The Best Kitchen Tools for Small Apartments

Living and cooking in London means mastering the art of the compact kitchen. When square footage is at a premium, every item needs to earn its place in the kitchen – but that does not mean your culinary passion has to suffer. These recommendations from John, London-based chef and our Head of Cook School, is based on years of cooking excellent food within tight urban spaces, with no compromise on flavour.

1. Saute Casserole: The Pan That Does It All

Small kitchens require tools that are multi-purpose, and a stainless steel saute casserole does it all. It has enough surface area to sear meat or fish, but is equally excellent for making sauces, stews, or pasta. (If you're worried about stainless steel sticking, don't be – read our guide on how to prevent sticking in stainless steel pans.) Two handles make it nimble in small kitchens and allow it to fit easily into the oven, increasing its utility tenfold. 

2. You Only Need Two Knives: One Big, One Small

Many people assume chefs keep hundreds of knives, one for every task. In reality, most chefs favour two to three knives that handle almost every job on the board. A chef's knife is the most essential – built for bulk prep, large ingredients, and volume chopping. I prefer a utility knife (15cm is ideal) to a short petty knife because it works across most board ingredients rather than just in-hand tasks. Its thin profile excels at finer work like seam butchery or carving smaller joints of meat and fish. 

3. An Easy-to-Clean Chopping Board Set

The thin profile of Borough Kitchen Chopping Boards makes storage easy, tucking away neatly behind a bread bin or microwave. Dishwasher-safe for hygienic, reliable cleaning, these eco-friendly boards are crafted from recycled wood fibre and resin, ensuring safety from both bacteria and microplastics.

4. A Pestle & Mortar Is Essential

Whether grinding freshly tempered spices, crushing nuts for salads, or creating zingy salsa verdes, a solid pestle and mortar – around 15cm wide – adds dynamism and variety to small-kitchen cooking. Its timeless design doubles as an elegant visual feature.

5. Small Tools, Big Difference

There are a few go-to utensils every kitchen, especially a small kitchen, needs. 

  • Borough Kitchen Cooking Spoon (£16.00 each): A durable, heat-resistant alternative to a wooden spoon that can go in the dishwasher. 

  • Kitchencraft Stainless Steel Mini Whisk (£4.50): It features dense, extra bristles engineered to form stable emulsions rapidly in small bowls.

  • Paderno Dough Scraper (£3.00): The ultimate cleanup tool for sweeping food debris straight into the bin or lifting prepped ingredients directly from board to pan. 

6. A Very Compact Coffee Maker

All chefs run on coffee. Compact and travel-ready, the AeroPress delivers an exceptionally consistent brew while pressing spent grounds into a clean puck, keeping countertop mess to an absolute minimum. For espresso lovers, Wacaco coffee makers are excellent. 

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