5 Essential Tools for the Homestead Kitchen

There are a few of my favorite things to use in the kitchen that I cannot go without. Let me tell you about essential tools for the homestead kitchen tools you’ll want for your own kitchen.

Really. If these went missing or broke, I’d be rushing to purchase them again!

What is Homesteading and why is it getting so popular?

The Homesteading lifestyle is all about getting back to basics—growing your own veggies, raising chickens, or even making your own soap.

It’s becoming super popular because people want to live more sustainably and feel more connected to their food and the environment.

Plus, with all the online tips and communities out there, it’s easier than ever to start, even if you just have a backyard or a small space.

I think people are craving a simpler, more hands-on lifestyle, especially with all the focus on health and eco-friendly living these days.

And with the kitchen being the heart of a homestead home, it makes sense to start there on your homesteading journey with the right tools!

Keep in mind many of these items are found at garage sales, thrift stores or yard sales. Keep your eyes open and you just might find a great way to stock your kitchen with useful tools for a great price.

Why is it so important to cook homemade meals?

Cooking at home has several proven benefits that go beyond just saving money.

For instance, a study from Johns Hopkins found that people who cook frequently at home consume fewer calories, less sugar, and less unhealthy fats compared to those who cook less often. This leads to less health issues overtime.

They also tend to eat healthier overall, even when dining out occasionally. Moreover, cooking at home lets you control portion sizes, avoid excess sugar, which helps with weight management and improves your diet!*

When you grow your own food you are also controlling the environment in which it grows, this is a great way to eat organic food and then cook with it.

Why it’s essential to have a well-equipped kitchen

A well-equipped homesteading kitchen just makes life easier.

It saves time, keeps cooking fun, and helps you eat more nourishing meals since you can whip up homemade meals without the hassle.

With the right tools, you can try new recipes or techniques, avoid the takeout trap, and actually enjoy the process.

So, here are 5 Essential Homestead Kitchen Tools for any kitchen:

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1. Cast Iron skillet: The ultimate multi-purpose tool for cooks!

A good quality cast iron skillet is like the Swiss Army knife of your kitchen—there’s almost nothing it can’t do! It gets a LOT of use in my kitchen, that’s for sure. And they come in various sizes, too!

You can use it on the stove top to sear meats or sauté veggies, pop it in the oven for baking cornbread or casseroles and even throw it over a campfire for outdoor cooking.

Its heavy-duty construction holds and distributes heat evenly, giving you that perfect sear or crispy crust.

What makes it amazing is that it works with almost any heat source—gas, electric, induction, or open flame.

You can go from frying eggs in the morning to roasting a chicken for dinner in the same pan.

Plus, over time, cast iron pans develop a natural non-stick surface (called seasoning), so the more you use it, the better it gets.

It’s not just cookware; it’s a lifelong kitchen partner. No more buying new pots and pans every few years!

2. Wood Cutting Boards

You’ll enjoy having a bunch of them. But two at the least. I have two different kinds: A USA made hardwood cutting board and an Epicurean Kitchen Series Cutting Board made from paper composite. Please take your plastic cutting boards and place them in the trash.

As you may have guessed, I don’t like plastic cutting boards at all! (I ditch the plastic and go for wooden spoons, too)

I started noticing little shards of plastic coming off of the board while washing it. That’s not an ingredient I want in my food. I tossed it right away.

Also, dishwasher washing on a regular basis can exacerbate wear caused by knife marks, creating microtears where bacteria can hide in the plastic. No thank you.

Wood cutting boards are not inherently antibacterial, but they do possess properties that make them safer than they might appear for food prep. Here’s what the research says:

Natural Properties Of Wood Cutting Boards:

1. Porous Surface:
   • Wood boards are porous, which allows bacteria to be absorbed into the surface. While this may seem concerning, studies show that bacteria tend to die off more quickly inside the wood than on the surface of plastic cutting boards​ (Food & Wine).
2. Tannin Content:
   • Some types of wood, such as maple, contain natural tannins with mild antibacterial properties, which can help reduce bacterial survival on the board’s surface​ (Better Homes & Gardens).

Comparison to Plastic:

• Plastic Boards:
  • Knife marks can create grooves that trap bacteria, making them harder to sanitize effectively over time, especially in boards that have become heavily scored.
• Wood Boards:
  • While bacteria can enter the wood’s surface, they are less likely to transfer back to food, and the drying process further inhibits bacterial growth.

Best Practices for Wood Cutting Boards:

1. Cleaning:
   • Wash with hot, soapy water and rinse immediately. Avoid soaking, as it can warp the wood.
   • Periodically sanitize with white vinegar.
2. Drying:
   • Air-dry thoroughly to prevent moisture buildup, which encourages bacteria and mold.
3. Maintenance:
   • Oil the board regularly with food-grade mineral oil to maintain its condition and resist moisture absorption. This doesn’t take much time and it makes it look beautiful again, too.

