Kitchen Tools: 10 Essentials for Better Cooking

Learn about the must-have kitchen gadgets recommended by America’s Test Kitchen to take your cooking to the next level.

Since 1993 America’s Test Kitchen has been a reliable source, testing and recommending goods that help home cooks make delicious meals.

These are the 10 best cooking tools and appliances, all of which have been approved by America’s Test cooking.

From cookware to small appliances, each pick has the ATK seal and it helps you gain skills in the kitchen tools. So, examine these must-have gadgets and start improving your cooking immediately.

Kitchen Tools: Breville Air Fryer Pro

If you haven’t joined the countertop oven trend yet, now is the time.

Forget about single-function appliances—this versatile 13-in-1 machine can air fry, toast, dehydrate and even proof bread. Plus, it comes with a pizza setting to bring that wood-fired taste straight to your kitchen tools.

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Our top pick had easy controls and gave great results. We liked its clear knobs and digital display. It showed time, temperature and cooking settings. It toasted bread perfectly and adjusted for all types.

It cooked broiled asparagus and roasted chicken very well. It also air-fried French fries and chicken Parmesan like a pro.

Le Creuset Signature Braiser

If there is one thing Le Creuset excels at, it is creating exceptional enameled cast iron cookware.

From roasts and casseroles to bread, desserts and appetizers, this enameled cast iron braiser is incredibly versatile. With excellent heat distribution and retention, plus a spacious cooking surface, this braiser is perfect for tackling a wide range of dishes with ease. So, you will find yourself reaching for it repeatedly.

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America’s favorite braiser had top performance in all tests. Its light interior made browning easy to watch. With a thick bottom, it held heat and browned food evenly.

The large cooking surface fit whole meals, from chicken to meatballs, without crowding. It also had roomy, looped handles and a sturdy steel knob, making it safe to lift heavy dishes.

Kitchen Tools: Cuisinart’s 14-cup Food Processor

When it comes to food processors, nothing beats the original.

When Cuisinart introduced the food processor to American kitchens in the early 1970s, it revolutionized home cooking—for good reason. Tedious tasks like making pie dough or pesto became quick and easy, from shredding cheese and kneading dough to chopping veggies or preparing dips.

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This top kitchen tools pick performs well, is compact and saves space. It has a large capacity at a fair price. The smooth bowl and blade are easy to clean and watch.

Its feed tube offers a clear view inside. With three blades for chopping, shredding and slicing, everything stores neatly in the bowl—no extra box needed.

Zyliss Cheese Grater for Professional Results

A quick Google search for “Olive Garden cheese grater” reveals many articles and TikTok videos raving about this kitchen gadget and where to buy it.

And the hype is real—this cheese grater outperforms other models, with America’s Test Kitchen grating 1 ounce of Parmesan cheese in just 23 seconds.

Plus, it is designed for both left- and right-handed users, making it a versatile addition to any kitchen tools.

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Preferred model consistently grated Parmesan cheese faster than others tested. Although compact enough to pass around the table, it boasted a sizable hopper for handling large cheese chunks.

Rubberized grips on the handle and crank ensured comfortable use and the crank could be easily switched to either side of the rotating drum, catering to both left-handed and right-handed users.

Chef’sChoice Trizor XV Knife Sharpener

Every chef or cooking enthusiast knows: that a dull knife is a risky tool.

But with Chef’s Choice electric knife sharpener, you can bid farewell to danger and dullness. Featuring a 3-stage sharpening process, this user-friendly sharpener is perfect for maintaining razor-sharp blades between professional sharpenings, promoting safety and prolonging the lifespan of your knives.

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Pick for a knife sharpener delivered outstanding and consistent results with speed, precision and ease. The instructions were straightforward, guiding us through each step for a polished, razor-sharp edge in just about 2 minutes.

The narrow, spring-loaded slots ensured a consistent angle, effortlessly sharpening both everyday and premium chef’s knives.

Say Goodbye to Tears with R.S.V.P. International Onion Goggles

Say goodbye to onion tears with the R.S.V.P. International Onion Goggles. These goggles feature a comfortable, yet durable foam seal designed specifically to protect your eyes from tears while cutting onions.

