What are the most essential kitchen tools? We combed through our equipment reviews—from air fryers to zesters and everything in between—to put together a definitive list not just of cookware categories, but of the specific winners that topped our side-by-side tests.
There are some exceptional gifts on this list, but there are also plenty of items that might be exactly what your own kitchen needs. Whether you’re shopping for a loved one, upgrading your own kitchen, or simply window-shopping, look no further. This is what’s great, right now.
Editors’ Picks:
- Food Processor: Cuisinart Custom 14 Cup Food Processor
- Blender: Vitamix 5200 Blender
- Stand Mixer: KitchenAid Classic Series 4.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer
- Air Fryer: Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart Air Fryer
- Stainless-Steel Skillet: All-Clad D3 Stainless 12" Fry Pan with Lid
- Cast-Iron Skillet: Smithey Ironware No. 12 Cast Iron Skillet
- Dutch Oven: Le Creuset 7¼ Quart Round Dutch Oven
- Chef’s Knife: Victorinox Swiss Army Fibrox Pro 8" Chef’s Knife
- Cutting Board: Teakhaus Edge Grain Cutting Board (XL)
- Baking Sheet: Nordic Ware Baker’s Half Sheet
Appliances
KitchenAid Classic Series 4.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer
This compact stand mixer performed better than lots of its bigger and fancier competitors. We like its relatively small footprint and its durable construction.
Cuisinart Custom 14 Cup Food Processor
This high-quality food processor deserves a spot in any kitchen. It’s precise, powerful, and impressively easy to use. And it does everything reliably, from making nut butter to mixing sticky doughs with ease.
GE 2 Slice Stainless Steel Toaster
A good toaster can start your morning off right. This affordable model is sleek and evenly toasts slices of bread and bagels in under 2 minutes. Like your toast pale or extra-dark? Adjusting the darkness setting couldn’t be simpler.
OXO Brew Cordless Glass Electric Kettle
An electric kettle boils water more quickly than either a kettle or a pot on the stove and takes up relatively little counter space. The glass pitcher makes it easy to tell at a glance when the water has reached a boil.
Braun MultiQuick 5 Hand Blender
We swear by our winning immersion blender. It accomplishes every task with ease, from emulsifying salad dressing and pureeing soup to transforming frozen fruit and yogurt into creamy smoothies—no additional blending jars needed.
Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart Air Fryer
The air fryer’s ascent from a novelty to a kitchen mainstay now feels inevitable. These machines can do everything! Our favorite is spacious enough to cook for four people and can cook everything from crispy fries to chicken cutlets.
Cuisinart Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker
The best ice cream maker makes delicious frozen treats at the touch of a button. We’ve been loving our winning model for years, and newer, fancier competition is still no match for the performance and simplicity of this one-button machine.
Baratza Encore ESP
Many coffee enthusiasts would say a burr grinder is a must-have appliance for serious coffee drinkers. We agree. Our winning burr grinder produces the most consistent grounds for use in everything from espresso to cold-brew coffee. It’s also straightforward to use for those who are new to home brewing.
Breville Barista Express
With its built-in grinder and well-tuned factory settings, the Breville Barista Express is ready to make delicious, flavorful espresso and lattes the moment you pull it out of the box. Novices will love it, but it’s easily customizable for espresso aficionados who want to tinker with settings to dial in their perfect shot.
Zojirushi 5.5-Cup Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker & Warmer
A rice cooker makes tender, evenly cooked rice at the touch of a button—enough reason to keep one within reach at all times. Our winning model can handle large and small batches with absolute precision and consistency.
Vitamix 5200 Blender
A great blender instantly upgrades your kitchen. You can make ultrasmooth soups and sauces, whip up frozen cocktails, and so much more. This iconic Vitamix model has remained the hands-down winner after years of testing, thanks to the design of the blending jar and the position of the blades that help mix ingredients more effectively. It’s truly an investment piece that delivers.
OXO Good Grips 11 lb Food Scale with Pull Out Display
An accurate and reliable kitchen scale is a must. Our favorite has never failed us. Its pull-out display screen allows you to read the numbers even while measuring bulky items.
Instant Pot Pro 8Qt
This stellar pressure-cooker also does an excellent job of searing and steaming food, cooking rice, and fermenting yogurt. For those with limited storage space, this versatile, user-friendly multicooker is a fantastic option.
Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro
With our top-performing air fryer toaster oven, you might never turn on your regular oven again. It excelled in every test, producing evenly baked cookies, golden-brown pizza, tender-crisp roasted vegetables, and even a bronzed, crisp-skinned chicken. It has a spacious interior and intuitive, easy-to-use settings.
Ooni Volt 2
A good pizza oven can bring restaurant-quality pies home—no more takeout needed. Our favorite model gets hot enough for quick-cooking, beautifully charred Neapolitan pies. With a tall, spacious chamber, you can deftly maneuver the pies halfway through cooking.
Breville The Compact Wave Soft Close Microwave
Microwaves may be the most overlooked but important appliance in the kitchen. This sleek, compact model gently and evenly heats up food and performs equally well when softening or melting butter and defrosting meat. We were impressed by the design of the dials and the soft-close door, thoughtful design features that make this microwave stand apart.
Breville Joule Turbo Sous Vide
Sous vide cooking requires precise temperature control—and our winning model proved excellent at this essential function. It’s simple to operate, making this type of cooking feel easy to pull off.
Technivorm Moccamaster KBT
For those who depend on a reliable, delicious cup of coffee first thing in the morning, invest in the Moccamaster. Period. It’s a no-brainer appliance for any household that enjoys coffee.
Nesco Deluxe Vacuum Sealer
From preserving your Costco haul to keeping produce and spices fresh, a vacuum sealer is a useful tool to keep on hand. Our winning model is easy to use and seals tightly to ensure maximum freshness and zero freezer burn.
Beast Mega 1200
For those with a small kitchen space, a good personal blender offers similar functionality to a full-size model without taking up much room. Our favorite features a slim design, accessories for taking the smoothies on the go, and a blending jar spacious enough to blend smoothies for two.
Chef’s Choice Trizor 15XV Knife Sharpener
A dull knife is the nemesis of any cook. We think electric knife sharpeners are the best option for most people because they’re straightforward to use and can restore a knife to razor-sharpness quickly.
Cuisinart Power Advantage Plus 9-Speed Hand Mixer
Hand mixers punch above their weight, handling many whipping and mixing tasks that might otherwise require you to haul out a stand mixer. We love this simple, straightforward model. Though it lacks the bells and whistles of some of the high-end models, it’s a workhorse that gets the job done well.
Duxtop Portable Induction Cooktop 9600LS/BT-200DZ
A portable induction burner is a nice tool for hosting parties that require tabletop cooking, such as a cozy fondue dinner or a hotpot feast. It also helps keep foods at the right temperature in situations like buffet-style dining. Our Best Buy burner is straightforward and responsive.
Cookware
All-Clad Stainless 12" Nonstick Fry Pan
It’s hard to argue with the convenience of a nonstick skillet. For a traditional nonstick skillet, our favorite is reliably nonstick and easy to cook in.
GreenPan Valencia Pro Hard Anodized Nonstick Frypan, 12-Inch
Nonstick skillets make cooking and cleanup easier. The GreenPan Valencia Pro series is by far the most durable line of ceramic-coated skillets that we’ve ever tested; with a broad cooking surface and straight sides, it’s the one to get.
All-Clad D3 Stainless 12″ Fry Pan with Lid
In our view, a reliable 12-inch skillet is a truly must-have piece of cookware in the kitchen. The All-Clad skillet boasts fully-clad construction, which showed superior browning ability and responsiveness compared to its competition.
Cuisinart Multiclad Pro Triple Ply Stainless Cookware 16" Roasting Pan with Rack
Some may argue that a roasting pan isn’t essential, but we think it deserves a spot on this list. It comes in handy when roasting large cuts of meat like a pork shoulder and even for roasting potatoes, making a big batch of mussels, or cooking paella on the grill. And at the holidays, it easily holds a 19-pound turkey.
Le Creuset 7¼ Quart Round Dutch Oven
When it comes to Dutch ovens, nothing can outperform the classic round models from Le Creuset. We can confidently say the 7¼ Quart model is still the best we’ve ever tested, thanks to its sturdy build, broad cooking surface, and large handles that make lifting easy.
All-Clad D3 Stainless 3-ply Bonded Cookware Set, 10 Piece Set
A cookware set lays the foundation for a proper kitchen. We’ve recommended individual pieces from this set in standalone cookware reviews over the years. Together, it’s a bundle of the most useful, durable items any cook could ask for.
