What this tool is for

Kitchens fill up quickly. Spiralisers, egg poachers, novelty slicers, all bought with good intentions and all sat at the back of a drawer. This guide helps you cut through that by working out which bits of equipment genuinely earn their place, based on how you actually cook.

You tell it a bit about your habits and it gives you a sensible shopping list, with notes on what matters and what does not.

Who it is for

It is aimed at anyone kitting out a kitchen from scratch, or having a clear out and wanting to replace the basics properly. That might be a first flat, a house move, a student heading off in September, or someone who has inherited a mismatched pile of pans and wants to start again.

It is also useful if you have a specific style of cooking in mind. Keen bakers, batch cookers, people feeding fussy children, anyone leaning into one-pan meals, or cooks who want to eat more veg will all get a different list. If you already have a well stocked kitchen and know exactly what you want, you probably do not need it.

How it works

Answer a handful of short questions about the food you cook most often, how many people you cook for, your budget, and the space you have. You will get a plain English summary back, with a prioritised list of equipment, rough price guidance on where it is worth paying more, and suggestions for multi-purpose tools that can do the job of several gadgets. Nothing you enter is saved, and you can run it again as many times as you like if your circumstances change.