Tag: tools

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10 Kitchen Tools I’m Obsessed With This Christmas Season That Also Make Amazing Gifts

10 Kitchen Tools I’m Obsessed With This Christmas Season That Also Make Amazing Gifts

Hands smeared with butter, flour spraying out of the bowl, I gushed about my electric mixer for a good 10 minutes in a live demo for an audience of two. More specifically, I was trying to convince my close friends I gathered to bake with last weekend that I wasn’t crazy for bringing my own electric beaters (and apron, and baking sheets…) to someone else’s house. So I launched into a passionate show-and-tell (while making cookie dough, of course) about why my electric beaters are superior to theirs.

Here’s the thing. I can get pretty obsessive over the gear, gadgets and tools I love to use most. And with good reason. I’ve spent a lot of time, energy and money over the years upgrading from good-but-basic tools to items I actually love and am convinced make me a better cook. While many terrific kitchen tools I love cost under $25, I also wanted to share my running list of favorite kitchen items that cost a little bit more and are worth every penny. I bought (or was gifted) every one of these tools and I use them weekly, if not daily.

If you’re looking for a kitchen gift for an aspiring or established foodie, these are tried and tested in the crucible of my galley kitchen. Better yet, you might even want to give one of these to yourself. After all, you can never have too many aprons. 

Breville

I had an inexpensive pair of electric beaters that always gave me trouble — ditching it for this Breville Handy Mix Scraper was one of the best decisions I made, especially during this season of abundant baking. This mixer seriously does it all: It comes with whisks, creamer inserts and dough hooks! It has a built-in light so you can see what’s in the bowl! There’s a stopwatch feature so you can see how long you’ve been mixing and a pause button that keeps track of your speed settings and time while you take a break to scrape down the bowl! The cord base can rotate to get out of your way! And it has a convenient storage situation where you can keep all the beater wands!

You’re receiving price alerts for Breville Handy Mix Scraper Hand Mixer, Silver, BHM800SIL

Shun

I have lusted after Shun Premier knives for over a decade and finally bought two for my new kitchen: the 8-inch chef’s knife and a 3.5-inch paring knife. Over Black Friday, I added a 7-inch Santoku blade to the mix. I adore the way the rounded handles balance, and the stunning, wavy pattern on the forged blade boasts an edge designed to hold sharpness far longer than average. That’s good for me, because the sound of knife sharpening sets my every tooth, bone and neuron on fire.

Shun Premier knives come in gray and brown wood handle options. The Classic knives are cheaper and also very good (yes, I’ve tried them out, too). But my heart belongs to the Premier line for the way they feel in my hand, and the extra aesthetics on the blade (69 layers of Damascus steel, if you’re wondering). I store them in a drawer with a blade guard case to protect the knife sharpness (and my fingers). Here are other recommended chef’s knives as well.

Screenshot by Nina Raemont/CNET

I’ve owned an immersion blender for years, but recently upgraded myself to the Braun MultiQuick 7 for its robust design, powerful motor and fun extras, like a mini food processor attachment (like, for making quick work of onions and herbs) and a balloon whisk attachment for quickly whipping or whisking without having to go full-bore with the electric beaters. 

I use this tool constantly, to process soups right in the pan, make salsa in the included beaker, whip cream into soft peaks and make quick work of pulverizing onion without hefting the food processor to the counter. It’s also wonderfully easy to clean and dry, and small and light enough to pull out from the pantry any time I need it. I can’t recommend it enough.

You’re receiving price alerts for Braun MQ7027X Multiquick 7 ACTIVEBlade Technology Hand Blender

Chris Monroe/CNET

I may have spoiled myself buying the Google Nest Hub smart speaker display for my kitchen. I have it set up on a riser shelf on my counter, next to a phone stand where I can also keep my phone away from the worst of tea splatters and flying onions. I use the Nest Hub for everyday things like checking the weather as I’m making my morning cuppa and playing music (with song lyrics!) while I cook. I use the two hands-free timers multiple times a day, and look up recipes on the screen (you can follow these step-by-step). 

There’s also an extra function where you can program the Nest Hub to forgo the “OK, Google” or “Hey, Google” wake word when you look at it and start listening to you with just a glance (Google calls this Look and Talk). That’s ultra convenient for saving some time and breath every time you want to ask for unit conversion measures, adding to or canceling a timer and skipping to the next track.

Read our Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) review.

 

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Amazon

Zojirushi has an excellent reputation for countertop appliances that hit the high-water mark. I’ve been beyond happy with my Neuro Fuzzy rice cooker since I bought it earlier this year. My pantry is stuffed with six kinds of rice and at least four other grains I routinely cook up. The settings are easy to use and whether I wash the grains or not, whatever I’m making comes out evenly cooked. Plus, it plays a song when starting and ending a cycle, which is much nicer than a loud beep or buzz.

The Neuro Fuzzy in particular takes up more counter space than the most compact models, and rice can take an hour for a typical cycle of even cooking. But there are lots of settings, including a quick cook mode, and cleanup is easy. (Here are meals you can make in the rice cooker other than rice.)

You’re receiving price alerts for Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy rice cooker: $185

Breville

Buying the Breville Smart Oven Pro Toaster Oven (BOV845BSS) was one of my best kitchen decisions. It toasts, it broils, it roasts. And since it has a convection oven function, you can totally skip the separate air fryer — and cook more stuff at once. I love the countdown clock that takes the mystery out of when your food will be done, and I love that I can bake a single batch of cookies or toast walnuts faster than a standard oven, and without having to heat the whole thing first. Plus, the brushed stainless steel body looks pretty great on my countertop.

You’re receiving price alerts for Breville Smart Oven Pro toaster oven: $260 (Save $90)

Screenshot by Nina Raemont/CNET

Le Creuset dutch ovens are all the rage (I actually really love my Staub Cocotte), but one of the best gifts I ever received was this Le Creuset casserole dish that can go straight from oven to table (to fridge!) while cooking food evenly and looking awesome. I would buy this all over again, and gift it, too. It comes in a range of striking colors, and shockingly cleans easily — with a little soak in soapy hot water and a dirt-cheap pan scraper. I’m the kind of person who excels at ruining dutch ovens with burned-on spots. After a couple years, this dish has remained spot-free, even after roasting dark, sticky stews (yum!).

