The 10 Most Important Things You Need in Kitchen
1 Silpat Baking Sheet
When silicone was first used for bakeware in the 1980s, cooks raved about its unique properties: a durable, nonstaining, nonstick surface; resistance to extreme temperatures; and even heat transfer. Silpat was one of the first companies to exploit these qualities in baking pan liners—thin, flexible mats that can be used instead of parchment paper. Even delicate cookies and pastries come off without tearing, and cleanup is a snap. They're also great for kneading and rolling out dough.
2 De Buyer Swing Mandoline
Another professional tool that more and more home cooks are discovering, this is indispensable for thinly slicing, crinkle-cutting, or waffle-cutting veggies such as potatoes, carrots, and cukes (it's also handy for producing matchsticks and julienne cuts). French company De Buyer's version features a smart handle design to protect fingers, stainless-steel blades that are easily removable for cleaning, and nonskid feet.
3 OXO Good Grips 9-inch Tongs with Nylon Heads
OXO's ergonomically designed Good Grips line has revolutionized many kitchen tools, from can openers to vegetable peelers. Tongs may seem less immediately essential, but being able to easily and precisely grip hot foods is a major plus. This model locks for storage and features heat-safe nylon heads that won't scratch nonstick cookware.
4 Professional chefs started to go nuts for these stainless steel–handled knives, made by the Yoshikin company, in the 1990s, and savvy consumers soon followed. If we had to pick just one size, it would be the versatile 8-inch, equally useful for precision dicing and heavy-duty chopping.
4 Professional chefs started to go nuts for these stainless steel–handled knives, made by the Yoshikin company, in the 1990s, and savvy consumers soon followed. If we had to pick just one size, it would be the versatile 8-inch, equally useful for precision dicing and heavy-duty chopping.
5 Kitchen Aid Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixer
Introduced in 1919, and still the best. The Artisan series includes a 5-quart bowl that's big enough for most home recipes—without taking up too much counter space—plus a tilting head to allow for easy bowl access. Optional attachments do everything from grinding meat to juicing citrus fruits.
6 Cuisinart Smart Stick Immersion Blender
Once you've tried an immersion blender, you will not want to give it up. Soups can be pureed right in the pot, without the danger or hassle of transferring hot liquids. Small batches of mayonnaise and the like can be easily mixed in a bowl. Sauces can be thickened and emulsified without removing them from the stovetop. Cuisinart's version is easy to clean and store, and dishwasher-safe to boot.
7 Metrokane Rabbit Corkscrew
Synonymous with conspicuous yuppie consumption? Yes. By far the easiest and most efficient way to open a bottle of wine? Absolutely. So get over yourself and, um, plonk down the $35; you won't regret it.
8 OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner
Nothing sabotages a salad like soggy greens, and this easy-to-use spinner does the drying job better than most. A push button creates rapid and forceful spinning action, and a brake stops the motion whenever you want to check your results
9 Cuisinart 6.5-Quart Digital Slow Cooker
Slow cookers initially looked like a '70s fad, but they've become a staple for savvy home chefs. They help seal in moisture for delectable soups, stews, and braises, and also offer a great way to cook less expensive, tougher cuts of meat. For family-size meals, we love Cuisinart's large 6.5-quart digital cooker, which brings the device into the new millennium with a programmable 24-hour timer; high, low, and stay-warm settings; and a dishwasher-safe bowl.
10 AccuSharp Knife Sharpener
Smart cooks know that keeping your knives sharp is the key to avoiding dangerous slips. But it's easy to get lax when your only options are a trip to a professional sharpener or using an intimidating stone yourself. Enter the newer home sharpeners, which use two diamond cutters to produce a correctly beveled edge with a minimum of expertise. The AccuSharp is our favorite, doing the trick in just five to ten strokes.
