Proper tools and utensils are a must for preparing food. Let's take a look at some of the most common cooking utensils and equipment you can find in the kitchen …

Baking pan — a square or rectangular pan (glass or metal) used for baking and cooking food in the oven

Blender — an electric appliance used for blending liquids and grinding food

Can opener — a tool, either manual or electric, designed to open cans

Casserole dish — a glass dish, usually a 1-quart or 2-quart size, used to make casseroles or baked goods in the oven

Colander — a metal (or sometimes plastic) bowl with holes in it used to drain water or liquid from foods (such as pasta or vegetables)

Cookie sheet — a flat metal sheet used for baking cookies or other nonrunny items

Cutting board — a board made from wood or hard plastic used when cutting or chopping ingredients

Electric mixer — an electric appliance used for mixing ingredients (like cake batter) together

Glass measuring cup — a glass cup, used to measure liquids, with various measurements printed along the side

Ice cream scoop — a plastic or metal tool, shaped like a giant spoon, used to scoop ice cream from a carton

Kitchen shears — scissors for the kitchen that can be used to cut herbs and other foods

Measuring cups — plastic or metal cups in different sizes, used to measure dry ingredients, like sugar or flour

Microwave oven — a small oven that cooks or reheats food very quickly by cooking with electromagnetic waves (microwaves)

Mixing bowls — bowls (in various sizes) in which you mix ingredients together

Muffin tins — metal or glass pans with small, round cups used for baking muffins and cupcakes

Oven — a kitchen appliance for baking or broiling food

Oven mitts/potholders — mittens or pads used to hold hot pots, pans, baking sheets, and plates

Parfait glass — a special glass used to serve parfaits; it usually has a wide mouth and a narrower bottom

Pastry brush — a small brush used to spread melted butter, margarine, or sauces over food

Pizza cutter — a tool with a rolling cutter used to easily cut pizzas, doughs, or breads

Plate — a flat dish used to serve food

Potato masher — a tool used to mash cooked potatoes, or anything soft, to make them smooth

Rolling pin — a wooden or plastic roller used to flatten an item such as dough for a piecrust

Saucepan — a pot with a projecting handle used for stovetop cooking

Serving spoon — a large spoon used to scoop out large portions of food

Skillet — a pan used for frying, stirfrying, and sautéing food in hot fat or oil

Spatula — a plastic utensil used to fold foods together or scrape down batter from mixing bowls. You can use a flat metal utensil to lift, turn, and flip foods like eggs, cookies, and hamburgers.

Stove — a kitchen appliance with gas or electric burners used for cooking food (also called a range or cooktop)

Toaster Oven — a small oven that sits on the kitchen counter used to toast, bake, or even broil a small amount of food

Vegetable peeler — sometimes called a potato or carrot peeler, used to peel the skin off of fruit or vegetables

Whisk — a utensil used for mixing and stirring liquid ingredients, like eggs and milk, together

Wooden spoon — a big spoon made out of wood that is used for mixing and stirring just about any kind of food