Moving into your first home or apartment?

Then you know that decking out a new kitchen isn’t easy. And with so many tools, gadgets and utensils on the market one is bound to get a little overwhelmed or confused.

Truth is you don’t need three varieties of cheese graters and 12 different types of mixing bowls.

Instead stock your shelves with these five kitchen must-haves and watch your cooking, and maybe even your life, become exponentially easier.

1. Slow cooker. Aka, the life saver. Before leaving for work, chuck in all the ingredients you need and come home to find a piping hot, savoury dinner, without the fuss.

The slow cooker is known for making great soups and stews for the cooler months, but it can even be used to satisfy a sweet tooth by making rice pudding or a berry cobbler.

This countertop essential is particularly great for novice cooks.

2. Knives. If you’re to splurge on any one item, make sure to invest in some top quality knives. The three most useful are a good, sharp chef’s knife, which will help you chop, cut and dice meats like a pro; a paring knife for more detailing slicing jobs like peeling fruits and veggies; and a serrated knife for cutting bread or tomatoes, anything with a crust or firm skin.

3. Citrus juicer. Fresh lemon, lime or orange juice can spruce up even the most mediocre fish or chicken dish and this tool will make adding your citrus ingredients that much easier. Instead of trying your hardest to get that extra drop of juice from that lemon or trying to catch the seeds before they end up in someone’s plate, just pop your favourite citrus fruit into this handy device.

4. Small food processor. This timesaver will make cooking a lot less stressful. You can use this tool to mince garlic or whip up a quick pesto or salsa. The possibilities are pretty much endless.

5. Spiralizer. Never heard of such of tool? We suggest you do some homework on this baby. If you’ve any gluten intolerances in your household or just want to cut down on carbs, the spiralizer will help you to make noodles out of any veggie imaginable: zucchini, yellow squash or sweet potato, just to name a few. An added bonus: You can also use this gadget to make curly fries!