Below, we’ve gathered a list of all the things we actually use in our kitchen and why we love them. If you’ve ever wondered which wok we recommend or what tools we have in all our families’ kitchens, look no further! Shop our picks and other things we love below, or over at our Amazon storefront! We may earn a small commission if you click and make a purchase at no cost to you. Thanks for the support!
Woks
Our most asked question is what wok should I buy? You can feel good about investing in any of these choices, which you can find at different price points!
We use a 20-inch (51cm) wok in much of our cooking (Bill and Judy have a large dedicated wok burner), but a 14-inch (36cm) wok is the ideal size for most stoves and families. A 12- to 13-inch (31-33cm) wok is more suited to cooking for 1-2 people. Just know that the smaller sizes can be shallow at times for steaming. A domed lid is a good choice for that reason! If you are cooking on an electric stove, you will need a flat-bottomed wok. To cook on gas with a round-bottom wok, you will need a wok grate or wok ring.
affordable hand-hammered carbon steel
plenty of room for food to steam underneath!
support a local Chinatown family business with this affordable carbon steel wok!
see what’s going on inside the wok as you cook!
a splurge (makes a beautiful gift), handmade in shandong, on the heavier side
we recommend the 36cm size for most families
Other cookware & Bakeware
Everyone needs a stockpot, skillet, saucepan, frying pans, baking sheets, and casserole dishes for various recipes. We usually prefer stainless steel cookware, and a good set will last a lifetime. A Dutch Oven is great for braising, stewing, and baking sourdough. We’ve also include some Chinese cookware, such as bamboo steamers, metal steamers, and ceramic/clay pots.
2 commerical-grade half-sheets and 2 quarter-size are just about all you need!
These pots & pans will last you a lifetime. Sarah uses the D3 set, which is lighter weight!
holds heat better and more forgiving against scorching, though they are heavier!
comes with a metal ring to adapt steamer to any pot if you don’t have a wok.
perfect size for most woks!
heats evenly, retains heat!
for all our clay pot rice/casserole recipes
on our stove at all times!
a smaller metal steamer for little jobs/1-2 people
marinate char siu ribs right on the pan!
the perfect vessel for steamed eggs, steamed meats/fish, and well, pie.
we’ve tried many brands, but always come back to le creuset.
Perfect for milk bread loaves
for steaming/storing lo bak go!
love a casserole dish with a lid
for bill’s perfect sourdough boules!
tools & Utensils
These are the tools we reach for most often in our kitchen drawers. From our favorite instant-read thermometer to the all-important plate grabber (for hot steamed dishes), and the spoonulas we pull out of our drawers constantly.
We use these spoonulas constantly and have several on hand in all our kitchens!
zest citrus or grate garlic and ginger, and cheese with this essential tool!
when oven mitts are too bulky, grab hot plates out of tight spaces in the steamer without burning your hands.
replace plastic cutting boards with non-toxic bamboo boards with juice grooves!
small and nimble rolling pin for dumpling/bun dough, scallion pancakes, etc.
for the greatest accuracy, especially for baking and dough recipes. We all use this same one!
For candy, meat, hot oil, and more, you need an instant-read thermometer like this.
a luxury, but you won’t regret these perfectly flat pre-cut sheets for your sheet pan.
we love how adjustable it is and the sturdy pockets for all-day cooking!
2 timers, adjustable volume, and date/time display when not in use. We keep it LOUD to cut through distraction!
A sturdy set of kitchen shears for a reasonable price. Sarah loves this pair in particular—they’ve lasted years.
wok spatula, wok lade, and skimmer—we especially love wooden handles and the wide open lade shape for soups too.
pull fried food out of oil or dumplings/pasta from boiling water without a colander!
Many of our recipes require a fine-mesh strainer. We use this thing a lot!
turn any pot into a vegetable steamer with this cheap collapsible basket that takes up minimal storage space.
steam any heatproof dish of food with these racks
make batches of loose tea without microplastics!
Great for tea or spice infusions in braises/sauces!
our favorite—simple white ceramic, flat bottom.
simple, unadorned, they grip food well!
for roasting or cooling baked/fried foods; dishwasher safe!
For at-home hot pot parties, with nice long handles!
too many large/wide knives? This knife block fits them all, with multiple wide slots.
Kaitlin’s pick for a magnetic knife block that holds large cleavers
most affordable option; holds a cleaver and chef’s knife, along with smaller knives!
Kitchen Appliances
The kitchen workhorses that get used every day—our favorite rice cooker, food processor, the countertop water boiler you didn’t know you needed, and more!
the rice cooker we all use (comes in multiple sizes)
we use this thing every day, multiple times a day
boils water FAST for tea, sauce mixtures, and more! judy travels with one!
an investment, but makes baking easier for years ahead
by far the best food processor—ours has been going for over 15 years!
a multi-tiered steamer that doesn’t take up stove space
for all your air frying needs, comes in multiple sizes
make stews, braises, noodle soup broth, zongzi, etc. in less time.
be ready for hot pot parties with this dual-sided model (for spicy and mild broth!)
more affordable model with simple keep warm/cook button and steam tray.
blend soups and sauces, rinse, and put away! so much better than pouring it into a blender.
blend alot? get professional results with this one!
Storage
We’re not the most organized in the kitchen, but there are some storage items that just make things better/easier!
store rice in here!
store quinoa, millet, beans, etc.
drip-free spout for quicker stir-frying
for the things you reach for most
