14 Kitchen Essentials Worth Buying From Kohl's, According To Real Reviews

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

The kitchen is one of the most functional rooms in the house, and given that it's used to keep you and your family fed, it's important to have the right equipment. This is easier said than done, especially if you're new to cooking or are still getting a feel for your new kitchen and don't yet know what you're likely to need. So, how should you spend your budget? Which items are you most likely to use?

While that's something only you can answer, we are here to help. In fact, we've unearthed no fewer than 15 useful kitchen items currently available at Kohl's, the retailer known for its affordable home basics. All of these products come recommended with exceptional customer feedback. From non-stick cookware and essential appliances to cutlery sets and sharpeners, all of the products featured below are rated at least 4 stars cumulatively, based on more than 500 reviews, helping to eliminate the guesswork from your shopping and ensure you line your cupboards with the things most essential to you.

Pulling no fewer than 15 items into one essential kitchen package, Faberware's Cookstart 15-pic. DiamondMax Nonstick Cookware Set is ideal for students, new homeowners, and indeed anybody whose kitchen cupboards are empty and need to be filled on a budget. The set includes a covered saucepan, straining pan, Dutch oven, two skillets, a cookie sheet, plus an inventory of Prestige nylon utensils for all cooking, flipping, stirring, serving, and whisking eventualities. 

This sounds like a great deal, and it would seem that it is, not least because 65 percent of users rate the product five stars. Common themes in the reviews include the set's sheer quality, especially given the outstanding price point. It's also praised for its suitability for those who need a more comprehensive equipment collection to help them raise their cooking game. "Absolutely love this cooking set," says one happy customer, who adds "I've already used each pot and pan and am very pleased."

How "essential" this item is depends on whether or not you start your morning with a dose of caffeine. However, given that the National Coffee Association states that 66 percent of Americans drink coffee every day, it's likely to feel quite essential to a majority of homeowners. The BUNN CSB2G Speed Brew Elite 10-Cup Coffee Maker is perfect for home-workers, especially those who need a few cups to kickstart their morning. 

Reading into the reviews, it's easy to see why 78 percent of them award the coffee maker five stars. Some cite their loyalty to the brand because of the longevity of its machines (including two who cite a decade's worth of use). One reviewer says, "Great coffee maker. Have had Bunn for many years. Love getting my hot morning coffee immediately!"

There are many novel appliances nowadays that can toast a mean slice of bread, but sometimes, all you really need is a good old-fashioned toaster. Zwilling's Enfinigy Cool Touch, 2-Slice Toaster features extra-wide slots to accommodate chunkier dough-based delicacies like bagels, plus a stainless-steel finish that remains cool to the touch during operation. Frozen bread is treated to its own dedicated defrost function, and a "high-lift" mechanism eliminates the risk that comes with fishing in the void for your breakfast. 

689 customers have taken the time to review the product, and of those, an impressive 86 percent give it five stars. One hails the appliance as the best toaster they've ever owned, while others enjoy the fact that it doesn't take up too much counter space. "The toaster is well made and does a wonderful job," says one five-star reviewer. "We like that it is simply designed and easy to use; plus it's nice looking. Highly recommend this toaster."

While it's possible to get by without one, a microwave oven can help you to claw back time on days when work and family duties have gotten away from you. From speedy defrosts to the thorough reheating of yesterday's leftovers, microwaves are deemed essential by the vast majority of American households. In fact the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics states that more than 90 percent of households in the nation owned one by the 1990s.

If you need an upgrade and would rather avoid the worst-reviewed microwave brands, Farberware's Classic 1000-Watt Stainless Steel Microwave Oven features a multitude of auto-cooking settings for foods ranging from pizza to popcorn. It also features a child-safe microwave locking feature to protect tiny fingers. As for the reviews, 1,401 customers gave the microwave five stars. Many of those cite its solid performance, especially in light of the price, with one explaining that they "Love this microwave so far! It is very quiet and looks amazing!"

Morning smoothie sippers, savory soup chefs, and gourmet sauciers alike will make good use of the NutriBullet 1200 Watt Blender Combo with Single Serve Cups. Three speeds plus a pulse function will take care of your blending needs, regardless of how chunky they may be. A streamlined base promises to take up minimal space, while 32-oz and 64-oz vessels are likely to blitz enough for most occasions.

