Em The Nutritionist reveals '5 expensive kitchen items worth buying' - we've found almost identical affordable alternatives
With £750 to save, it’s time to embrace high-low shopping for a luxury kitchen look on a budget
Emily English, best known as Em The Nutritionist, has given fans a peek inside her kitchen, sharing five pieces of kit she uses "constantly" and would "genuinely buy again and again" - from a knife sharpener for "super sharp edges" to a handmade butcher's block "built to last a lifetime."
There's just one catch: recreating Em's kitchen edit will cost you nearly £1,000. I'm all for investing in quality to transform your kitchen, but after years of testing these pieces for a living, I know you don't always need to spend big to get great results.
So, I went back through everything I've tested and found almost identical alternatives to all five of Em's picks for just £185.98. That's a saving of over £750, without any compromises on performance They're easy kitchen upgrades to make when you're trying to save.
Shop Em's Kitchen Staples
In interviews, Em says that her butchers block is the kitchen piece she's asked about the most. Always front-and-centre, its substantial, handmade finish brings a luxury look to her counter. She promises it's "built to last a lifetime."
This is the item dominating the comments on Em's video. She says it will "change your life" when it comes to sharpening knives, demonstrating how it leaves her blades "super sharp". Fans agree, with plenty calling it a favourite buy - and a clever gift idea too.
Em has both the round and rectangular stainless steel meal prep boxes, which she says she uses “every single day”. They’re microwave-safe, airtight and leakproof – and, according to Em, have completely changed the way she preps. They're also stackable - a good space saver in your kitchen.
All of Em’s Le Creuset comes in the rich “garnet” shade. You’ll spot her cooking in deep casserole dishes, reaching for Le Creuset pepper mills and regularly using the brand’s shallow casserole, too. She champions her collection for its longevity: “not only do they look beautiful, you will pass these down through generations” – one of my many arguments for why Le Creuset is worth every penny.
The final item in Em’s kitchen edit is no less impressive. Her 3QT (2.8L) Saucier Pan is, she says, the piece she probably cooks with most. Its versatility is the draw, with Em praising it for everything from pasta to sauces – as well as its “built to last” quality.
Affordable alternatives
This is one of my favourite pieces from the M&S x Tom Kerridge collection. The rich, striking tones, make this look far more expensive than it is, while the clever juice flute and integrated shorting compartments add a thoughtful, practical touch.
I’d usually wait for a sale before investing in a rolling knife sharpener, as the best models can be pricey. But if you want to try this style of sharpening before committing, this £20 alternative is an excellent place to start.
Like Em's these stainless steel food containers are one of my favourite investments for non-toxic and lightweight food storage. They're dishwasher safe versatile enough for the air fryer, oven, and the fridge, making them a practical everyday choice.
I've recently cooked wit all of Em's Le Creuset collection as well as recipes from her cookbook, but you can achieve a similarly stylish look and excellent results for less. Salter’s Chester collection is PFAS-free and thoughtfully designed, with generous handles, a tactile lid and impressively even cooking.
Whilst Made In are undoubtedly some of the best stainless steel pains you can buy, I’m still a fan of a classic like ProCook. This uncoated sauté pan has a generous 28cm diameter and the same deep profile that makes Em’s saucier so versatile.
After years of rigorous product testing, I've learnt that the smartest shopping doesn't sit at either end of the price spectrum. The old adage "buy cheap. but twice" holds true, because quality is worth investing in, but a higher price doesn't always guarantee a better product. Sometimes, you're paying for the name.
With Em's Edit, however, I don't think that's the case. I've tested Made In pans extensively and was so impressed by their performance that I bought a set for my own kitchen. I've also spent years interrogating whether Le Creuset is truly worth the investment and whether cast iron alternatives match the same results. And when it comes to the best casserole dishes, I still choose Le Creuset. It's earned its place for a reason.
That doesn't mean that I'd recommend buying all five of Em's staples at once. Instead, I'd take a considered high-low approach, investing whether quality makes the difference. Blending the Le Creuset and chopping board with more affordable buys, such as Dunelm's stainless steel boxes is a smarter way to refresh your space, shopping a luxury looking and feeling kitchen without breaking the bank.
Emily English has promised a video which reveals the affordable kitchen tips and tricks that work just has hard as her premium investments. I'll be watching closely, because if there's one thing that I've learnt, it's that, sometimes, these little kitchen accessories earn their place just as much as Le Creuset and Made In.
