We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
1. A large bamboo cutting board so you can slice and dice to your heart's content without feeling squeezed for room. It also features a nice little divot for catching juice, so slicing into that watermelon is far less of a mess.
2. A nonstick aluminum grill pan you can throw right on your gas, electric, or ceramic stove top for whenever you want some grill marks and flavor but you don't have time to go outside and fire up the charcoal. Having the option to grill at a moment's notice is *chef's kiss*.
3. A set of handy-dandy tongs that make it easy as can be to pick up, flip, stir, and so much more. They're easily my favorite kitchen tool. The silicone tips of this set also make them safe to use on your nonstick cookware so you can reach for them without even thinking twice about it.
4. A zester-and-grater combo so you can treat yourself to freshly grated cheese over pasta, chocolate over any dessert, ginger into a stir fry, and soooo much more. It's the final touch that counts the most.
5. An all-purpose pan that's ready to take on anything from deep dish pizza to sautéed veggies. That's right, it's even oven-safe up to 450 degrees, so whatever dinner vibe you're feeling you'll be looking to this bad boy for help.
6. A citrus juicer to bring a little zip and pep to any dish (or drink!) with some fresh-squeezed lemon or lime juice — without getting your hands all sticky.
7. A Dutch oven that'll serve you well for everything from big batches of one-pot pasta to some good ol' slow cooking on Sundays. Cooking knowing you'll have leftovers is the ultimate favor for future you.
8. A 15-piece knife set with cutie-patootie multicolored handles because if you're honest with yourself, it's probably time to replace the mega-dull set you got when you moved into your first apartment. Cooking is so much easier and more fun when you have knives that actually work.
9. A stainless-steel pot with a steamer basket and glass lid so you can steam every vegetable known to man or even cook and strain pasta in one fell swoop — no more scary boiling water pours!
10. And finally, a full 16-piece nonstick cookware set because having all the tools you could need at your fingertips is the key to unlocking the true potential of your kitchen. Now that you're all stocked up, it's time to hone your skills!
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.