Because cooking for your PCOS shouldn’t feel harder than it needs to.

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But I’ll be crystal clear:
You absolutely do NOT need fancy tools or a makeover kitchen to cook for your PCOS.

If your slow cooker is from 2008 and still works… I see you.
I am you.

This list is just here for inspiration if you want a few things that make life a little easier or if you’re putting together a wishlist.

If Cooking Feels Hard… This Might Help

One of the most common things I hear from women with PCOS is:

“I want to cook more… but I don’t know what to do and I don’t have a lot of space or equipment”. 

I get it. I’ve been there.

For a long time, I thought the reason cooking felt so difficult was me.
I wasn’t organized enough. Or creative enough. Or “into cooking” enough.

But eventually, I realized something:
It wasn’t about motivation. It was about my environment.

And when I’m talking about the environment, it’s not about having an Instagram perfect kitchen, with rose gold plated everything. 

It’s about having the right kitchen tools and a functional space so cooking doesn’t feel overwhelming — especially when you’re trying to eat in a way that supports your hormones and energy.

My Not-So-Perfect Kitchen Journey

When I say I get it, I really mean it.

My first apartment was 475 square feet studio. The kitchen? It had a single 12×20-inch work surface.

In grad school, I lived in a 125-year-old house split into 5 apartments with no real kitchen storage or counter space, so I set up a Coleman foldout camp kitchen just to create a space to prep meals.

And my most-used kitchen tool today?
A ten-dollar slow cooker from Home Depot that I bought 17 years ago.

It doesn’t match anything. It has scratches and mystery stains I’ve stopped asking questions about.
But it still works like a charm.

You Don’t Need Fancy Tools — Just Ones That Work

I don’t believe in:

• Fancy gadgets you’ll use once
  
• Expensive appliances that collect dust  (that is why I firmly believe in using my ice cream maker often!)
  
• The viral kitchen tool of the month
  
• Or a Pinterest-perfect kitchen
  

You just need a few real-life tools that make cooking easier and more doable.

So let’s get into the tools and habits that actually make a difference — especially if you’re cooking for your PCOS.

How I Set Up My Kitchen

As a culinary dietitian with PCOS, I teach my clients to think in terms of zones — because how your kitchen is set up can either help you or hold you back. Here’s what makes a difference in mine.

The Prep Zone: Tools That Cut (Without Fighting You Back)

These are the tools I use almost every single day:

Chef’s knife

I’ve had mine since 2011. It’s the knife I use 90% of the time.

This is my absolute favorite Chef’s knife, WÜSTHOF Classic 8″ Chef’s Knife. It’s pricey but totally worth the investment.

Looking for a more budget friendly knife that is still recommended by top chefs? American’s Test Kitchen recommends:

Victorinox Swiss Classic 8 Inch Chef’s Knife, Straight Edge, Black  (It’s currently 20% off!)

Knife Sharpener

This is essential to keep knives sharp to stay safe. A dull knife is a dangerous knife.  I’ve had my knife sharpener just as long as my chef’s knife and it’s held up beautifully.

WÜSTHOF Knife Sharpener

Microplane zester

This $12 tool gets more use than you’d expect. I use it for garlic, ginger, lemon zest, and cheese. It’s still sharp years later.

Microplane Classic Zester Grater

Kitchen shears

Great for trimming herbs, cutting dried fruit, or cutting raw meats.

HENCKELS Take-Apart Kitchen Shears

Wide Fruit & Vegetable Peeler

A good peeler makes veggies prep SO much easier. 

This one is perfect for peeling butternut squash, root veggies, shaving parmesan cheese to look fancy on salad and making chocolate curls for dessert!

It’s so easy to use, my 5 year old daughter made a Carrot Peel Salad for use the other day. 

Kuhn Rikon Original Swiss Peeler, 4-Inch,

Cutting boards:

I use wood for most prep and plastic for raw meat — no fuss, easy to clean, and keeps things safe.

This is a great all purpose, less expensive option.

Winco, Rectangular Cutting Board with Red Rubber Grip

The Cooking Zone

Let’s talk about what I actually cook with, week in and week out:

Cast iron skillet

This is my weeknight workhorse. I roast whole chickens in it, bake skillet cookies, saute veggies — it’s incredibly versatile.

Lodge 12 Inch Cast Iron Skillet with Red Silicone Hot Handle Holder

BONUS- Cooking with cast iron may also increase your iron intake, which is helpful if you struggle with anemia.

Sheet pans

I am making sheet pan meals or roasting something in the oven almost daily. 

 I use the Nordic Ware Naturals Half Sheet pans constantly — for dinners, cookies, and sheet pan breakfasts. I’ve had them for years.

Nordic Ware Naturals Half Sheet- 2pk

Pre-cut parchment paper

A total game-changer. No more fussing with tearing sheets off a roll.

Pre-Cut Parchment Paper

Saucepans and stockpots

Most of mine were acquired during college, from a thrift store or found at TJMaxx. They work perfectly fine and have lasted years.