 Oh, and if you take your morning smoothie on the go, this handy model comes with to-go cups to help get you out the door on time. An impressive 2,564 reviews give the blender five stars, some praising the power output versus the size, others enjoying how useful the blender cups are for grab-and-go smoothies. It's also complimented for its ability to grind down tougher foods, including nuts, seeds, and even coffee beans, and one user describes it as the "Best purchase ever! Does it all! I make a lot of sauces that normally would need to be strained, not anymore!! Love it!"

Unless you're going to install a dedicated boiling water tap, then chances are that you'll need a kettle. And if you do, Cuisinart's PerfecTemp Cordless Electric Kettle comes strongly recommended. As for why, it could be that it allows you to boil water to the appropriate temperature for different types of tea and coffee, or that it can hold water at your desired temperature for up to 30 minutes.

Looking into the reviews, 80 percent (an impressive 2,450 users) award the kettle five stars. And it's more than the advertised functions that earn it such high praise, with one five-star reviewer explaining that they "Bought it because it was the simplest to use kettle with different temperature levels." However, customers also cite its simplicity, which, paired with its high functionality, makes it well worth the slightly higher cost compared to other kettles. Others are pleased with its durability, including one who has used it daily for two years.

Labeled as a fast and efficient way to open cans, helping you to claw back time on busy days by speeding up dinner prep, the Cuisinart® Deluxe Can Opener represents a definite upgrade on standard, but absolutely essential, can openers. It uses a push-activated motor, and once it's on, there's no need to hold the can in place. It's also available in white or black, a small detail that allows homeowners to blend their purchase with their wider kitchen design.

Ease of use, an unobtrusive size, and good looks all appear as reasons for this product's strong review score. In fact, 78 percent of reviewers rate it with the maximum five stars. One customer says that the can opener "Works very well and is 100 times better than by hand," describing Cuisinart as "A company you can trust with your hard-earned money."

Ideal for keeping food fresh and microwave-ready, Rubbermaid's Brilliance 10-pc. Glass Food Storage Container Set comes in a modular design, helping you to save space and keep your cupboards, fridge, and freezer organized. It's a solid solution for anyone switching from plastic to glass food storage, with oven-safe glass bases that allow you to freeze meals then pop them in the oven when long days call for an easy win.

Impressively, 87 percent of users give the product five stars. Some say that these containers are far superior to plastic alternatives, while others praise their secure, leak-proof seals. If you already happen to have Rubbermaid's plastic equivalent, you'll be pleased to know that the lids are interchangeable. As one user says, "I was looking for some good glass storage bowls that I could heat right up in the microwave. These have been amazing! I love the airtight lids and that they stack on top of each other so well in the fridge."

If you'd rather keep your pantry clear of messy cardboard cereal boxes, then consider keeping your breakfast staples in Rubbermaid's Brilliance 18-Cup Cereal Keeper. Built with air-tight, latched lids that help to keep their contents fresh, they also feature a robust, shatter-proof construction to mitigate against the clumsy hands of kids. 

They're also stackable, helping to de-clutter your pantry while keeping you and your kids' favorite breakfasts box-fresh. 795 customers give the product the full five stars, some appreciative of its capacity (it can hold a full box of cereal), others thankful for its durability and airtightness. One long-time user, who describes it as the "Perfect product," says, "I have a complete set of Brilliance and they are great. They are so air-tight that there is a bit of a learning curve to open them easily. After just a little practice, it is easy and well worth it as these containers keep foods fresh so much longer."

Helping buyers to keep food fresh, Zwilling's Fresh & Save 7-pc Vacuum Sealer Machine Starter Set features a handheld, cordless vacuum pump, plus four vacuum-seal bags and two vacuum-seal containers. It's an ideal entry-level kit for anybody yet to dabble in the delicious art of vacuum sealing, while taking up less room on the counter or in your cupboards than a traditional vacuum packing appliance. 

