14 Kitchen Items You Should Always Buy Second-Hand

As the old saying goes, the kitchen is the heart of the home, so filling it with items that have a little soul is a no-brainer. Skip big box retailers and hit thrift and antique stores to stock your kitchen with personality. There, you’re bound to find small and large treasures that will make a big impact on your cooking space. Southern thrifters, chefs, and other experts share kitchen items you should almost always buy second-hand. 

Flatware 

Southerners love setting a table, so keep your head on a swivel for beautiful flatware. Eddie Barrett, the executive chef at BeetleCat in Atlanta, says he’s particularly inspired by vintage spoons at second-hand stores, “I like to use them to plate food, but I also like to use them as a decor piece for private dinners.” As always, he says to check for cracks or deformities but to try to keep your worries at bay. “There are bound to be some imperfections if they are truly vintage, but that only makes them more unique!” 

Stationary Stand Mixers

If you are longing for a stand mixer of your own, John Castellucci of Atlanta’s Cooks & Soldiers restaurant says, “The older KitchenAid’s and Hobart brand mixers are made really well and last forever. I would just thoroughly inspect them for rust.” 

Detailed Trays

Mix and match serving pieces to achieve a collected look. Castellucci says he likes to scour antique shops for unique shapes and materials. “Larger brass trays are great for serving shared items. I have found some great larger trays at vintage stores that make a tablescape [shine].”

Seasoned Cast Iron 

Cast iron is the quintessential second-hand kitchen item. After all, those years and years of cooking only make the food taste better—or so Grandma says. Abby Thaxton, co-owner of The Lucky Rabbit, an expansive vintage shop in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, agrees, “They’re often pre-seasoned and ready to get cooking right away,” she says. A quick rinse, and you’re all set to simmer. 

Reclaimed Roasters 

Thaxton also suggests keeping your eyes peeled for magnalite roasters. These cooking superheroes are well known for their ability to evenly distribute and retain heat, and a contemporary one can cost several hundred dollars. Instead, opt for a vintage version. “They're built much sturdier and better than the newer versions, so you're getting quality that lasts,” she says. 

Pyrex 

Pyrex will always be a home chef’s prized possession. These glass pieces have been in production for over 100 years, so we know they’re here to stay. Today, Pyrex can go for a pretty penny. In fact, at a recent estate sale, I found a pretty 3-piece set of rectangular bakeware going for $195. Even still, someone scooped it right up. “Pyrex pieces are not only cute but impossible to find in today's market, so when you find a piece, you should snag it immediately," says Thaxton. "We search all over to keep our Pyrex bus stocked because these vintage pieces are among our most popular items.” 

Patterned China 

There’s nothing quite like setting a table with a beautiful set of china, and there are plenty of second-hand sets to be found. “Thrifted sets of china are a steal,” says Thaxton. “You can mix and match colors to create your very own personalized set without breaking the bank. So, secondhand is not just okay, it's a way to celebrate your originality and style.”

Quality Copper

Besides being beautiful to display, copper pans are often considered the crème de la crème for home cooks. Online antique shop owner and past ex-pat, Emily Mabe of Willow and Pearls in Spanish Fort, Alabama, says hunting for copper in France was among her favorite things to find. “I always ensure the copper isn’t thin or wearing away.” Items of particular interest for Emily are skillets, cookie cutters, and molds. “It’s especially important to look for pieces that say, ‘Made in France,’” she says. Antique and French copper is known to be thicker in its construction.

Stoneware

Mabe is also a fan of seeking out stoneware, “My favorite items to look for are large mixing bowls. They are excellent for everything from homemade baked goods to huge salads.” Additionally, stoneware pans, especially bundt pans, double as pieces of art. “The designs often create beautiful impressions on your finished recipes.” Large stoneware items, like so many of these second-hand finds, are a reminder of a time gone by. “The large bowls are from a time when most people made their own bread daily. They are seasoned, and they have graced tables of those who found joy in baking and cooking like me,” says Mabe. 

Linens

It’s no secret that we love, appreciate, and use table linens. Chelsea Nelson of Bright Girl Market in Marietta, Georgia, says, “I have drawers full of vintage napkins, tablecloths, and kitchen towels.” Not only are they highly collectible, but they are also great quality with endless colors and patterns.

Tupperware

Tupperware is experiencing its renaissance. It had its name in lights as Midge Maisel’s side hustle on Amazon’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, but big box stores are carrying it, too. “Vintage 1960s and 1970s Tupperware can still readily be found at estate sales,” says Nelson. While some might have missing lids or aren’t complete sets, they’re fun to display and are still useful. Collectors are often on the hunt for measure spoons, measuring cups, and the elusive pickle keeper, also known as a “Pick-A-Deli®.”

Cookie Jars

Why store your freshly baked cookies anywhere else other than a second-hand cookie jar? But there are other great uses for them too. Nelson uses hers for cookie cutter collections, sprinkles, spices, and other necessary baking ingredients.

Glassware

Glassware, even mismatched pieces, is an excellent second-hand buy. If you can find colorful pieces, that’s even better because they were once considered less desirable than their clear crystal counterparts. “Colored glassware offers beautiful hues and comes in an array of interesting shapes and patterns," says Beth Hubrich of Mary and Wilma in Birmingham, Alabama. "Plus, it pairs well with crystal glasses. I don't get too caught up in the idea that a juice glass is for juice. I often drink a glass of wine out of my grandmother's green juice glasses which she would probably find pretty funny now."

Vintage Cookbooks 

As an avid thrifter myself, I always stop for vintage cookbooks. Junior League editions are my favorite, and I tend to seek versions that are either places I’ve been or places I aspire to go to. A few of my favorites are A Taste of Aloha by Junior League Hawaii, Palm Beach Entertains by Junior League of Palm Beach which has the most fascinating historical introduction, and Tea Time at the Masters by Junior League of Augusta. This particular book has several sequels including Second Round and Par 3!