Today, as a Korean, I want to introduce you to 10 essential Korean kitchenware items that every home cook should have.
Table of Contents
Why Do You Need Korean Kitchen Tools?
After moving from Korea to Belgium, I had to buy all the essential Korean kitchen tools from scratch. This made me realize how different kitchen tools are in European and American kitchens compared to Korean ones.
Korean kitchenware is uniquely designed to enhance the cooking experience and bring out the best flavors in your dishes.
Things like chopsticks and Korean kitchenware can be replaced with forks, but that’s not what I’m talking about. Today, I want to recommend the 10 essential Korean kitchenware that every Korean living abroad needs.
Top 10 Essential Korean Kitchenware
1. Rice Cooker
Rice is a staple food for Koreans. Although younger generations are eating less rice and opting for more flour-based dishes like noodles and bread, rice remains essential in Korean cuisine. To achieve the perfect Korean-style rice, a high-pressure electric rice cooker is necessary. This ensures the rice is chewy, glossy, and cooked evenly. Cooking rice in a regular pot can sometimes result in undercooked and less flavorful rice so I can say Rice cooker is an essential Korean kitchenware.
- Recommended:
- Cuckoo: https://amzn.to/4clQ11Q (US), https://amzn.to/43E0K5w (BE, NL)
- Yum Asia: https://amzn.to/42rJ9fU (US), https://amzn.to/4cAnLJ7 (DE), https://amzn.to/3FVmFve (BE, NL)
One of the most popular brands among Koreans is Cuckoo, which my mom absolutely loves. Currently, after moving to Belgium, I am using Yum Asia, which my boyfriend bought a long time ago.
Cuckoo makes delicious rice and keeps rice moist and fresh for a long time. Yum Asia makes decent rice, but it tends to dry out after a few hours.
Why Western Rice Cookers Can’t Recreate the Taste of Korean Rice?
Function
- Western Rice Cookers: Mainly for cooking rice, with few extra features.
- Korean Electric Pressure Cookers: Can cook rice and other dishes (e.g. stews, soups) with pressure cooking for moist and shiny rice.
Pressure Function
- Western Rice Cookers: No pressure function.
- Korean Electric Pressure Cookers: Uses pressure to cook rice evenly and keep it warm for longer.
Variety of Dishes
- Western Rice Cookers: Primarily used for cooking plain white rice.
- Korean Electric Pressure Cookers: Can cook not only rice but also dishes like stews, soups, and porridge.
2. Wok with a Lid
This is essential Korean kitchenware for dishes like jeongol (Korean hot pot), budae jjigae (army stew), and shabu-shabu. Having the right Korean kitchenware ensures that these dishes are cooked perfectly.
After moving to Belgium, I bought three different woks before finally finding the perfect one. The wok I now use is great for fried rice, hot pots, dakgalbi (spicy stir-fried chicken), and more. It has high heat conductivity and is not coated, so I don’t have to worry about peeling.
- Recommended:
- Silit Wok 32cm: https://amzn.to/4iRG3Yi (US), https://amzn.to/4ljStdm (DE), https://amzn.to/4lbiuLT (BE, NL)
3. Mandoline Slicer
Korean cooking involves a lot of julienned vegetables. Carrots for bibimbap, radish for kimchi, potatoes for stir-fried dishes—these all need to be julienned.
While you can cut them by hand, it takes a long time, the thickness is inconsistent, and your wrist may hurt. Many Koreans use a mandoline slicer at home, especially when preparing large amounts of radish for kimchi.
The first thing I regretted after moving to Belgium was not bringing my mandoline slicer. It’s nearly impossible to find in regular European supermarkets, so I recommend buying one online. This is a necessary Korean kitchen tool.
- Recommended: https://amzn.to/42bs5td (US), https://amzn.to/3G5ExmT (DE), https://amzn.to/4lx3GYf (NL, BE)
4. Steamer
A steamer is essential Korean kitchenware in Korean kitchens. In Korea, we prefer steaming dumplings over pan-frying them for a healthier option. Steaming also prevents them from breaking and makes the wrapper chewier.
Steamers are also great for steaming vegetables, corn, potatoes, and sweet potatoes. Instead of stir-frying vegetables for bibimbap, you can steam them all at once for a healthier and quicker meal. My mom’s kitchen in Korea always had multiple steamers, and I’ve found them indispensable as well.
