Chefs treasure their kitchen tools and all of them have favorites. There are must haves for any chef such as a high-quality knives and reliable cookware. But then there are those less obvious gadgets and kitchen assistants that help elevate food in the kitchens of the word's best restaurants.
To find out which kitchen tools the world's best chefs treasure most, I asked five of them at this year's annual Culinary and Arts Festival in Nassau, Bahamas. In between feasting on epic dinners and attending one-of-a-kind gastro workshops and classes, these titans of the cooking world told me which kitchen tools they couldn't live without -- just in time for the holidays.
While Daniel Boulud's $9,000 Pacojet ice-cream maker might not fit into most people's holiday shopping budget, some of the picks on this list do, so you can present an amateur chef or baker in your life with a culinary instrument that's been top chef-approved.
Carla Hall
From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated.
Favorite gadget: Microplane
Carla Hall plays the mandolin like a fiddle.
Source: FacebookMicroplane
Whether it's to zest citrus or shred garlic, both Carla Hall and Maneet Chauhun have put their stamp of approval on the mighty microplane.
"It's honestly one of those little gadgets you don't know you need until you use it," raves Hall, who has her own line of Sweet Heritage kitchenware. "It's perfect for zesting lemons or grating hard cheese -- things that add a punch of flavor without much fuss."
"Just a quick swipe and you've got a pop of citrus or a dusting of Parmesan that makes all the difference," she adds.
This microplane costs less than $20 and fits nicely in a stocking.
From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated.
Maneet Chauhan
Favorite gadget: Microplane
Maneet Chauhan is another fan of the mandolin.
Source: FacebookChauhan, owner of Nashville-based Chauhan Ale and Masale House, echoes Hall's sentiments. "A microplane is great for grating fresh spices, which helps bring out all the aromatics that make a dish stand out," she says, recommending this particular model from Williams Sonoma.
For a more colorful option, Hall suggests this $18 microplane from Amazon, which she describes as a "small tool that makes a big impact."
"It's also super handy for ginger, nutmeg, or even a little chocolate on top of desserts," she adds.
This zester comes in more than a dozen colors.
Marcus Samuelsson
Favorite gadget: Cast-iron skillet
The owner of Red Rooster calls the cast-iron skillet his favorite.
Source: FacebookA no-fuss cast iron skillet is what tickles chef Marcus Samuelsson's fancy. The eight-time James Beard Award winner who has his own restaurant, Marcus Fish and Chop House, on Baha Mar's property, raves about its versatility, dependability, ability to maintain flavors from previous cooking sessions. It's also nostalgic, as he grew up using one with his grandmother.
While Samuelsson doesn't have a favorite brand and asserts that when it comes to a skillet, "the older, the better," Lodge is a American classic, and a 10-inch pan won't cost you more than $25. And here are two lighter versions that have been tested and approved by CNET editors.
"When I cook with my son Zion, we probably do seven out of 10 dishes in a cast-iron skillet," Samuelsson shared. "It really reminds me of the pure skills, and love, and passion my grandmother gave me."
Daniel Boulud
Favorite gadget: Pacojet
Famously fun-loving Daniel Boulud picks the Pacojet ice cream maker as a favorite and we couldn't agree more.
Source: FacebookPacojet
World-renowned chef and restaurateur Daniel Boulud thinks a little outside of the box with his pick: the Pacojet. "It is a powerful savory emulsifier and ice cream machine and is my all-time favorite kitchen gadget," he reveals.
While this particular machine certainly does it all, it is meant for commercial kitchens and will set back an average consumer nearly $9,000. As an alternative, consider investing in one of CNET's best ice cream makers of 2024.
Geoffrey Zakarian
Favorite gadget: Mandolin
Mandolins are a clear favorite of the celebrity chef.
Source: FacebookIf you're looking for a quick way to slice vegetables uniformly and quickly, a mandolin's got you covered. Naturally, chef, restaurateur, and possibly the world's best-dressed man, Geoffrey Zakarian, has chosen the one he designed for Dash, complete with safety-first design so that you don't risk a trip to the emergency room.
It's such a great tool," Zakarian gushed. The mandolin offers 30-plus ways to cut, including julienning, mincing, and dicing. It's also collapsible, dishwasher-safe and comes with a cleaning brush.
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