The 15 Must-Have Kitchen Tools to Stay Ready for Anything

ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE

$115 at Amazon View on Thermoworks.com View on Kingarthurbaking.com

Meat thermometers are essential tools for professional chefs. “In our house, we use a meat thermometer whenever we’re cooking high-quality steaks and chops,” says Marcus. “Using a meat thermometer ensures that your protein is cooked properly and to the right temperature, without having to cut into the meat before serving. It helps you avoid overcooking, which can often lead to tough, dry meat.”

We’re big fans of the Thermapen ONE, which is incredibly accurate and ultra-fast. It’s easy to use — just insert the probe into whatever you want to measure the temperature of, and within about two seconds, you’ll have an accurate, reliable reading.

Staub Round Cocotte

$416 at Amazon $130 at Williams Sonoma $400 at Nordstrom

Staub Dutch ovens are closely rivaled by Le Creuset (which we also love!), but the Staub came out on top in our tests, proving to have the best price-to-performance ratio. Whether browning chicken, crisping rice, or braising meats, the Staub handled everything we threw into it without so much as a scratch. 

Dutch ovens may come with a hefty price tag, but they’re a true investment piece that can last for years to come. And the Staub is so beautiful in its array of available colors, you’ll likely want to leave it on display right on your stovetop.

OXO Good Grips Carving and Cutting Board

$40 at Amazon $37 at Walmart $19 at Sur La Table

A cutting board is essential for, well, basically everything involving a knife in the kitchen. Carving boards are also useful, but both boards can be bulky and difficult to store. That’s why we love this two-in-one version from OXO, which features a juice reservoir (perfect for carving a roast chicken) and non-slip grips that work well from both sides of the board.

This plastic board is easy to clean and is far lighter and thinner than wooden alternatives, so it’s also easier to move around and store. While plastic is more prone to showing knife marks — our testers noticed serrated knives tended to leave their mark on the OXO cutting board — as long as the board is properly cleaned after each use, these marks won’t affect performance.

Instant Pot Vortex Plus 6-Quart Air Fryer

$140 $90 at Amazon $120 at Target $150 at Williams Sonoma

When we tested air fryers, the Instant Pot Vortex Plus came out on top thanks to its user-friendly design and loads of functionality, producing truly excellent results. Air circulation is efficient and yields even cooking on everything from coconut shrimp to chicken wings to Brussels sprouts. And because the Vortex Plus isn’t as enormous (nor as expensive) as some air fryers, this one is a great pick for small spaces and tight budgets alike. 

The 6-quart capacity is ideal for two to four people, and with presets for broiling, roasting, dehydrating, and more, we think the Instant Pot Vortex Plus is a must-have air fryer.

Made In Stainless Clad Frying Pan

$120 at Amazon $139 at Walmart View on Madeincookware.com

We’ve worked with a lot of stainless steel skillets, and our enduring favorite is Made In’s 10-inch frying pan. This well-balanced, thoughtfully designed skillet (skillets and frying pans are the same thing, by the way!) continues to impress with its even heat distribution, comfortable handle, and durable construction. 

Stainless steel skillets can be had for less, but we think it’s worth investing in one that is capable of lasting for years and looking good while doing it. We liked this pan so much during our tests that we couldn’t come up with even one thing we didn’t love.

Mac Knife 8-Inch Hollow Edge Chef's Knife

$155 at Amazon View on Cutleryandmore.com View on Macknife.com

If there’s one must-have tool to rule them all, it’s a great chef’s knife. It's truly an essential, a desert island cooking tool. We love this one from Mac Knife for its ultra-sharp blade, nonslip handle, and nimble, lightweight profile. This knife was a joy to use throughout our tests, proving delicate with slippery tomato skins and robust enough to hack through dense vegetables with minimal effort.

Because the Mac Knife is so well-balanced, we found that we were able to chop, dice, and slice for extended periods of time without wrist strain or other discomfort. The scalloped edges help keep food from sticking to the knife’s blade, which lends a further ease of use that keeps us coming back for more.

Bodum Bistro Premium Burr Grinder

$80 at Amazon $120 at Ace Hardware

Any coffee aficionado will be quick to tell you that freshly ground coffee tastes (and smells!) better than pre-ground beans. A good-quality grinder feels like a next-level kitchen tool. Treat yourself to a lovely experience each morning with our favorite coffee grinder from Bodum Bistro. Burr grinders grind beans evenly and smoothly every time, and this easy-to-use model has the added benefit of looking great and being easy to clean. The glass hopper lets you see at a glance when it's time for a bean refill, and the price won’t break the bank. It’s a winner all around!

Cuisinart Food Processor

$250 $210 at Amazon $250 at Target $250 at Williams Sonoma

Food processors are exceedingly useful kitchen tools and an essential for easy weeknight cooking, but they can sometimes be bulky and complicated. We’re big fans of Cuisinart’s 14-cup model for its two-button simplicity and sharp, durable blades that can dice onions and shred cheese like a pro. 

