Listen, y'all, if you’re gonna cook like a true Southerner, you need the right kitchen tools in your arsenal. You wouldn’t show up to a barbecue competition with a gas grill and a bad attitude, would you?
Exactly.
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The South is built on cast iron, butter, and an unshakable belief that every meal should come with a side of something fried. So, grab your sweet tea, settle in, and let’s talk about the kitchen essentials that’ll have you cooking like your meemaw in no time.
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1. Cast Iron Skillet
If your cast iron skillet isn’t older than you, is it even seasoned properly? This workhorse does everything—fry chicken, bake cornbread, fend off intruders (just kidding… mostly). It’s non-stick if you treat it right, which means no soap, no soaking, and no complaints about how heavy it is. Bonus points if it was handed down through at least three generations.
Be sure to read How to Season a Cast Iron Skillet.
2. Dutch Oven
A Dutch oven is a Southern kitchen’s equivalent of a Swiss Army knife. Gumbo? Got it. Pot roast? No problem. Apple cobbler? You bet. If you don’t have one, bless your heart, but you better fix that.
3. Biscuit Cutter
Sure, you could use an old tin can or even a drinking glass in a pinch, but a proper biscuit cutter ensures your buttermilk biscuits rise like they should: tall, flaky, and ready to be smothered in butter. And while we’re here, if you’re twisting that cutter while pressing down, we need to talk about your life choices.
4. Wooden Spoon
This isn’t just a spoon. This used to be an all-purpose tool; an instrument of discipline for unruly children and unruly gravy lumps. Wooden spoons don’t scratch your cast iron and they develop a certain personality over time, much like your Aunt Linda’s opinions about how you should be making your pecan pie.
5. Buttermilk Bowl
A good Southern cook always has a designated buttermilk bowl. It’s usually a big, slightly stained
6. Deep Fryer (or a Heavy Pot for Frying)
Fried chicken, fried okra, fried green tomatoes, fried… well, anything. A deep fryer (or a sturdy pot filled with just the right amount of bubbling oil) is a non-negotiable in a Southern kitchen. If you don’t have a fryer, are you even making your cardiologist nervous?
I like electric deep fryers because they keep the oil temperature steady and you don't have to keep checking a thermometer. However, you can use a Dutch oven (like the one above) for this.
7. Rolling Pin
You’re gonna need this for biscuits, pie crusts, and, if necessary, making a dramatic point when someone says, "store-bought pie crust is just as good." (Narrator: It is not.)
There are all kinds of fancy rolling pins. I sometimes use my mom's old red handled one (above) for nostalgia's sake but I prefer just plain wood with no handles like this one.
8. Mason Jars
Technically, these are for canning and preserving, but let’s be real—they’re also drinking glasses, salad containers, vases, and emergency Tupperware. If you don’t have at least a dozen on hand, you’re behind on your Southern homemaking responsibilities.
I love these things. When I cleared the kitchen for the remodel I gave probably 100 pint Mason jars away and kept 20 of my mom's OLD Mason jars from the 1930s and 40s.
9. Hand Mixer (or a Stand Mixer If You’re Fancy)
You can mix that cake batter by hand, but why would you? A good hand mixer will get you through all your meringues and mashed potatoes, while a stand mixer means you can turn your attention to sipping sweet tea and judging the neighbors’ landscaping choices.
Keep in mind that if you're making Amish white bread or another bread recipe you'll need the stand mixer.
10. Grease Jar
Bacon grease isn’t waste—it’s liquid gold. Every respectable Southern kitchen has a grease jar, whether it’s a fancy one with a strainer or an old coffee can sitting on the stove. That grease is the secret to flavorful beans, cornbread, and about 75% of our best recipes. Waste not, want not!
Final Thoughts on Kitchen Tools
Having the right tools in your kitchen doesn’t just make cooking easier—it makes it better. These are the tried-and-true essentials that keep Southern kitchens running like a well-oiled (and well-buttered) machine.
So, if you’re missing any of these, don’t worry. Just fix yourself a plate, say a little prayer, and start collecting.
And remember, the best recipes come with a little butter, a lot of love, and just a hint of passive-aggressive commentary from your elders. Happy cooking, y’all!
What are your favorite kitchen essentials? Leave a comment and let me know what I missed!
Sam says
tjweese7@gmail.com
Hello! I go by the Nickname My Precious Daddy gave to me & it’s “Sam”.