Home & Lifestyle

Moving Out Checklist: The Essential Kitchen Appliances You Need

When you’re moving out for the first time, a checklist of all the essential items for your home is a must. Luckily, we’ve pulled together all the moving-out necessities you could need for the kitchen the first time you move out of home.

Moving out: what do I need?

The tough thing about moving out for the first time is you often need everything. The good news, though, is that many of these buys (especially the bigger-ticket items) are built to last, so while there is an initial outlay, you’re really making an investment. 

Ready to start shopping? These are your moving-out necessities for your kitchen – the bits and pieces you want to put at the top of your moving out of home checklist.

Fridge

This one’s a non-negotiable and should be at the top of your kitchen appliances list. You might be able to find workarounds for everything else (heating food on the stove, toasting bread under the grill, etc…), but for health and safety reasons, you need to be able to keep your food chilled. Sure, it’s one of the more expensive items on your moving out checklist, with prices ranging anywhere between $400 and tens of thousands (yes, really!), but a good refrigerator should last you many years. Some things to consider when ticking this off your kitchen appliances list are capacity (how many people will be using it?), size (how big is your kitchen space?), design (top mount vs bottom mount and side-by-side) and energy rating. Check out our detailed fridge buying guide for more.

Kettle

Whether you’re whipping up a hot cuppa when the folks come to visit or stumbling out of bed to grab a caffeine hit first thing, a kettle is an important addition to your new kitchen. And while you could boil water on the stove, a kettle is unlikely to break the bank.

Toaster

Ah, toast. The perfect breakfast dish, soup accompaniment or late-night snack! To bring a sense of continuity and cohesion into your kitchen space, choose a matching toaster and kettle set.

Microwave

When ticking ‘microwave’ off your moving out of home checklist, there are a few things to consider. After all, not all microwaves are created equal! First, you want to consider the space you have available (especially if the kitchen has an in-inbuilt cabinet or shelf designed for the appliance). Then there’s the decision between conventional microwaves (basic and simple to use), convection microwaves (which combine the functions of a regular oven and a conventional microwave), and steam microwaves (which offer the additional steaming cooking method). Check out our microwave buying guide for more info on picking this essential item.

Vacuum cleaner

While not strictly a kitchen appliance, there’s no question messes get made in this room of the house, and you’re going to want a vacuum cleaner on hand to clean up when they do! For your moving out of home for the first time checklist, there are plenty of great basic vacuum cleaners that will get the job done without breaking the bank. Got a little more cash to splash? A robotic vacuum makes cleaning easier than ever. Find out which vacuum is best for you here.

Nice-to-have kitchen appliances

Strictly speaking, you can get by without the below items. But should you have to? Nah… if your budget allows, go ahead and get the things that will make life out of home just that little bit easier!

  1. Dishwasher

    Let’s face it, washing dishes by hand is a pain. It’s a boring job that nobody wants to do, and while a dishwasher isn’t a deal-breaker on your moving-out checklist, if you’re in a position to get one (aka, you’ve bought a home or your landlord has agreed), it’s definitely worth it. When choosing a dishwasher for your home, take into account things like noise, anti-flood features, wash and dry cycles, and energy and water efficiency ratings – check out our dishwasher buying guide for more on choosing a dishwasher for your home.

  1. Coffee machine

    Okay, some would argue that this should be on the ‘essentials’ list, and we’re not going to argue! If morning lattes and afternoon espressos are something you just can’t live without, this deserves to be on your moving-out checklist (Australia does love its coffee, after all – the average Aussie consumes a whopping 1.92kg of the stuff every year!). Whether you want a manual or automatic espresso machine, or a pod or capsule option, have a look at this buying guide to decide which one is best for you.

  1. Mixer

    If you love baking, a stand mixer or hand mixer will probably come in handy in your new kitchen, while stick mixers are a little more versatile, many with attachments that can be used for everything from pureeing to whisking. Check out our buying guide to figure out which one to add to your moving-out checklist.

  1. Air fryer

    These nifty appliances are a great way to whip up healthy, tasty, crispy food in a short amount of time, making them a great kitchen addition for busy folks (and who isn’t busy these days?). Find out more about choosing your air fryer here.

  1. Blender/food processor

    Smoothies, dips, nut butter, frozen margaritas… there are many good reasons to add a blender or food processor to your kitchen essentials list. Check out our buying guide to decide which machine works best for your needs.

Moving and installing bulky items

While you probably won’t put your back out taking your new kettle to your new home, heavier items like fridges may require some assistance. Make sure you have friends, family or pros on hand to help you move your larger items into your new home – or, better yet, when you purchase Bing Lee premium delivery, your products will be unpacked and connected to existing power, and the packaging taken away. If any electrical or plumbing installation is needed (for example, a dishwasher), be sure to contact a professional to help you get these services connected.

What other kitchenware and utensils do I need?

There are a few smaller bits and bobs you’re going to need to fill your kitchen. We’ve compiled a kitchen essentials list to help you out!

You will need

  • One or two quality frying pans (a small and a large)

  • Saucepans with lids (one small, one medium and one large pot)

  • Steamer basket

  • Roasting pan

  • Mixing bowls

  • Measuring cups and spoons

  • Can opener

  • Whisk

  • Serving and cooking utensils (slotted spoon, large serving spoon, ladle, potato masher)

  • Spatula

  • Metal flipper/turner

  • Wooden spoons

  • Cheese grater

  • Tongs

  • Cutting boards

  • Knife set (including at least a small/paring knife, a large cutting knife, and a serrated knife)

  • 6-person (min.) cutlery set (knives, forks, spoons & teaspoons)

  • 6-person (min.) crockery set (dinner plates, side plates and bowls)

  • Drinking glasses

  • Mugs and teacups

  • Tea towels and dish cloths

  • Food storage containers with lids

  • Sieve or colander

You may want…

  • 20cm round cake tin

  • Heavy baking sheet and/or cookie sheet

  • Rolling pin

  • Metal cooling racks

  • Ramekins

  • Kitchen scales

  • Kitchen scissors

  • Serving platter