I was babysitting my grandson last week, and one of his toys rolled under the sofa. Neither of us had long enough arms to reach it, so I went to the kitchen and grabbed a pair of long tongs. We retrieved the toy, but he quickly lost interest and spent the rest of the morning playing with the tongs instead!

I'd like to think he's inherited my love of gadgets, but since he also enjoyed watering plants, weeding and playing football, it's too soon to tell. It’s been a while since I wrote about gadgets, so I spent a happy few hours browsing the kitchen and dining room gadgets on the Out of Eden site.

Included in both the Complete Bed and Breakfast Course and the mini workshop "First Steps to Owning a Bed and Breakfast" is my ultimate B&B kitchen list, featuring 14 pages of everything I recommend for a B&B kitchen.

Just a heads up, this is a paid sponsored post. This blog relies on the support and trust of readers like you. Collaborating with companies like Out of Eden, and only recommending products I'd actually buy or have been recommended to me by other hospitality providers I trust, helps me keep providing valuable content to you for free.I'll be recommending some products from the UK Hospitality Supplier Out of Eden in this blog post. For more about my collaboration with Out of Eden, read this post >> Where to shop for your hospitality supplies.

Here are 10 of my favourites:

1. Stainless Steel Tongs

A kitchen can’t have too many tongs and Stainless steel tongs are incredibly useful in a B&B kitchen. Besides from retrieving toys from under sofas and pasta that your taller partner has put on the top pantry shelf, they’re perfect for turning bacon and sausage, tossing salads, and flipping items on the grill. 

With nylon heads, these ones won’t scratch your non-stick pans ( or you toddler ) >> Stainless Steel Tongs

2. Kitchen Scissors

I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned scissors in a blog post before. They’re such an essential that you don’t think about them until they’re not there. I use them multiple times a day, often choosing them over knives for tasks like chopping bacon, herbs, and meat, slicing pizza, and opening packaging.

For hygiene, it’s important to have several pairs so you’re not chopping herbs with the same scissors used to cut raw meat >> Kitchen Scissors

3. Judge Saucepans

Getting the right saucepans is crucial for any B&B kitchen. My favourite is the Judge milk pan, which I used exclusively to poach eggs. If you struggle with poached eggs, the problem might be your pan. Check out my blog post on poaching the perfect egg. It includes a video demonstrating my favourite pan >> How to Poach an Egg

When we got rid of the AGA, we took the opportunity to get a new cooker with an induction hob and invested in a complete new set of Judge pans >> Judge saucepan set

4. Apron

An apron is essential in a B&B kitchen, keeping your clothes clean while you cook and serve breakfast. I definitely recommend getting one with pockets for storing utensils, a notepad for guest orders or your phone for taking that perfect breakfast photo for Instagram. Plus, a good apron is durable, easy to wash, and doesn’t need ironing, making it a practical and efficient choice for the busy B&B owner.

I love these aprons from Out of Eden. They are great value for money, wash well, and don’t need ironing. The pocket is essential, and the long ties mean you can tie them at the front and feel like a Masterchef winner >> Apron

5. Tumblers

I went through a lot of juice glasses in 17 years of running a B&B, partly due to breakages and partly because I kept changing my mind on the type of glasses. I finally settled on these chunky 200ml tumblers, which are perfect for breakfast juice >> Chunky Tumblers

6. Mini Milk Bottle

I have a bit of an obsession with mini-sized kitchen items, and I love these mini milk bottles. They are great for leaving in the guest's room fridge with milk or serving milk at breakfast. During the post-lockdown period, they were perfect for providing individual portions of milk and juice in the dining room. >> Mini Milk Bottles

7. Toaster

Whether to make toast for your guests or leave a toaster in the dining room is a contentious B&B topic. I did both and finally settled on a toaster in the dining room. I discovered that toast preferences vary widely: some like it barely toasted, others burnt to a crisp, some want it hot before breakfast, others cold after. To meet these different, needs while single handedly cooking multiple breakfasts and serving, I put the toaster and fresh bread in the dining room for guests to make their own.

You can read more about the importance of good toast and find out my easy way to bake bread for B&B guests on this blog post >> How to Enjoy Freshly Bake Bread Every Morning

This Dualit toaster is a classic, much loved by B&B owners. >> Dualit Toaster

8. Butter Dish

My obsession with all things mini in the kitchen extends to butter dishes. Cutting up butter and putting it in covered dishes was the first thing I did each morning at the beginning of the breakfast service. This ensured the butter was soft and spreadable by breakfast time. I always made extra for guests who love butter and might ask for more. Any unused butter went into a bowl in the fridge, ready for baking.

These butter dishes have a cute lid, making them more hygenic >> Butter Dishes

9. Glass Roasting Dish

Having several glass roasting dishes at your B&B is another must have. They are versatile, allowing you to prepare, cook, and serve a variety of dishes, from cooking and keeping sausages warm to making gratin dauphinois in the evening. Being see through makes it easy to keep an eye on the cooking progress They’re also stylish enough to go straight from the oven to the table, saving on washing up. Additionally, glass retains heat well, keeping food warm for longer, and is easy to clean, making kitchen operations smoother and more efficient.

These dishes have a great retro look to them >> Glass Roasting Dish

10. Tea Towels

When the hotel inspector first visited us, she told me she loved tea towels and would iron them and fold them neatly in a drawer. I’ve never ironed a tea towel in my life, but  you get through a lot of them running a B&B. I used several each breakfast and then washed them after each meal service, so it's worthwhile having a good supply.

Cotton or linen tea towels are particularly useful for polishing glasses, cutlery, and marble work surfaces.

These ones from Out of Eden offer good value for money >> Cotton Tea Towels

If you found these kitchen and dining room must-haves helpful, you'll enjoy my mini workshop, "First Steps to Running a Successful B&B." Packed with practical tips and expert advice, this workshop includes a 14-page complete kitchen equipment list with all of my recommendations. Don’t miss out on this chance to turn your B&B dreams into reality—check out the mini workshop today and take the first step toward running a successful bed and breakfast!