French kitchen essentials

The French are famous for their cuisine, not only due to their focus on quality ingredients (there’s something about their butter that can’t be replicated elsewhere!) but also on their quality cookware and utensils.

After six years of living in Paris, I’ve not only carefully curated the go-to items in my own kitchen, but I’ve also made the rounds in countless other French kitchens, from student lodgings to dreamy homes and apartments. Below, I put together a list of items and ingredients you’ll find in nearly every French kitchen.

An instant espresso maker

I don’t think I’ve come across a kitchen in France without an espresso machine of some sort. The French call our American-style coffee “jus de chaussette,” which literally translates to “sock juice.” Accordingly, you’ll typically find a few espresso mugs (I love my Le Creuset ones pictured below).

An electric tea kettle

Disclaimer: much to my husband’s dismay, we do not have an electric kettle in our kitchen. I’m too attached to our Le Creuset whistling kettle, and we don’t have the kitchen space for both. If I were to purchase one, I might go with the trendy Smeg electric kettle or resort to Monoprix for a more wallet-friendly model.

Linen towels

Linen towels are great for the kitchen. Its fibers, derived from the flax plant, make it a more durable option than cotton towels. They’re also more absorbant than cotton and lint-free (handy for drying those wine glasses).

Image source: Une fille de Provence

Fleur de sel, mustard, and olive oil

In any French kitchen, you’ll find quality salt (sel), Dijon mustard, and olive oil. These three ingredients are stars on their own but also serve as the base for several French recipes.

Fleur de sel is made up of large salt crystals that form as seawater evaporates. I’ve been using Le Saunier de Camargue salt for years and get it at our local Monoprix. It’s also available for purchase in the United States. The Skinny Confidential did a fun and informative blog post about it.

Dijon mustard, originating from the city of Dijon, is a mustard with a bit of a kick (although it can be really spicy depending on what kind you get). It’s used to make all things from sandwiches and salad dressings to chicken dishes.

Olive oil…is a bit of a no-brainer, but suffice it to say that it’s a staple in every kitchen and investing in a good quality one makes all the difference.

Dutch oven

Cast iron cookware is ubiquitous to French cooking. For those of you who have seen the series Emily in Paris, think of Gabriel and his beloved cast iron pan :)

Easy to store cookware

This is less of a French essential and more of a small apartment essential but the brand is French. Parisian apartments are notoriously small so maximising storage space is common sense.

Aside from my cast iron treasure above (clearly not so compact), I never invested in other cookware, so when my mom (who has amazing cookware) came to visit for 6 weeks during the birth of my first son, she got me all set up. She went to the well-known E.Dehillerin kitchen shop and came back with a stackable set from the brand Cristel. Not only is storing them simple, but they’re also excellent quality and dishwasher safe.

Scale

A scale, as you can imagine, measures the weight of the ingredients and not the volume. Most recipes in French call for the use of a scale. It’s the one thing your French mother-in-law will ask you for when cooking in your kitchen. Quite frankly, you’re not French without one.

Steak knife set

No French kitchen is complete without a quality steak knife set. I purchased two sets of Claude Dozorme steak knives at BHV in 2014 and they are still super sharp.

A dependable wine bottle opener

I picked up this Laguiole wine bottle opener in a small wine shop in Saint-Émilion (Bordeaux region) while studying abroad in the south of France in 2012. It has become one of my most prized possessions, as I’ve fond memories with this little gadget!

Woven market basket & caddy

You’re not doing the market right if you don’t have a straw basket for your flowers, fruit, and veggies. It’s not only eco-friendly but durable and chic.

If you typically purchase more than your shoulders can carry, you need a caddy. When I first moved to Paris, I did not own a caddy. Our kitchen was so small there was no way I could ever buy enough in advance to fill it up! It wasn’t until we moved that we got a caddy and now it’s a necessity.

Image source: Les Folies de Laeti

Bonus: a raclette machine!

If you’re super French, then you likely have a raclette machine (more commonly found in French kitchens than a fondue maker). Don’t know what a raclette is? It’s a popular dish to eat in the winter. You melt cheese and traditionally pour it over potatoes and charcuterie.

Image source: WMF France

Have a favorite French or French-inspired cooking item? Share in the comment section below! It’s always neat to see what other people use and appreciate :)