You’re receiving price alerts for Le Creuset Stoneware Heritage Covered Rectangular Casserole, 4 qt. (12″ x 9″), Oyster

Screenshot by Nina Raemont/CNET

A workhorse apron is worth its weight in gold. I’m thankful I finally stumbled on Hedley & Bennett, which makes a seemingly endless supply of thick, sturdy aprons I now can’t fail to miss seeing seemingly any time I walk into a restaurant. If these aprons can handle the stresses of a professional kitchen, they can handle the flying sauces and batter in mine. I bought myself two styles, including a Cookie Monster print that never fails to make my inner child giggle. The apron’s neck loop is adjustable, there are a lot of pockets, and so far the waist straps haven’t gotten scrunched, twisted or mangled in the washer or dryer.  

Screenshot by Nina Raemont/CNET

I’m not the kind of wine enthusiast who owns a different glass for every varietal — not yet, anyway. Instead, I opt for one all-rounder that will work beautifully no matter which bottle I open, erring on the side of big, bold reds. I’ve been using these “Burgundy” glasses from Schott Zwiesel for years, and my Amazon search history told me I bought them five times, twice for myself and three times as a gift. Yes, I do drink white wine, rose and sparkling out of them (gasp!), and they all taste terrific. Better in my mind to drink from a glass with a too-big bowl than a cramped glass that stifles all that great wine nose.

You’re receiving price alerts for Schott Zwiesel Tritan Crystal Glass Forte Stemware Collection Claret Burgundy Red Wine Glass, 25-Ounce, Set of 6

Screenshot by Nina Raemont/CNET

If you don’t use an electric kettle yet, drop everything and get yourself one. This indispensable kitchen savior rapidly heats water for tea, coffee and hot chocolate, and it gives you a head start on boiling vats of water for pasta, blanching or anything else you need. I’ve owned and gifted a lot of electric kettles, and most work about the same way. This Zwilling Enfingy Electric Kettle has a sleeker, more sophisticated look and variable temperature controls. I also like that it’s got a cool-touch exterior that won’t burn you when you pick it up. 

There’s no viewing window for water height and you have to feel comfortable with capacitive controls that you press and hold, but these aren’t deal-breakers for me by any means.

You’re receiving price alerts for Zwilling Enfingy electric kettle: $120

For even more top kitchen picks, see our best kitchen gifts under $25 and best stainless steel frying pans.

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11 Next Level Kitchen Tools For Your Shopping List

11 Next Level Kitchen Tools For Your Shopping List

Once you have the essentials in your kitchen, then the fun really begins. That’s when you can start adding special equipment that makes cooking and baking easier and more stylish.

The following is my eclectic list of next-level kitchen tools. Some of the items on this list are things that I never thought that I would buy, and now that I have them, I cannot live without them.

Beautiful Handmade Wood

The Riley Land Collection is curated by Joseph Riley Land and each piece is sourced by him directly from the maker. The beautiful wooden biscuit cutter is a must have for any baker. If you make biscuits, or if you’ve always aspired to make biscuits, this is your new family heirloom.

The biscuit cutter is “ hands-down, my best selling item. It is my star…” said owner and founder Joseph Riley Land. Fittingly, the wood that the biscuit cutters are made from comes from his family farmland, and his neighbor Mr. A. makes them. The cutters come in black walnut, cherry and ambrosia-maple wood, as well as four sizes, the Riley/Land Biscuit Cutter, the Fat Cat, The Kittenhead, and the Cathead biscuit cutter. The biscuit cutters start at $18.

I think a few premium wood cutting boards are the most important upgrade in your kitchen after three really good knives. There are lots of cutting boards on the market—some are disposable and some are family heirlooms. If you invest in a really good cutting board, and take care of it, it will last you a lifetime. Two companies that make handcrafted cutting boards that are as beautiful as they are functional are The Boardsmith, and Stella Falone.

The Boardsmith is proud to be a “Mom and Pop” family business and they make each board by hand, paying careful attention to details like woodgrain direction and seamless joinery. This craftsmanship is recognized by many chefs and they have a loyal following. They use hardwoods including maple, cherry, and black walnut sourced from sawmills who use sustainable forestry practices (FSC). They will also engrave a name, initials or logo on the boards which is a very nice touch for yourself or your favorite cook. The boards start at $125 and can be purchased at theboardsmith.com

Do you love music and food? If so, there is a Stella Falone cutting board or paddle for you. Stella Falone was established by Bob Taylor, co-founder of Taylor Guitars. [ICYDK, Taylor Guitars is the leading acoustic guitar brand and they are played by many of the superstars in the music world, including Taylor Swift, Paul McCartney and Shawn Mendez.]

In an effort to minimize waste, Stella Falone uses the leftover pieces of Ebony and American-walnut wood from making the guitars, to make kitchen products. The cutting boards and wooden paddles are super-premium and absolutely gorgeous. The paddles and boards start at $59 and can be purchased at stellafalone.com

Clothes for the Cook

Every cook needs a bad-a** apron. And Apres Supply Co., is just that company. These are not your average, everyday aprons. The owner and creator of Apres aprons, Michael Wendland, was looking for a special apron as a gift for his wife, and when he couldn’t find what he was looking for he decided to create his own.

The aprons are made from premium materials including leather, waxed canvas, premium denim, recycled cotton, and premium cotton blends as well as brass grommets and heavy duty trims. And this could be the last apron that you ever buy, because they have a lifetime guarantee—something I have never heard of in the apron business. Apres offers free exchanges for the lifetime of the product, but the real reason to love it is that it’s both fashionable and functional.

If you’re looking for a seriously heavy-duty apron, the Premium Grill Master is like a Barbour coat for the outdoor cook. It is made of 16oz waxed recycled cotton with leather trims and interchangeable straps. You have an option to personalize the apron and it include a bottle opener.

The Premium Pizza Master apron is made of lighter-weight 10oz recycled cotton canvas and features two faux-fur lined pockets. If you live in the Northeast, Midwest, Canada or another cold and blustery area, you can put your hands in your pockets while you are waiting for your pizza or steak to cook, and keep them warm. Even if you don’t need the fur-lined pockets for warmth, they feel good and are a nice touch.

The premium aprons are competitively priced at $115.00 but there are other choices that start at $89.00. The aprons ship for free to anywhere in North America and come in a premium black gift box. They can be purchased at apressupply.com.

Coffee and Tea

Coffee and tea are two of the biggest rituals that come out of the kitchen. And, coffee snobs have long loved the French Press. Top on their list is the Frieling Double-Walled Stainless Steel French Press. The 100{d2b09b03d44633acb673e8080360919f91e60962656af8ade0305d5d8b7e4889} stainless steel French Press is double walled to keep the coffee hot longer. In fact, it keeps coffee hot four-times longer than glass French presses.

