The test for any kitchen purchase isn't whether it's cheap — it's whether it earns its drawer space. A $3 gadget you never use is worse value than a $15 tool you reach for every single day. These 12 Kmart kitchen finds pass that test. All are under $20, all are available in Edition (With a Weekly Plan That Actually Works)">Australian Kmart stores right now, and all will genuinely make cooking faster, easier or more enjoyable.
1. Digital Kitchen Scale — $12–$15
The single most useful kitchen tool for improving your cooking. Weighing ingredients instead of measuring by volume is faster, more accurate, and means less washing up. Particularly transformative for baking — bread, cakes and biscuits are dramatically more consistent when you weigh flour instead of spooning it into a cup. Kmart's digital scale has a tare function, reads in grams and ounces, and has a flat surface that wipes clean in seconds.
Who needs it: Anyone who bakes, anyone who wants to follow international recipes, anyone who wants to portion food accurately.
2. Silicone Spatula Set — $10–$14
A good silicone spatula does three jobs: scrapes bowls completely clean (no more wasted batter), folds ingredients gently without deflating them, and handles high heat without melting. Kmart sells sets of two or three in different sizes. The small one is for jars and tight corners; the large one is for mixing bowls and frying pans. These are used in almost every cook and last for years.
3. Clip-Top Glass Jars — $2–$4 each
The best pantry upgrade available. Decant pasta, rice, oats, lentils, flour and sugar into matching clip-top jars and your pantry immediately looks organised, makes it easy to see what you have, and keeps ingredients fresh longer. At $2–$4 each, buying six to eight jars costs $12–$25 and transforms the entire pantry.
4. Microplane Grater — $14–$18
A fine microplane grater turns hard parmesan into a snow of cheese that melts immediately, zests citrus in seconds, and grates ginger and garlic so fine it disappears into whatever you're cooking. The flat box grater that came with your kitchen set does none of these things well. A microplane is one of those tools that once you own it, you use it constantly.
5. Oil Spray Bottle — $6–$10
Refillable with your own olive oil or neutral oil, an oil spray bottle gives you an even, controlled mist of oil over pans, baking trays and air fryer baskets. It uses significantly less oil than pouring, coats surfaces more evenly, and means you're not buying aerosol cooking sprays with propellant and additives. One of those small purchases that pays for itself within weeks.
6. Silicone Baking Mat — $10–$15
Replaces baking paper permanently. Nothing sticks, it cleans with a quick wipe, and it lasts for years. For anyone who bakes biscuits, roasts vegetables, or makes pastry regularly, a silicone mat saves money on baking paper and produces better results — more even browning, no sticking. Make sure it fits your oven tray before buying.
7. Bamboo Cutting Board — $12–$18
Bamboo is harder than plastic (better for knives), more hygienic than wood (less porous), and looks significantly more attractive than the thin plastic boards that come with most kitchen starter sets. Kmart's bamboo boards are well-sized and well-priced. Buy two — one for meat, one for vegetables and bread.
8. Mandoline Slicer — $18–$20
Uniform thin slices of potato, cucumber, zucchini and beetroot in a fraction of the time it takes with a knife. For potato gratins, cucumber salads, stir-fries and anything where even slicing matters, a mandoline is transformative. Kmart's mandoline at around $18–$20 is genuinely capable for home cooking. Use the hand guard every single time.
9. Stoneware Mug Set — $15–$20 for 4
Kmart's stoneware mug sets in earthy tones are consistently good — substantial feel, dishwasher safe, and genuinely attractive on a bench. At $15–$20 for a set of four they cost less than two mugs from a homeware boutique and look just as good. This is the coffee ritual upgrade that costs almost nothing.
10. Salad Spinner — $15–$18
Wet lettuce makes sad salad. A salad spinner dries leaves in seconds and — the underrated bonus — stores them in the fridge in the same bowl, keeping them crisp for days. This is one of those purchases that makes you wonder why you waited so long to buy it. Kmart's version is compact, functional and genuinely good.
11. Pouring Jug Set — $8–$12
A set of two or three clear measuring jugs in different sizes is one of the most useful kitchen basics. Liquid measurements, mixing sauces and dressings, pouring batter into pans — a good jug earns constant use. Kmart's clear plastic or glass jugs are microwave-safe, easy to read, and stack neatly.
12. Kitchen Scissors — $8–$15
Not craft scissors. Proper kitchen scissors with a strong blade and comfortable grip. They cut pizza faster than a wheel, snip herbs directly into a dish, cut spring onions and chives without a board, and break down chicken far more easily than a knife. Look for ones that come apart at the hinge for washing — this matters more than you'd think.
The $100 Kmart Kitchen Upgrade Kit
If you bought all 12 items at mid-range prices:
- Digital scale: $14
- Silicone spatula set: $12
- Clip-top jars x6: $18
- Microplane: $16
- Oil spray: $8
- Silicone mat: $12
- Bamboo boards x2: $28
- Mandoline: $19
Total: $127. A completely upgraded kitchen that cooks better, looks better and works harder. Buy the five most relevant to you first — scale, spatulas, microplane, oil spray and silicone mat cover most cooking situations.
What are the best Kmart kitchen buys in Australia?
The best value Kmart kitchen buys in Australia are the digital kitchen scale ($12–$15), silicone spatula set ($10–$14), clip-top glass jars ($2–$4 each), microplane grater ($14–$18), and silicone baking mat ($10–$15). These five tools cover the most common cooking tasks and all cost under $20 each.
Is Kmart kitchen equipment good quality in Australia?
For everyday home cooking, yes. Kmart kitchen tools are solid for the price — particularly their scales, silicone spatulas, cutting boards, and stoneware. They won't last decades like premium brands but they perform well for several years of regular use at a fraction of the cost. Tools that take more wear (knives, heavy pans) are worth spending more on; for everything else, Kmart is genuinely good value.
What kitchen tools do I actually need in Australia?
The kitchen tools that earn the most daily use for most Australian home cooks are: a digital scale, a good knife (one, not a set), a silicone spatula, a wooden spoon, a cutting board, a large pot, a frying pan, a baking tray, and kitchen scissors. Everything else adds convenience but these nine cover the vast majority of cooking tasks.