7 Most Important Chef Tools Every Cook Should Have

Go on, admit it. What was your most embarrassing pandemic purchase?

For many Americans, it was a kitchen gadget they used once and then threw in the garage. Microwave s’mores maker, anyone?

On the flip side, there are some cooking tools you buy once and buy right. Cooking supplies no one can live without, from top chefs to everyday cooks.

Join us as we look at the most important chef tools you need to have in your kitchen.

Great Chef’s Knives

Great knife sets are an essential component of every well-equipped kitchen. The set must include:

A chef’s knife (most people prefer 8-10-inch)
A paring knife
A serrated knife

With these three knives, you can tackle over 90% of kitchen jobs. The chef’s knife can take care of most things, including cutting meat and vegetables and carving cooked joints.

The paring knife has a short blade and is essential for preparing and peeling certain vegetables. The jagged edge of a serrated knife makes it the only tool for cutting bread and anything with a slippery surface, like tomatoes.

If you’re a more adventurous cook, you’ll need a boning knife too. It has a thin, flexible blade for separating meat from the bone. This allows you to fillet fish, debone a leg of lamb, and take the silver skin off a loin of pork.

Instant-Read Thermometer

Are you serious about producing perfectly cooked joints and steaks every time? Then you need an instant-read thermometer that tells you the internal temperature of just about anything. The best ones have a large screen displaying the temperature and respond in less than three seconds.

You can also buy probe thermometers that you stick into a joint of meat before you put it in the oven. It also monitors the internal temperature, allowing you to pull out your roast meat at exactly the right time.

An instant-read thermometer is essential for turning out perfectly cooked cakes. When deep-frying, use it to test the oil temperature for perfect, predictable results every time.

Correct Cutting Board

A word to the wise – never buy a hard cutting board, like ones made of glass or marble. They work against the sharp edge of the blade, making it blunt. You’ll be sharpening your knives all day long.

Think a plastic cutting board must be more hygienic than a wooden one? Think again.

Whenever you use a knife, it leaves fine cuts on the board surface.

The cuts in plastic cutting boards do not self-heal. On a wooden board, little cuts can close up again. It’s easy for bacteria to build up in those little crevices.

But if you really want a cutting board you can throw in the dishwasher, a plastic one is best.

If you’re happy to hand wash, it’s best to buy a good quality wooden or bamboo cutting board. They are kind to knives and easy to clean and maintain. Plus, they look great.

Kitchen Tongs

Kitchen tongs are finger savers. They can perform delicate jobs a spatula can’t. They are also great for picking up slippery foods and stirring pasta while it’s cooking.

If you use a lot of non-stick cookware, grab a pair of tongs with coated pincers. They are often coated in nylon or silicone which won’t damage the non-stick surface and still provides a good level of grip. Look for a pair that’s easy to lock and unlock.

Silicone Spatula

There’s no place for waste in the modern kitchen. A silicone spatula allows you to get every last drop of batter, dough, or sauce out of a bowl or pan.

If you get a professional-grade silicone spatula it can be used in high-heat settings without getting damaged. They are also kind to cookware, including non-stick. They’re flexible yet firm enough to handle most stirring and flipping jobs.

Food Processor

The food processor is one of our favorite kitchen tools – it’s a kitchen workhorse.

Do you:

Make bread or pizza dough?
Make pastry?
Make your own pesto or hummus?

If the answer is yes, you need a food processor.

They are perfect for making salsa, slicing cabbage and carrots for slaw, and shredding potatoes for hash browns.

Food processors are chef tools everyone should use. To use it like a chef, master the pulse button. This puts you in control, with little one-second bursts of frenzied chopping.

You can blitz a chunky sauce like pesto to just the right consistency without it becoming a puree.

Kitchen Shears

How can glorified scissors make it onto a top 7 list, we hear you ask?

Oh, but they can, because they’re the best way to chop bacon, snip herbs, cut open stubborn packaging, and break down a chicken into parts.

One last hack. Only got a can of whole tomatoes when you really need chopped?

Stick the shears in and let them do their thing. You’ve got chopped tomatoes. You’re welcome.

The Most Important Chef Tools You Can Buy

None of the tools listed above are very expensive, but they’re still the most important chef tools you can buy.

If you’re putting together your first kitchen, this professional chef tools list should be your starting point. With great knives, the right cutting board, and a few simple gadgets, you’ll be able to prepare a huge array of dishes. A whole world of culinary enjoyment is waiting for you!

If you’ve enjoyed these insights into the world of cookery, head over to our Food section for more today.