This fall, Frieling launched a double-walled French press in six colors so that you can add a pop of color to your morning ritual. The lacquered French presses hold 34 fluid ounces, have a double screen to filter out maximum sediment, and a no drip spout. The French Press can also be used for looseleaf tea and is a “top tip” for tea aficionados. The presses have a suggested retail price of $99.95.

Once you use an electric tea kettle to heat water for tea or your French press, you will never go back to a stovetop kettle. It is so much faster than waiting for the water to boil (on the stove).

If you’re looking for an electric tea kettle that looks as good as it performs, SMEG fits the bill. This is one of those appliances that I swore that I didn’t need. And then I fell in love with my red SMEG mini Tea kettle. The mini version offers the same 50s design in a compact size that is especially welcome when space is limited. The kettle sits on an anti-slip 360° chrome base and has a double-wall structure with a stainless-steel lining and water level markings inside.

The internal water level indicator is very helpful. I found that just above the minimum water mark is good for one cup, and filling it at the maximum water level is good for 3 cups of hot water. The mini SMEG electric kettle is available in seven colors including white, black, cream, pastel blue, pastel green, pink and red. The Mini kettle is available at Williams-Sonoma.com for a suggested retail price is $149.95. The SMEG Basic full-size kettle has a 56-ounce capacity and starts at $189.95.

The Ice Cube Makes The Drink

The cocktail ice-cube tray just got personal. Ice cubes make a big difference in your drink, especially if you are drinking whiskey on [one] rock. Siligrams has upgraded the silicone ice-cube mold with personalization. The trays are custom-made with your monogram, company logo, or a unique design.

The silicone ice-cube trays are easy to fill, and it is easy to release the cubes one-by-one as you need them. Siligrams makes the customizable ice cube trays in three square cube sizes as well as a “whiskey ball” mold, ice shot-glass mold and other shapes. You can also opt to buy the trays with or without a lid. But if you are going for a monogrammed ice cube tray, I say go all the way and order a lid. I really like the matching silicone lid that fits over the ice tray as it keeps the ice pristine. The trays start at $29.00 with free shipping and take about two weeks to customize.

Perfect Rice and Oatmeal Too

I admit that that until a few months ago I was the person who said they would never buy a rice cooker. I didn’t want another appliance that I only used a few times, but I finally had to come to grips with the fact that I am the world’s worst rice cooker, and I needed some help. My ‘in-the-know’ friend, Anthony, recommended Zojirushi and I soon discovered that if you buy the right rice cooker, you can also use it to cook oatmeal and grits among other grains.

You can also set the cooker on a timer and have hot oatmeal waiting for you in the morning. The rice—for the first time in my life—is fluffy and dry, and waking up to hot Scottish pinhead oatmeal is a game changer.

I purchased the 3-cup, Micom Rice Cooker and Warmer with both a GABA brown and steel-cut oatmeal setting. The rice cooker also has technology that they call fuzzy logic technology, which allows the rice cooker to cook all kinds of different grains, and ensure a consistent finished product even if you put too little or too much water in the machine.

The 3-cup capacity will make approximately 6 cups of cooked rice. It is lightweight and has a retractable cord which makes it very easy to store. Suggested retail is $157.99.

Smart Appliances

Using an app on your phone and wireless cooking thermometers are not new, but the CHEFiQ Smart Thermometer is the thinnest one on the market, and it is very smart. The diameter of the thermometer is important because you want to make as small a hole in your food as possible. The larger the hole, the more the internal juices can escape.

Besides the size of this clever device, it tracks the internal temperature in real time while your food cooks, and alerts you when it is time to take action. It is heat-safe up to 572°F and has an internal food temperature range of 32°F to 225°F making it a great choice for smoking barbecue meats that you want to temp over 200°F. The thermometer is safe to use on the grill, in the oven, and even in air fryers and deep fryers. The packaging is very sleek and the charging case is super premium with a cool silicone tray in the lid that fits 2 thermometers like a glove.

The thermometer was developed to work with the CHEFiQ app and that’s what makes it really smart. Using the app, the thermometer has the ability to guide you through the cooking process. Follow a few prompts such as type of meat, type of cut, thickness, cooking appliance, etc. and the thermometer will map out your recipe step-by-step, like GPS for cooks. The alerts include when to flip the food, if necessary, when to pull it off the heat and how long to let it rest.

Like all smart appliances, it needs to be fully charged and it takes some time to set up before your first use, but that’s true for any smart wireless appliance. The key to success is positioning the probe which needs to be fully inserted at the thickest point of the food so that none of the stainless steel is showing. Beware that inaccurate placement can cause inaccurate readings.

The app is user friendly and you can tell it was designed with the help of really good cooks. I have used it many times because the CHEFiQ Smart Cooker is my favorite pressure cooker, and the thermometer uses the same app. The app has hundreds of recipes created in-house by their expert test kitchen staff of former chefs, food magazine editors and recipe developers. The recipes work and there is a great variety.

Even if you cook for a living and don’t think you need one more recipe I guarantee you’ll find one that you will make over and over again. For me, it is the brilliantly simple and delicious Mushroom Bisque that I have made more times than I can count. The CHEFiQ thermometer and Smart Cooker will enhance your cooking experience and make you a better cook.

Besides the recipes, the multi-pot has an integrated scale for weighing ingredients, more than 100 built-in presets and functions for virtually every cooking need including sous vide.

It’s a smart appliance, and what that means is that it just keeps getting better as the company creates updates. You don’t have to buy a new appliance, you just update your smart cooker with the over-the-air firmware updates and this is exactly the same for the thermometer.

The suggested retail price for the CHEFiQ thermometer is $99.99 and the suggested retail price for the Smart Cooker is $199.99

Turn Your Kitchen into an Ice Cream Shoppe

Making ice cream at home has never been easier and the new Ninja Creami Deluxe 11-in-1 Ice-Cream Maker now makes frozen boozy drinks. The Creami is known for turning just about anything into ice cream, including cans of fruit. It is fun to use and makes a pint at a time so you can experiment with just about anything that you want to eat creamy, cold and frozen.

The premise is simple. You freeze the base for 24 hours—ice cream custard or whatever you want to make into a frozen treat/ice cream—and the paddle of the Creami literally “creamerizes” the contents. The new Creami Deluxe can also spin slushies, make Italian ice, frozen yogurt and creamy coffee drinks. There is a setting for mix-ins and this is where the fun begins. Make a simple base like vanilla and add your favorite toppings, candy, sauce etc., to unleash your inner Ben and Jerry and customize it how you like it.

