Most people know that the best place to buy building equipment is at the home building supply stores; however, not everyone knows that sometimes the best place to buy kitchen equipment is at a restaurant supply store. Some people think that only those who own or run commercial kitchens are allowed to shop there, but that isn’t so.

Anyone looking to upgrade their home kitchen should definitely visit at least one restaurant supply store to find some great deals on long-lasting equipment. Read on to learn some of the things you are probably better off buying from a supply store rather than your local box store.

1. Cutting Boards

If you want a big, thick cutting board, the place to get it is not a home kitchenware store or the kitchenware section of Walmart. Thick plastic or wood cutting boards are best purchased at a restaurant supply store, most of which will have a huge selection of types and sizes.

2. Mixing Bowls

Most restaurant supply stores sell stainless steel mixing bowls in sizes ranging from tiny to ones big enough to bathe a small person in. Bowls are sold individually rather than in sets, so you can choose which ones you need.

3. Cheap Knives

Not every knife you own has to be a high-end hand-tooled masterpiece, right? If you need cheap knives for your kitchen, such as paring knives, serrated knives, and filleting knives, the best place to get them is at a restaurant supply place. You will be free to use them without worrying about damaging the blade, and you won’t feel bad about chucking out the serrated ones once they’ve lost their edge. Of course, most restaurant supply stores also sell high-end knives, too, if that’s what you’re looking for.

4. Heavy-Bottomed Stainless Steel Cookware

You want the bottom of your pots and pans to be thick enough to efficiently retain and conduct heat, resist warping, and minimize hot spots. That makes most cookware sets expensive, especially the cladded ones. Instead, look for pans with thinner walls and thick metal disc on the bottom. These are the types that restaurant supply stores tend to keep in stock. They work well for most things you will use them for, and the amount you save will be significant. These are also a great place to start for people just starting their cookware collection.

5. Kitchen Towels

Sure, expensive kitchen towels have great visual appeal, but it can be a messy business to cook, and you don’t want to get meat juice, grease, and other food spills to get all over those spendy kitchen towels you bought at the mall. Pick up some kitchen towels from the restaurant supply store and you won’t be worrying about how much it will cost to replace if you stain one. You shouldn’t be afraid to actually use your towels.

6. Baking Sheets

Rimmed baking sheets are incredibly versatile. Not just for baking, you can use half- and quarter-sheets for organizing ingredient prep, for example. Supply stores will offer all the sizes and they are typically nice and thick heavy-duty aluminum. The matching wire racks that you can often find right beside the sheets are also versatile, from cooling cookies to elevating meats above the tray when roasting.

7. Vegetable Peelers

Believe it or not, it doesn’t totally suck to peel vegetables, particularly if the only ones you’ve ever used are the stick type. The Y-shaped vegetable peelers are far superior and much nicer to use. Choose one with a carbon steel blade for the best experience. These tend to dull quite quickly, though, so buy a few at a time.