Kitchen Items in French: 100+ Words for Appliances, Tools, and Utensils

Key takeaways

• Every French kitchen noun has a grammatical gender (masculine or feminine), and this gender must be learned with the word, not guessed later. Some gender patterns are predictable: tools ending in -oire (la passoire, la soupière) tend to be feminine; others ending in -eur (le réfrigérateur, le mixeur) tend to be masculine, but exceptions exist and memorizing gender with the article is the most reliable approach.
• French distinguishes between la casserole (saucepan with long handle, for simmering) and la cocotte (Dutch oven, heavier and typically cast iron, for slow cooking and braising). Confusing these two is a common mistake because casserole in English refers to a baking dish, not a saucepan.
• The French verb for cooking varies by method: faire bouillir (to boil), faire revenir (to sauté/brown), faire sauter (to stir-fry/toss), cuire au four (to bake/roast), griller (to grill/broil), mijoter (to simmer), and frire (to fry). Using the correct verb shows genuine cooking vocabulary mastery rather than defaulting to cuire (to cook) for every method.
• The phrase Il me faut… (I need…) and Je cherche… (I’m looking for…) are the most practical phrases for asking about kitchen equipment in a shop. Est-ce que vous avez… ? (Do you have… ?) works well for any specific item. Knowing whether the item you want is allant au four (oven-safe) or passant au lave-vaisselle (dishwasher-safe) is also practical kitchen vocabulary for shopping and conversation.

A kitchen is one of the most vocabulary-rich environments in daily French life: from equipping an apartment to following a recipe to navigating a French market. italki connects learners with French tutors who can help you build practical everyday vocabulary like kitchen items in the context of real conversation about food and cooking.

This guide covers major appliances, cooking tools, utensils, tableware, cutlery, storage, cooking verbs, and practical phrases for shopping and cooking in French.

Work with a French tutor online to practice kitchen vocabulary in conversation and connect it to the real-life cooking and shopping contexts where you will need it.

Major appliances

French	Gender	English	Notes
le four	masc.	oven	le four à micro-ondes = microwave
le four à micro-ondes	masc.	microwave	Also: le micro-ondes
le réfrigérateur	masc.	refrigerator	Informal: le frigo
le congélateur	masc.	freezer
la cuisinière	fem.	stove / range (the whole unit)	Also means female cook
les plaques de cuisson	fem. pl.	stovetop / hob / cooking plates	Induction: plaques à induction
le lave-vaisselle	masc.	dishwasher
le grille-pain	masc.	toaster	Literally bread griller
la bouilloire	fem.	kettle	Electric: la bouilloire électrique
la cafetière	fem.	coffee maker	French press: cafetière à piston
l’aspirateur	masc.	vacuum cleaner	Also used in kitchen contexts
la hotte (aspirante)	fem.	range hood / extractor fan	La hotte de cuisine
le robot de cuisine	masc.	food processor	Brand Thermomix is very popular in France
le mixeur	masc.	blender / mixer	Also: le blender
le batteur électrique	masc.	electric hand mixer
la friteuse	fem.	deep fryer
le four à convection	masc.	convection oven

Stovetop and oven cookware

French	Gender	English	Notes
la poêle	fem.	frying pan	la poêle antiadhésive = non-stick pan
la casserole	fem.	saucepan (with long handle)	NOT casserole (English baking dish)
le faitout	masc.	stockpot / large pot	Literally does everything
la marmite	fem.	large cooking pot / stockpot	Often for soups and stews
la cocotte	fem.	Dutch oven / casserole dish	La cocotte en fonte = cast iron Dutch oven
le plat à gratin	masc.	gratin dish / baking dish	Le plat allant au four = oven-safe dish
le moule à cake	masc.	loaf tin
le moule à tarte	masc.	tart tin / pie dish
le moule à gâteau	masc.	cake tin	Also: le moule à manqué
la lèchefrite	fem.	roasting pan	Goes under the oven rack
la sauteuse	fem.	sauté pan (deep with straight sides)	Between a frying pan and saucepan
le wok	masc.	wok	Borrowed directly from Chinese
la cocotte-minute	fem.	pressure cooker	Also: l’autocuiseur (masc.)