Customers who bought this set in search of a smarter way to store food rate it incredibly highly, in fact, of 6,547 reviews, or over 84 percent of reviewers, give it five stars. One cites the money saved by keeping their food fresh for longer, while several praise its ease of use and sturdy build quality. "The set is perfect," says a particularly pleased patron. "I used the vacuum for the first time. It was very easy and amazing to use. I had the large food safer vacuum in the past and it was so bulking and hard to store. The ZWILLING is a life changer.

This 15-piece set of stainless-steel blades helps make home cooking as precise as possible. Henckels Statement 15-pc. Cutlery Set is housed in a hardwood storage block, allowing you to safely store your knives, and it comes with a sharpening steel to help you hone those all-important edges. As well as blades for cooking, it also has six steak knives, which could well come in handy during your summer cookouts.

Of course, knife quality is big on the agenda of many home cooks, however, given that 89 percent of the 5,249 reviewers give it full marks, that's unlikely to be much of an issue. The set as a whole is rated highly for equipping home chefs with all of the different knives they're likely to need. It also curries favor for its high quality and the simple fact that it looks great on the kitchen counter. One reviewer, who received the set as a wedding gift, says that "The build quality and sharpness are fantastic and a definite upgrade over the previous set we had. So many different tools for any purpose and we will be using these knives for years to come."

If you need a tool to keep your knife sharp, you might be interested to know that Henckels' Handheld Knife Sharpener is one the best-rated sharpeners at Kohl's. Indeed, a knife is only as good as its edge, which is why many home cooks regard a decent sharpener as highly as their favorite blades. This particular sharpener features two grooves for both coarse and fine honing, with a simple design that makes it easy to restore your edges. 

Despite being handheld, accidental cuts are minimized thanks to non-slip rubber feet and a grip that keeps fingers well away from the blade. 78 percent of users give the sharpener five stars, including some who enjoy that it has both coarse and fine-grit sharpening stones, and others who've been able to give their knives a new lease of life. As one customer puts it, "This knife sharpener is easy to use and put a razor sharp edge back on my knives in just a few minutes."

Multifunctional appliances are a great way to declutter a busy kitchen counter, but it's important to ensure they're up to the task. The last thing you want to do is give away your old appliances, only to have your new one break down and leave you unable to cook. If you tend to avoid adding coarser ingredients to your food processor for fear of wearing out the motor, then Ninja's Professional Auto-iQ 9-Cup 1000 Watt Food Processor could be worth a look. It can take up to nine cups, and comes with various blades for chopping, slicing, and puréeing. It also comes with a dough blade to help home bakers and pizzaiolis master their craft.

Given Ninja's premium reputation, you would expect a high degree of positive customer feedback, and in this case, it delivers, with 84 percent of reviewers giving the product top marks. One says that the processor delivers on the durability and quality they've come to expect from previous Ninja purchases, while another describes the powerful appliance as an easy-to-use kitchen game-changer. As one puts it, "This machine is great. It does everything it was advertised to do and does it fast and well."

Stand mixers may not, at first, seem like "essential" items. However, the KitchenAid KSM150PS Artisan 5-qt. Stand Mixer does more than beat dough and whip meringues. In fact, it owes its frequent rating as one of the best stand mixers on the market to its sheer versatility. This particular set comes with baking essentials including a dough hook, wire whip, and flat beater, however, it's the wide world of additional accessories that make the mixer so versatile.

A slicer and shredder attachment makes fruit and vegetable prep breezy, while those returning from Tuscany will find that the pasta press and pasta roller make light work of recreating their favorite holiday meals. You can also buy a meat grinder, and even an ice shaver. An incredible 28,202 reviewers award it five stars. Users praise it for its versatility and the use they'll get out of it for years to come, not to mention the effortless good looks it brings to their countertops. And while their premium price tag is a big consideration when buying KitchenAid appliances, there are customers who describe this particular product as the best they've ever bought. "The mixer is everything I needed and more," says one satisfied customer. "I upgraded from a Farberware, which did not have the option for additional attachments. I plan on keeping this for years to come."

In order to find you the most worthwhile buys from Kohl's extensive kitchenware ranges, only products rated at least four stars overall by customers were selected for inclusion. The piece is informed primarily by real customer feedback from buyer reviews on the Kohl's website. In order to ensure a reasonable appraisal of whether each is truly worth buying, we focused on products with a sample size of at least 500 reviews.