7 Kitchen Essentials I Unpacked First After Moving

Moving is not my favorite thing to do. But even I, a kitchen-gear obsessive who stockpiles balloon whisks like the utensil apocalypse is nigh, have to admit that the moving process forced me to edit. I moved six months ago, and while I’m mostly settled, the past months have revealed two things: not only which kitchen items I loved enough to lug down the Eastern Seaboard, but also the ones that kept me out of takeout purgatory for weeks on end. I’ll forever love the air fryer that made stale pizza feel like a feast, and the compact coffee maker that fueled my toughest hours. Read on for my top picks that will make that impending move a little easier — and if you aren’t moving any time soon, these picks are still worth devoting kitchen real estate to.

I adore this whistling kettle as a return to analog pleasure in the kitchen, but it’s also one of my most-used appliances. It was one of the first things I unpacked in my new place, which meant I had boiling water in just a couple of minutes for hot tea, instant noodles, or even quick cleaning jobs. The roomy kettle was so useful that it replaced my electric kettle, which has been sitting unused on a shelf since moving.

I lugged my heavy Dutch oven across multiple state lines, and I’d do it again. I was able to batch-prep oatmeal, simmer beans, and cook easy soups within a week of moving, since I could leave them on the stove to stew while I put up a shelf or emptied a box. My precious Staub has occupied a prized spot on my stovetop since.

This 10-piece set rose quickly to the top of my kitchen staples after I tested 51 kitchen utensils in different sizes and shapes to crown a winner. I unpacked this set, which includes multiple spatulas, a whisk, peeler, ladle, and more, so I would have a diverse range of utensils ready to go. 

I was first introduced to the iconic moka pot by my best friend’s Italian family, and I’ve had one since. It’s the perfect coffee machine for moving, since it’s so petite and contains its various parts within itself. All you need is a stovetop, espresso-ground coffee, and the little “macchinetta” for fuss-free caffeine. 

Moving is sweaty work, and I was never more than a couple of feet away from my favorite glass water bottle. It rode 10 hours in a Uhaul with me, and I never worried about the borosilicate glass body chipping or shattering thanks to its cushioning silicone boot. This water bottle was my favorite that I tested for its two caps, straws, and dishwasher-safe build.

A former air-fryer skeptic, I fell in love with the Wonder Oven Pro, brainchild of J. Kenji López-Alt, after testing it for several weeks. Like a typical air fryer, it heats up fast and shaves time off cooking jobs, a boon when I was tired from the vagaries of moving. It made it easy to toast a bagel or reheat pizza without unpacking multiple appliances. And I loved that if the stovetop or counter was occupied, I could set up the Wonder Oven Pro on the floor and still be able to make a meal.

Maybe it’s just me, but there’s something depressing about eating out of disposable plates after a day or two. I highly recommend these pasta bowls, which I use daily, for their gorgeous speckled matte finish, sturdy build, and roomy interior. They’re a pleasure to eat out of, and I was so happy to have a couple of real dishes on hand while I was getting settled.