They excel at their intended purpose, providing effective relief from this common kitchen frustration.

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Although they may appear a bit silly, these goggles effectively keep your attention on chopping onions, whether they’re yellow, Vidalia, red or any other type.

They outperform sunglasses in blocking irritating fumes and the foam padding around the antifog lenses offers a more comfortable experience compared to swim goggles. You can choose from white or black with lime green trim.

Ooni Koda 16: Gas-Powered Pizza Oven

Once you experience the magic of this Ooni pizza oven, frozen or take-out pizza will be a thing of the past.

Comparable to a traditional stone pizza oven, the Ooni Koda 16 reaches an impressive 950°F, crafting your pizza to perfection in just 60 seconds. But its capabilities don’t end there. With enough space to cook a 16″ pizza, this oven is versatile enough to handle everything from steaks and veggies to flatbreads and desserts.

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This top outdoor pizza oven uses propane and cooks up to 16-inch pizzas with ease. The L-shaped burner heats the stone and air, creating a tasty char on each pizza.

To cook evenly, rotating pizzas is key since the back left heats more. Its sleek look and foldable legs make it compact for storage, though it is a bit heavier than the Ooni Koda 12.

GreenPan Valencia Pro: Ceramic Nonstick Skillet

When it comes to cookware, we believe in a balanced approach. That means having a mix of stainless steel for heavy-duty tasks and a couple of reliable nonstick skillets for delicate dishes like eggs or fish.

One standout option in the nonstick category is the GreenPan Valencia Pro Ceramic Nonstick Skillet. With its PFAS-, PFOA-, lead and cadmium-free ceramic coating, this skillet is safe to use with metal utensils and can be cleaned in the dishwasher. Plus, it works on all cooking surfaces, including induction.

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Among the few pans that passed our test for nonstick coating durability, this skillet stood out for its consistent slick surface, maintaining it even under rigorous cooking and testing conditions.

Cooking with it was a pleasure, thanks to its excellent heat conductivity, though we had to keep an eye on visual cues to prevent overcooking. Food may be cooked faster than usual due to its efficient heat transfer.

Additionally, this pan can withstand oven temperatures up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit, much higher than typical nonstick skillets containing PTFE.

ALL-CLAD D3 Stainless Steel Skillet with Cover

When it comes to stainless steel cookware, All-Clad reigns supreme. And this essential kitchen tools skillet is no exception. Whether you need an everyday 8″ skillet or a larger 12″ pan for big recipes, All-Clad has you covered.

Their patented triple-ply, 18/10 stainless steel design is durable, nonreactive and works on all cooktops, including induction.

Plus, it features an aluminum core that ensures even heating and cooking, eliminating hot spots for consistent results every time.

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Trusted skillet remains unmatched, boasting a simple yet effective design. We value its spacious cooking area and angled sides, perfect for achieving optimal browning and evaporation.

The steel handle stays cool during stovetop use and offers a secure grip. With a balanced weight and sturdy build, it withstands warping and handles abuse without damage.

Thanks to its three layers of cladding, it ensures consistent and deep browning with aluminum sandwiched between steel.

Silpat Half-Sheet Silicone Baking Mat

The silicone baking mat revolutionizes kitchen prep. Praised by America’s Test Kitchen as a kitchen essential, this Silpat silicone baking mat eliminates the need for disposable foil or parchment paper.

Designed to fit perfectly on a standard half-sheet pan, it can handle temperatures from -40°F to 480°F, making it versatile for various cooking needs.

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This mat, highly regarded in many restaurant kitchens, consistently delivered perfectly browned food and simplified the removal of baked goods and roasted dishes.

Its value was evident in its perfect fit for our preferred baking sheet, its secure placement due to its weight and it’s dishwasher-safe design, which minimized the accumulation of oils and odors.

Transform your cooking experience with these top-rated kitchen tools and appliances as recommended by America’s Test Kitchen.

With their seal of approval, you can trust that each product is designed to enhance your culinary skills and bring out the best in every dish.

So, say goodbye to guesswork in the kitchen and hello to delicious, restaurant-quality meals at home. Thus, explore these must-have items today and take your cooking to new heights.

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