While wood boards are not completely “antibacterial,” their natural properties and proper care make them a hygienic and durable choice for cutting boards. I love mine, plus, they are pretty!

3. A Stand Mixer

There are mixed feelings about this one. But, if you have little ones, you’re juggling homeschooling, you want to make food in big batches, you work from home – all of these reasons (and more!) are part of why I think a stand mixer is great.

I resisted a stand mixer for a couple of years because I just didn’t want it to take up so much space in my kitchen.

Then I started making all of our bread products and it very quickly became worth it to have a mixer that was capable of kneading dough.

For a few years, I used an off-brand mixer I bought on Amazon because that was the only one we could afford at the time. That’s a great place to start!

Recently though, my husband and I wanted to invest in the kitchen and my ability to make a lot of great bread and a lot of baked goods at one time.

We invested in the Bosch Universal Mixer. I will never go back to a traditional stand mixer. It is so powerful and kneads bread dough beautifully.

My husband even noticed a difference in my baking! It mixes dough so thoroughly and very quickly too, actually.

It can handle 15 pounds of dough at a time. If you can wrap your head around that! Ha!

4. Dutch Oven: A must-have for anyone looking to cook hearty meals with minimal effort

A cast iron Dutch oven is a lifesaver for anyone juggling a busy schedule—especially homesteaders.

It’s perfect for one-pot meals because you can toss in all your ingredients, let them simmer on the stove or roast in the oven, and walk away while it does the work.

You can use it on a stovetop, in an oven, or even over a campfire, it handles it all, making it ideal for hearty, no-fuss meals.

It’s also amazing for braising meats, roasting a whole chicken, or baking sourdough bread.

No matter the recipe, the Dutch oven locks in moisture and flavor, giving you delicious results every time.

Dutch ovens are built to last a lifetime (and then some). With proper care, they’re practically indestructible—many are even passed down through generations.

Whether it’s enamel-coated or raw cast iron, it can handle high heat, rough use, and years of cooking, making it one of the smartest investments for any kitchen. Plus, it looks great on your countertop!

5. Pressure Cooker: A time-saving tool for busy homesteaders and home cooks.

An Instant Pot electric pressure cooker is a game-changer for busy homesteaders, cutting cooking times by up to 70% compared to traditional methods.

It traps steam inside, raising the cooking temperature and cooking food faster without compromising flavor or nutrients.

Whether you’re making dinner after a long day or preserving a batch of veggies, it’s a huge time-saver.

Pressure cookers excel at transforming tough cuts of meat into tender, flavorful dishes and cooking grains like rice, quinoa, or beans to perfection in a fraction of the time.

You are missing out if you haven’t pressure cooked potatoes or made hard boiled eggs. So easy.

It’s versatile enough to handle everything from stews and soups to cheesecake and yogurt, making it a multi-functional workhorse in the kitchen.

Since it cooks food so quickly, a pressure cooker uses significantly less energy than traditional cooking methods. Over time, this efficiency saves both time and money.

Plus, it encourages cooking from scratch, helping you make the most of budget-friendly ingredients like dried beans or tougher meats that take less time to prepare.

So, which of these are you excited to add to your homestead kitchen?

• A versatile cast iron skillet for all types of cooking
• A durable wood cutting boards that are safer than plastic
• A stand mixer for efficient bread and baking tasks
• A cast iron Dutch oven for one-pot meals and sourdough loaves
• A pressure cooker to save time and energy

These tools are seriously game-changers for anyone looking to simplify cooking while still making great homemade meals.

They’re built to last, super easy to use, and help you make nourishing dishes without the hassle.

Whether you’re a busy homesteader or just someone trying to live more sustainably, having tools like a trusty cast iron skillet, a versatile Dutch oven, or a time-saving pressure cooker really makes a difference in the kitchen.

Plus, they’ll last forever, so you won’t need to replace them every year. It’s all about making your cooking routine easier while keeping things real and simple.

Continue to build your homestead kitchen

As you build your homestead kitchen, there are a few more tools you might want to add to the mix over time.

A food processor is a huge time-saver for chopping, slicing and pureeing, while a water bath canner and mason jars are key for preserving your harvest.

A large stock pot is perfect for making big batches of soup or stock, and a grain mill lets you grind your own flour for fresh bread.

If you’re into sealing up leftovers or meats (especially for hunters!), a vacuum sealer will keep things fresh and freezer burn free.

A meat grinder is great for making sausages or ground meats, and a food dehydrator helps you preserve fruits, veggies and even meals.

A good set of sharp knives and a kitchen scale will make prepping a lot easier, and stainless steel bowls are just perfect for mixing and serving.

Adding these to your kitchen setup will really up your homesteading game!

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the blog post! What’s your favorite homestead kitchen tool, or do you have any must-haves that make your cooking life easier? Drop a comment below and share your experiences!

*Resources: Center for a Livable Future​, Livestrong.com​, EatingWell.