Kitchen basics picks
Short answer
Dishwasher-safe dishes, flatware and glasses you can replace piece by piece, plus basic cooking tools. Each pick shows its exact sale unit, the price we saw and the date.
| Item | Need | I have | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dishes (dinner plate, side plate, bowl) | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Flatware (fork, knife, spoon) | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Drinking glasses | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Basic cookware set | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Chef's knife | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Cutting board | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Dish towels | 9 | 0 | 9 |
Products
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FÄRGKLAR 18-piece dinnerware set, matte light gray
Specs and care
- Item number
- 205.647.05
- Plate
- Ø10¼ in
- Side plate
- Ø7⅞ in
- Bowl
- Ø6¼ in, H2⅜ in
- Material
- Stoneware, colored glaze
- Care
- Dishwasher- and microwave-safe.
- One box covers six guests at about $10 per place setting.
- Dishwasher- and microwave-safe stoneware.
Limitation: Dishes only, with no mugs or flatware, and at 22 lb per box it is heavy to ship or carry.
FÖRNUFT 20-piece flatware set, stainless steel
Specs and care
- Item number
- 900.430.76
- Pieces
- 20 (5 pieces × 4 settings)
- Material
- Stainless steel
- Care
- Dishwasher-safe. Rinse off food right away; wash before first use.
- About $3.25 per place setting, so topping up lost forks is cheap.
- Plain stainless steel goes in the dishwasher.
Limitation: Covers 4 place settings per box, so most rentals need two boxes; the list counts that for you.
POKAL glass, clear glass, 12 oz
Specs and care
- Item number
- 102.704.78
- Capacity
- 12 oz
- Height
- 6 in
- Material
- Tempered glass
- Care
- Dishwasher-safe.
- Under $2 a glass, so a broken one is replaced with an exact match.
- Tempered glass, dishwasher-safe.
Limitation: Sold individually with a 4-glass online minimum, not as a boxed set.
Simply Cook 12pc nonstick cookware set, charcoal black
Specs and care
- Item number
- 51073202
- Lids
- Vented tempered glass
- Material
- Aluminum, ProGlide nonstick (PTFE) interior
- Cooktops
- Gas, electric coil, smooth-top; not induction
- Oven-safe
- Up to 350°F
- DPCI
- 070-01-1813
- Care
- Dishwasher-safe.
- Two skillets, two lidded saucepans and a lidded pot in one box.
- Dishwasher-safe, so cleaners can run it with the dishes.
Limitation: Does not work on induction cooktops, and nonstick coating wears with guest use, so plan to replace pans.
IKEA 365+ chef's knife, stainless steel, 8 in
Specs and care
- Item number
- 405.781.79
- Blade length
- 8 in
- Total length
- 13½ in
- Material
- Stainless steel
- Care
- Hand wash only.
- Full-size 8 in blade handles most guest cooking.
Limitation: Hand wash only; guests often put knives in the dishwasher anyway, which dulls them faster.
LEGITIM cutting board, white
Specs and care
- Item number
- 405.779.76
- Size
- 13½ × 9½ in, ¼ in thick
- Material
- Polyethylene
- Care
- Dishwasher-safe.
- Dishwasher-safe plastic, unlike wood boards.
- Cheap enough to replace when scored or stained.
Limitation: Thin (¼ in) board that may slide on the counter without a damp cloth under it.
RINNIG dish towel, green/blue stripe, 4-pack
Specs and care
- Item number
- 006.126.94
- Size
- 18 × 24 in
- Fabric
- 100% cotton, flat-woven
- Pack
- 4 towels
- Care
- Machine wash warm up to 140°F, no bleach, tumble dry medium. Can shrink up to 4%.
- Striped color keeps kitchen towels out of the white bath-towel wash.
- About $1.25 per towel.
Limitation: No bleach per the care label, so stained towels get retired rather than whitened.