For those who prefer it super creamy, there’s a new re-spin function to make a creamier soft- serve style ice cream. The Creami Deluxe has a suggested retail price of $249.99

If you are someone who doesn’t want to make your base for from scratch, check out the iconic Serendipity frozen hot-chocolate mix, or the HIJINX ice cream mixes.

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Who Needs These 10 Awesome Kitchen Tools? Everyone!

Who Needs These 10 Awesome Kitchen Tools? Everyone!

I can’t tell you how many pounds of butter I’ve gone through in the past month making pies, cookies, sides and stews, but I can tell you that I’ve once again gained newfound appreciation for all the amazing cooking tools I’ve somehow stuffed into my tiny galley kitchen. I have plenty of love for affordable kitchen tools under $25, but right now I wanted to also shine a light on some of the key investment pieces (no, not like a standard oven) that have made all the difference in cooking during this holiday season.

I will even claim that this gorgeous kitchen equipment — from knives I’m obsessed with to the best electric beaters and apron I’ve ever used — makes me a better cook. When I love the tools I’m using, I notice I take more pleasure in the cooking process. And I’ll bet anyone who’s spent time making a meal can agree that tasks are a lot easier to accomplish with the right, well-crafted tool. 

I’m sharing my running list of favorite kitchen upgrade items below — I hope, of course, that you love them too. And do keep an eye out for holiday and seasonal sales, whether you’re eyeing a gift for yourself or for someone else (lucky them). Happy cooking!

Breville

I had an inexpensive pair of electric beaters that always gave me trouble — ditching it for this Breville Handy Mix Scraper was one of the best decisions I made, especially during this season of abundant baking. This mixer seriously does it all: It comes with whisks, creamer inserts and dough hooks! It has a built-in light so you can see what’s in the bowl! There’s a stopwatch feature so you can see how long you’ve been mixing and a pause button that keeps track of your speed settings and time while you take a break to scrape down the bowl! The cord base can rotate to get out of your way! And it has a convenient storage situation where you can keep all the beater wands!

You’re receiving price alerts for Breville Handy Mix Scraper Hand Mixer, Silver, BHM800SIL

Shun

I have lusted after Shun Premier knives for over a decade and finally bought two for my new kitchen: the 8-inch chef’s knife and a 3.5-inch paring knife. Over Black Friday, I added a 7-inch Santoku blade to the mix. I adore the way the rounded handles balance, and the stunning, wavy pattern on the forged blade boasts an edge designed to hold sharpness far longer than average. That’s good for me, because the sound of knife sharpening sets my every tooth, bone and neuron on fire.

Shun Premier knives come in gray and brown wood handle options. The Classic knives are cheaper and also very good (yes, I’ve tried them out, too). But my heart belongs to the Premier line for the way they feel in my hand, and the extra aesthetics on the blade (69 layers of Damascus steel, if you’re wondering). I store them in a drawer with a blade guard case to protect the knife sharpness (and my fingers). Here are other recommended chef’s knives as well.

Screenshot by Nina Raemont/CNET

I’ve owned an immersion blender for years, but recently upgraded myself to the Braun MultiQuick 7 for its robust design, powerful motor and fun extras, like a mini food processor attachment (like, for making quick work of onions and herbs) and a balloon whisk attachment for quickly whipping or whisking without having to go full-bore with the electric beaters. 

I use this tool constantly, to process soups right in the pan, make salsa in the included beaker, whip cream into soft peaks and make quick work of pulverizing onion without hefting the food processor to the counter. It’s also wonderfully easy to clean and dry, and small and light enough to pull out from the pantry any time I need it. I can’t recommend it enough.

You’re receiving price alerts for Braun MQ7027X Multiquick 7 ACTIVEBlade Technology Hand Blender

Chris Monroe/CNET

I may have spoiled myself buying the Google Nest Hub smart speaker display for my kitchen. I have it set up on a riser shelf on my counter, next to a phone stand where I can also keep my phone away from the worst of tea splatters and flying onions. I use the Nest Hub for everyday things like checking the weather as I’m making my morning cuppa and playing music (with song lyrics!) while I cook. I use the two hands-free timers multiple times a day, and look up recipes on the screen (you can follow these step-by-step). 

There’s also an extra function where you can program the Nest Hub to forgo the “OK, Google” or “Hey, Google” wake word when you look at it and start listening to you with just a glance (Google calls this Look and Talk). That’s ultra convenient for saving some time and breath every time you want to ask for unit conversion measures, adding to or canceling a timer and skipping to the next track.

Read our Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) review.

 

You’re receiving price alerts for Google Nest Hub (2nd gen, Sand)

Amazon

Zojirushi has an excellent reputation for countertop appliances that hit the high-water mark. I’ve been beyond happy with my Neuro Fuzzy rice cooker since I bought it earlier this year. My pantry is stuffed with six kinds of rice and at least four other grains I routinely cook up. The settings are easy to use and whether I wash the grains or not, whatever I’m making comes out evenly cooked. Plus, it plays a song when starting and ending a cycle, which is much nicer than a loud beep or buzz.

The Neuro Fuzzy in particular takes up more counter space than the most compact models, and rice can take an hour for a typical cycle of even cooking. But there are lots of settings, including a quick cook mode, and cleanup is easy. (Here are meals you can make in the rice cooker other than rice.)

You’re receiving price alerts for Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy rice cooker: $185

Breville

Buying the Breville Smart Oven Pro Toaster Oven (BOV845BSS) was one of my best kitchen decisions. It toasts, it broils, it roasts. And since it has a convection oven function, you can totally skip the separate air fryer — and cook more stuff at once. I love the countdown clock that takes the mystery out of when your food will be done, and I love that I can bake a single batch of cookies or toast walnuts faster than a standard oven, and without having to heat the whole thing first. Plus, the brushed stainless steel body looks pretty great on my countertop.

You’re receiving price alerts for Breville Smart Oven Pro toaster oven: $260 (Save $90)

Screenshot by Nina Raemont/CNET

Le Creuset dutch ovens are all the rage (I actually really love my Staub Cocotte), but one of the best gifts I ever received was this Le Creuset casserole dish that can go straight from oven to table (to fridge!) while cooking food evenly and looking awesome. I would buy this all over again, and gift it, too. It comes in a range of striking colors, and shockingly cleans easily — with a little soak in soapy hot water and a dirt-cheap pan scraper. I’m the kind of person who excels at ruining dutch ovens with burned-on spots. After a couple years, this dish has remained spot-free, even after roasting dark, sticky stews (yum!).

