I’m a Professional Kitchen Equipment Tester — Here’s What I Had on My Wedding Registry

Admittedly, we didn’t get very many things off our registry (we mostly received gift cards and cash, both of which were very appreciated!), but I’ve since used my registry as gift inspiration for myself (ha), and lots of my friends have used it as a guide for their own registries. A perk of being friends with a professional gear tester!

Here are 10 of the kitchen-related things I had on my wedding registry that I was most excited to receive. Plus, 10 more kitchen essentials I absolutely would’ve registered for if I didn’t already own them!

I wanted this salad spinner for a very long time, and just never got around to buying one! It was one of the first things I added to my registry and it really is the best salad spinner out there. It has a non-slip base, a pump you can operate one-handed, a removable basket that acts as a colander for rinsing greens, and a brake button. If you make salad, ever, you need a salad spinner. Ideally, this one.

I actually didn’t have the space for a box grater when I lived in an apartment, which is how I developed a crush on this model from Rösle. However, it was always just a little more than I wanted to spend. So I took a chance and registered for it! (Thanks, sister!) It has grippy feet and effortless shreds potatoes, cheese, zucchini, carrots, you name it. A big pro: It stores flat in a drawer.

I had the same immersion blender forever, and it worked fine but not great. I registered for this upgrade from Breville. It’s super powerful and comes with useful attachments, including a whisk and storage bowl.

I registered for these simple, durable glasses and think they’re 100 percent worth it (and they’re inexpensive!). I’d always had mismatched glassware and wanted to upgrade. I love the pricepoint of these, because I have a tendency to knock things over … and I won’t be extremely sad if one of these breaks (which hasn’t happened yet!).

This is like the Cadillac of fish spatulas, which is why it makes a great gift! It’s incredibly nimble and has a razor-thin head, so it’s able to flip delicate fish fillets and pancakes and remove freshly baked cookies off a sheet pan without a hitch.

This knife block is, in my opinion, the best of the best. It has long, flat sides that easily accommodate knives of all sizes. It rotates so you can easily access everything. It has magnets that are strong but not too strong, so you never feel like you have to tug your knife off of it. And while it is pricey, it’s also handmade and really is the kind of thing that’ll last a lifetime.

I made sure to have a mix of lower- and higher-end products on my registry, to fit a range of budgets. Funny enough, this was one of the things I was most excited for, as my old plastic one wasn’t really holding up all that well. The RSVP International Colander has tons of tiny perforations (so water easily flows out of it), secure handles, and a wide, tall base that ensures it stays off the bottom of the sink and drained water doesn’t flow back into it.

I pined after this dish rack for years and actually ended up buying it with a gift card we got as a wedding gift. It has hooks for cups or mugs, a removable, dishwasher-safe silverware basket, and a rack to dry wine glasses.

I had always wanted a Le Creuset Dutch oven. And while we didn’t end up getting one for our wedding (my husband bought it for me this past Christmas!), I think everyone should have a great Dutch oven on their wish list. This one cooks flawlessly, is easy to clean, and comes with a lifetime warranty. Its price tag is up there, but I do have some cheaper Dutch oven recommendations here!

My husband and I love to go camping and to the beach. We also run ultramarathons together and need a good cooler to house our drinks and snacks. I’d always wanted a YETI, and do think it’s the ultimate cooler for those really needing to keep stuff cold (I recently tested a bunch of coolers and still agree!).

• A cast iron skillet
• A stand mixer
• A good chef’s knife and paring knife
• Great wood and plastic cutting boards
• A pair of kitchen shears
• A nice trash can
• A blender
• A great coffee maker

Do you have a wedding registry recommendation? Leave it in the comments!