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Picking the right tools for your kitchen isn’t always easy, especially when there are so many tools and gadgets out there. Home and professional chefs agree that quality matters more than quantity, and reliable cookware, knives and food processors are far more useful than popular gadgets. If you want to properly stock your kitchen with the tools you need, the fundamentals will serve you well.
But which other tools and gadgets are great additions to your kitchen? I asked professional chefs, and they were refreshingly direct. A recurring theme among these kitchen professionals is a preference for fundamentals — choosing versatile, time-tested equipment over specialized gadgets with limited uses.
Masaharu Morimoto shared his pick for the most overrated kitchen tool.
Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images
1. Mandolin
Culinary instructor Eric Rowse knows a gimmicky kitchen tool when he sees one.
Institute of Culinary Education
2. Onion holders
Why: “These look like a weapon for Wolverine wannabes; it’s meant to help you hold a whole onion and “chop” it. Instead, cut the onion in half to create a flat surface so it won’t roll away. If you’re trying to cut rings, save the $14 and stick a fork in the root and hold the fork.”
Glass, stone and metal boards are OK for serving but when slicing and dicing, wood is the way to go.
David Watsky/CNET
Why: “Cutting on hard surfaces is bad for your knives; instead, go for wood or poly.”
What to try instead: Our list of the best cutting boards features plenty of knife-safe options.
5. Chicken shredder
Instant read meat probes work fast and don’t require a fussy Bluetooth connection.
Chris Wedel/CNET
Why: “These are a great tool but can be very expensive. I can see myself losing, breaking, dropping, accidentally throwing away or dropping it in the coals.”
A manual can opener is cheaper, works great and is less likely to break.
Nelson Aguilar/CNET
Why: “Most of us grew up with an electric can opener permanently stationed on the kitchen counter, like it was a vital appliance. But truthfully, they’re more nostalgia than necessity. They take up space, can be a hassle to clean and often struggle with irregularly sized cans. A good manual opener is compact, reliable and gets the job done without needing an outlet or a user manual.”
Separating an egg by hand isn’t so difficult that it requires hardware.
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Why: “A tool just for separating yolks is unnecessary for most home cooks.” The only exception may be this one, and even that is just for yolks. Err, I mean yucks.
What to try instead: Cracking an egg and using the shell halves or your fingers works just as well.
11. Garlic peeler tube
Why: “Rolling garlic cloves in a silicone tube may work but requires storing a single-purpose gadget.”
What to try instead: Smashing garlic cloves with a chef knife is quicker and more reliable.
12. Pizza scissors
A good butter knife works just as well and requires less space and maintenance.
Williams Sonoma
Why: “It slices sticks of butter into pats … but why? A knife works instantly and you don’t have to load and clean a plastic gadget for it.”
Why: “It’s a plastic disc with holes to tell you how much spaghetti to cook. Just eyeball it or learn the rough weight by experience. It’s not worth the drawer space.”
What to try instead: A kitchen scale for precise measurements.
17. Oil mister
Why: “Often clogs, sprays unevenly and requires constant cleaning. A small spoon or brush does the job with less frustration.”
