10 Summer Kitchen Essentials I Use on Repeat (And You Will Too!)

Remember the ice cream maker you just had to have for summertime that now sits unused in the back of a cabinet somewhere in your kitchen? Or the outdoor pizza oven that you planned to use every weekend to make Italian-style pizzas? So much for that!

There are a lot of “must-have” kitchen tools that end up gathering dust, but I’m not going to share those kinds of things with you here. Let’s talk about kitchen items you’ll use again and again!

My Favorite Summer Kitchen Essentials

These are summer kitchen essentials you’ll ACTUALLY use. How do I know? Because they’re some of my own favorites and my family uses them all season long—and beyond!

Herb Shears

When I started using my kitchen shears instead of a knife to cut herbs and green onions, I thought I was smart. But these herb shears are more than smart—they’re brilliant! They have multiple blades, so each snip makes several cuts, which means your prep time is streamlined.

Lodge Cast Iron Grill Pan

Grill baskets are nice for cooking veggies without having to thread them onto skewers, but they’re not exactly multitaskers. But this grill pan can be used year-round because it works on your outdoor grill, a campfire, and on your stovetop to give you grilling vibes even in the middle of winter. I love using it to grill cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, and shrimp. (Try my Grilled Shrimp Tacos on it!)

Zoku Quick Pop Maker

Because kids are impatient! Instead of using traditional popsicle molds and waiting (and waiting and waiting), this fun little ice pop maker does the job in just 7 minutes!

Grill Daddy Steam Cleaning Grill Brush

You want to taste the Grilled Chicken Kabobs you’re making dinner for tonight, not the burgers you grilled two weeks ago. Which means cleaning your grill is essential! This tool does better than your traditional brush (and SO much better than damp paper towels) because it steams the grill grates as it cleans.

Corn Zipper

I’m of the opinion that you should never buy a kitchen gadget that does a job you can accomplish with a good kitchen knife. And I stand by that! So what makes this corn zipper so essential? The blade is curved, so it does a much better job stripping corn kernels off the cob than a straight knife blade. It makes recipes like Corn Pasta a breeze!

Pitcher With Infuser

We all know we’re supposed to drink more water (especially in the hot summer months!), and by now we all know that infusing water with herbs and fruit is a nice way to give it an upgrade. But here’s an unexpected benefit I’ve found: I make infused water, pour it into a fancy wine glass, pop in a straw, garnish with a sprig of mint, and drink it while I work and it gives my mood a little boost too. It makes me feel like I’m treating myself!

Molcajete

Okay, I know this may not seem like a summer kitchen essential, but stick with me! First, your parties will be so much more exciting when you can make tableside guacamole for everyone. But the real reason I put this here is because if you grow basil in your garden, you will love using it to make pesto. A food processor slices the leaves, while the molcajete crushes them, releasing more flavor. A mortar and pestle also works, but I prefer the molcajete since it’s a multitasker—I mean, can you resist tableside guacamole?

Melamine Dinnerware and Tossware

Paper plates are a waste, but I hate using my regular dishes when we’re eating dinner outside. So in the summer, my melamine dinnerware and Tossware are in frequent rotation! I love these dinner plates from Tervis, and Tossware has no shortage of options either, from colorful designs to classic clear drinking glasses.

Instant Read Meat Thermometer

You’ll never have to guess if your steak is done to your liking or overcook finicky grilled chicken breasts again when you have a trusty meat thermometer. This one is quick, which is essential for grilling, and it’s also accurate and easy to use.

Marshmallow Roasting Sticks

Roasting marshmallows on sticks you’ve scavenged off the ground is so last century! These roasting sticks are much easier and they’re extendable so you can keep safe from the open flames and still enjoy your s’mores.

More Summer Must-Reads

• Make your strawberries last longer with this guide on how to keep strawberries fresh in the fridge.
• Summer corn is such a treat! Here are 7 ways to cook fresh sweet corn.
• If you’re growing herbs in your garden, here are 16 smart ways to use them before they go to seed!
• Need some reliable zucchini recipes? I have you covered: 20+ Tasty Summer Zucchini Recipes To Make.