As with any small multi-purpose appliance, there’s a slight learning curve with swapping out attachments and getting the hang of when to press ‘on’ versus ‘pulse,’ but the Cuisinart is so effective and such a joy to use that it won’t feel like much of a chore to acquaint yourself.

Vitamix Explorian E310 Blender

$380 $300 at Amazon $380 $300 at Target $300 at Williams Sonoma

Vitamix is a leading name in the blender game, and it’s with good reason. These blenders can blend. We like the E310 Explorian for its excellent performance with tough ingredients like ice and kale, and it clocks in at a more affordable price point (and a more compact size) than other Vitamix models. 

We named it our “best for beginners” pick for all of these reasons, but the E310 is a great choice for anyone who wants a Vitamix for casual use. This one is a slightly lower-powered model, so the motor can get a little warm with frequent use, but unless you’re buying it for your 24-hour smoothie cafe, it'll be fine for use at home.  

“As a chef and dietician who leans into plant-based eating, I rely on my Vitamix almost every day!” says Marcus.

Breville Control Grip Immersion Blender

$130 at Amazon $130 at Williams Sonoma $130 at Sur La Table

Immersion blenders are the space-saving key to smooth soups, perfect emulsions, and smoothies without the fuss. The Breville Control Grip immersion blender passed our tests with flying colors, even powering through chia seeds and crushed ice with ease.

The 8-inch length makes reaching the bottom of Dutch ovens and tall mixing vessels easy, and the rubber-tipped base won’t scratch your favorite cookware. This blender has an impressive 15 speeds, and while it can be a little loud at high speeds, just remember that’s where all the power is coming from.

Nesco VS-12 Vacuum Sealer

$140 $114 at Amazon $114 at Target $120 at Walmart

Our favorite vacuum sealer is this sleek countertop model from Nesco. It’s gentle enough that even crunchy Chex Mix stayed intact during our dry-seal tests, and our halved avocado stayed fresh and green with no signs of browning. 

While we found that the Nesco vacuum sealer requires some extra caution to avoid making a mess when sealing bags with lots of liquid, once the bag is sealed, it’s watertight and good to go. This is an excellent vacuum sealer for beginners or occasional users who want to keep foods fresher for longer — or dabble in sous vide cooking. If you're new to this piece of equipment, it's easy to learn how to use a vacuum sealer.

Latent Epicure Battery Operated Grinder Set

$45 $37 at Amazon

Freshly ground pepper beats the pre-ground stuff any day in terms of flavor, and we love this convenient set from Latent Epicure. These grinders are stylish, effective, and a pleasure to use, thanks to their electric operation. 

Our tests demonstrated this grinder’s ability to smoothly reduce black peppercorns to an even consistency, with none of the pesky twisting or shaking that often occurs with conventional grinders. We appreciated the consistent performance of this grinder; whether full or running low, it always grinds with the same effortless precision.

Kenwood Chef Kitchen Machine

$550 at Amazon $560 at Williams Sonoma

That’s right, we’re recommending a stand mixer other than the popular KitchenAid model. Our tests found that the Kenwood Chef Kitchen Machine sits politely atop the counter without taking up loads of space, is easy to clean thanks to its sleek, minimalist design, and comes with lots of practical attachments. Most importantly, the Kenwood stand mixer stands up to its tasks without rattling, overheating, or making a huge mess, thanks to its broad, deep bowl.

The Kenwood is an excellent choice in terms of both performance and value thanks to its seven included attachments — including a whisk, dough hook, and splash guard.

MIU France Large Stainless Steel Turner

$28 $25 at Amazon

A fish spatula seems like one of those kitchen tools you can probably do without — until you’ve used one and see how you’ve been missing out. “While it's a must-have for seafood lovers, it’s not just for seafood,” says chef and dietician Melanie Marcus MD. 

This fish spatula from MUI France ticks the important boxes for us: it’s affordable, well-constructed, and the just-right levels of flexibility make it ideal for everything from flipping pancakes to turning fish. “It’s also great for scooping poached eggs out of simmering water,” notes Marcus. The angled offset design made it easy for us to wiggle underneath foods during our tests without disturbing delicate ingredients, and you can run it through the dishwasher, too. (We always appreciate quality dishwasher-safe kitchen tools.)

Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker

$109 at Amazon $114 at Walmart View on Anovaculinary.com

We really enjoyed working with the Anova Culinary sous vide immersion circulator. This device is accurate, user-friendly, and even Wi-Fi-enabled if you’re feeling inclined to connect it to an app for recipe ideas and tutorials. If you’re not into that, no worries; all the controls are also built right into the circulator. 

This sous vide cooker works with a variety of containers thanks to its low-level alert when the water starts running low. With such versatility and accuracy, we think this is an ideal choice for experienced sous vide enthusiasts and newbies alike.