You’re receiving price alerts for Le Creuset Stoneware Heritage Covered Rectangular Casserole, 4 qt. (12″ x 9″), Oyster

Screenshot by Nina Raemont/CNET

A workhorse apron is worth its weight in gold. I’m thankful I finally stumbled on Hedley & Bennett, which makes a seemingly endless supply of thick, sturdy aprons I now can’t fail to miss seeing seemingly any time I walk into a restaurant. If these aprons can handle the stresses of a professional kitchen, they can handle the flying sauces and batter in mine. I bought myself two styles, including a Cookie Monster print that never fails to make my inner child giggle. The apron’s neck loop is adjustable, there are a lot of pockets, and so far the waist straps haven’t gotten scrunched, twisted or mangled in the washer or dryer.  

Screenshot by Nina Raemont/CNET

I’m not the kind of wine enthusiast who owns a different glass for every varietal — not yet, anyway. Instead, I opt for one all-rounder that will work beautifully no matter which bottle I open, erring on the side of big, bold reds. I’ve been using these “Burgundy” glasses from Schott Zwiesel for years, and my Amazon search history told me I bought them five times, twice for myself and three times as a gift. Yes, I do drink white wine, rose and sparkling out of them (gasp!), and they all taste terrific. Better in my mind to drink from a glass with a too-big bowl than a cramped glass that stifles all that great wine nose.

You’re receiving price alerts for Schott Zwiesel Tritan Crystal Glass Forte Stemware Collection Claret Burgundy Red Wine Glass, 25-Ounce, Set of 6

Screenshot by Nina Raemont/CNET

If you don’t use an electric kettle yet, drop everything and get yourself one. This indispensable kitchen savior rapidly heats water for tea, coffee and hot chocolate, and it gives you a head start on boiling vats of water for pasta, blanching or anything else you need. I’ve owned and gifted a lot of electric kettles, and most work about the same way. This Zwilling Enfingy Electric Kettle has a sleeker, more sophisticated look and variable temperature controls. I also like that it’s got a cool-touch exterior that won’t burn you when you pick it up. 

There’s no viewing window for water height and you have to feel comfortable with capacitive controls that you press and hold, but these aren’t deal-breakers for me by any means.

You’re receiving price alerts for Zwilling Enfingy electric kettle: $120

For even more top kitchen picks, see our best kitchen gifts under $25 and best stainless steel frying pans.

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The 29 Cooking Tools Our Editors Loved This Year

The 29 Cooking Tools Our Editors Loved This Year

Our editors love cooking, but you probably guessed that. We also love trying an ever-evolving list of new cooking tools, gadgets, and ingredients just as much as we love trying a new recipe. This year, just as in years past, we found some new stars and discovered even more reasons to love our tried-and-true favorite gadgets. Here’s a list of the Epicurious staff’s favorite cooking stuff of 2022. 

Chicken powder

If you want rich, potent chicken flavor, but you don’t have time to make stock, contributor Genevieve Yam recommends Lee Kum Kee chicken powder—and she got commerce writer Wilder Davies fully obsessed with it in August. The powder, when mixed with water, results in a broth that tastes purely, deeply of chicken, without some of the vegetal flavors that often dominate bouillon cubes.

Lee Kum Kee Chicken Powder

Over-the-sink colander

Got a small or slow draining sink? Wilder recommends opting for a colander that suspends over the top of your sink via adjustable handles. You can strain pasta without worrying about food touching the bottom of the sink, or being contaminated by those dishes that piled up while you were cooking. Plus, it can work double duty as a drying rack.    

Over The Sink Stainless Steel Oval Colander with Fine Mesh

Year & Day low serving bowl

Everyone needs a good serving bowl. Epicurious staff writer Emily Farris did a deep dive to find the best one, and she thinks that the Year & Day low serving bowl offers just the right size, depth, and simple elegance. Trust us: Your pasta will look stunning in it. 

The Nomad briefcase grill

This past summer we went hard on grilling, attempting to find the best gear for many, many types of outdoor cooks. While testing portable grills, reviews editor Noah Kaufman became enamored with this briefcase-shaped grill from Nomad: It’s ideal for tailgating (Super Bowl LVII, here we come). 

Quarter sheet pan

Noah found having smaller sheet pans on hand—a quarter size instead of the more common half sheet pan)—was crucial this year. This set of two from our favorite brand has allowed him to cook multiple dinners at once, appeasing the palates of his picky-eating kids and the adults in his home with minimal effort. 

Nordic Ware Aluminum Commercial Baker’s Quarter Sheet Pans, 2-Pack

Jack Stack barbecue meat & poultry rub

Looking for a new all-purpose seasoning? Senior commerce writer Emily Farris recommends Jack Stack Barbecue Meat & Poultry Rub. “It’s salty but not too salty, spicy but not too spicy, and sweet but not too sweet, with garlic and hickory smoke too,” Emily explains. “It hits all of the Kansas City barbecue notes but it doesn’t necessarily make food taste like barbecue. It just makes food taste better.”

Jack Stack Barbecue Kansas City Meat & Poultry Rub

Oxo Good Grips small citrus juicer

This durable citrus juicer comes with a measuring cup, so you know exactly how much zingy lemon juice you’re adding to a dish. 

OXO Good Grips Small Citrus Juicer

The Meater smart thermometer

If you don’t have one already, you really need a meat thermometer. It’s the only way to ensure that your protein is cooked exactly how you want it, especially when you’re grilling and smoking. This smart wireless meat thermometer connects to your phone; it’s one of the most convenient, accurate, and easy-to-use models we’ve ever tried.

The Meater Plus Smart Thermometer

Bissell CrossWave floor and area rug cleaner

If there was one cleaning product that changed the game for us this year, it was the mop vac. This cleaning gadget does what it says: it mops and vacuums your floors. It’s a very powerful tool for messy cooks who are prone to coffee spills, splattering sauces, and rogue olive oil application.

Bissell CrossWave Wet-Dry Vacuum

KitchenAid shaved ice attachment

This shaved ice maker attaches to your KitchenAid, meaning slushies, frozen cocktails, and layered summer desserts are possible in your home kitchen.

KitchenAid Shave Ice Attachment

Anova chamber vacuum sealer

A chamber sealer seals food by creating a vacuum within the machine’s walls, rather than by simply removing air and sealing the edge (as an edge-sealer does). They’ve typically been reserved for chefs and industry pros, but Noah loved the Anova Precision Chamber Vacuum Sealer for its comparatively compact size and affordable price.  

Frosting bulbs

Wrestling with piping bags can be annoying even for the most seasoned bakers. These silicone bulbs are easy to maneuver and ideal for frosting holiday cookies—and they’re dishwasher safe. 

