Price Points: Kitchen utensil sets

Kitchen utensil sets

My niece and her boyfriend have just put a deposit down on their first rented flat. I remember my first rental all those years ago. Unlike mine, their place is completely unfurnished – they have absolutely nothing!

The main essentials the pair of them are going to need – pronto – are a bed, sofa and fridge-freezer. Those are big budget items, but there are also some not so expensive ones that I bet they’ve not even thought about. Glassware, crockery, cutlery and utensils can be bought in sets for not a lot of money, but that doesn’t mean you should go out and buy the first or the cheapest ones you come across. Think about the kinds of things you like to cook, eat and drink and that will point you in the right direction.

For instance, don’t purchase a set of 6 soup bowls if you don’t like or never eat soup. If you like cereal for breakfast, then cereal bowls are the right choice. Similarly, a set of fish knives & forks probably won’t see much action. However, you can never have too many teaspoons in your home if you drink tea and/or coffee… ditto mugs!

The same applies to kitchen utensil sets; there’s no sense buying a set where you won’t use half of the tools. Again, think about what you eat. Pizza? A pizza wheel is useful. Mashed potatoes? A masher or – in my opinion – the best tool for that job, a ricer.

Get a utensil bundle that includes a tin opener, a peeler, a couple of different spatulas, at least three spoons (one slotted) and a wine/bottle opener. From experience, I know that a melon baller and those 2-pronged meat fork things never see the light of day.

  1. Grey silicone kitchen utensils – set of 11: £15.79, Roov
  2. 28-piece stainless steel kitchen utensil set: £59.25, eBay
  3. Kitchenaid universal tool and gadget set: £74.99, Wayfair

shop kitchen utensil sets

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Prices & links correct at time of publication.

Kitchenaid universal tool and gadget set
Kitchenaid universal tool and gadget set
£74.99
28-piece stainless steel kitchen utensil set
28-piece stainless steel kitchen utensil set
£59.25
Grey silicone kitchen utensils – set of 11
Grey silicone kitchen utensils – set of 11
£15.79
Kitchenaid universal tool and gadget set
Kitchenaid universal tool and gadget set
£74.99
28-piece stainless steel kitchen utensil set
28-piece stainless steel kitchen utensil set
£59.25
Grey silicone kitchen utensils – set of 11
Grey silicone kitchen utensils – set of 11
£15.79
Kitchenaid universal tool and gadget set
Kitchenaid universal tool and gadget set
£74.99
28-piece stainless steel kitchen utensil set
28-piece stainless steel kitchen utensil set
£59.25
Grey silicone kitchen utensils – set of 11
Grey silicone kitchen utensils – set of 11
£15.79
Kitchenaid universal tool and gadget set
Kitchenaid universal tool and gadget set
£74.99
28-piece stainless steel kitchen utensil set
28-piece stainless steel kitchen utensil set
£59.25
Grey silicone kitchen utensils – set of 11
Grey silicone kitchen utensils – set of 11
£15.79
Kitchenaid universal tool and gadget set
Kitchenaid universal tool and gadget set
£74.99
28-piece stainless steel kitchen utensil set
28-piece stainless steel kitchen utensil set
£59.25
Grey silicone kitchen utensils – set of 11
Grey silicone kitchen utensils – set of 11
£15.79

Price Points: Cream cast iron saucepans

Cream cast iron saucepans | H is for Home

In our former house, the kitchen had a bright orange feature wall, appliances and accessories. We knew even before we moved that the kitchen in our cottage would need to have a different colour scheme.

We sold on our collection of volcanic orange Le Creuset saucepans, so have to replace them with something that would co-ordinate with our new Esse range and Smeg fridge-freezer. Matching cream cast iron saucepans are what we’d like. They’re relatively expensive, but many brands have a lifetime guarantee. We look at them as an investment.

  1. ProCook cast iron induction enamel casserole set – 3-piece, cream: £149.00, eBay
  2. Signature cast iron pans, cotton (20cm/22cm/27cm/28cm): £185.00-£275.00 each, Le Creuset
  3. STAUB cocotte round cast iron casserole, white truffle (20cm/24cm/26cm/28cm): £199.00-£259.99 each, John Lewis

shop cream cast iron saucepans

Some of the links on our blog are affiliate links. We may receive a small commission - at no cost to you - if you click through and make a purchase.
Prices & links correct at time of publication.

