6 min read
For many home cooks, the only thing more exciting than sitting down to a delicious meal is stepping into a well-stocked kitchen. Having an array of cookware, the right cutlery, and an arsenal of handheld tools is key to making great meals.
“As cooks, we know that the difference between a good meal and a great meal is a nicer ingredient,” says chef, cookbook author and Crate & Barrel collaborator Molly Baz. “Similarly, the difference between fumbling your way through cooking a meal and being able to feel like a pro in the kitchen is having the right equipment.”
In the guide below, we’ll share our top 37 must-have kitchen gadgets beloved by our in-house experts as well as the home cooks that have been shopping at Crate & Barrel for years.
Think of the kitchen utensils in your drawers as your professional tool kit: They should be both practical and innovative—giving you the freedom to whip up any recipe that comes your way. These kitchen must-haves make everyday tasks simpler, faster and even more fun. From cooking a fool-proof batch of hard-boiled eggs to mincing garlic without the need for a cutting board or a knife, these must-have kitchen items will bring a little joy into your daily cooking.
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avocado slicer
Trying to get those Insta-worthy avocado slices for your toast? An avocado slicer is an easy tool to get impeccably peeled and sliced avocados–no fancy knife skills required. Use this small tool to split the avocado, remove the pit, and slice and scoop avocados to serve. This cool tool is easy enough for anyone to use and leaves behind minimal mess, making it easy to enjoy elegantly sliced avocados on top of tacos, grain bowls, homemade ceviche, tostadas and other favorites.
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bread maker
With a bread machine, you can make fresh bread without hours of hands-on kneading, folding or watching the clock. A bread maker automatically mixes and kneads dough, allows for timed proofing at a controlled temperature, and even bakes the loaf all in one cycle. Different machines will offer different features like an overnight timer and the ability to make different types of bread like whole wheat or gluten-free, or even other recipes like cake or jam, so choose one that works for the way you like to bake.
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can opener
Another kitchen must-have is a can opener. There are two types of can openers. The first is a traditional side grip can opener that cuts the metal of the can lid right next to the edge. The second kind is a top-crank model (sometimes also called a safety can opener) that effortlessly separates lid from can, leaving the can’s edges smooth. For either style, look for an easy-turn knob and comfortable handles that absorb pressure and make the whole operation that much easier. Some gadgets also feature a built-in bottle opener: a bonus for beer or soda drinkers. A good can opener should last about 5-10 years depending on the frequency of use, but they will dull over time and eventually need to be replaced.
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cookie dough scoop
The secret to evenly portioned cookies every time? A cookie dough scoop. Use it for all your favorite batches, including chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin and other drop cookies. Just scoop, squeeze and release onto a baking sheet before baking. A cookie dough scoop is a useful kitchen tool because you can also use it to scoop and portion other ingredients like ice cream, muffin batter or even falafel.
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citrus squeezer
Quickly whip up a homemade lemon salad dressing or pour a glass of tasty homemade orange juice with a multipurpose citrus squeezer. This handheld gadget inverts limes, lemons, and even oranges for efficient straining, so you won’t have to worry about pieces of pulp or seeds in your beverage. When you are looking for tools for quickly juicing citrus, be sure to also consider similar products like a citrus juicer with a detachable measuring cup for easy recipe prep, a simple reamer that releases juice from citrus or even an electric option for big batches.
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egg cooker
An egg cooker is a must-have kitchen gadget for anyone who cooks a lot of eggs. It's a small kitchen appliance that cooks multiple eggs at one time.Egg cookers often feature an automatic shut-off feature and a menu of different cooking methods for eggs including soft-boiled and hard-boiled or even poached or omelets.
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egg slicer
An egg slicer is a multifunctional tool that makes it easy to precisely slice, wedge and halve hard-boiled eggs, as well as smaller foods such as strawberries and mushrooms. The compact design makes it simple to toss in the dishwasher and easy to store in a kitchen drawer.