Prepworks by Progressive 8-Piece Frosting Bulb Decorating Kit

Meyer stockpot

This stockpot’s unique structure and build are meant to prevent boil-overs—it’s perfect for the distracted parent who’s doing six other things while they’re making mac and cheese. 

Bowl scraper

This flexible, curved cousin of the bench scraper allows you to scrape every last bit of batter from your bowl. The best ones are large and have an asymmetrical D-shape, so they’re easy to manuever around any type of bowl. Read more about why Wilder loves them.

Weber wide spatula

Bigger is, in fact, better when it comes to grilling spatulas. This tool makes flipping big burgers a cinch, and means you’re less likely to lose stray asparagus stalks to the flames.

Weber Original Wide Spatula

Stainless steel sauce cups

If you want to cook like a pro, then you need to make sure your workstation is set up like one. Genevieve uses these small sauce cups to hold her spices, herbs, and chopped vegetables, so the cooking and the clean-up afterwards move more quickly. 

Stainless Steel Sauce Cups 2.5 ounces

Bee’s Wrap bag

Let the record show that in April 2022, Bee’s Wrap finally released reusable bags and we were eternally grateful. 

Building brick waffle maker

Emily Farris purchased this Lego-inspired brick waffle maker  and took the concept of playing with food to the next level for her kids. Build towers of fluffy waffles instead of gingerbread houses this holiday season. It’s the perfect gift for the six-year-old who builds Lego sets designed for adults (and loves to brag about it).

Waffle Wow! Building Brick Waffle Maker

Breville Joule oven/air fryer

The Joule Oven Air Fryer Pro has an autopilot feature that automatically adjusts how much heat is used during cooking—and where within the oven that heat is coming from. It’s our favorite air frying toaster oven of the year. 

Breville Joule Oven Air Fryer Pro

Chimney starter

A chimney starter came in handy when we took on hundreds of grilling sessions this year to test gear: It’s the fastest and easiest way to get a charcoal grill or offset smoker fired up. 

Napoleon Jetfire Chimney Starter

Nespresso machines

While Emily Farris doesn’t consider herself a coffee snob, she does have certain standards when it comes to her morning cup. And this Nespresso machine more than meets them. This isn’t the machine for coffee geeks, but it is the machine for people who want a convenient, delicious shot of espresso.

Nespresso Vertuo Plus Deluxe with Aeroccino Milk Frother

Cake lifter

Is there anything sadder than baking a perfectly golden cake, only to break it in half when you’re trying to place it on your cake stand? Cake lifters are essentially pizza peels for cake, and they make the transition from pan to plate beautifully seamless.

Boska cheese slicer

Pro tip from a pro bartender: The best way to make a citrus twist isn’t with your standard y-peeler, but with a cheese slicer. 

Aebleskiver pan

Aebleskiver pans are good for more than just aebleskiver, which is why Wilder loved having one this year to make Japanese takoyaki and buckwheat-based Dutch poffertjes.

Norpro Nonstick Aebleskiver Pan

Immersion blender

Emily Farris says that, if asked to choose between a food processor, Vitamix, or immersion blender for pulverizing and puréeing, she’d choose the immersion blender all day, every day. It’s a hot take, but we respect it.

Cuisinart Smart Stick Immersion Blender

Over-cabinet garbage bowl

Associate commerce director Emily Johnson found these bowls that hang over your cabinet doors recommended on TikTok. She tried them and found that they were perfect for sweeping food scraps away as you cook, so you have a clear workspace and a contained mess. 

Over-Cabinet Garbage Bowl

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Our Favorite Nonstick Kitchen Tools for Easy Oil-Free Cooking

Our Favorite Nonstick Kitchen Tools for Easy Oil-Free Cooking

Consuming complete-food items, plant-based mostly signifies slicing out as lots of processed foods as possible—including oil. In spite of well-liked promises that some oils, such as olive or avocado, are health foods, all oils are a type of processed, concentrated excess fat that’s been stripped of its authentic nutritional price. To get pleasure from a diet plan full of abundance that keeps you satiated without the need of the strain of counting calories, we endorse skipping oil altogether and using oil-free of charge cooking tactics when making ready your meals.

Cooking without oil could appear to be complicated at first, but it’s less complicated than you think—especially when your kitchen is outfitted with the correct instruments. From nonstick muffin tins that remove the have to have to grease up baked merchandise, to air fryers that provide the exact crispy success you like sans oil, these essential objects will make healthier cooking a breeze. Acquiring a couple of items of oil-no cost cooking gear assures your total-food items, plant-primarily based way of living is workable, very simple, and oh-so-tasty. Editor’s Note: FOK may well obtain a compact share of profits from some of the backlinks on this web page, though it doesn’t impact our products picks.

Struggling to cook dinner balanced meals at property?

Forks Meal Planner is below to assistance.

Lima Ceramic Nonstick 10-inch Frypan

A frying pan with a ceramic lining that resists scratching is your No. 1 preference for oil-no cost sautéing. This frypan is light-weight, uncomplicated to clean, and huge plenty of for relatives-dimensions sautés and stir-fries. Its heatproof manage allows you end dishes in the oven or below the broiler and capabilities an ergonomic style to make maneuvering the kitchen as effortless as feasible. The PFAS-, PFOA-, guide-, and cadmium-free of charge coating won’t launch chemical fumes when heated to large temperatures so you can cook dinner up a storm with no worry.

 

crisper tray

Oven air-frying is produced very simple with this sleek mesh tray that allows scorching air to flow into freely all around food items so it gets mouthwateringly crisp and golden devoid of any oil. The Signature Copper Crisper actions in at 17.5 inches by 12 inches, making sure there is loads of place to distribute vegetables in a one layer, which is essential to obtaining a enjoyable crunch. The accompanying pan catches crumbs for a brief cleanup, and the nonstick coating ensures an effortless clean soon after you’ve indulged in a tasty air-fried take care of.

 

Easy-Flex Silicone Muffin and Cupcake Pan

Say goodbye to greasing baking pans and pick out a colorful model manufactured from versatile nonstick silicone. This six-cup muffin pan also will come in handy for freezing broths, sauces, and wonderful cream in tiny individual parts. Only implement a very little tension on the bottom of each and every cup and look at how easily your baked goods pop suitable out. The silicone product is significantly much easier to clean up than standard metal pans, and the stackable style and design tends to make for uncomplicated and economical storage. It is microwave- and dishwasher-safe and sound, and oven-secure at temperatures up to 375°F.

