15 Must-Have First Apartment Kitchen Essentials for a Stress-Free Setup

Want to learn about the must-have first apartment kitchen essentials?

Setting up your kitchen for the first time can feel overwhelming. You might be thinking, “What do I actually need right now?!” or “Is this thing even necessary?!”

When I moved into my own place, I was excited to cook delicious meals in my beautiful kitchen—but like many young adults, I had to stick to a very tight budget. 

Instead of splurging on every kitchen gadget, I focused on the essentials: a solid pots and pans set, cooking utensils, silverware, and dinnerware.

Starting with the basics made meal prep easy and stress-free. Over time, I added more tools, but keeping it simple in the beginning helped me stay organized and save money.

In this post, I’ll walk you through the best first apartment kitchen essentials so you can cook with confidence from day one!

First Apartment Kitchen Essentials

Here’s a breakdown of the must-have kitchen essentials for first-time renters, plus a few extras that can make your life easier.

Essential Cookware: The Bare Minimum

Cooking at home is much easier when you have the right cookware.

 I always suggest starting with the basics and then add on any “nice-to-haves” later.

Here are the absolute basics you’ll need to make everything from breakfast to dinner:

✔️ Nonstick Skillet – Ideal for frying eggs, sautéing veggies, and making quick meals. Having at least two is helpful, especially if you like cooking more than one dish at a time.

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To purchase the skillet shown above, click here.

✔️ Medium Saucepan – Perfect for boiling pasta, making soups, and heating up sauces.

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To purchase the medium saucepan shown above, click here.

✔️ Large Pot – Necessary for making stews or boiling big portions of food.

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To purchase the large stockpot shown above, click here.

✔️ Baking Sheet – Great for making sheet pan dinners, roasting veggies, and baking cookies (yum!).

You’ll need one especially if you’re a self-proclaimed frozen meal chef.

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To purchase the baking sheet set shown above, click here.

Nice-to-Have (But Not Essential Right Away): 

✔️ Dutch oven – Great for slow cooking and for easy one-pot meals (my favorite).

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To purchase the dutch oven shown above, click here.

✔️ Cast-iron skillet – Holds heat well and lasts forever, but requires maintenance.

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To purchase the cast-iron skillet shown above, click here.

✔️ Slow cooker or Instant Pot – Perfect for you if you love set-it-and-forget-it style cooking.

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To purchase the slow cooker shown above, click here.

Knife Set: A Must for Any Kitchen

A good knife set is one of the most important kitchen essentials—seriously!

You don’t have to spend over $50 for a good knife set, but investing in a high-quality one makes a world of difference during meal prep. 

Cheap, dull knives can actually be really dangerous, so look for a set that includes a built-in sharpener. It’ll make chopping and prepping your food a lot easier…and safer.

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To purchase the knife set shown above, click here.

Cutting Board (And Why You Need Two!)

Cutting boards aren’t just a convenience—they help prevent cross-contamination.

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Ideally, you should have at least two:

• One for raw meats.
• One for everything else (fruits, veggies, bread).

A set of three (small, medium, and large) is even better for different meal prep needs. 

While some people love wood cutting boards, I personally prefer plastic because they’re easier to clean and they’re dishwasher-safe.

To purchase the cutting board set shown above, click here.

Measuring Cups & Spoons (Even if You’re Not a Pro Chef!)

Whether you’re cooking or baking, measuring cups and spoons are must-haves for your kitchen.

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I’ve heard that baking is a science, and it’s true—using the wrong measurements can completely change your recipe. 

Even for regular meals, measuring ingredients ensures you’re not overdoing it with any ingredients. Look for a stackable set to save space in small apartment kitchens.

To purchase the measuring cups and spoons sets shown above, click here.

Mixing Bowls (Trust Me, You’ll Use These a Lot!)

Mixing bowls are surprisingly easy to forget, but they’re an everyday necessity. You’ll use them for prepping food, mixing batters, tossing salads, or serving snacks. 

Nesting bowls are the best option for small apartments since they save cabinet space.

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Glass or stainless steel bowls are more durable than plastic, but obviously plastic is a lot more affordable.

To purchase the plastic mixing bowl set shown above, click here.

Dishware and Drinkware (Because You Need to Eat and Drink Out of Something!)

For your kitchen, you’ll need:

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You can find affordable dish sets at Walmart, Target, or Amazon. If you hate doing dishes (like me), consider keeping paper plates on hand for lazy days.

To purchase the dinnerware set shown above, click here.

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To purchase the glassware set shown above, click here.

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To purchase the mugs set shown above, click here.

Utensils You Can’t Live Without

These are non-negotiable kitchen essentials for your first apartment:
✔️ Silverware set – Forks, spoons, butter knives (and don’t forget a silverware organizer!).

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To purchase the silverware set shown above, click here.

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To purchase the silverware organizer shown above, click here.

✔️ Large Spoon & Spatula – Ideal for stirring and flipping food without scratching nonstick pans. I like getting plastic and wooden cooking utensils.

✔️ Tongs – A game-changer for flipping bacon and serving food.

✔️ Ladle & Whisk – Helps with soups, sauces, and mixing batters.

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To purchase the complete cooking utensils set shown above, click here.

Casserole Dishes (Not Just for Baking!)