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food processor
A food processor is a multifunctional kitchen appliance that is used for chopping and pureeing ingredients as well as making doughs. Often food processors feature additional blades that allow for slicing, shredding, and dicing. Ingredients are collected inside the work bowl which can range in size from small to large, depending on the size of your recipes or your kitchen. Food processors are popular for prepping salad ingredients, pureeing vegetables, making pasta dough and for many more recipes.
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fondue set
Who doesn’t love melted cheese or chocolate? Use the pot of a fondue set to create your melty cheese, chocolate or other dippable treat. Then guests can use the long skewers to dip cubes of bread, strawberries, soft pretzels, roasted potatoes and so many more ingredients into the fondue. Perfect for parties, fondue sets often come with 6 or more skewers. You can find fondue pots powered by electricity and also electric-free fondue sets that offer more flexibility powered by candles or liquid fuel or gel packs.
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candy thermometer
A candy thermometer is meant to be partially submerged into a pot of a liquid ingredient like melted candy, caramel or hot oil for frying. These often have a clip to keep them upright in the pot and the tip properly submerged when working with hot liquids.
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meat probe
A meat probe is a thicker metal rod that is placed into a larger cut of meat before cooking. It reports the temperature continuously–either analog or digital–as the meat rises in temperature. One benefit of the meat probe is that you know the temperature along the way and can halt cooking at the moment it reaches the correct temperature, unlike other thermometers where you have to insert the thermometer periodically during cooking and can risk overcooking. Probes can typically be used for both the oven and the grill.
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instant read thermometer
An instant read thermometer is incredibly versatile. A sharp, thin metal probe gets inserted into the center of the meat and within seconds you will get a precise digital temperature reading. Instant read thermometers are usually used for meat like steak or chicken but can also be used on baked goods like bread to confirm that baking is complete.
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smart thermometer
Various types of thermometers now offer smart and connected features which include the ability to connect your personal device and receive notifications on temperature, suggested recipes and more. They can be a great tool for multitasking or monitoring longer cook times.
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infrared thermometer
An infrared thermometer is often used for checking the temperature of your pizza oven or grill. The thermometer uses a laser to read the temperature so you can keep your hands safely away from the hot surfaces.
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oven thermometer
An oven thermometer is not used to take the temperature of your food, but instead it is a small device you can place inside your oven to make sure it is cooking at the correct temperature. Precise cooking temperatures are important for many recipes like bread and baked goods and inaccurate temperatures can affect cook times.
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garlic press
A garlic press easily smashes and minces whole cloves or garlic, all without you needing to take out a cutting board or a knife. Models with an ergonomic comfort grip eliminate strain and your hands stay odor-free. An inner removable piece makes garlic presses easy to clean. Pro tip: you can usually press garlic with the paper still on!
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grater/zester
There are several small gadgets and tools that can make quick work of grating and zesting. First is a box grater that features grating and slicing blades in various sizes on a four sided box that stands upright on a cutting board. Box graters are great for cheese and soft vegetables like zucchini or tomatoes. If you are looking for finer zesting–like for parmesan, garlic, ginger, or nutmeg–try a small handheld zester with finer holes for a delicate grate. You can use the handheld zester over a bowl, a cutting board or even right over your pan or dish. The grating holes of both types of graters will dull over time, so if you notice that it’s getting harder to shred your favorite ingredients, it may be time for a new one.
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ice cream maker
An ice cream maker can churn cream and milk into luscious, scoopable ice cream. There are several kinds of ice cream makers including versions that work by using a frozen bowl you store in your freezer and other versions that are fully electric and can chill the ice cream without the need for a frozen bowl. Although known for dairy-based ice cream, ice cream makers can churn up all kinds of frozen treats including non-dairy ice cream, sorbets, sherbets, and even an icy drink like a margarita.