 

Philips Premium Airfryer HD9741/96

The supreme oil-free of charge equipment, an air fryer will turn into your finest friend for reheating leftovers and making healthier versions of your favourite greasy foods. The quick-to-use interface options preset cooking programs so crispy snacks are ready with just a click of a button. Best for little- to medium-dimensions households, the compact form is fantastic for day to day use and cooks your meals 150{d2b09b03d44633acb673e8080360919f91e60962656af8ade0305d5d8b7e4889} a lot quicker than a common oven. In addition, the dishwasher-safe sections be certain easy cleanup after making the most of a satisfying food.

 

StarPack 12-Inch Tongs

The variation between a great pair of tongs and a wonderful pair? The grip and the idea. Nonstick silicone presents you a tight maintain on slippery foods that need to be tossed or flipped devoid of generating a mess. These stainless-metal tongs aspect the common scalloped edge, but the silicone ends necessarily mean you can safely and securely use it with all the pots and pans in your kitchen devoid of worrying about scratching up your cookware. The handy ring-pull locking procedure at the base would make these tongs simple to open up and near as you swap involving cooking jobs.

 

Instant Pot Duo 6-Quart Multi-Use Pressure Cooker

An electric powered multicooker substantially speeds up all the cooking responsibilities you’d normally do on a stovetop, saving you time on chaotic weeknights when spending an hour in the kitchen just is not doable. But the most effective element of this useful appliance is the limited-sealing lid that retains in humidity so oil-absolutely free dishes will not adhere or melt away. This 6-quart Fast Pot is an all-in-one strain cooker, slow cooker, and rice cooker that’s major enough to feed a family of four. If you’re new to the environment of multicookers, check out out our useful Instantaneous Pot guide, which consists of basic multicooker how-tos and recipe inspiration.

 

Boxiki Premium Silicone Nonstick Durable Bundt Pan

In addition to building any recipe seem stunning, fluted bundt pans assistance dense cake batters (numerous vegan recipes fall into this class) prepare dinner all the way via. This substantial-excellent Boxiki pan has a steel frame to hold it from wobbling when stuffed with batter, whilst the silicone mildew releases the concluded cake with relieve. The very long-long lasting material is created from BPA-no cost and Food and drug administration-accredited food stuff-grade silicone, making it a wonderful addition to your selection of oil-cost-free baking gear.

 

Oxo Nylon Turner Spatula

A thin, rigid-edge turner is essential for flipping sensitive oil-totally free foodstuff and taking away tender veggies from roasting pans. Mild but strong, the OXO turner is formed to tackle equally compact and massive jobs, and its smooth layout helps make it quick to clear. The nylon content very easily slides beneath sticky foodstuff with no breaking them aside and the tender non-slip grip take care of makes certain cozy cooking.

 

9.5 Inch Gobel Nonstick Tart Pan

A shallow tart pan with a removable bottom is a aspiration for oil-free of charge baking simply because it presents a lot easier obtain when unmolding. This Gobel pan is created in France with strong PFOA-free of charge nonstick-coated metal so all your pies, vegan quiches, and tarts close up searching just as delightful as they taste. The 9.5-inch size can be utilised for most recipes that call for regular 8- or 9-inch pie pans.

 

Mrs. Anderson’s Nonstick 9-inch Cake Pans

This dwelling-baking critical make oil-absolutely free layer cakes, like birthday cake, a no-fuss actuality. The 100{d2b09b03d44633acb673e8080360919f91e60962656af8ade0305d5d8b7e4889} silicone pan withstands temperatures as significant as 500°F and releases finished cakes with ease so they often appear out wanting pristine. The significant-good quality silicone will retain its shape even just after hundreds of bakes, and it is protected to use in the freezer, microwave, and dishwasher.

 

Silpat Half-Sheet Silicone Baking Mat

Silicone sheet pan liners aren’t just for baking: They can flip any sheet pan into a nonstick roaster for savory foodstuff, as perfectly. The fiberglass mesh constructed into Silpat mats promotes even warmth distribution and will make it much better than silicone-only liners. Not to mention, the adaptable material rolls up into a tiny tube form for simple storage.

 

Lodge Enameled Cast-Iron Dutch Oven

Dutch ovens are suitable for gradual-cooking soups, stews, and sauces, caramelizing veggies, and whipping up do-it-yourself loaves of bread. The enamel coating on this common pot helps prevent sticking, when major-duty forged iron promotes even heating to keep oil-no cost foodstuff from scorching. The eye-catching color of this model is also excellent for including some pizzazz to your kitchen. And don’t be fooled by the very low cost: This Dutch oven performs just as perfectly as variations that price tag hundreds of bucks extra.

 

OXO Silicone Pressure Cooker Steamer Accessory

Get completely cooked veggies although locking in all their nutrition when you use this nifty silicone steamer basket. The adaptable design and style operates effectively in stovetop saucepans, microwaves, and multicookers, and the added-extensive handles make it effortless to raise and lessen with no spilling foodstuff. Made from flexible silicone, it is dishwasher safe and sound and won’t scratch nonstick pan coatings.

 

Chicago Metallic Nonstick Mezzaluna

This practical device is named for its curved, half-moon shape, which allows you rock it back again and forth to slice pizza, baked items, and casseroles. The rounded edge on this uncomplicated, sharp gadget allows you reduce meals cleanly without damaging your nonstick pans. Heat-resistant nylon helps make it fantastic for chopping into dishes that need to have to be portioned straight out of the oven, and the dishwasher-safe and sound substance claims simple cleanup.

 

Half Sheet Baking Parchment Paper

If a silicone mat isn’t your thing, you can line any pan with this reusable parchment paper for an prompt nonstick floor and simple cleanup. The skilled-grade precut sheets from King Arthur can be tossed immediately or deployed for a number of makes use of prior to producing their way to the trash. Excellent for lining cookie sheets, roasting veggies, or rolling out pizza dough on a nonstick floor, these parchment paper liners are a fantastic addition to your oil-free of charge kitchen.

 

Le Creuset Silicone Spatula Spoon

It scrapes! It stirs! It scoops! It spoons! But the one thing the silicone head on this helpful utensil won’t do is scratch your nonstick cookware. In addition to its multitasking form, this spoon has a wooden tackle that is hard sufficient to last for a long time. Straightforward to clean and developed for a snug grip, your oil-cost-free meals will develop into infinitely a lot easier to whip up with this unique spoon at your facet.

Editor’s Note: Megan Edwards contributed to this post.

Our Favorite Nonstick Kitchen Tools for Easy Oil-Free Cooking

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How Chefs Use Tools and Kitchen Heirlooms Passed Down from Generations

How Chefs Use Tools and Kitchen Heirlooms Passed Down from Generations
food memories passing down generations kitchen tools

Design by Maitane Romagosa for Thrillist

Welcome to Recipes to Remember, a collection of passed-down recipes that remind us to gather around the table, share a meal prepared with our own hands—or, perhaps even better, the hands of our loved ones—and simply enjoy each other’s company. As the holiday season arrives, let’s try new-to-us recipes and make new memories along the way.