A glass or ceramic casserole dish is another great addition—it doubles as a storage container for leftovers, which is perfect if you’re lazy like me and don’t want extra dishes to clean.

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Casserole dishes are great for meals like lasagna and mac and cheese

To purchase the glass dish set shown above, click here.

Food Storage Containers (Because Leftovers = Savings!)

I made the mistake of not buying any food storage containers when I moved in, and it was a struggle to say the least. Invest in airtight containers to keep leftovers fresh.

✔️ Plastic is affordable and great for meal prep.

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To purchase the plastic food storage container set shown above, click here.

✔️ Glass is better for the environment and can easily go from fridge to oven.

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To purchase the glass food storage containers shown above, click here.

Either way, you need some kind of storage solution for your leftovers.

Can Opener (Something You’ll Always Need!)

A simple can opener saves you the frustration of trying to open canned goods. I forgot to buy one and tried opening a can of salmon with a knife… not my brightest moment. 

Just get a can opener—it’s cheap and essential.

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To purchase the can opener shown above, click here.

Small Appliances Worth Having (But Only If You Have Space!)

✔️ Toaster Oven – For quick breakfasts and heating up leftovers.

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To purchase the toaster oven shown above, click here.

✔️ Blender – Great for smoothies.

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To purchase the blender shown above, click here.

✔️ Coffee Maker – I can’t function without my Keurig, so if you love coffee or tea, I highly recommend getting one.

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To purchase the Keurig shown above, click here.

The Spices & Pantry Staples Every First Apartment Kitchen Needs

✔️ Basic spices: Salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, adobo.
✔️ Pantry staples: Olive oil, vegetable oil, rice, pasta, canned beans, flour, sugar.

Pro tip: Buying spices in bulk saves money!

Cleaning Essentials for Your Kitchen

Reusable dishcloths can save money if you don’t want to overuse paper towels.

Space-Saving Organization Hacks for Small Kitchens

• Use vertical storage –  Think hanging racks for pots and pans or shelf risers for your cabinets.
• Choose multi-purpose items – A colander that doubles as a steamer or a cutting board that fits over the sink.

Necessary But Sometimes Forgotten Kitchen Essentials

✔️ Ziplock bags – Essential for food storage and meal prep.

You can easily purchase them of varying sizes at your local supermarket.

✔️ Aluminum Foil & Parchment Paper – Great for baking and roasting.

You can also purchase these at your local supermarket.

✔️ Oven Mitts – Keeps your hands safe when handling hot pans.

Definitely invest in high-quality ones. I made the mistake of buying cheaper ones, which made it pretty dangerous for me to hold super hot pans.

✔️ Splatter Guard – Helps when frying foods like bacon or sautéing chicken.

Splatter guards help keep your skin and countertops safe from hot oil. I suggest getting a set of different sizes to accommodate each of your pans.

✔️ Meat Thermometer – Ensures your meat is cooked to a safe temp for consumption.

I went years without a meat thermometer and when I finally got one I was in awe with how much easier it made the cooking process for me.

Now I no longer have to guess how long to keep my chicken in the oven because I can easily see if it’s safe to eat.

First Apartment Kitchen Essentials FAQs

What do you need to set up a kitchen for the first time?

To set up your kitchen for the first time, start with the basic essentials: a pots and pans set, cooking utensils, silverware, silverware organizer, dishware, and tupperware. 

You’ll also need oven mitts, measuring cups and spoons, a can opener, and basic cleaning supplies like sponges, dish soap, and disinfecting spray. 

Don’t forget a trash can and trash bags—it’s an easy item to overlook but you’ll definitely need it on day one!

What essential items should you always have in your apartment kitchen?

The essential items you should always have in your apartment kitchen include pots and pans, cooking utensils, silverware, a dish set, and food storage containers. 

You’ll also need a cutting board set, knife set, measuring cups and spoons, a can opener, and oven mitts. 

You should also stock up on basic pantry staples like your favorite seasonings, olive oil, rice, and canned goods so you can always throw together a quick and easy meal. 

Finally, you can’t forget cleaning supplies—sponges, dish soap, hand soap, disinfectant spray (or wipes) and trash bags. This keeps your kitchen clean and functional!

What are the 10 kitchen utensils?

The 10 essential kitchen utensils every first-time apartment renter needs include:

1. Knife – The most important tool for chopping and slicing your food.
2. Cutting Board – Keeps your countertops clean and free from damage during meal prep.
3. Wooden Spoon – Great for stirring sauces and sautéing food.
4. Spatula – Essential for flipping food like pancakes, omelettes, and burgers.
5. Tongs – Helps with grilling, flipping food in a pan, and serving dishes like salads.
6. Ladle – Perfect for serving stews, sauces, and soups.
7. Whisk – A must for mixing batters, whisking eggs, or blending sauces smoothly.
8. Can Opener – You’ll need this to open canned goods like beans, soups, and tomato sauce.
9. Measuring Cups & Spoons – Necessary for precise cooking and baking measurements.
10. Peeler – Makes peeling veggies quick and easy.

Having these basic utensils will make your meal prep easier and more efficient while you’re cooking.

This post was all about the must-have first apartment kitchen essentials.

Stocking your first kitchen doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Just start with the essentials, then add more as you go.