Many of your cherished, reliable (and maybe even slightly past their expiration date) kitchen tools might be in dire need of replacement. Most kitchen gadgets and accessories need replacement approximately every 5-10 years. If you’ve had any of these seven items longer than that, consider replacing them. Lost on how to begin? We’ve got you. Keep reading for convenient replacements for those kitchen staples.

set of six wooden utensils on white marble background — Tovolo Olivewood Spatula Set

1. Kitchen Utensils

Let’s start by looking at replacements for kitchen utensils. Utensils can wear and crack, creating malfunctions in the cooking experience. Consider a fresh set with all of the essentials, like these functional options from Tovolo. If you prefer wooden utensils in your kitchen, check out the Olivewood Spatula Set. This set contains spatulas, spoonulas, and cooking spoons for all of your cooking needs, while matching a natural kitchen aesthetic. If you prefer more smooth, sleek materials that clean up easily, consider the Silicone Utensil Set, also from Tovolo. This set includes tongs and a masher in addition to spoons and spatulas. It’s constructed from sturdy stainless steel and silicone, and comes in five different color options to conveniently match any kitchen aesthetic. If you’d rather pick and choose individual utensil replacements depending on what you need at the moment, take a look at the Staub silicone utensils. Choose from eleven utensil options including tongs, spatulas, ladles, and more. With acacia wood handles, they’re both appealing to the eye and functional.

Eleven black and brown kitchen utensils against gray background — Staub Silicone Utensils

2. Kitchen Towels

Toss that old, stained towel from when you first moved in and replace it with something fresh and more absorbent. Kitchen towels can tear and harbor more bacteria with time, so if yours have been around a while, consider this a sign to replace them. For bold, fun designs, take a look at Garnier Thiebaut’s Mille Wax Créole Kitchen Towel or Plancha Turquoise Kitchen Towel, both constructed from durable and reliable 100% cotton. If you prefer a more neutral design, Libeco Home’s Ajaccio Tea Towel In Black might be your new favorite thing. This simple towel is versatile and elegant, with a 100% linen construction. Another classic is Farmhouse Pottery’s set of Simple Kitchen Towels, featuring contrasting white and navy checks and stripes. The towels are neutral, understated, and feature a 100% cotton construction. For a variety of colors to choose from, Jokipiin Pellava’s Aika Kitchen Towel comes in eight different colors with a 50% cotton and 50% linen construction.

3. Cutting Boards

Cutting boards are extremely prone to bacteria build-up, especially when deep cuts develop on the surface. With wooden boards, they can be treated with wax for a short-term fix, but eventually, they need to be replaced. It’s recommended that your kitchen has at least two different cutting boards—one for meat products, and one for produce. For some cutting board staples, check out J. K. Adams Kitchen Basic Cutting Board for a wooden option, or OXO’s Good Grips 3 Piece Everyday Cutting Board Set if you would prefer a plastic cutting board.

Finding the perfect board for each task can be daunting, though well worth it in our opinion. If you have limited time, end your search and opt for a set of three or more cutting boards—a budget-friendly option that is perfect for separating meat, produce, and bread while avoiding cross-contamination. Sleek and sophisticated, Eva Solo’s Set Of 3 Chopping Boards provides you with a multicolored set of dishwasher-safe and hygenic boards for any recipe. This set also comes with a convenient holder to neatly store the boards and keep them out of the way when not in use.

Black, gray, and tan boards against white background — Eva Solo Set of 3 Chopping Boards

For a small kitchen with less storage space, Rösle’s set of black cutting mats is a practical option. This set of two thin mats takes up much less space than your typical board due to a thickness of only 0.08 inches, while also being functional and durable.

If you are partial to a classic wooden cutting board, consider the Farmhouse 20×14” Carving Board from J. K. Adams. This beautiful maple board offers a timeless touch to your cooking prep. Or, take a look at the 18x12x1-½ Cherry R-Board from John Boos & Co., a deeper wooden board that can also function as a serving board for cheeses and other appetizers. A host’s dream!

