slotted Spoon

I know what you're thinking. Everyone has a slotted spoon. It's the kind of kitchen tool that's included in every utensil set. I'm not recommending just any slotted spoon, though. Before I bought this Joseph Joseph Scoop, I spent far too much time chasing pasta around a saucepan of boiling water with a regular slotted spoon. I'd manage to snag a piece, and before I'd have a chance to check if the pasta was ready, it would slide right off the spoon again. Hassle. Nothing escapes from this scoop. I use it for everything, from portioning out the meat and veggies in a curry before pouring the sauce into each bowl, to lowering arancini into hot oil. There's no need to stick with the Joseph Joseph scoop. Any deep slotted spoon will do the job just as well. 

Kitchen Equipment You Can Bin

Garlic Crusher

It's not that I don't like garlic crushers. There's nothing wrong with them. The garlic press I have is actually pretty good. They're such a pain to clean, though, aren't they? And you don't actually need one. I like to use my Microplane, but if you don't have one, or want to avoid wasting that last tiny piece of garlic you can't grate without adding grated finger to your meal too, here's a simple way to mince your garlic with just a knife and a chopping board.

Citrus Juicer

'Lemon, meet fork. Fork is an expert at getting the best out of you.' Believe me, using a citrus juicer, particularly a manual one, is no easier than cutting the lemon in half, stabbing it with a fork and squeezing it while you move the fork around. Here's a handy video to show you how simple it is.