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1. 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.
2. And two pairs of kitchen shears so when you don't feel like choppin' you can snip, snip, snip away. Shears are genuinely SO helpful in the kitchen for everything from prepping herbs and veggies to simply opening bags and containers.
3. A carbon steel wok to kick your stir-fries and fried rice up to the next level. Its high sides make it perfect for mixing and tossing and its nonstick finish ensures an easy cleanup. Nice!
4. A jumbo spatula for flipping flapjacks to and fro. Your roommates will be thrilled beyond belief that now your famous pancakes can be poured bigger and better than ever since you're equipped with the right tool.
5. A full 16-piece nonstick cookware set because time in the kitchen is so much more stress-free when you know for a fact that you have the right tools for the job. And since this set includes prep cups and a few tools along with cookware, you're gonna be all stocked up.
6. A microwave popcorn popper so snack time basically takes care of itself. Just put in your kernels, stick it in the microwave, and be amazed as your fave treat comes out in a flash. You can even add butter to the top of the popper that will melt over the popcorn if you want. Mmmm, butter...
7. 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 anything else you can dream up.
8. A Dutch oven that'll serve you well for everything from big batches of one-pot pasta to some gool ol' slow cooking on Sundays.
9. A stainless-steel skimmer that'll make frying at home way less of a daunting task. If "eating more mozzarella sticks in bed" is on your to-do list, here's an essential piece of that puzzle.
10. A three-piece peeler set for making quick work of peeling potatoes, carrots, and beets with the straight and serrated blades. You can even get REALLY fancy and cut veggies into tiny matchsticks thanks to the included julienning peeler.
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.