Many kitchen memories begin with a single tool. Perhaps it’s a wooden spoon stirring bubbling lentil soup, a lop-sided wok that perfectly caramelizes kimchi for the tangiest fried rice, or a cake stand that always displays a nostalgic slice of fluffy coconut cake.

For me, it’s a stone mortar and pestle that’s been in my family for more than 50 years. The stout body weighs over 10 pounds and the convex end of the pestle is worn smooth from use. I remember standing on a kitchen stool, hovering over my mom and grandma as they made fresh curry pastes, chili dips, or garlicky marinades—my eyes undoubtedly watering from the spices.

Although my grandma passed away almost 20 years ago, her presence is always there anytime my mom is grinding peppercorns or mashing chilies. “One day, this will be yours,” she frequently tells me, gesturing to the heavy granite bowl—like she can’t stand the idea that the mortar and pestle, and subsequently my grandmother’s memory, could be lost.

Families across the world have stories like mine, where generations of cooking can be found in an heirloom tool.

Chris Viaud, the chef and owner of New Hampshire’s Greenleaf and Ansanm and former Top Chef contestant, thinks about his Haitian mother’s pilon, a wooden mortar and pestle found in kitchens throughout the Caribbean. “I remember specifically just sitting on the floor, mashing up herbs and spices,” he says. “For the most part, we would use the pilon to make our spice blend called epis.”

From there, the blend of citrus, peppers, garlic, and onion seasoned everything: fish, rice, vegetables, and even the pilon itself. “Especially with wood, there’s that sense that some of the vegetable oils seep into the wood and continue to enhance the flavor of the next batch that goes in,” Viaud says. “In a way, we have the history of 30 years ago going into the batches we’re doing today, which is great.”

Some family kitchen heirlooms are out of commission, but remain treasured artifacts. Such is the case for Amanda Maneesilasan, the chef behind Los Angeles’s legendary Chao Krung Thai and newly revamped Tuk Tuk Thai.

At over 50 years old, Chao Krung Thai is one of LA’s oldest operating Thai restaurants. With that storied history comes a lot of memories—including how Maneesilasan first became interested in cooking when she was only nine.

“My grandma had this coconut grater that’s called a kratai, which means ‘rabbit’ in Thai,” Maneesilasan explains. The reason it’s called a rabbit is because that’s exactly what it looks like: a wooden rabbit with a metal blade that’s angled upward from the rabbit’s mouth. “I got into the kitchen because it didn’t look like a tool. It looked fun, like a toy. I wanted to see what my grandma was playing with.”

Instead of playing, Maneesilasan’s grandmother put her to work, grating coconuts to make coconut milk for one of her favorite dishes, green curry. Maneesilasan didn’t see it as work though; playing with the kratai and getting a bowl of green curry at the end was rewarding, and put her on the track to becoming the chef she is today.

Although there are much easier ways to grate a coconut now—besides, Maneesilasan’s grandmother’s rabbit is fully retired—she still sees the value in keeping the artifact around (even if it’s just decor.) “If I ever have kids, I can get them into cooking because of this tool right here,” she laughs.

Amethyst Ganaway’s grandmother is also at the heart of her cooking journey. Although she’s the only professional chef and recipe developer in the family, everyone can cook, thanks to Granny’s wisdom.

“My grandmother and her kids were the black sheep of our family, but she was the daughter that was always around her mom learning to cook for herself,” Ganaway says. “When my grandmother’s siblings passed, she was the one they asked for specifically on their deathbed, to cook X, Y, and Z, because she was the only one who knew how.”

Ganaway, being the eldest granddaughter—and the only grandchild to meet her great-grandmother—followed in her footsteps. She has distinct memories of being three years old and crowding the kitchen with her grandmother and great-grandmother while they stirred a hefty pot of greens.

The pot, Ganaway says, is nothing particularly special. She guesses it must have come from JCPenney or some other department store. The handles of the pot have fallen away. Its bottom sits wobbly on the stovetop, and the pot bravely wears scratchy battle scars from its year of use. But no other pots make greens quite like this pot.

“If you make something in this pot, it’s going to come out good,” Ganaway asserts. Ganaway’s family doesn’t have fancy China decorated with delicate flower petals or jewelry to pass on, but she has this pot, which she has already staked her claim on (much to her siblings’ and cousins’ dismay).

The pot is still fully in use, and will make an appearance at this year’s Thanksgiving, where Ganaway will be in charge of preparing the greens so her grandmother can simply rest and enjoy time with family this year. Although Ganaway is not fully in possession of the pot yet, she’s already claimed a pair of spoons that belonged to her grandmother, noting that their hefty weight somehow make ice cream taste better.

“To be able to visually see a piece that has been within the family and to continue to share that with future generations—that’s for sure going to be special.”

With so many new kitchen appliances and gadgets constantly being produced, it’d be easy to let these heirlooms collect dust or suffer a worse fate in a storage box or landfill. But they are more than just tools—they are keepers of genealogical gastronomy.

Maneesilasan remembers her parents telling her grandma that the green curry they crafted together, using the rabbit, was the best they had ever tasted. Her grandmother proudly gave her all the credit. “For me, it was just all about spending time with my grandmother,” Maneesilasan reminisces. “But after that I knew I could be a good cook.”

For Ganaway, the ancestors who have used the pot make the food within its walls that much more delicious. “When people talk about southern food, they talk about soul food; you’re putting your soul into whatever dishes you make,” she says. “What really makes our pot special and seasoned in its own way is that this pot has seen every member in our family.”

Although the tools contain secrets of the past, if cherished and respected, they can also be a culinary bridge for the future. That’s what Viaud envisions for his family’s pilon, which he hopes to pass down to his three-year-old daughter. “I think the biggest thing is that it shares a story and evokes memories,” he says. “To be able to visually see a piece that has been within the family and to continue to share that with future generations—that’s for sure going to be special.”

I don’t know what the future holds for me. What will my career look like in 10 years time? Will I have kids, a family, a home I’ve built with a marble kitchen island? This remains a mystery. But something I know that will remain steadfastly through it all is my grandmother’s mortar and pestle—a tribute to my heritage and ancestry, and a deliciously spicy look to the future.

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Kat Thompson is a senior staff writer of food & drink at Thrillist. Follow her on Twitter @katthompsonn.