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  3. Our Food Editors Share the Kitchen Tools They Consider Essentials

Our Food Editors Share the Kitchen Tools They Consider Essentials

kelly-vaughan-headshot-0419
By Kelly Vaughan June 26, 2019
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
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md106031_0910_utensils_0013.jpg
Credit: Ditte Isager
Find out which kitchen tools and gadgets are must-haves for the test kitchen team when they cook at home.
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md106031_0910_utensils_0013.jpg
Credit: Ditte Isager

When it comes to cooking tips and techniques, recipe advice, the latest and greatest cookbooks, need-to-know ingredients, and kitchen essentials, we turn to our food editors. The team spends their days in the Martha Stewart test kitchen developing and testing new recipes—and with decades of professional culinary experience between them, we trust their opinions. That's why we're always keen to get their insights on cooking at home. They've already shared their freezer storage secrets, personal food aversions, and their pantry staples. Naturally, we also wanted to know what they consider must-have kitchen tools when cooking at home.

While the test kitchen is equipped with everything you could need to cook an impressive dinner, we wanted a glimpse into how the 42 Burners crew stocks their own kitchens at home. Do they stick to high-end tools or have a hodgepodge of mismatched pots and pans and whisks that are slightly bent out of shape like everyone else?

Here Shira Bocar, Greg Lofts, Kavita Thirupuvanam, and Riley Wofford share their must-have tools for the kitchen. Add them to your own utensil crock and cook like a pro. From a $6 spatula and $9 sheet pan to a pricier set of strainers and an all-time favorite chef's knife, these are essentials you'll use again and again (like every night when you make dinner). Whether you're registering for a wedding, getting a head start on your holiday shopping, or treating yourself to something a little something, these kitchen gadgets will stand the test of time.

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Wusthof Classic 8" Chef's Knife

wusthof classic chefs knife
Credit: Courtesy of Williams-Sonoma

"A quality chef's knife is the most important tool in the kitchen. Without a sharp implement to slice and dice, it's very difficult to turn out a meal. Like cast iron, a good knife will last a lifetime so it's well worth spending a little more on a quality piece." says Greg Lofts, deputy food editor.

Wusthof 8" Chef's Knife, $150,

crateandbarrel.com

.

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Staub Cast-Iron Double Burner Griddle

staub cast iron griddle
Credit: Courtesy of Williams-Sonoma

Lofts also relies on a cast-iron double burner griddle in his home kitchen. "I bought one at the Brimfield Flea Market many years ago, a vintage Wagner from the early 20th century. It's worth spending the money on a piece like this if you do a lot of stovetop cooking. I use it for everything from pancakes, eggs, and bacon in the morning (they all fit on the surface at the same time, cutting down on time and cleanup!), to searing steaks for dinner," he says.

Staub Cast-Iron Double Burner Griddle, $180,

williams-sonoma.com

.

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Spider Strainer

helen chen spider strainer tool

A favorite of the entire test kitchen team, Lofts sites the spider strainer as another essential. "Its large size and wider holes are great for quickly and effortlessly lifting pasta directly from the pot and into a skillet of sauce," he says. "It's so much easier than lugging a heavy pot of boiling water to the stove and draining the pasta into a colander."

Helen's Asian Kitchen Spider Strainer, $8,

bedbathandbeyond.com

.

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Salt Cellar

acacia double salt cellar
Credit: Courtesy of Crate and Barrel

For Kavita Thirupuvanam, our test kitchen manager, a great salt cellar is a non-negotiable. "It's so beneficial to be able to pick up salt, preferably kosher salt, in your fingers and season that way rather than using a shaker or teaspoon measurements. You get a sense of how much salt you're adding by using muscle memory."

Crate and Barrel Acacia Wood Salt Cellar, $9.95, 

crateandbarrel.com

.

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Fish Spatula

winco fish spatula

And it's not just for fish. "I love this tool for almost anything I cook in a fry pan; the thin edge gets under fried eggs, easily flips pancakes or quesadillas and it's also great for lifting cookies off a baking sheet," says Thirupuvanam.

Winco Fish Spatula, $6,

amazon.com

.

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Microplane Grater

microplane zester and grater
Credit: Courtesy of Williams-Sonoma

Assistant food editor Riley Wofford couldn't prep a meal without her microplane. "I use it for citrus, garlic, ginger, cheese, etc. It's one of the tools, along with my knife, that I use almost every day," she says.

Microplane Zester, $15,

williams-sonoma.com

.

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Quarter Sheet Pan

nordic ware quarter baking sheet pan
Credit: Courtesy of Nordic Ware

Sheet pans are essentials, but Wofford specifically likes this smaller option at home. "We use these pans all the time in the test kitchen, and it's definitely a must-have for me. Sometimes it's dinner for one so this is great when I need a quick pan of roasted vegetables or a sheet-pan dinner," Wofford says.

Nordic Ware Naturals Quarter Sheet Pan, $9,

target.com

.

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Collapsible Colander

kuhn rikon collapsible colander green
Credit: Courtesy of Kuhn Rikon

"This is my favorite colander because it collapses for easy storage," says Wofford. "Even if I didn't live in a New York City apartment with a tiny kitchen, I think I would keep this colander. It's easy to clean and doesn't rust like others."

Kuhn Rikon Collapsible Colander, $18,

amazon.com

.

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Salad Spinner

stainless steel salad spinner
Credit: Courtesy of Crate and Barrel

Shira Bocar, Food Editor at Large, loves this handy salad spinner. "I really like this for how functional it is and you're able to clean it all the way," she says.

OXO Stainless Steel Salad Spinner, $50,

crateandbarrel.com

.

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Stainless-Steel Strainers

stainless steel strainers
Credit: Courtesy of Williams-Sonoma

Another essential for Bocar? Strainers. "Strainers for washing berries, rinsing vegetables, and draining pasta [are essential]," she says. "I recently updated my ratty collection to All-Clad and I'm kicking myself for not doing it sooner. Everyone knows to invest in good pots, but this is something I use daily and the stainless is so much better!"

All-Clad 3-Piece Stainless-Steel Strainer Set, $100,

williams-sonoma.com

.

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Wooden Cutting Board

boos wooden cutting board
Credit: Courtesy of Crate and Barrel

"I only cut on wooden cutting boards," Bocar says, which is why she considers this one an absolute must-have. "I have a large one for savory and a medium-sized one for fruit only. There's nothing worse than getting garlic on watermelon."

John Boos Reversible Walnut Cutting Board, $137,

crateandbarrel.com

.

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    1 of 12
    2 of 12 Wusthof Classic 8" Chef's Knife
    3 of 12 Staub Cast-Iron Double Burner Griddle
    4 of 12 Spider Strainer
    5 of 12 Salt Cellar
    6 of 12 Fish Spatula
    7 of 12 Microplane Grater
    8 of 12 Quarter Sheet Pan
    9 of 12 Collapsible Colander
    10 of 12 Salad Spinner
    11 of 12 Stainless-Steel Strainers
    12 of 12 Wooden Cutting Board

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