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ice cream scoop
Enjoy perfectly round scoops for dessert. A staple in the kitchen, an ice cream scoop glides right through ice cream, sorbet and other frozen treats. Some even self-defrost, allowing you to indulge even faster.
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immersion blender
An immersion blender is also called a hand blender or a stick blender. Instead of a pitcher blender where you place the ingredients inside to blend, an immersion blender brings the blending power to whatever vessel you are already using like a large soup pot or bowl. Use a hand blender to get creamy soups and sauces, to mash up vegetables or to make smoothies and dressings. One big perk of the immersion blender is that it has a small, compact size that is easy to store in a kitchen drawer and doesn’t take up much counter space. Plus you can often do big batches like a whole soup pot that would typically take multiple batches in a pitcher-style blender. However, immersion blenders typically do not get tough ingredients quite as smooth as pitcher-style blenders, especially high-powered blenders.
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juicer
A juicer is a small kitchen appliance that can make fresh juice from everyday fruits and vegetables. Typically you need to wash and chop fresh produce like apples, carrots, ginger, celery or kale and then feed them through the juicer where they are mashed or chopped and the juice is extracted. If you like fresh juice, a home juicer is a game changer that allows you to customize your drink with the healthy ingredients that you like, as well as to maintain optimal freshness and minimize cost compared to a daily trip to the juice bar.
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measuring cups
Avid bakers know how important these kitchen tools are. Versatile and easy to use, measuring cups ensure precise volume measurements. You’ll want to be sure to use liquid measuring cups for liquid ingredients and dry measuring cups for dry ingredients like flour and sugar. Liquids are easier and more accurate to measure in liquid measuring cups that are clear and have a spout for pouring. For dry measuring cups, some sets have flat bases to keep cups upright, while others have a hole at the end of the handles to keep the individual components together on a ring.
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measuring spoons
Measuring spoons serve much the same function as measuring cups, just in smaller increments. Measuring spoons can be used for both liquid and dry ingredients, and are often used for smaller measurements in baking like salt, baking powder, or spices. You can find them in a wide variety of materials like ceramic, stainless steel, copper and melamine.
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mortar and pestle
A mortar and pestle is a 2 piece set that includes the mortar, a thickly walled bowl, and the pestle, a blunt, hand-held club. Together these pieces are used for crushing, grinding and blending ingredients, particularly whole spices like peppercorns and aromatics like garlic and ginger. Mortar and pestles are used to make hand-blended sauces and purees like pesto, dressings and other emulsions. They are made out of many materials like ceramic, wood, marble, and granite. Heavier materials like granite or marble are a good pick for hard-to-crush ingredients since the weight of the mortar and pestle makes it easier.
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omelet spatula
This flexible utensil effortlessly glides under omelets, crepes, pancakes and quesadillas for quick and easy flipping and folding. Sometimes it can be hard to get thicker nylon or metal spatulas under these delicate ingredients, so a thin, flexible optional is the perfect choice. A silicone flip and fold spatula is compatible with nonstick cookware and minimizes food breakage.
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potato masher
A potato masher is a simple hand-held tool that crushes and blends cooked potatoes to make a rustic, mashed potato. They are convenient because you can mash in the cooking pot after water is drained or even right in the serving bowl. Hand-mashing is a great choice for potatoes, because electric options can release too much starch and create a glue-like consistency. Potato mashers can also be used to mash and puree other ingredients like sweet potatoes and root vegetables and even create apple sauce from cooked apples or compote or jams from other cooked fruits like berries. If you are a mashed potato aficionado, consider a related product called a potato ricer. Looking very similar to an extra large garlic press, the potato ricer can smoothly break down cooked potatoes into a light and fluffy puree. According to Alia Dalal, a trained chef and Crate & Barrel’s in-house culinary expert, “A potato ricer is more or less a single-use tool, but it’s one that chef’s swear by to get that perfect fluffy mashed potato.”
