18 Essential Kitchen Tools We Wouldn’t Want to Cook WithoutHow many do you have?

You know that feeling when you're cooking in a new kitchen, and you reach for that thing you just assume everyone has, only to find...nope? Pots and pans are relatively universal, but the kitchen tools we rely on wind up much more specific.

Here are the ones we use day in, day out. Some of them you might already own. Others are culled from our time in commercial kitchens, where efficiency and durability is prized above all. And some are less common versions of items we all rely on, that we think are more than worth the investment. So: How many do you have?

Benriner Mandolin
    SHOP NOW

    Slotted Spatula
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      Mortar and Pestle
        SHOP NOW

        Cambros
          SHOP NOW

          Microplane
            SHOP NOW

            Mixing Bowls
              SHOP NOW

              Bamboo Steamer
                SHOP NOW

                Kitchen Scale
                  SHOP NOW

                  Bench Scraper
                    SHOP NOW

                    Y-Peeler
                      SHOP NOW

                      Aluminum Half-Sheet Pan
                        SHOP NOW
                        Cooling Rack
                        Cooling Rack

                        If you’re leaving those cookies on your baking sheet after you take them out of the oven, well, see above re: burned bottoms. Instead, use that handy slotted spatula we recommended at the beginning of this post and quickly slide them over to this cooling rack, which is also great for resting fried food, steaks, and anything else you don’t want sitting in its own juices or in direct contact with a flat surface that would lead to sogginess. If you’re making guacamole for a crowd, these racks are also the fastest way to dice up a bunch of avocado quickly—a restaurant trick we can’t get enough of.

                        Salt Pig
                          SHOP NOW

                          A Proper Cutting Board
                            SHOP NOW

                            Cutting Board With a Moat
                              SHOP NOW

                              Heatproof Spatula
                                SHOP NOW

                                Proper Tongs
                                  SHOP NOW
                                  Techniques

                                  18 Essential Kitchen Tools We Wouldn’t Want to Cook Without

                                  How many do you have?

                                  Tongs
                                  AMAZON

                                  By Max Falkowitz


                                  Published on May 2, 2017

                                  You know that feeling when you're cooking in a new kitchen, and you reach for that thing you just assume everyone has, only to find...nope? Pots and pans are relatively universal, but the kitchen tools we rely on wind up much more specific.

                                  Here are the ones we use day in, day out. Some of them you might already own. Others are culled from our time in commercial kitchens, where efficiency and durability is prized above all. And some are less common versions of items we all rely on, that we think are more than worth the investment. So: How many do you have?

                                  Benriner Mandolin
                                    SHOP NOW

                                    Slotted Spatula
                                      SHOP NOW

                                      Mortar and Pestle
                                        SHOP NOW

                                        Cambros
                                          SHOP NOW

                                          Microplane
                                            SHOP NOW

                                            Mixing Bowls
                                              SHOP NOW

                                              Bamboo Steamer
                                                SHOP NOW

                                                Kitchen Scale
                                                  SHOP NOW

                                                  Bench Scraper
                                                    SHOP NOW

                                                    Y-Peeler
                                                      SHOP NOW

                                                      Aluminum Half-Sheet Pan
                                                        SHOP NOW
                                                        Cooling Rack
                                                        Cooling Rack

                                                        If you’re leaving those cookies on your baking sheet after you take them out of the oven, well, see above re: burned bottoms. Instead, use that handy slotted spatula we recommended at the beginning of this post and quickly slide them over to this cooling rack, which is also great for resting fried food, steaks, and anything else you don’t want sitting in its own juices or in direct contact with a flat surface that would lead to sogginess. If you’re making guacamole for a crowd, these racks are also the fastest way to dice up a bunch of avocado quickly—a restaurant trick we can’t get enough of.

                                                        Salt Pig
                                                          SHOP NOW

                                                          A Proper Cutting Board
                                                            SHOP NOW

                                                            Cutting Board With a Moat
                                                              SHOP NOW

                                                              Heatproof Spatula
                                                                SHOP NOW

                                                                Proper Tongs
                                                                  SHOP NOW

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