Food mill sitting on a white marble counter.
Home » Italian Food Basics » My 15 Favorite Italian Cooking Tools – What Italian Families Keep In Their Kitchens 

My 15 Favorite Italian Cooking Tools – What Italian Families Keep In Their Kitchens 

Last updated on November 1st, 2024

If you want to recreate authentic Italian dishes at home, it’s essential you have the right tools! 

I’m a mom of four and I spend countless hours in my Italian kitchen with these must-have Italian cooking tools. These are all tools that I use on a regular basis and highly recommend no matter your level of expertise. 

You can bet back in the 1700s no one was using a ravioli stamp… but let me tell you, these tools sure do make preparing Italian food a lot simpler and more fun for the whole family. From pasta machines to olive oil dispensers, each of these Italian cooking tools plays a vital role in cooking Italian food with ease and authenticity! 

You don’t need every single one of these tools to cook Italian meals successfully, but they make great stocking stuffers, small gifts, or components of Italian themed gift baskets.

If you want to learn about other Italian items I adore and recommend, check out my Italian Gift Guides & Italian Souvenir Guides.

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Ravioli Stamp/Pasta Cutter

top view of a ravioli stamp on a sand colored marble countertop.

A must-have for anyone who loves making pasta from scratch, a ravioli stamp or pasta cutter is indispensable for making homemade pasta easier and faster. This practical tool ensures perfectly shaped ravioli and neatly cut pasta sheets, making it one of my favorite Italian cooking tools.

Find it here -> ravioli stamp / pasta cutter

Stainless Steel Olive Oil Dispenser

side view of various olive oil dispensers for sale on a iron shelf outdoors.

In Italy, stainless steel dispensers are the preferred choice for storing olive oil. These containers help preserve the oil’s freshness by protecting it from light and heat. They are versatile for both kitchen use and table serving. 

Find it here -> olive oil dispenser

For my olive oil brand suggestions, check out 15 Best Italian Olive Oils – To Enjoy in Italy & Bring Home as a Souvenir.

Espresso Maker (Moka Pot)

Three different sizes of Moka pot sitting on a stone wall with trees in the background.

A Moka pot is a traditional stovetop coffee maker essential for brewing rich, strong Italian espresso, a staple in every Italian home. Choose the size based on how much coffee the person drinks or what size will fit in the gift basket. I think a three cup Moka pot is a good everyday size.

Find it here -> Moka pot

Make It: And be sure you are making your espresso correctly using my guide to How To Make Coffee In A Moka Pot In 8 Easy Steps with the Best Italian Coffee.

Gnocchi Board

top view of two gnocchi boards fanned out on a dark marble surface at an angle.

Perfect for making homemade gnocchi, this little board creates those characteristic ridges that hold sauce beautifully. This compact tool doesn’t take up much space and is ideal for kids to use.

Find it here -> gnocchi board

Recipe Journal

an open lined book with blank pages and indications to edit recipes and make notes.

Ideal for documenting culinary adventures, a recipe journal allows chefs to refine and personalize their recipes. Detailed notes are crucial in mastering the art of cooking Italian food!

Find it here -> recipe journal

Pasta Maker

top view of dark counter with homemade pasta in middle, a bag of flour on left hand corner and the pasta maker on the right hand of frame from top view.
The pasta we make at home using our pasta maker

While rolling pasta by hand is still the preferred method here in Italy, using a pasta maker makes things much easier. These machines are affordable and make a fantastic gift without the hefty price tag of more elaborate kitchen equipment.

Find it here -> pasta maker

Pasta Drying Rack

close up of a box of a pasta drying rack displayed outside of a shop.

A pasta drying rack is essential for drying long strands of homemade pasta. Avoid the hassle of drying pasta on chairs, where it can easily be knocked to the floor, especially if you have kids running around.

Find it here -> pasta drying rack

Pasta Measurer

side view of a stick topped with various pasta measurers arranged spanned out.

A handy pasta measuring device takes the guesswork out of portioning pasta, ensuring perfect amounts every time. It’s a practical tool that many home cooks might not already own, making it a unique addition to a gift basket.

Find it here -> pasta measurer

Cooking Pasta: Be sure you are cooking your pasta correctly or al dente and don’t miss Italian Pasta Brands – That We Actually Use in Italy.

Olive Wood Risotto Spoon

top view of hand holding a risotto spoon made of wood with a hole in the middle on a wooden background.

An elegant olive wood spoon designed specifically for making risotto is one of my favorite Italian cooking tools because I end up using it for many other dishes than just rice. This is a unique kitchen tool that many may not already have if you are looking for an inexpensive gift. 

Find it here -> olive wood risotto spoon

Pizza Cutter

top view of a pizza cutter with black handle on an angle on a marble countertop from top view.

A pizza cutter totally has changed my pizza experience at home. My husband and I argue over who gets to cut the pizza – it’s that satisfying to use. 

Find it here -> pizza cutter

Parmesan Cheese Knife

hand holding a parmesan cheese knife with a green handle on a dark, wooden, rough surface.

Serving chards parmigiano-reggiano with cocktails is a classic in Italy, especially in Emilia Romagna for aperitivo hour. This knife, called a coltello a goccia or a ‘droplet knife’, makes cutting parmesan much easier. There are several varieties, some with a point, some with a squared edge at the end, but you want to achieve large shards of parmesan cheese instead of slices. The individual knife makes a great small gift but consider the cheese knife set which makes for a nicer presentation.

Find it here -> parmesan cheese knife

Mezzaluna

a mezzaluna knife with wooden handles placed blade side towards bottom of frame on a marble countertop from top view.

The mezzaluna is one of the tools I learned to love upon moving to Italy. I soon learned that many traditional rustic, Italian sauces are still made by hand in Italy such as pesto and salsa verde and for chopping herbs

Find it here -> mezzaluna

Food Mill

Close up of tomato sauce being processed in a metal food mill.

A food mill is so important in Italy for making all kinds of canned goods including fresh tomato sauce, tomato sauce using canned tomatoes and other vegetable preserves. 

Find it here -> food mill

Rolling Pin

top view of rolling pin on a marble countertop.

A rolling pin is obviously not a specific Italian cooking tool but does get used almost everyday in my kitchen. It’s used for breads, pizza, pasta and desserts!

Find it here -> rolling pin

Silicone Baking Mat

top view of four different sized silicon baking mats on a sand colored marble countertop from top view.

Silicone baking mats have been a revelation to me. I have stopped using so much parchment paper, and these mats make cleanup easier and keep a number of classic Italian foods from sticking in the oven. 

Find it here -> silicone baking mat

Be sure to check out all of my Italian Gift Guides & Italian Souvenir Guides!