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sous vide
Sous vide is a cooking method that has been popular in restaurants and professional cooking settings for many years and has recently made the leap to home kitchens. Sous vide translates to “under vacuum” and it’s a method where ingredients are sealed in a plastic bag and then cooked submerged in water in a temperature controlled environment. Home sous vide equipment consists of a large container of water, plastic or vacuum sealed bags and the sous vide machine or circulator itself which maintains a consistent temperature of the water. The popularity of sous vide comes from its ability to cook ingredients–particularly meats like steak, chicken and fish–to tender perfection without overcooking. The sous vide circulator is generally small and compact enough to fit into a kitchen drawer and can often be used with equipment already found at home like plastic freezer bags and a large pot. Many versions also come with connected features so you can program and monitor cooking from your phone as well as discover recipes and video how-to tutorials.
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spatula
Versatile and easy-to-use, spatulas have you covered while cooking and baking. Featured in a variety of shapes and sizes, this practical tool makes it easy to transfer foods from stove to plate, flip foods as they’re being cooked and mix batter for pancakes or a delicious dessert. There are two main types of spatulas. The first is sometimes called a turner and features a wide flat surface made of silicone, nylon or metal to make flipping and turning easier. The other kind has a narrower, flexible surface that’s sometimes curved to optimize stirring and bowl-scraping.
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strawberry huller
A strawberry huller makes it quick and easy to remove stems from this summertime favorite. Often easier or safer to use than a paring knife, the strawberry huller just removes the leaves and stems without removing too much of the edible strawberry, leaving you more for snacking and berry treats like jams and pies.
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tongs
Used for moving or flipping foods, tongs are a staple kitchen tool. Look for tongs with comfort grips on the handles for easier maneuvering, nylon tips to protect nonstick cookware or handles that lock for easy storage. Tongs can be used for indoor cooking on the stovetop, outdooring cooking on the grill and even for serving on a buffet.
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vegetable peeler
Featuring a comfy handle that’s easy to grip, vegetable peelers make it a breeze to peel fruits and vegetables. You can also use them to make vegetable noodles from asparagus, carrots or zucchini. Vegetables peelers come in a traditional straight style as well as a u- or y-shaped style; choose either one depending on your personal preference. While a vegetable peeler might last for 3-5 years, the blade will dull over time with frequent use. If it’s getting difficult to peel your produce, it might be time for a new peeler.
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whisk
Beat eggs, whip cream and thoroughly combine batter and homemade salad dressing with a whisk. Durable wires hold their shape over time and withstand heavy use and there are also options for silicone whisks instead of metal. Whisks come in a variety of sizes.
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wine aerator
Have you ever heard that you should let red wine breathe? A wine aerator exposes wine to oxygen which enhances the flavor and aroma. A wine aerator usually attaches to the bottle and wine is then poured out through the device. A wine aerator makes a great gift for a wine lover.
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wood spoon
Wood spoons are a kitchen classic. Scoop, stir, mix and serve with this versatile utensil that’s safe to use on nonstick pots and pans. The sturdy construction means it will be with you for the long haul.
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salad spinner
A salad spinner is a useful kitchen gadget for washing and drying all kinds of leafy greens. Greens get rinsed in the inner basket and then spun dry for maximum freshness. You can also use a salad spinner for herbs like cilantro and parsley, and the inner basket doubles as a colander for washing all kinds of produce.
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over-the-sink colander
A colander is an essential tool for washing produce and draining ingredients like pasta or boiled potatoes. An over-the-sink colander features two extendable arms that hold up the basket over the sink so that it does not touch the bottom. This is great for keeping your clean ingredients away from a dirty sink and also for making the process of straining hands-free since the colander holds itself up.
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pizza wheel
With its rotating circular blade, a pizza wheel makes easy work of slicing. These kitchen gadgets can also be used to cut and portion other ingredients like pasta dough for ravioli or hand-cut noodles or pie dough for the perfect lattice top.
