"It's Always On The Stove": People Are Sharing The Often Subtle Things In A Kitchen That SCREAM "I'm A Great Cook"

Sometimes, people can catch you totally off-guard with just how comfortable they are in the kitchen — but other times, you just know their cooking skills will be on point. Sure, maybe the signs won't be altogether obvious, but if you've ever known a great home cook, you've probably been able to identify some tools or features in their kitchen that scream, "Yep, I know exactly what I'm doing."

character from 'The Bear' saying "Yes, chef!"

Recently, u/ArchegosRiskManager asked redditors to share the things that other people have in their kitchens that "immediately tell you they're a good cook," and honestly, I agree with so many of these responses.

BRB while I reorganize my entire kitchen accordingly.

1."Their kitchen is otherwise very clean and orderly, but their baking pans look like they've been to hell and back with burned-on oils."

baking sheet with burned on oils and two sweet potatoes

2."When I'm using their kitchen, I can find anything I need intuitively on my first try."

u/Diplomatic_Barbarian

3."A box of Diamond Crystal kosher salt."

box of Diamond Crystal kosher salt

4.And on the subject of salt: "A salt pig."

u/debkuhnen

5."I had a chef come over once, and he saw a shallot on my counter — he said, 'That's how I know you know.'"

Seven unpeeled shallots on a white surface
Galeh Nur Wihantara / Getty Images

6."Those towels with the blue stripe on the side."

u/UncutEmeralds

"Pure utility towels! No one cooks well and frequently has time or space for fancy textiles in the kitchen."

u/Pherllerp

7."You know someone's a good cook if their default pan is stainless steel rather than nonstick."

Chopped onions being sautéed in a pot on a stove with a wooden spoon
Claudia Totir / Getty Images

8."You don’t find knives in their dishwasher."

u/typhoidfrank

9."A well-stocked spice cabinet. I am concerned about a person's cooking abilities when I see they have all of five different spices in their kitchen."

inside of a spice cabinet, neatly organized

10."They have more than four kinds of whisks in a utensil holder beside the range."

u/Best-Ad-8224

11."Deli containers, in various sizes. They're cheap, reusable, and freezable, and you can see the product inside. These are the workhorses of a well-organized kitchen. Not the least bit sexy, but indispensable."

various deli containers used for mise en place prep before cooking

12."They have many different oils for many different uses, not just the standard collection of olive oil and canola oil."

u/Catonachandelier

13.And more importantly than just their oil collection: "If someone has a squeeze bottle of oil sitting out near the stove. Not that decorative tall skinny bottle — a real ass-cheap plastic squeeze bottle."

sriracha bottle filled with oil

14."For home cooks, if it’s clean and organized but cluttered and seemingly chaotic at the same time, I know they're a good cook. It’s a sure sign that it gets used a lot."

"I feel the same way about auto mechanics, research labs, and woodworking shops."

u/kumquatrodeo

15."Blocks of cheese instead of pre-shredded cheese."

block of parmesan cheese

16."The absence of a bulk set of shitty knives in a knife block."

u/BCF13

17."If they have a Dutch oven that just sits on their stove and it's mostly clean...but you can tell they've been using it twice a week for 10 years."

A wooden spoon rests across a pot of boiling water on a stove
Jannhuizenga / Getty Images/iStockphoto

18."MSG. If you know, you know."

u/TheRainbowpill93

19."An open container (shot glass or small bowl) of coarse finishing salt."

bowl of finishing salt on top of stove

20."A well-seasoned cast iron skillet that stays on the stove. Or, decent pans that have the buildup on the bottom from being used. Most people I know who love to cook invest in at least one high-quality pan — and it is always on the stove."

u/pants207

21."A good, sharp chef's knife that gets used a lot. I feel like I've been in a lot of boomer and Gen X kitchens that have, like, 12 knives in a block and none of them are sharp, let alone a decent chef's knife. Often they're all serrated for some reason..."

Various kitchen knives are displayed on a magnetic strip, showcasing different blade shapes and handle designs
Mint Images / Getty Images/Mint Images RF

22."A well-stocked pantry with seven different vinegars."

u/StinkypieTicklebum

23.And finally: "Here's a bad sign. Those twin packs of pre-ground pepper and salt in little cardboard canisters with plastic lids."

A pantry filled with various food items, including spices, pasta, sauces, snacks, and canned goods, organized on shelves and in baskets
Alloy / Getty Images Plus

If you consider yourself a good cook, or if you happen to know a really good cook, do you agree with these observations? And in your experience, what's something in a kitchen that's a tell-tale indicator that someone knows how to cook? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.

Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.