Just make sure to stay away from pans with chipped Teflon.

MultiCooker- Slow Cooker, Pressure Cooker, Rice Cooker, Saute, Yogurt Maker, ect- ALL in One

A multi-cooker is not necessary but I think it is one of the best investments in your kitchen. It makes cooking whole grains, beans and proteins a snap.

I don’t own a rice cooker, I just use my pressure cooker. I can quickly make steel cut oats, brown basmati rice, farro, beans, ect. 

I love putting a whole chicken in the Multi-cooker and either pressure cooking it (it FALLS off the bone) or with the slow cooker function. 

It’s also one of my favorite meal prep tools because I can quickly cook something in it while I have something else in the oven.

Instant Pot Pro (8 QT) 10-in-1

The Pantry Zone: Tools That Measure, Mix, and Make Life Easier

A few things that make cooking feel less chaotic:

OXO stainless measuring cups

The magnetic snaps are a small detail that make a big difference.

OXO Good Grips 4 Piece Stainless Steel Measuring Cups with Magnetic Snaps

Pyrex 1-cup liquid measuring cup 

Yes, you read that right, measuring cups for liquids can help ensure more precision in the kitchen, especially with baking. 

Pyrex Prepware 1-Cup Glass Measuring Cup

I also love this Pyrex one because it is very durable and can go into the microwave. I also love scrambling my eggs in it and then pouring them into the pan. It’s a multi-purpose piece of kitchen equipment.

Mixing bowls

I’ve had the same set of nesting Vollrath stainless bowls for years. But honestly? A good thrift store bowl works just fine too.

Vollrath Set of 3 Mixing Bowls: 4-Quart, 5-Quart and 8-Quart

Kitchen thermometer

I use a basic ThermoPop 2. It’s great for checking meat temps and baking.

ThermoWorks ThermoPop 2

Blender

Think beyond smoothies to cream soup and dips!

If you are looking for some great smoothie recipes, check out this blog post!

This is the blender I have and it works great! But I do recognize that it is pricey, so below is another recommended budget option from American’s Test Kitchen product recommendations.

Breville BBL620SIL Fresh and Furious Blender

Great budget option- Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender

Colander 

Mine’s big and sturdy. I use it for draining pasta, rinsing beans, and defrosting shrimp.

RSVP International International Endurance Stainless Steel Precision Pierced Colander, 5-Quart

The Fridge and Freezer Zone: Tools That Help You Stay Ahead

Glass storage containers

I get a pack from Costco or use saved jars. If you want ones that stack and last, the OXO Smart Seal line is great.

OXO Good Grips 16 Piece Glass Smart Seal

Mason jars

Great for soups, dressings, overnight oats, or freezer smoothies.

Vacuum sealer

Not essential, but helpful for batch prep and reducing waste.

Storage jars

I save peanut butter and jam jars to store leftovers. Free, sustainable, and actually useful.

Food safety tip: Store meat on the bottom shelf of the fridge to avoid drips. Keep your fridge under 40°F for safe storage.

What I Keep Stocked (Most of the Time)

PCOS Pantry Staples:

• Beans (canned and dry),
• Oats, 
• Lentils, 
• Whole grains like farro, quinoa, brown basmati rice, whole wheat pasta
• Peanut butter,
• Seeds-pumpkin seeds, pistachios, pecans, walnuts, hemp seeds, chia seeds, ground flaxseed, cashews (these are just my favorites)
• Olive oil- lots of it
• Flavored vinegars- apple cider, sherry, champagne vinegar, red wine, balsamic
• Canned tomatoes and prepared tomato sauce
• Canned tuna
• Canned pumpkin
• Spices- I have a lot but love using: garlic powder, cumin, smoked paprika, coriander, Italian season, Thyme, rosemary, cinnamon, Pumpkin pie spice. 
• Onions and garlic

Fridge:

• Greens like spinach, kale or cabbage
• Veggies- bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, ect
• Eggs
• Yogurt
• Lot’s of types of cheese
• Berries
• Lemons and limes for flavor
• Scallions
• Broth bases (Chicken and Veggie)

Freezer:
 

• Cooked beans
• Cooked brown rice and quinoa
• Frozen spinach
• Frozen broccoli
• Frozen artichokes
• Frozen corn
• Frozen shrimp
• Frozen chicken nuggets
• Frozen fish sticks
• Frozen berries and fruit like bananas and mango
• Prepped smoothie packs
• Homemade Energy Bites
• Prepped crockpot meals frozen flat in bags
   

One Last Thought

You don’t need a kitchen overhaul.
You don’t need the “right” aesthetic.
You don’t even need matching pots and pans.

You just need a few tools that make your life easier.
And you need a space that feels doable — not overwhelming.

If your slow cooker is from 2008 and still works…
I see you. I am you.

Start with what you have. Add one thing at a time if it helps.
And give yourself credit for every single meal you make.

Want a printable version of this list?
Grab the full free guide here:
👉 Download PCOS Kitchen and Pantry Essentials!