Smithey Ironware No. 12 Cast Iron Skillet
Just like a stainless-steel skillet, a cast-iron pan is something that’s basically required for every kitchen. Cast iron retains heat well, and we love the broad cooking surface and tall sides of our winner.
All-Clad Stainless 4-Qt Sauce Pan
This saucepan excels in every cooking task. It heats uniformly and steadily while giving good visibility inside the pan to monitor browning. We like the main handle design, which is U-shaped for an extra-secure grip, and the additional support of a helper handle.
Knives
Victorinox Swiss Army Fibrox Pro 8" Chef’s Knife
With a sharp, nimble blade and comfortable handle, this inexpensive—but excellent—chef’s knife consistently outperforms models that cost three times as much. If you or a loved one are suffering with bad knives, let this be your sign to stop.
Mercer Culinary Millennia 10-Inch Bread Knife
A good serrated knife is not just for slicing bread. It can also glide through watermelons and gently slice even the most delicate summer tomatoes. Our favorite knife consistently excelled in testing, with tall, pointed teeth that cut sharply, and was exceptionally comfortable to use.
Victorinox Swiss Army Fibrox 12" Granton Edge Slicing/Carving Knife
For those who like to entertain, a slicing knife guarantees the neatest, most beautiful slices of roasts, turkey, and brisket. The rounded tip also makes tableside service a bit less intimidating for the guests.
Shun Multi-Purpose Shears
Kitchen shears do so many things, from cutting herbs and parchment paper to butterflying a whole chicken. Our favorite shears have sharp, long blades with comfortable, ambidextrous handles; breaking down whole chickens into parts feels as easy as chopping herbs.
Mercer Culinary Renaissance Paring Knife
A paring knife is a small, nimble, and easy-to-use tool fitting for small tasks such as hulling strawberries and slicing cheese. Our favorite knife offers the agility and precision for those intricate jobs and we think every home cook would benefit from it.
Super Benriner Mandoline Slicer
Yes, you can slice fruits and vegetables with a chef’s knife. But for most of us, it’s quicker and considerably more precise to use a good mandoline. Our favorite model has a no-frills design: a sturdy platform with a sharp, adjustable blade that effortlessly slices produce.
Cutting Boards
Teakhaus Edge Grain Cutting Board (XL)
Every kitchen can use a giant cutting board for routine chopping and dicing, but who says that it has to look utilitarian? Our longtime favorite is attractive enough to display on the counter and does double duty as a serving board when you’re entertaining. In addition to being beautiful, teak is easy to maintain.
Winco Statik Board Cutting Board 15" x 20" x ½"
Our favorite plastic cutting board is moderately heavy; together with the rubber grips on four corners, the board sits securely on the counter. Its medium thickness prevents warping. We were impressed with its build quality that sustained multiple washes.
Tools & Gadgets
OXO Good Grips Soft Handled Can Opener
There’s simply no substitute for a good can opener. Our winning model is effective and extremely easy to use.
ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE
We love our Thermapens so much that we travel with them. It’s the fastest and most accurate instant-read thermometer we’ve encountered. We like the confidence and peace of mind it brings, and we think every home cook deserves one.
Cuisipro Stainless Steel 5-Piece Measuring Spoons
Would you believe that many measuring spoons are inaccurate enough to throw off the outcome of your recipe? Our winning set is accurate and has a ring to keep every spoon together. The bowls are narrow enough to fit in even the smallest spice jar, making it that much simpler to cook or bake.
FAAY 13.5" Teak Cooking Spoon
No kitchen is complete without a wooden spoon in easy reach. This spoon has a moderate weight—not so heavy that you get tired while stirring, not so light that it feels flimsy. It’s also thoughtfully designed with a scooped bowl and a thin edge ideal for scraping fond and turning food.
OXO Good Grips 11" Balloon Whisk
This everyday kitchen tool enables you to whip up vinaigrette, pan sauce, and whipped cream. Our favorite whisk has a narrow balloon that’s wide enough to give coverage but not too wide to feel clumsy when in use.