Parsley chopped on wooden cutting board — John Boos & Co. Cherry Cutting Board

4. Kitchen Electrics

Kitchen electrics can be hazardous if they have any frayed cables or corroded components. Additionally, it’s difficult to fully clean them and their functionality can wear with time. For example, the blades of blenders can dull, making your morning smoothie a lot more difficult to make. Replace an old blender with The Fresh and Furious Blender from Breville, or Zwilling’s Enfinigy Power Blender in Black, with six powerful different settings and safety features to ensure that the blades only spin when the top is on properly.

Food processors also need replacing, especially because they can aid cross-contamination of ingredients since they often process a wide variety of foods and it is difficult to completely clean them. If you’re looking for a basic food processor for your kitchen, look at Cuisinart’s Pro Classic Food Processor, with a generous seven-cup capacity. Looking for something more expert-level? Breville’s The Sous Chef™ 12 offers three different settings, an adjustable slicer, and an impressive twelve-cup capacity.

Swap out your old, worn toaster for The Bit More Toaster from Breville. This toaster has room for four slices and technologically advanced controls that allow you to adjust settings and see the progress of the toasting process.

Stand mixers are also pretty difficult to clean, especially the bases. Take a look at Cuisinart’s 5.5-Quart Stand Mixer in Silver if you’re ready to switch it up. This mixer is a versatile staple in any baker’s kitchen.

5. Storage Containers & Tupperware

Remember that one time you stored spaghetti and meatballs in your favorite Tupperware? It’s definitely still stained and no amount of scrubbing can dull the reddish hue. Ditch those old storage containers and opt for something fresh and clean. Stick to environmentally friendly, reusable options for your storage with Stasher’s silicone sandwich bags. These bags are perfect for on-the-go snacking and contain no PVC, latex or phosphates. Or, go bold with ZWrap’s funky food wraps to keep snacks and leftovers fresh.

Blue reusable half-gallon bag filled with peach slices — Stasher Half Gallon Bag in Aqua

Next, let’s look at containers. Multiple-sized sets such as OXO’s Good Grips Smart Seal 12 Piece Glass Container Set and Steel 12 Piece Pop Container Set both have strong, reliable seals to keep anything fresh. If you’re hardcore when it comes to freshness, consider this handy starter set to get familiar with Zwilling’s vacuum-seal storage products, which keep food fresh up to five times longer than non-vacuum sealed products.

Three different sized glass containers with blue tops — Duralex Lys Square Bowls

6. Peelers & Graters

Dull peelers and graters are difficult to restore, and are more likely to cause injuries while cooking. Opt for new, sharper options to get the job done, such as Rösle’s Swivel Peeler Crosswise to tackle long, slender vegetables. For a peeler that works for most fruits and veggies, Opinel’s Peeler N°115 in Natural is the perfect low-maintenance, versatile choice.

Silver peeler peeling carrot — Rösle Swivel Peeler Crosswise

For graters, go classic with the Premium Classic Series Zester/Grater In Black or the Professional Series Stainless Coarse Grater, both from Microplane. If you need a staple grater for your kitchen, these will get the job done. A multi-purpose option, like Rosle’s Multifunctional Grater, is also useful for a variety of different grating tasks.

Silver grater next to grated ginger — Microplane Professional Series Stainless Coarse Grater

7. Anything Non-Stick

Non-stick coatings can peel and flake off with time, contaminating your food and potentially being hazardous for your health. Additionally, this wear chips away at the functionality of an item being non-stick, meaning more work for you. Excellent non-stick options from USA Pan include the Quarter Sheet Pan, Rectangular Cake Pan, and 14-Inch Pizza Pan, all of which are PTFE, PFOA and BPA free.

Reliable non-stick options for the stove include Swiss Diamond’s XD Fry Pan - 11 Inch, which is oven-safe for a variety of uses, and Demeyere’s Alu Pro 8 Aluminum Nonstick Fry Pan, with long-lasting, PFOA-free coating. This fry pan also works with a variety of stovetops and is induction-ready.

Silver sheet pan with chocolate chip cookies — USA Pan Quarter Sheet Pan

Replacing those staple items in your kitchen is a daunting task, but hopefully this guide has helped you to take that first step towards finding fresh, new items—and easier cooking. If you want further assistance and advice, visit us at either our Belmont or Newton location for help from one of our knowledgeable store clerks. Or, shop online from the comfort of your couch, where you can enjoy free shipping on orders over $80!

On the Chopping Block: 7 Kitchen Items You Need to Replace