12 Kitchen Tools Good Housekeeping Experts Use Almost Every Day

If you need a multi-purpose knife, consider the Victorinox Paring Knife, which also earns high praise from Martinez. “This little knife is always sharp and was famously coveted in restaurant kitchens, often disappearing from people’s kits,” she says. “It’s ideal for slicing fruit, avocados and tomatoes, and somehow just as perfect for eating dinner with. I use it constantly, from shaving bananas paper-thin for morning toast to just about everything else.”

For the perfect pan for making delicious omelets and pancakes, the Hestan Nanobond Frying Pan is a must-buy, according to Kitchen Appliances Lab Director Nicole Papantoniou. “I’ve been using this pan practically every time I cook for the past six or so years,” she explains. “It’s stainless steel, but infused with titanium particles that make it pretty nonstick. It has a wide surface area, browns food nicely and can be washed in the dishwasher.”

This highly rated GIR silicone spatula gets the job done and won’t scratch your nonstick pans. “This spatula is my go-to in the kitchen,” Papantoniou says. “It’s durable, heat-resistant, and can be washed in the dishwasher. I use it for everything from making scrambled eggs to stirring sauce.”

Aspiring cake bosses will love the ease of these Pyrex mixing bowls, which Deputy Food Editor Trish Clasen Marsanicohighly recommends. “I consistently rely on this glass 4-quart one from Pyrex,” she explains. “It holds plenty of homemade pancake batter, and the bowl sits nicely on a kitchen scale, if you prefer to bake by weight. You can buy a lid that pops right on the bowl if you need to chill something in the fridge.”

No kitchen is complete without a dependable cutting board, and Recipe Editor Susan Choung says she relies on this Epicurean Cutting Board. “This is the one board I reach for every single day. It’s about half the size of a letter-sized sheet of paper, which makes it perfect for small, satisfying tasks: chopping ginger for my morning smoothie, slicing a lime for cocktails or plating up a little slab of night cheese,” she says. “It lives on my counter, looks chic in that deep slate color and when I’m done, it slips right into the dishwasher.”

GH Kitchen Appliances Lab Contributor Lizzy Briskin loves the Lodge Cast Iron Skillet and says she uses it for everything from roasted chicken to pancakes. “This skillet has a permanent place on my stove,” she says. “I love that it’s reliable, goes from the stove to the oven and is easy to clean.”

Some kitchen tools have a tiny footprint, but can make a big impact on the flavor of a dish. For Briskin, that particular tool is the Microplane grater, which she says she’s always reaching for “to grate garlic, ginger and lemon zest.”

There are a few kitchen tools that have stood the test of time, and one in particular is the KitchenAid Stand Mixer, which gets top marks from Stefani Sassos, GH Nutrition & Fitness Lab Director. “This stand mixer is more than just good looks in my kitchen,” she says. “I use it all the time, from baked goods and pizza dough to even shredding chicken.”

If you’re washing dishes by hand, Sassos highly recommends the Dorai Dish Pad. “I love how quick this dries, and that I can fold it when not in use,” she explains. “It also looks nice on our counter, doesn’t ever smell, and dishes and pans dry fast on it.”

Another secret weapon in the kitchen is the If You Care Parchment Paper, which Sassos says is a lifesaver. “As a busy working mother of two, I’ll do anything to keep the mess in the kitchen to a minimum,” she says. “I’ve been using this parchment paper for years; it keeps things tidy, and I also like that it’s unbleached.”