Tools and Gadgets

From garlic presses (yes, you should own one) to less-controversial tools like measuring cups, here are our favorite gadgets to fill up those kitchen drawers.

We Tested 9 Handheld Coffee Grinders—These Were Our Favorites

We Tested 9 Muddlers to See Which Ones Were Best for Making Cocktails

Why A Circular Bread Lame Can Offer More Control for Scoring Loaves

We Tested 8 Coffee Scales—Here Are The Best Ones for Accurate Brewing

We Tested 10 Vacuum Sealers—Here Are the Best Ones

We Tested 10 Balloon Whisks—Two Whisked Their Way to Victory

We Tested 7 Temperature Control Mugs to Find the Best Ones (And to Figure Out If They’re Worth It)

We Tested 10 Microplanes (Rasp-Style Graters)–Here Are the Best Ones

We Tested 13 Instant-Read Thermometers–Here Are Our Favorite Models

We Tested 10 Potato Mashers—Here Are The Best Ones

The Best Kitchen Gear We Bought in 2021

The Best Torches for Wok Hei

We Tested 7 Hand Mixers—Here Are Our Favorites

We Tested 8 Meat Grinders to Find the Best Ones

The Best Kitchen Rulers To Have On Hand

Every Kitchen Needs a Bowl Scraper

Why You Need a Chef's Press in Your Kitchen

We Tested A Variety of Mortars and Pestles—Here Are Our Favorites

This Budget Thermometer is Worth Buying

The Best Thermometers for Deep Frying, Candy-Making, and Roasting Meats

The Best Inexpensive Mandoline Slicers, According to Our Tests

Should You Buy a Food Mill or a Ricer? (It Depends.)

The Best Cooking Chopsticks Are Cheap, Durable, and Wildly Versatile

Why Every Kitchen Needs a Salt Pig (or Two)

We Tested 7 Plastic Cutting Boards—Here Are Our Favorites

This Tiny Tool Makes Knife Sharpening Way Easier

We Tested 11 Spatulas (Turners) for Nonstick Pans—Here Are Our Favorites

After Testing 12 Olive Oil Pourers, We Discovered The Best Are Also the Cheapest

We Tested 14 Sets of Measuring Spoons to Find the Best Ones

The Best Fish Spatulas (a.k.a. Slotted Offset Spatulas), According to Our Tests

We Tested 12 Poultry Shears—Here Are the Best Ones

We Tested 33 Sets of Kitchen Tongs—Here Are the 4 Best Models

We Tested 12 Pairs of Kitchen Shears to Find the Best Ones

Take It All Off: Are Corn Strippers Worth It?

The Mandoline Isn't a Fancy Chef's Tool—It's a Kitchen Staple

The Best Skewers, for Whatever You Want to Skewer

Our Favorite Cooking and Baking Tools Under $50

We Tested 28 Can Openers—Here Are The Best Ones

The Right Way to Use a Meat Thermometer

We Tested 17 Ice Cream Scoops—Here's The Best One

Looking for a Pizza Peel? We Tested 5 to Find the Best

We Tested 24 Liquid Measuring Cups to Find the Best Ones

How to Season and Maintain a Wooden Cutting Board

Why a Y-Peeler Is the Best Vegetable Peeler

7 Great Uses for a Fine-Mesh Strainer (Besides Straining)

Wooden Spoons Are Incredibly Versatile—Here's One of Our Favorite Models

What To Know When Choosing A Whisk

Why You Should Own a Pair of Good Kitchen Shears

After Juicing Hundreds of Fruits, We Found Our Favorite Manual Juicers

The Best Way to Clean Your Filthy Microplane, Zester, or Grater

Yes, You Need a Pair of Kitchen Tweezers. Here's Why.

The Best Inexpensive Digital Thermometers, According to Our Tests

Equipment: Cake Testers Aren't Just For Cakes!

How to Use and Care for a Meat Grinder

We Tested Kitchen Timers to Find the Best Ones

Here's What You Need to Sharpen Your Knives at Home

We Tested 19 Wine Openers to Find the Best Ones

We Tested 10 Salad Spinners—Here Are Our Favorite Models

Why Every Cook Should Own an Instant-Read Thermometer