- Recommended: https://amzn.to/43DOTUX (US), https://amzn.to/3G3LXXO (DE), https://amzn.to/4iRGQZg (BE, NL)
5. Kitchen Scissors
Kitchen scissors are an absolute must-have in Korean kitchens. If a foreigner asked me, ‘What is the first essential Korean kitchenware I should buy?’ I would immediately say kitchen scissors!
Korean BBQ? We cut the meat with scissors right on the grill. Korean pancakes (jeon)? Foreigners often use a knife, but Koreans always use scissors to cut them faster and easier.
To cut kimchi, Koreans prefer scissors over a knife and cutting board. A cutting board is harder to clean and absorbs kimchi stains, so we simply use scissors to avoid extra cleaning.
- Recommended: https://amzn.to/4crbPcw (US), https://amzn.to/43IM4Cd (DE), https://amzn.to/3FS0Ix0 (BE, NL)
A braiser is a perfect Korean kitchenware for dishes like galbijjim (braised short ribs) and godeungeo jjim (braised mackerel), where the stock is shallow but needs to be simmered for a long time. The thicker the pot, the better, as it prevents burning during prolonged cooking.
A heavy lid helps build pressure, which enhances the flavors. It’s also great for dishes like gamjatang (pork bone soup), which has a shallow broth and requires long cooking.
- Recommended: https://amzn.to/3XL56E9 (US), https://amzn.to/3XJgfp3 (DE), https://amzn.to/4cAqPF7 (BE, NL)
Utilizing proper Korean kitchenware allows for healthier cooking techniques and preserves the authentic taste of Korean cuisine.
7. Ttukbaegi (Earthenware Pot)
A ttukbaegi is a essential Korean kitchen tool for making Korean stews. If you’re debating between getting a dolsot (stone pot) or a ttukbaegi, start with the ttukbaegi.
Dolsot is mainly used for cooking rice, but since most people use electric rice cookers, it’s not commonly used at home. However, ttukbaegi is a must for kimchi jjigae, sundubu jjigae, doenjang jjigae, and other stews.
- Recommended: https://amzn.to/4lgtPKm (US), https://amzn.to/4hWscyH (DE), https://amzn.to/3QYfftl (BE, NL)
Even if you don’t have a dolsot, you can make dolsot bibimbap in a ttukbaegi. While the amount of crisped rice on the bottom is different, you can still make a delicious dolsot bibimbap or pot rice in a ttukbaegi. Ideally, choose one with a lid for better heat retention.
8. Tall and Thick Pot
Korea has a dish called gomtang, a rich broth made by boiling beef bones for hours. Because it takes over 12 hours to cook with a large amount of water, a tall and deep pot is necessary. A pot with a thick bottom is also recommended to prevent burning.
This type of pot is also excellent Korean kitchenware for making miyeokguk (seaweed soup) and sogogi muguk (beef radish soup) in large batches. The longer these soups are cooked, the deeper the flavors become, making them even more delicious.
- Recommended: https://amzn.to/4i2yOvD (US), https://amzn.to/3DSUYm7 (DE), https://amzn.to/41XzQnW (NL, BE)
9. Stainless Steel Strainer
A strainer is a must Korean kitchen tool in Korean kitchens, where noodle dishes are popular. It has to be made of stainless steel. When I first moved to Belgium, I used the strainer my boyfriend bought me, but as soon as I put the noodles in it, I realized it was plastic – it melted instantly! Always get a stainless steel one. It might be one of the cheapest but also a very useful Korean kitchenware.
- Recommended: https://amzn.to/4jkTLmD (US), https://amzn.to/3XI3g71 (DE), https://amzn.to/4cciMxK (BE, NL)
10. Steel & Wooden Spatula
Korea has many jeon, buchimgae (Korean pancakes), and a spatula is essential for flipping them. Especially for seafood pancakes, you’ll need a sturdy spatula.
If you’re a beginner, flipping pancakes with a thick wooden spatula can be tricky, so I recommend a thin stainless steel spatula instead.
Wooden spatulas, on the other hand, are great for stirring ingredients in a non-stick pan. Whether you’re stirring kimbap stuffing, potatoes, or kimchi fried rice, a wooden spatula is a must.
- Recommended:
- Steel Spatula: https://amzn.to/4j4LyTy (US), https://amzn.to/42agqek (DE), https://amzn.to/4ljZOtq (BE, NL)
- Wooden Spatula: https://amzn.to/43xisrf (US), https://amzn.to/42vHmq4 (DE), https://amzn.to/4jkUx31 (NL, BE)