10 Essential Cooking Tools Every Home Chef Needs
With new kitchen gadgets constantly hitting the market, it's easy to fill your cupboards with utensils that promise to slice, dice, and chop better than the rest. But it's important to keep the classics handy, too.
This adjustable measuring cup saves storage space, while this convenient strainer goes a long way when washing veggies and draining pasta. We also love this set of shears that quickly opens packages and snips herbs with ease.
Measuring Cups and Spoons
Measuring cups and spoons are a must-have for any kitchen. They help to establish accurate measurements for ingredients and ensure that a recipe is well-balanced. Measuring cups come in two different types: dry measuring cups and liquid measuring cups. Dry measuring cups are designed to hold an exact amount of solids, such as flour, sugar, or butter. Liquid measuring cups have pour spouts and are intended for liquids such as water, milk, or oil.
Look for a measuring cup set that features graduated markings in 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, and 1 cup sizes. The markings should be impressed on the cups and spoons rather than painted since painted measurements can rub off over time with repeated use. Liquid measuring cups should be made of sturdy stainless steel. You can also find sets that include smaller spoons for wet ingredients, such as tablespoons and teaspoons.
Paring Knife
Many kitchen tasks require attention to detail like hulling strawberries or scoring the top of a two-crust pie. For these small jobs, a paring knife is ideal.
These small knives also excel at cutting curved ingredients, such as avocado pits, melons, or tomatoes. They can also be used to trim cake edges or cut soft cheese since these foods tend to stick to a standard knife’s blade.
Most paring knives come in a variety of shapes and sizes. A straight-edged paring knife is most common and versatile, while a curved-tip paring knife—sometimes called a bird’s beak paring knife due to its sickle-like silhouette—is efficient at peeling or removing the stems of strawberries or other fruits. Look for a paring knife with a sheath to protect against cuts and nicks. Also, keep in mind that most paring knives should be washed by hand and stored safely in a knife block (like this one from F.N. Sharp).
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Potato Masher
Mashers are most commonly used to mash potatoes, but they're also useful for other foods such as bananas and avocados. They can help create a smooth, creamy texture that works well with soups, stews, and even desserts.
Most potato mashers come with vertical handles, but a few models have horizontal grips designed to increase leverage for easier mashing. They may also be coated in plastic or rubber to prevent slippage during use.
One trick for better-tasting mashed potatoes is to salt the water before boiling. A tablespoon of salt seasoning the cooking water will add a nice punch of flavor to your finished mash. And be sure to simmer the potatoes until they are fork tender — longer than that and you'll end up with mash that's like glue. Adding a little butter and pepper before mashing can also enhance the overall flavor of the potatoes.
Wok
Across Asia, chefs elevate cooking from a wok to an art. It's not just a stir-fry pan; this versatile kitchen workhorse can be used to steam, boil, deep fry, and make stews.
The heavy bottom of the utensil comes into direct contact with the heat, and food that passes frequently through this zone quickly acquires flavorful browning. A few inches above that, a layer of steam forms when moisture escaping the food condenses and cooks it. This effect is known as wok hei.
To use a wok, you'll need a wide spatula called a chuan or shao that can hug the curves of the rounded, shallow pan. You may also want a wok ring to hold the utensil in place on a conventional stovetop and a lid or a wok hat for covering your food during boiling, deep frying, and simmering.
Meat Thermometer
Meat thermometers help you gauge when proteins like chicken, beef, and pork are cooked to a safe internal temperature. This helps prevent bacteria from entering the food and also ensures that it is cooked through and flavorful.
This handy kitchen gadget resembles a pointed stick with a dial or digital display that shows the current temperature of the meat. You can also purchase instant-read thermometers that read in seconds and are better for checking foods toward the end of cooking.
Other types of meat thermometers include probe thermometers, which come with a metal probe that you insert into the center of your roast or large cut of meat, and digital leave-in thermometers that can stay in the oven while you cook. These are great if you often cook for a picky group and want to know when your proteins are done to a certain degree (e.g., medium rare).
Flipper
Flippers are essential kitchen tools that come in handy when it comes to cooking. They help to prevent messes and ensure that the food you are cooking gets cooked evenly. However, it is important to choose the right flipper for your needs. You should consider the size of the handle, the material, and how long it is.
If you are looking for a durable flipper that will last a lifetime in your kitchen, go for a stainless steel option. This will have a high resistance to high temperatures, meaning it won’t burn or get scratched easily.
A wooden handle is also ideal as it provides insulation and a secure grip when your hands are greasy. It also offers better heat resistance than plastic handles, which can melt if they are exposed to high temperatures for too long.
Saucepan
When it comes to cooking, there are a lot of things that can go wrong, but with the right tools in your kitchen, you’ll be able to prepare delicious meals that will have everyone asking for more. One essential piece of cookware that every home chef should own is a saucepan.
Saucepans are perfect for cooking foods that are mostly liquid, like sauces and soups. They have smaller surface areas than frying pans and have higher walls that help keep the food from burning.
Saucepans also come in different sizes, depending on how much you plan to cook. For example, if you’re going to be boiling water for pasta or cooking soup for a family dinner, opt for a saucepan that is between 2 and 4 quarts in size. This will ensure you have enough room to cook for your entire household.
Saute Pan
Whether you’re looking for cookware that reduces the stickiness of your food or simply cuts down on time spent cleaning, nonstick sauté pans are a great option. You’ll save time by not having to spend as much time scrubbing your cookware, and you’ll also have the added benefit of healthier meals.
Sauté pans are similar to frying pans or skillets, but they have shallow, straight-edged sides that maximize surface area and are typically equipped with a long handle (and sometimes a small side handle) to allow for easier movement. They’re suited for sauteing, braising, and searing and often come with lids to trap heat and moisture as necessary.
A sauté pan is a must-have for cooking vegetables, making omelets or frittatas, stir-frying, and even baking! You can find these versatile cooking tools online or at your local kitchen store.
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Peeler
Peelers help you remove the outer layers of vegetables and fruits to make them look fresh and appetizing. They are a must-have cooking tool for any kitchen.
Most peelers have a rigid blade that is formed in one position and require the user to follow the shape of the vegetable or fruit with their hand as they use the peeler. A swivel peeler, such as the OXO Good Grips Swivel Peeler, has a twin blade that swivels to help you navigate curves and tough skins.
A julienne peeler cuts a vegetable into thin strips to create uniform pieces that soak up more flavor and help your veggie preparations look gourmet. It can also make a tricky task, like carrot peeling, much easier to handle. Learning how to properly hold and use a peeler can minimize the risk of injury while maximizing efficiency.
Rolling Pin
Often overlooked, the rolling pin is a vital kitchen tool that helps cooks create countless recipes. This long cylindrical utensil is made of many types of materials, but wood is the most popular.
While most kitchens have one or two wooden rolling pins, metal and chrome ones are also gaining popularity. Antique wooden pins can be dated by examining the connection between the rod and handles. Plastic bushings, lacquer, and other markings can help determine whether the pin is new or collectible.
Our lead tester prefers the traditional baker’s rolling pin made in America from maple dowel. Its barrel spins around well-sized, shaped handles that reduce hand strain. It’s simple, attractive, and durable enough to last a lifetime with regular use and light maintenance. Decorative, embossed rolling pins are available as well, though those can be more difficult to clean.
Conclusion
Measuring cups come in two different types: dry measuring cups and liquid measuring cups. They help to prevent messes and ensure that the food you are cooking gets cooked evenly. Often overlooked, the rolling pin is a vital kitchen tool that helps cooks create countless recipes.
