Our Favorite Kitchen Tools

These are the tools we use most often in our own kitchen — practical, efficient pieces that can handle everyday tasks.

Everyday Kitchen Tools

Cuisinart Food Processor

We use a food processor for anything that would be time-consuming to do by hand — from chopping and grating to blending things like hummus or pesto, and even making pasta dough.

Braun Immersion Blender

Our Braun immersion blender has lasted for years. It blends soups and sauces right in the pan and handles smoothies just as easily.

OXO Salad Spinner

This salad spinner is one of the most-used tools in our kitchen. It quickly removes excess water from rinsed greens so dressings aren’t diluted.

ThermoPop 2 Meat Thermometer

We use an instant-read thermometer to make sure meat and poultry are cooked to a safe temperature without overcooking.

OXO Kitchen Scale

A kitchen scale isn’t essential, but it’s surprisingly useful when accuracy matters — especially for ingredients where rough measuring falls short.

Baking Essentials

KitchenAid Handheld Mixer

We use a handheld mixer for most everyday baking — it’s quick, easy to use, and handles cookie dough, frostings, and simple batters.

Checkered Chef Stainless Steel Rack

This is a sturdy, no-nonsense cooling rack that holds up to regular use.

USA Cake & Bread Pans

We like the weight of these USA pans. They brown evenly and release cakes and breads with ease.

Pyrex Glass Measuring Cups

These measuring cups are designed for liquid measurements, but their usefulness extends well beyond that. We use them for berries or chopped vegetables, and melting chocolate in the microwave.

Nordic Ware Baking Sheets

The half-sheet pans from Nordic Ware are oven-safe to 500°F, so they work just as well for high-heat roasting as they do for baking cookies.

Small Tools That Make Cooking Easier

OXO Fat Separator

A fat separator isn’t something you’ll use every day, but it’s the easiest way to separate fat from pan drippings for stocks, gravies, or sauces.

Capresso Electric Spice Grinder

We use this spice grinder to grind whole spices as needed for the best flavor, and for things like flaxseed. Its simple design keeps cleanup minimal.

Microplane Zester

This is our favorite rasp-style grater. It’s perfect for zesting citrus or finely grating ingredients like fresh ginger, parmesan cheese, chocolate, or nutmeg.

OXO Mesh Strainer

A fine mesh strainer is another one of those all-purpose kitchen tools that seems minimal but does a lot of work. We use it for sifting powdered sugar, straining chile purées, rinsing berries, or removing pulp from drinks.

OXO Fish Turner

We use a fish turner for anything that needs flipping, from fried eggs to grilled cheese sandwiches. It’s long, thin, and flexible, which makes it easier to slide under food than a typical spatula.