I’m Sad Fall’s Ending, but These Winter Cooking Essentials Have Me Excited for All of the Cozy Meals Ahead

While most people dread the start of fall, autumn and winter happen to be my favorite seasons of the year. I live in the Northeast, so I truly mean it when I say I love the cold. But I am always sad when fall ends because it feels so short. While I am not ready to let the crunching leaves, the cideries, and the sunny days go, I am looking forward to winter cooking. 

Cozy casseroles, freshly baked bread, hearty stews, and belly-warming desserts lie ahead of me. To make all these incredible dishes, you need a few kitchen must-haves ahead of time. Not to worry if you’re in the market, though, because I gathered all of the essentials to shop, many of which are tried and tested by our team or well-loved by me. Shop our favorite kitchen essentials from Le Creuset to Lodge — prices start at just $18. 

Winter Cooking Essentials at Amazon 

• Microplane Premium Classic Series Zester/Grater, $18 
• KitchenAid Citrus Juice Press Squeezer, $35
• Nordic Ware Naturals 2-Piece Big Baking Sheet Set, $40, originally $54 
• All-Clad Electrics Stainless Steel Immersion Blender, $90, originally $170 
• Le Creuset 5.5-Quart Enameled Cast Iron Signature Round Dutch Oven, $420 
• Zyliss Classic Rotary Cheese Grater, $23
• Le Creuset Stoneware Heritage Covered Rectangular Casserole, $135
• Henckels Premium Quality 15-Piece Knife Block Set, $150, originally $345
• Calphalon Classic Stainless Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set, $160, originally $240 
• Escali Primo Digital Food Scale, $27
• Lodge 12-Inch Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet, $25, originally $45 

Microplane Premium Classic Series Zester/Grater

My microplane gets used the most during the winter. Its small holes create a fine grate, which is ideal for the ingredients I use most often during those months. Think Parmigiano Reggiano to melt into pasta dishes, nutmeg for baked goods and mac and cheese, citrus zest for baked goods, and even garlic or ginger for dressings and sauces. It quickly powers through all of the above, cleans easily, and stores seamlessly. If I haven’t convinced you enough, It’s also our favorite zester on the market. 

KitchenAid Citrus Juice Press Squeezer

This citrus squeezer is on my to-buy list. Citrus is in season in the winter, and I love using lemons and limes in everything, whether in sweets like lemon pound cake or savory dishes like my favorite lemon and pine nut pasta. What I don’t love? The feeling of acid flaming my dry skin, the cold juice encapsulating my already cold hands, and the seeds flying everywhere. A simple squeezer like this KitchenAid one will literally solve all of those issues for me, and I will likely get the amount of juice I need faster. It’s our favorite splurge option for manual juicers because it is quick and efficient. It comes with a filter, so no seeds ever get through. It also has an integrated pour spout. It’s already in my shopping cart. 

Nordic Ware Naturals 2-Piece Big Baking Sheet Set

The Nordic Ware big sheet pan is my most-used sheet pan in the kitchen. I reach for it weekly for roasted vegetables or one-pan dinners. It’s also great for another all-important task: holiday cookie baking. Because it’s roughly 20 x 14 inches, you can get many cookies at once, taking up less time so you can move on to the next batch. It doesn’t brown the bottoms too quickly, giving you enough time to fully bake and set each cookie. It’s an all-around essential, and a set of two ensures you have another tray to load the next round of cookies — you’re welcome. 

All-Clad Electrics Stainless Steel Immersion Blender

While I love having my Vitamix blender, I would really appreciate an immersion blender for those days during winter when I just want to get a cozy meal on the table quickly — and it just so happens that our best overall pick is heavily discounted. This All-Clad blender can whizz up everything easily and quickly. We love how powerful it is and that it achieved a silky-smooth texture on everything we tested it with. Use it for soups, smoothies, or even some homemade stovetop hot chocolate. 

Le Creuset 5.5-Quart Enameled Cast Iron Signature Round Dutch Oven

If you don’t own a Dutch oven, I implore you to splurge on a Le Creuset model. I love mine so much — it’s a family heirloom that has lasted over 20 years. After rigorous testing, it was named our best splurge pick on the market. It really is one of those items that deserves the praise it gets. The cast iron base heats up quickly and holds the heat evenly. The enamel coating keeps it relatively nonstick, but you’ll still be able to develop fond as you sear or saute ingredients. It’s also just stunning. You’ll need it for all winter recipes, including soups, stews, breads, sauces, and more. 

Zyliss Classic Rotary Cheese Grater

We actually found the cheese grater Olive Garden uses. Full disclosure: I’ve never been to the chain restaurant, as my Italian-American family has pretty much forbidden me for eternity. I’m okay with that, but like everyone, I, too, want to experience a never-ending pile of cheese on my food, especially during the winter. Now we all can, thanks to this nifty gadget that easily cranks blocks of Parmigiano Reggiano or Pecorino Romano cheese. 

Le Creuset Stoneware Heritage Covered Rectangular Casserole

Speaking of Le Creuset, this casserole dish has always been on my wishlist. It checks off so many boxes, starting with the material. Stoneware is great for baking since it can hold heat, but it won’t get so screaming hot that it burns the bottom before the center is done. I love the generous size, measuring around 12 x 8 x 3 inches. The lid is the biggest perk of all for me since it serves so many functions. Use it to keep moisture in as you’re baking, to prevent baked goods from over-browning, to keep heat in while you wait to eat, or to cover recipes for easy traveling. It’s a must-have for winter casseroles and desserts, especially over the holidays. 

Henckels Premium Quality 15-Piece Knife Block Set

You need a great knife set all the time, especially during winter, when you’re likely cutting through heartier produce like squash, pumpkins, root vegetables, and more. This Henckels set is a popular favorite on Amazon, and it’s a version of the set my parents have owned for years. It includes all the essential knives you need, like a paring knife, a serrated utility knife, a santoku knife, a chef's knife, a bread knife, a set of steak knives, a pair of kitchen shears, and a honing steel. All of it comes neatly stored in a knife block. 

Calphalon Classic Stainless Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set

The same thing can be said for this Calphalon stainless steel cookware set, as it’s useful all year but comes in handy in the winter. I love using stainless steel saucepans for brown butter and caramel because they allow you to see the exact color you have. Skillets and saute pans are extra helpful for cozy braises or pasta dishes and can easily go into the oven. A large stock pot is ideal for boiling pasta or making homemade stock. This Calphalon set is our best value pick because it’s highly functional. The pieces are lightweight, responsive, and easy to clean. You get everything you need here, including skillets, saute pans, saucepans, stockpots, and lids. 

Escali Primo Digital Food Scale

Chances are you might be baking more than usual in the winter, and I highly recommend this tested kitchen scale for all recipes. Since it’s highly accurate, it just makes everything easier. When you know you have the right amount of each ingredient, you can be much more confident when making the recipe. Plus, it makes it easier to be consistent. I’ve owned this scale for almost a decade, and it’s just $27 at Amazon. It’s accurate and easy to use, measuring grams, ounces, and pounds. I love that the stand is slightly elevated because it makes reading the number at the base easier. Now’s the perfect time to get it ahead of holiday baking. 

Lodge 12-Inch Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet

I use my cast iron skillet for so many winter recipes, like skillet lasagna, baked ziti, cornbread, biscuits, and more. I love Lodge for an easy, solid, uncoated cast iron option. This 12-inch version looks ideal for the winter season. The extra room ensures plenty of surface area for baked goods, but it’ll also be great for searing and braising. Since it only has helper handles, it’s a little more compact on the stove and easier to maneuver.