With a few buy-it-for-life exceptions, kitchen tools need replacing, some more than others. And no one knows that better than professionals. I was on set during the “Restaurant Wars” episode of Top Chef: Season 23 – Carolinas, where I sat down with some of those pros: judges Kristen Kish, Tom Colicchio, and Gail Simmons, to discuss how they cook at home and kitchen products.
During our interview I asked the judges a simple question: What do you keep replacing, even with decades of professional experience? Here are the tools they mentioned, along with my recommendations based on my own years of testing kitchen products.
Vegetable peelers are an item many chefs replace because they don’t last long, even with the best care. Some models feature replaceable blades, like the Milk Street Kitchen Precision peeler, which retails for $30, but by peeler standards that’s high. Kish loves Y-peelers but is constantly restocking them. “They're so sharp and cheap,” said Kish. “But the problem is that I get lazy, throw them in the dishwasher, and they rust.” Colicchio also said he often replaces Y-peelers because they get dull and stop working.
As for which peeler to stock up on, ask any chef and they’ll tell you the Kuhn Rikon Original Swiss Peeler is the best on the market. I’ve tested so many vegetable peelers, and the set I love is also a favorite among chefs. You get three very sharp Swiss-made Y-peelers in various colors. They’re incredibly sharp and comfortable to hold when peeling awkward vegetables. To prevent rust, hand-wash them (even though I know better, I still throw mine in the dishwasher. Laziness sometimes reigns).
“I replace coated pans anytime they get a scratch,” said Simmons. “I am hyper-crazy about it. Now I try to use more ceramic pans.” There are so many nonstick pans on the market, and none of them will last more than a few years, so that is a common problem, whether you are a Top Chef judge or not. And scratched nonstick pans are a real concern for most home cooks.
“I've been using Hexclad pans lately, and I'm kind of into them,” said Simmons. “They're pretty and so much heavier than other nonstick pans.” Hexclad hasn’t tested well for us, but we do love this hybrid ceramic nonstick pan from Zwilling. It has a stainless-steel exterior that not only makes it attractive but also conducts heat well. The nonstick coating is so durable that you can use metal utensils. It can go in the dishwasher and withstand oven temperatures up to 500°.
Cake Testers
Kish loves cake testers for more than just cake and uses them all the time. She uses them for gauging the doneness of meats and vegetables and says says it’s a simple tool that’s surprisingly useful in both professional and home kitchens. The problem with this inexpensive, multifunctional tool? They’re easy to lose, even for a chef at the top of her game. “I constantly replace cake testers because I lose them in the drawers,” she said.
These thin stainless-steel cake testers are not only cheap to replace but also widely available. Ateco sells them in packs of three, so you can easily replace one if you lose it, as Kish does. Their slim design lets you check doneness without damaging delicate foods, making them an essential small tool to keep on hand.
If you love vegetables like Tom Colicchio, a salad spinner is a must-have tool for properly cleaning and drying them, especially lettuces. “We all want to invest in quality tools that last a long time, but certain things have a shorter shelf life,” said Colicchio. “My salad spinners break pretty frequently.”
This Oxo spinner remains one of the most reliable options, with a smooth pump mechanism and sturdy construction that holds up better than most. There’s also a stainless-steel or glass option, which are heavier, more durable, and contain less plastic than this predominantly plastic model if that is a concern (you might need to replace those heavier ones less often as well).
“I break a lot of glasses,” admitted Simmons. “My dishwasher loves to eat them alive, so I buy a dozen probably once a quarter.” She loves the CB2 Marta drinking glass. “CB2 makes the perfect water glass that is very thin and comes in four sizes.” Simmons owns all of them, using the small ones for wine and the medium ones as everyday glasses.
Simmons is right that the glasses are super-thin, which gives them a delightful hand feel no matter the beverage. The manufacturer says they’re dishwasher-safe as long as you put them on the top rack, but we recommend hand-washing. If you do break one, they’re inexpensive and sold separately or as a set. They also always seem to stock these glasses, so you can replace them easily for many years to come.