Kitchen tools and gadgets

French	Gender	English	Notes
la spatule	fem.	spatula
la louche	fem.	ladle
l’écumoire	fem.	slotted spoon / skimmer
la cuillère en bois	fem.	wooden spoon
le fouet	masc.	whisk	Literally whip
la passoire	fem.	colander / strainer	Also: l’égouttoir (masc.)
la râpe	fem.	grater	la râpe à fromage = cheese grater
l’ouvre-boîte	masc.	can opener
le décapsuleur	masc.	bottle opener
le tire-bouchon	masc.	corkscrew
le presse-ail	masc.	garlic press	Literally garlic presser
le presse-citron	masc.	citrus juicer
l’économe	masc.	peeler (vegetable)	Also: le couteau éplucheur
le rouleau à pâtisserie	masc.	rolling pin
le tamis	masc.	sieve / sifter
la passette	fem.	tea strainer
la mandoline	fem.	mandoline slicer
le minuteur	masc.	kitchen timer
la balance de cuisine	fem.	kitchen scale	Also: la balance culinaire
le thermomètre de cuisine	masc.	cooking thermometer

Knives and cutting equipment

French	Gender	English	Notes
le couteau	masc.	knife	General term
le couteau de chef	masc.	chef’s knife
le couteau à pain	masc.	bread knife	Serrated
le couteau d’office	masc.	paring knife	Small, for peeling and detail work
le couteau à filet	masc.	fillet knife
la planche à découper	fem.	cutting board / chopping board
l’aiguiseur de couteaux	masc.	knife sharpener
le fusil	masc.	honing steel	Literally steel (also rifle)
les ciseaux de cuisine	masc. pl.	kitchen scissors
le hachoir	masc.	chopper / mezzaluna

Measuring and baking tools

French	Gender	English	Notes
le verre doseur	masc.	measuring cup
les cuillères doseuses	fem. pl.	measuring spoons
la balance	fem.	scale	La balance de cuisine
le moule à muffins	masc.	muffin tin
le moule à tarte	masc.	tart / pie pan
la poche à douille	fem.	piping bag	La douille = the piping tip
la spatule coudée	fem.	offset spatula	For frosting cakes
le pinceau de cuisine	masc.	pastry brush
le chablon	masc.	stencil / template	Used in decoration
le tamis	masc.	sifter	For flour and powders
la maryse	fem.	rubber spatula / scraper	Curved flexible spatula
le grille de pâtisserie	masc.	cooling rack

Tableware and serving

French	Gender	English	Notes
l’assiette	fem.	plate	l’assiette creuse = bowl-shaped plate (for soup)
l’assiette plate	fem.	flat plate / dinner plate
l’assiette à dessert	fem.	dessert plate
le bol	masc.	bowl	For breakfast cereal, soups
la tasse	fem.	cup	la tasse à café = coffee cup
la soucoupe	fem.	saucer	Under a tasse
le verre	masc.	glass
la carafe	fem.	carafe / pitcher	la carafe d’eau = water carafe
le saladier	masc.	salad bowl	Large serving bowl
le plat de service	masc.	serving dish
la soupière	fem.	soup tureen	For serving soup at table
la saucière	fem.	gravy boat
le plateau	masc.	tray
la théière	fem.	teapot
la cafetière	fem.	coffee pot	Also: machine à café
le sucrier	masc.	sugar bowl
le beurrier	masc.	butter dish

Cutlery and eating utensils

French	Gender	English	Notes
les couverts	masc. pl.	cutlery (general term)
la fourchette	fem.	fork
le couteau de table	masc.	table knife
la cuillère	fem.	spoon
la cuillère à soupe	fem.	tablespoon / soup spoon
la cuillère à café	fem.	teaspoon	Literally coffee spoon
la cuillère à dessert	fem.	dessert spoon
les baguettes	fem. pl.	chopsticks	Also: les baguettes chinoises
le couvert	masc.	place setting	Mettre le couvert = to set the table

Storage and containers

French	Gender	English	Notes
le bocal	masc.	jar	les bocaux (plural)
la boîte de conserve	fem.	tin can / canned goods
la boîte hermétique	fem.	airtight container
le film alimentaire	masc.	plastic wrap / cling film
le papier aluminium	masc.	aluminum foil	Informal: l’alu
le papier cuisson	masc.	parchment / baking paper	Also: papier sulfurisé
le sachet ziplock	masc.	resealable bag	Branded name widely used
le réfrigérateur	masc.	refrigerator	Pour la conservation = for storage
le congélateur	masc.	freezer	Pour surgeler = to freeze
la boîte à pain	fem.	bread box
l’étagère	fem.	shelf
le placard	masc.	cupboard / cabinet
le tiroir	masc.	drawer
le garde-manger	masc.	pantry / larder

Kitchen furniture and fixtures

French	Gender	English	Notes
le plan de travail	masc.	worktop / countertop
l’évier	masc.	kitchen sink
le robinet	masc.	tap / faucet
le lave-vaisselle	masc.	dishwasher
le placard de cuisine	masc.	kitchen cabinet
le tiroir	masc.	drawer
l’îlot de cuisine	masc.	kitchen island
la crédence	fem.	kitchen backsplash
l’étagère	fem.	open shelf / rack
le porte-ustensiles	masc.	utensil holder
le porte-épices	masc.	spice rack

