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Stocking a kitchen with brand new gear can be a pricey enterprise. Whether you’re looking to build a collection of basics, or are a home cook eager to try out tools beyond the necessities — try your local thrift store before shelling out for kitchenware. From serving plates and bowls to small countertop appliances, thrift shops can be a gold mine for kitchen essentials if you know what to look for.

For one, you may want to avoid sourcing secondhand cookware with nonstick coatings. There is some controversy around the chemicals used in these products and whether or not they pose a risk to human health. One chemical called PFOA, known to be cancerous, was phased out of cookware manufacturing in the U.S. by 2015. However, products containing PFOA and similarly harmful chemicals are not regulated globally. That said, we recommend skipping non-stick finds while thrifting because you can’t be certain of their manufacturing origin.

The great news is that there is plenty of safe-to-use cookware that you can easily find at the thrift store. Non-reactive materials like glass, stainless steel, ceramic, and cast iron are kitchen heroes that stand the test of time. And they can all be cleaned effectively, even if some require more elbow grease than others. Before you know it, you’ll have a kitchen stocked with essentials – and you’ll sleep well at night knowing it didn’t cost you a fortune.

Cast iron is an incredibly versatile cookware material. But so often cast iron skillets are relegated to the thrift store because their original owners didn’t know how to care for them. But don’t let baked-on food residue or rust deter you from these secondhand gems. Rehabilitating cast iron can take a bit of patience, but it’s inexpensive and will leave you with cookware that lasts a lifetime.

New cast iron will vary in price depending on the size and brand. For example, a classic 12-inch skillet from Lodge costs about $30 purchased new. And the price for cast iron from premium brands can soar up to hundreds of dollars. So if you find something around $10, which you often can, you know you have a good deal.

To revive your thrifted cast, start by cleaning. Remove rust from your cast iron pan with a simple method that will also help loosen baked-on food. Just soak in a bath of one part water to one part distilled vinegar for at least an hour. Then, scrub with steel wool, and dry out entirely on the stove or in the oven. Next up is seasoning the pan, which imparts that characteristic, glossy finish. Using a paper towel, evenly coat the pan in a low smoke-point oil, like flaxseed. Place in the oven at a high temperature for about an hour so the oil polymerizes. Allow it to cool with the oven, and repeat the process for an extra shiny, non-stick surface.

Whether you’re looking for a set of new wine glasses to outfit a bar cart, or a collection of cups for everyday beverages, don’t skip the thrift store during your search. When people fail to find ways to repurpose drinking glasses that no longer match their dishware, that glassware ends up at secondhand stores. Inevitably, you’ll find a number of random, individual glasses on the shelves. These may be fun to nab if you are into a mismatched look, but the real jackpot is finding a donated set of matching glasses.

How many drinking glasses you need varies depending on the size of your household, but hold out for thrifting sets in even numbers, anywhere from six to 12. And if you see several matching glasses but can’t seem to locate a full set, be sure to check the back of the shelves. Sometimes shoppers will pick up glasses to browse and put them back in another area, separated from the rest of the set.

It is not uncommon to find complete sets of unique, quality glassware for under $10 at local thrift stores. This is a search that is well worth your time, especially when you consider that a set of six wine glasses from a big box retailer can cost at least $40. If you find a set you like but they look a bit dull, you can bring sparkle and shine back to cloudy glasses with a good soak in distilled white vinegar.

Baking dishes and baking sheets are another type of kitchenware that you can typically find with ease at your local thrift. Ceramic or glass baking dishes may be donated to the thrift store when their previous owners are looking to upgrade the design or size of their dishes. And aluminum baking sheets will often be given away because they have cosmetic flaws like staining and discoloration. But the good news is — they are still entirely usable and a great option for stocking your kitchen with long-lasting tools.

A new glass or ceramic baking dish may cost you upwards of $20 or more, depending on the size. But you can typically find these pieces for under $10 when thrifting. As for baking sheets, a single aluminum half-sheet can run you over $20 a piece! At a store like Goodwill, you can expect an individual baking sheet to cost about $5 or less. Most thrift stores like Goodwill will only accept baking sheets in relatively good condition. But if you want to really make them shine, we have you covered with a guide on how to deep clean your baking trays.

If you’re taking up a new baking hobby or want to refresh your existing stash of tools, check out the baking supply shelves at your local charity shop. You can find donations of everything, from cooling racks and cookie cutters to measuring cups and mixing bowls. You may even find a hand mixer! These items were likely donated by people who were looking to overhaul their set of tools for something new. But assuming they are in good condition, sourcing these items secondhand is a great way to expand your baking repertoire without breaking the bank.