STAUB cocotte round cast iron casserole, white truffle (20cm/24cm/26cm/28cm)
STAUB cocotte round cast iron casserole, white truffle (20cm/24cm/26cm/28cm)
£199.00-£259.99
Le Creuset Signature cast iron pans, cotton (20cm/22cm/27cm/28cm)
Le Creuset Signature cast iron pans, cotton (20cm/22cm/27cm/28cm)
£185.00-£275.00
ProCook cast iron induction enamel casserole set – 3-piece, cream
ProCook cast iron induction enamel casserole set – 3-piece, cream
£149.00
STAUB cocotte round cast iron casserole, white truffle (20cm/24cm/26cm/28cm)
STAUB cocotte round cast iron casserole, white truffle (20cm/24cm/26cm/28cm)
£199.00-£259.99
Le Creuset Signature cast iron pans, cotton (20cm/22cm/27cm/28cm)
Le Creuset Signature cast iron pans, cotton (20cm/22cm/27cm/28cm)
£185.00-£275.00
ProCook cast iron induction enamel casserole set – 3-piece, cream
ProCook cast iron induction enamel casserole set – 3-piece, cream
£149.00
STAUB cocotte round cast iron casserole, white truffle (20cm/24cm/26cm/28cm)
STAUB cocotte round cast iron casserole, white truffle (20cm/24cm/26cm/28cm)
£199.00-£259.99
Le Creuset Signature cast iron pans, cotton (20cm/22cm/27cm/28cm)
Le Creuset Signature cast iron pans, cotton (20cm/22cm/27cm/28cm)
£185.00-£275.00
ProCook cast iron induction enamel casserole set – 3-piece, cream
ProCook cast iron induction enamel casserole set – 3-piece, cream
£149.00
STAUB cocotte round cast iron casserole, white truffle (20cm/24cm/26cm/28cm)
STAUB cocotte round cast iron casserole, white truffle (20cm/24cm/26cm/28cm)
£199.00-£259.99
Le Creuset Signature cast iron pans, cotton (20cm/22cm/27cm/28cm)
Le Creuset Signature cast iron pans, cotton (20cm/22cm/27cm/28cm)
£185.00-£275.00
ProCook cast iron induction enamel casserole set – 3-piece, cream
ProCook cast iron induction enamel casserole set – 3-piece, cream
£149.00
STAUB cocotte round cast iron casserole, white truffle (20cm/24cm/26cm/28cm)
STAUB cocotte round cast iron casserole, white truffle (20cm/24cm/26cm/28cm)
£199.00-£259.99
Le Creuset Signature cast iron pans, cotton (20cm/22cm/27cm/28cm)
Le Creuset Signature cast iron pans, cotton (20cm/22cm/27cm/28cm)
£185.00-£275.00
ProCook cast iron induction enamel casserole set – 3-piece, cream
ProCook cast iron induction enamel casserole set – 3-piece, cream
£149.00

Price Points: Pan trivets

Pan trivets | H is for Home

Every home needs a good trivet! Somewhere to put a red-hot pan down in a hurry or place a bubbling casserole dish on a dining table.

The long bar stainless steel trivet is a bit of a classic, suiting all styles of kitchen and large enough for multiple pans.

Perhaps you prefer wood. The Staub is beautifully clean & simple, and although it’s made of wood, is heat-proof up to 250°C.

My favourite of all the pan trivets, though, is the cheap & cheerful one from Apollo. It’s made of virtually indestructible cast iron, and anything with hearts… well!…

shop pan trivets

Some of the links on our blog are affiliate links. We may receive a small commission - at no cost to you - if you click through and make a purchase.
Prices & links correct at time of publication.

STAUB magnetic wooden trivet 29cm
STAUB magnetic wooden trivet 29cm
£35.00
John Lewis & Partners long bar trivet
John Lewis & Partners long bar trivet
£16.00
Apollo cast iron trivet, 15cm diameter
Apollo cast iron trivet, 15cm diameter
£4.95
STAUB magnetic wooden trivet 29cm
STAUB magnetic wooden trivet 29cm
£35.00
John Lewis & Partners long bar trivet
John Lewis & Partners long bar trivet
£16.00
Apollo cast iron trivet, 15cm diameter
Apollo cast iron trivet, 15cm diameter
£4.95
STAUB magnetic wooden trivet 29cm
STAUB magnetic wooden trivet 29cm
£35.00
John Lewis & Partners long bar trivet
John Lewis & Partners long bar trivet
£16.00
Apollo cast iron trivet, 15cm diameter
Apollo cast iron trivet, 15cm diameter
£4.95
STAUB magnetic wooden trivet 29cm
STAUB magnetic wooden trivet 29cm
£35.00
John Lewis & Partners long bar trivet
John Lewis & Partners long bar trivet
£16.00
Apollo cast iron trivet, 15cm diameter
Apollo cast iron trivet, 15cm diameter
£4.95
STAUB magnetic wooden trivet 29cm
STAUB magnetic wooden trivet 29cm
£35.00
John Lewis & Partners long bar trivet
John Lewis & Partners long bar trivet
£16.00
Apollo cast iron trivet, 15cm diameter
Apollo cast iron trivet, 15cm diameter
£4.95

Price Points: Cake decorating combs

Cake decorating combs | H is for Home

While browsing cake recipes on Pinterest this week, I realised what the one thing would be to make my home-made cakes look much more professional. Cake decorating combs may be pretty cheap, basic tools, but they can make a huge difference to the look of the end product.

For a little over a pound, you can give your iced/frosted/butter cream cake a smooth, attractive finish. Each of the combs featured has at least three different types of ‘teeth’ – giving you a choice in the width/depth of the lines/swirls you make on the top and sides of your sweet creations.

  1. Polypropylene decorating comb: £1.18, Nisbets
  2. Ateco aluminium cake decorating comb: £3.78, Amazon
  3. Wilton 3pc icing comb set: £14.99, eBay