Wüsthof Gourmet 7" Slotted Fish Spatula
Hear us out: An excellent metal spatula is a worthy splurge. This spatula has a comfortable, medium-length handle that’s easy to grab and a long, narrow head that maneuvers around skillets with ease. The best part is the thin and curved tip that gets under and cleanly picks up even the stickiest food.
OXO Good Grips 12-Inch Tongs
Kitchen tongs have one simple job: picking up and moving things. But not all tongs are created equal. This pair offers the most secure, precise grip and is very easy to control and maneuver.
Kuhn Rikon Epicurean Garlic Press
Mincing garlic isn’t the most popular kitchen task—unless you have a good garlic press. Our top-rated model opens wide to fit even giant garlic cloves and has big, easy-to-squeeze handles. It makes perfectly uniform minced garlic and rinses clean quickly.
Kuhn Rikon Original Swiss Peeler
A great vegetable peeler lets you cruise through prepwork with ease. We prefer Y-shaped peelers, where the blade is suspended between the tips of the “Y,” so you have an unobstructed view and better control.
Di Oro Living Seamless Silicone Spatula—Large
Don’t overlook the humble silicone spatula; it’s an essential tool you’ll use all day long.The best one handles stirring, scraping, folding, and spreading food with ease. Our winner is just flexible enough to handle both delicate tasks (such as folding airy cake batter) and heavy-duty tasks (like stirring chocolate chips into cookie dough) and its one-piece silicone construction is a snap to clean.
OXO Silicone Oven Mitt
A good pair of oven mitts protect your hands and arms from hot cookware and ovens. Our favorite oven mitts have a flexible silicone exterior and thick lining on the interior. They offer enough protection without limiting your dexterity in the kitchen.
Chef’n Freshforce Citrus Juicer
A good citrus juicer doesn’t just speed up cooking (or bartending!), it can also cut down on food waste by extracting more juice from each lemon, lime, or orange you squeeze. Our longtime favorite works quickly and is exceptionally easy to use, thanks to cleverly designed handles that provide extra leverage.
Microplane Premium Classic Zester/Grater
From quickly grating cheese over plates to zesting lemons for cookies and sauces, an effective zester is key. We love the classic Microplane. It has supersharp teeth and a comfortable handle and it tucks neatly into a drawer or utensil crock.
Cole & Mason Derwent Pepper Mill
Pepper mills have just one job, but it’s an important one. Our winner is easy to adjust, so you can have finely ground pepper over scrambled eggs at breakfast and make a coarser grind when cooking dinner at night. It’s also easy to fill and comfortable to operate.
Vollrath Economy Stainless-Steel Mixing Bowls
We use mixing bowls every day. As any restaurant chef will tell you, stainless-steel bowls are ideal because they’re lightweight and far more durable than glass. The set we like the most comes in a wide variety of sizes, so you’ll be ready for tasks both big and small. The wide rims are easy to grab on to and hold.
YETI Roadie 48 Wheeled Cooler
A hard cooler keeps drinks and sandwiches cold during camping trips, beach days, and picnics. Our top pick aced our cold-retention and durability tests. These things are heavy, but the sturdy wheels made transporting the cooler feel like a breeze.
Rubbermaid Brilliance Glass Food Storage Containers
These glass storage containers seal tightly, stack neatly in the fridge, and come in a variety of sizes that are useful for saving different types of leftovers. Bonus: The largest one is oven-safe, allowing it to double as a casserole dish.
Bakeware
Nordic Ware Baker’s Half Sheet
We don’t need to make an argument for sturdy baking sheets. Our favorite is lightweight yet durable, with straight sides that corral food and allow you to grip the pan securely when carrying it around.
USA Pan 9-Inch Pie Pan
We prefer metal pie plates because they conduct heat better, ensuring golden, crisp crust. Our favorite has a flat rim to aid in crimping the crust and sloped sides for easy extraction of individual slices.
Williams Sonoma Goldtouch Pro Nonstick Round Cake Pan
Our favorite round cake pans consistently turn out beautiful cakes. The nonstick surface helps release those tender, evenly baked cakes with ease.
Staub 3-piece Rectangular Baker Set
Casserole dishes are perfect for everything from baked ziti or potato gratin to berry cobblers, making them some of the most versatile bakeware in the kitchen. Ceramic models have a leg up on glass because they’re broiler-safe. This 3-piece set includes a standard 13 by 9-inch dish plus two smaller ones that neatly nest together.
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