People get into cooking for all sorts of reasons. Whether it’s a love of good food, an outlet for creativity, or survival (because we can’t live on chicken nuggets and Taco Bell alone), having the right tools can help a new cook be more successful much quicker.

If you have a new chef to shop or this holiday season – or someone that’s just beginning to build their kitchen – these are some of my favorite items.

WÜSTHOF Classic 5″ Santoku Knife

Wusthof are my favorite knives and my go-to brand when one needs replacing. A santoku knife is very versatile and can be used for many things, making it an excellent first knife. I like the 5″ version because I have small hands, but they make a 7″ version as well.

Salt Pig

Learning to salt food properly is one of the most important skills for a cook to master, and the salt pig makes it so easy. Honestly, if I didn’t have this sitting on the counter, I might actually forget to salt food — so it’s as much a visual reminder as it is handy.

Lodge 12-inch Cast Iron Skillet

If you’re only going to have one skillet, make it this one. A well-seasoned cast iron skillet can handle just about anything, and I love it’s ability to go from stovetop to oven.

Wood Cutting Board

For a long time, I was not a fan of wood cutting boards. Turns out, I just didn’t know how to care for it properly! During a cooking class last year, the chef sprayed her cutting board down with diluted vinegar between uses and wiped it clean. Now I have one that lives on my counter. Not only is it pretty, I love that it’s always there, ready to go.

red 6-quart dutch oven

Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven

I’m all about things that have multiple uses in the kitchen, especially if you are just starting out or have limited space. Perfect for stews, chilis, soups and roasts, I also use mine for anything that needs boiling — potatoes, pasta, even bags of rice! My favorite dutch oven actually came from HEB, but this similar one on Amazon has great reviews.

Digital Meat Thermometer

No one likes dry, overdone meat. No one likes food poisoning either. Learning how to cook meat to the exact right temperature takes a lot of practice. In the meantime, a digital thermometer is the way to ensure a yummy (and safe) dinner.

Small Glass Prep Bowl Set

This is consistently one of the most-used wedding gifts we received. Is it glamorous? No. Are they cute, multifunctional and great quality? Absolutely.

Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker

Yes, this is a pricier gift. But for someone who is just learning to cook – or anyone that doesn’t have a lot of time to cook – a sous vide is a game changer. The hands-off ability to cook to perfection makes it an easy learning curve as well as a time saver.