My Mom’s Pasta Sauce Is My Favorite Comfort Food, and These Are the 7 Tools She Uses Every Time

Including picks from KitchenAid, Cuisinart, and All-Clad.

It finally feels like autumn in New York, which is already triggering my cravings for comfort foods like soup, stew, chili, and, of course, pasta. Nothing feels cozier than a meal homemade by my mom, so since we live on opposite coasts, I’m channeling that feeling by recreating her best fall pasta recipes.

I asked my mom for a list of her pasta-making essentials, and her picks include cookware, utensils, and gadgets from top brands like KitchenAid, Cuisinart, All-Clad, and more.

Best Amazon Pasta Sauce Essentials

• All-Clad HA1 Hard Anodized Nonstick Everyday Pan, 12-Inch, $80, originally $100

• Cuisinart 4-Piece Pot and Strainer Set, 12-Quart, $90

• KitchenAid Pasta Roller and Cutter Stand Mixer Attachment, $150

• Microplane Spice Grater, $11, originally $13

• Earlywood Wooden Sauté Spatula, $19

• Sivotami Silicone Spaghetti Spoon and Ladle, $15

• Malacasa 48-Ounce Pasta Bowls, Set of 4, $25, originally $33
  

All-Clad HA1 Hard Anodized Nonstick Everyday Pan, 12-Inch

$80 at Amazon

The large surface area of this pan makes it extremely versatile. It’s 12 inches wide, exposing more ingredients to direct heat for faster, more even cooking. It also has three layers of nonstick material, so the sauce pours out quickly and won’t stick to the bottom. My mom loves that it comes with two roomy handles, making it easy to maneuver in the kitchen.

Cuisinart 4-Piece Pot and Strainer Set, 12-Quart

$90 at Amazon

This three-in-one pasta pot and steamer from Cuisinart is perfect for large portions of spaghetti. The pot has a removable strainer insert, so when it’s ready, you can drain your pasta quickly without making a mess or needing a colander.

KitchenAid Pasta Roller and Cutter Stand Mixer Attachment

$150 at Amazon

If you’re feeling extra fancy and want to make your own pasta, grab this KitchenAid mixer attachment that my mom swears by. The pasta maker set has a stainless steel pasta roller, fettuccine cutter, spaghetti cutter, and a small brush for easy cleaning.

Microplane Spice Grater

$11 at Amazon

My mom’s bolognese sauce calls for a surprising ingredient: nutmeg. The warming fall spice is the perfect way to add a seasonal touch to spaghetti bolognese, and it tastes best when she uses whole spices. This mini Microplane grater is her secret weapon for adding more vibrant flavor to the dish, and it’s on sale now.

Earlywood Wooden Sauté Spatula

$19 at Amazon

Toss your old wooden spoon and snag this 13-inch utensil from Earlywood. The versatile sauté spatula is flat and thin and comes in handy for a wide variety of kitchen tasks, including stirring pasta and sauces. It’s also great for flipping, scraping, and sautéing, and it’s double-sided, so you don’t have to rinse it off as often between tasks. Grab it now in your choice of maple, ebony, jatoba, and bloodwood.

Sivotami Silicone Spaghetti Spoon and Ladle

$15 at Amazon

This utensil set was made for avid pasta makers like my mom. She loves this spaghetti spoon and ladle combo for serving spaghetti and scooping sauces. They’re made from nonstick silicone, so they won’t stain over time and come in three different colors. As a bonus, the set comes with two stainless steel hooks, so you can hang them to simplify storage.

Malacasa 48-Ounce Pasta Bowls, Set of 4

$25 at Amazon

These 9- x 2-inch bowls are great for serving up the sauciest noodles. Their large surface area and tall sides make them incredibly versatile: Use them to serve salads, stews, chili, and, of course, pasta. Head to Amazon now to snag a set of four now while they’re just $6 apiece.