Cooking verbs and methods

French	English	Example
couper	to cut	Coupez les légumes en dés. (Cut the vegetables into cubes.)
éplucher / peler	to peel	Épluchez les pommes de terre. (Peel the potatoes.)
râper	to grate	Râpez le fromage. (Grate the cheese.)
mélanger	to mix	Mélangez les ingrédients. (Mix the ingredients.)
fouetter	to whisk	Fouettez les œufs. (Whisk the eggs.)
faire bouillir	to boil	Faites bouillir l’eau. (Boil the water.)
faire revenir	to sauté / to brown	Faites revenir l’oignon. (Sauté the onion.)
faire sauter	to stir-fry / to toss in the pan	Faites sauter les légumes. (Stir-fry the vegetables.)
cuire au four	to bake / to roast	Faites cuire au four à 180°C. (Bake at 180°C.)
griller	to grill / to broil	Grillez les tomates. (Grill the tomatoes.)
mijoter	to simmer / to slow cook	Laissez mijoter une heure. (Let it simmer for one hour.)
frire	to deep fry	Faites frire les frites. (Fry the chips.)
faire fondre	to melt	Faites fondre le beurre. (Melt the butter.)
préchauffer	to preheat	Préchauffez le four. (Preheat the oven.)
assaisonner	to season	Assaisonnez selon votre goût. (Season to taste.)
ajouter	to add	Ajoutez le sel. (Add the salt.)
incorporer	to fold in / to incorporate	Incorporez délicatement. (Fold in gently.)

Practical shopping and cooking phrases

In a kitchen supply shop:

• Est-ce que vous avez une poêle antiadhésive? (Do you have a non-stick frying pan?)
• Je cherche un moule à cake de 24 cm. (I’m looking for a 24 cm loaf tin.)
• Où est la section ustensiles de cuisine? (Where is the kitchen utensils section?)
• Ça résiste au four? (Is it oven-safe?)
• Ça passe au lave-vaisselle? (Is it dishwasher-safe?)

In the kitchen:

• Passe-moi le fouet, s’il te plaît. (Pass me the whisk, please.)
• La casserole est sur le feu. (The saucepan is on the heat.)
• Mets ça au four à 200°C pendant 30 minutes. (Put it in the oven at 200°C for 30 minutes.)
• Ça bout? (Is it boiling?)
• La passoire est dans le placard. (The colander is in the cupboard.)

For vocabulary related to shopping for kitchen ingredients at the market, the guide to grocery shopping in French covers market phrases, food categories, quantities, and shopping conversation. For vocabulary related to home furnishings and rooms more broadly, the guide to furniture in French covers household vocabulary beyond the kitchen.

Practice kitchen vocabulary with a tutor

Kitchen vocabulary becomes useful in cooking conversations, recipe reading, shopping trips, and describing your home in French. A tutor can help you use these words in natural sentences, practice the gender of each noun (which must be memorized), and develop the cooking and recipe vocabulary that is central to French culture.

italki’s 30,000+ expert tutors include native French speakers who can make vocabulary practice lively and contextual. Trusted by over 10 million learners worldwide, the platform lets you find a tutor who can conduct lessons around topics like food and cooking that are intrinsically motivating. Book a trial lesson and start building practical French kitchen vocabulary in real conversation.

FAQ

How do you say frying pan in French?

A frying pan is la poêle (feminine). The non-stick version is la poêle antiadhésive. A sauté pan (deeper, straight sides) is la sauteuse. A casserole dish or Dutch oven is la cocotte. Note that la casserole in French is a saucepan with a long handle, not the English casserole (baking dish).

What is the difference between la casserole and la cocotte in French?

La casserole is a saucepan with a long handle, used for boiling and making sauces. La cocotte is a heavy-lidded pot, typically cast iron, used for slow cooking, braising, and stews. The English word casserole refers to a baking dish, which in French would be le plat à gratin or le plat allant au four.

How do you say dishwasher safe in French?

Dishwasher safe is passé au lave-vaisselle or allant au lave-vaisselle. The question to ask in a shop is: Ça passe au lave-vaisselle? (Can it go in the dishwasher?). Similarly, oven safe is allant au four: Ça va au four? (Can it go in the oven?).

What is the gender of French kitchen words?

Kitchen nouns follow the general rules of French gender: most words must be memorized with their article. Some patterns help: words ending in -oire (la passoire, l’égouttoir) and -ière (la cafetière, la soupière, la casserole) tend to be feminine. Words ending in -eur (le mixeur, le décapsuleur) tend to be masculine. However, exceptions exist, and learning each word with its article (le or la) from the start is the most reliable approach.

How do you say to bake in French?

There is no single direct translation for to bake in French. The most common expressions are: cuire au four (to cook in the oven, for both baking and roasting), faire cuire au four (same meaning), and for specific baked goods, faire de la pâtisserie (to do pastry making/baking as a practice). The verb that most closely resembles English to bake is cuire au four: Ce gâteau cuit au four pendant 35 minutes. (This cake bakes in the oven for 35 minutes.)