9 kitchen staples recommended by culinary experts on offer

I graduated from culinary school in 2010 and in the 14 years since then I’ve tested just about every kitchen tool, appliance and gadget you can imagine. In my opinion, some of the best names and brands are hugely overrated, while I keep reaching for some of the cheapest, lesser-known products. On the other hand, some name-brand cookware pieces are absolutely worth the investment.

Luckily, many pieces that have been staples in my kitchen for years (or even decades) are not only worth the money, but are on sale right now, including favorites from All-Clad, Ninja, and Le Creuset. Read on to save up to 50% on the nine cooking tools I use every day, no matter what’s on the menu.

9 essential kitchen appliances on offer:

• All-Clad 13-inch Curated Stainless Steel Utility Pan, $150 (originally $195) at surlatable.com
• Williams Sonoma Heritage Bar Tools Set, $50 (originally $125) at williams-sonoma.com
• Ninja Professional Plus Blender Duo, $110 (originally $150) at target.com
• Williams Sonoma Matte Coupe Dinner Plate, $30 (originally $50) at williams-sonoma.com
• Le Creuset Round Wide Dutch Oven, $280 (originally $430) at surlatable.com
• Vuohoeg Wooden Cooking Utensils Set, $30 (originally $41) at walmart.com
• Black and Decker Family Size Electric Griddle, $15 (originally $26) at target.com
• White Rhino 1-Gallon Plastic Measuring Jug, $15 (originally $24) at walmart.com
• Takashi 10-Piece Knife Block Set, $600 (originally $1,200) at surlatable.com

All-Clad 13-inch Curated Stainless Steel All-Purpose Pan

No matter how many brands of pots and pans I research and test, I always come back to All-Clad, which I believe is unmatched in quality, durability, performance, and timeless design. Right now, you can get a 13-inch stainless steel skillet for almost $50 off. This perfectly sized pan will let you sear, sauté, simmer, bake, and fry virtually anything you want to cook, and it looks great doing it.

Williams Sonoma Heritage Bar Tool Set

In my opinion, no kitchen is complete without a well-stocked bar: Every meal deserves an equally delicious cocktail. Prepare your drinks in style with Williams Sonoma’s Heritage Bar Tools Set, which you can get for an impressive $75 off. Made from stainless steel, the set includes a bottle opener, ice tongs, muddler, Hawthorne strainer and measuring cup, so you can mix everything from martinis to Manhattans.

Ninja Professional Plus Blender Duo

There are many luxury blenders on the market, but sometimes you don’t want all the bells and whistles. I rely on the Ninja Professional Plus to get the job done: It effortlessly blends, chops, or liquefies at the touch of a button, and its powerful motor doesn’t shy away from tough ingredients like ice. Personally, I love the additional stacked blade for morning smoothies and evening margaritas.

Williams Sonoma Matte Coupe Dinner Plate

I inherited a weakness for beautiful china from my mother, but I admit that my beautiful plates, glasses, saucers and bowls mostly sit unused in the cupboard. Instead, I usually reach for my matte dinner plates from Williams Sonoma. Simple, classic and sturdy, these stoneware plates have a semi-matte glaze and look beautiful no matter what you’re eating. A set of four is currently on sale for $30.

Le Creuset Round Wide Casserole Dish

If there’s one brand I love as much as All-Clad, it’s Le Creuset. This timeless cookware brand is worth the investment, but it’s even better when you can get it on sale. And right now, the Le Creuset 6.75-Quart Round Wide Dutch Oven is $150 off at Sur La Table.

Available in 16 beautiful colors, this lightweight, high-quality cast iron Dutch oven is a must-have for all your favorite braised dishes, stews and roasts.

Vuohoeg wooden cooking utensils set

While silicone cooking utensils seem to be all the rage, I can’t seem to tear myself away from my favorite set of wooden cooking utensils that I use to stir, scoop, fry and flip on a daily basis. This nine-piece wooden cooking utensil set from Walmart is heat-resistant, elegantly designed and safe on all cooking surfaces. It even comes with a utensil caddy and spoon rest, so each piece of the set only costs about $3.

Black and Decker family-sized electric griddle

I have two kids who love breakfast, so on Saturday mornings I pull out this Black and Decker family-sized electric griddle to cook pancakes, bacon, and eggs on a large, easy-to-clean surface. I’ve had this griddle for years, and even though my family has put it through its paces, it works like new every time. I appreciate its generous size, even heat distribution, nonstick coating, and removable drip tray for easy cleanup. In fact, I like it so much that I just ordered another one so I’ll have a spare on hand (though I don’t expect it to break).

WhiteRhino 1 Gallon Plastic Measuring Jug

When I was gifted this gallon-sized measuring jug, I chuckled to myself because I thought I would never need a measuring vessel that large. As it turns out, the joke was on me, as I now use this tool frequently. Made from food-safe plastic, this jug is perfect for making brines, measuring cocktail recipes, and making large batches of batters, marinades, and sauces. It’s a remarkably simple yet useful kitchen tool that you can have right now for just $15.

Global 10-piece Takashi knife block set

No kitchen is complete without an amazing knife set. This Global Knife Set is as amazing as it gets and is now on sale for 50% off. Each smooth blade of the 10-piece set is crafted from individual pieces of stainless steel and has a lightweight, ergonomic design that gives you total control. The set includes a 3-inch peeler, 4-inch paring knife, 4.25-inch utility knife, 5.5-inch paring knife, 6.2-inch flexible boning knife, 8-inch chef’s knife, 8.5-inch bread knife, 8.25-inch kitchen shears and a ceramic sharpener, all presented in a beautiful wooden knife block.