For smaller kitchen goods such as cookie cutters, measuring cups and spoons, mini cake tins, and rolling pins, you can expect to thrift them for less than $5. And a set of stainless steel mixing bowls, you could find for around $10. Those are some staggering savings when you consider that a new set of similar bowls could cost upwards of $40. Ceramic and glass mixing bowls and glass are also a common thrift store find. Some stoneware bowls from a vintage brand like Longaberger pottery may be resold online for a whopping $100. But at Goodwill, you can expect to find the exact brand or something similar for just $10 a piece.

Stainless steel cookware has great longevity in the kitchen and is often found plentifully at thrift stores. If you come across stock pots, frying pans, or sauciers donated to your local secondhand store, it may be because the former owners didn’t know how to care for them properly. So if you notice some staining on your “stainless” steel thrift find, don’t let that deter you from nabbing it at a good price.

There are a number of methods to successfully clean burnt pots and pans, including the use of common household items like vinegar, baking powder, and even just boiled water. You can also use an abrasive cleaner like Bar Keeper’s Friend Cookware Cleanser & Polish, which is made especially for the purpose of buffing imperfections out of stainless steel surfaces and cookware alike.

When you consider that a 10-inch stainless steel frying pan from a mid-range brand like Cuisinart costs $50, many of the deals you find at the thrift store will be a steal. For example, a stainless steel saucepan for just $10.99 could be sitting on the shelf. You’ll get even better deals if you manage to unearth high-end cookware brands like All-Clad or Made In. Look out for pots and pans from reputable brands like these, and grab them even if they look stained, burnt, or have some food residue on them. Putting some work in to clean up a stainless steel thrift find can be well worth the effort.

Don’t overlook the section of your thrift store that houses dining plates and bowls. Similar to glassware, you can often find great individual pieces to complement a quirky, mix-and-match style. But for those who want to keep their tableware sets uniform, you can also expect to find plenty of donated matching sets. Look out for sets of four or six bowls, plates, or even both together. What you find may no longer have suited its previous owner’s style, but that doesn’t mean it won’t suit yours. That’s how you can manage to find a set of four dinner plates from a trendy brand like Our Place for just $7, when normally they sell for $50.

Another reason you may see plates and bowls donated to the thrift store is because they seem scratched beyond repair. But if you find some secondhand tableware that you like and notice little gray scratches on the surface, don’t leave them behind! The “scratches” are likely not scratches at all, but scuff marks left behind from metal cutlery. The good news is, these can be easily buffed away with a dish sponge and a gently abrasive product, like baking soda or Bar Keeper’s Friend.

Don’t forget to browse your local thrift store if you are on the hunt for kitchen countertop storage. It’s highly likely you’ll find a great organizer, whether it’s a vintage ceramic utensil crock, a free-standing spice rack, or a multi-tiered produce basket. It’s likely the crock was donated because its former owners outgrew the size and style, or wanted to move away from countertop storage for their kitchen altogether. But for those with limited drawer and cabinet storage, these kinds of countertop organizers are a great way to keep kitchen counters tidy.

Thrift store pricing will vary depending on exactly what you’re looking for in the way of countertop organization. For a heavyweight ceramic utensil crock, you can expect to pay at least $35 when buying from a prestige cookware brand like Le Creuset. But thrift store pricing for this kind of piece generally comes in at around $5, or sometimes even less. And don’t forget that there are many ways to repurpose thrift store items into stylish kitchen storage when you look beyond the kitchen aisle. Everything from baskets and vases to magazine holders and metal tins can be utilized to creatively restore order to your kitchen.

Tabletop kitchen appliances like blenders, food processors, air fryers, and even coffee makers, can often be found at the thrift store in good condition. Donations of this kind are typically made when past owners upgrade to newer models of any given appliance, if they have to downsize their kitchen, or if they just don’t get enough use out of the gadget. Thanks to these giveaways, you can find fully functional appliances at a fraction of the retail cost.

Thrift store pricing for small appliances will differ depending on the item itself, but you are guaranteed to find these pieces for far less than their original price. For example, one shopped found a Ninja brand air fryer for just $9, when similar models cost anywhere from $80 to $120. To check that your appliance finds are functional, see if your local store has an outlet where you can plug it in and test for power. It’s also good to note that some shops have a return policy specifically for electric appliances, so you can confirm that they work before keeping them indefinitely.