Clever culinary tools abound on the market. Cooking restaurant-level dishes at home calls for high-quality chef's knives and excellent equipment, including cast iron pans and nonstick sets. But in the last few years, we have been exposed to more flexible kitchen appliances that enable cooks to be more productive; many of them are equipped with smart connection, so you can set it and forget it, try new recipes, and improve your abilities.

You probably already have the basic tools for novices, but how should you decide what to get going forward (or from where)? Deciding which culinary utensils are really necessary and which are merely good to have may be taxing. Many from the top brands of kitchen appliances, after carefully testing and assessing each item on this list, we have compiled 25 indispensable items of kitchen equipment for serious home cooks. Covering the essentials, this list of our Food & Wine Faves also includes chef-approved items that will be welcomed by chefs wishing to advance their abilities. We have also included a limited, well chosen collection of items that simplify and speed up kitchen organization and cleaning.

A knife for a chef's work

1. Mac Knife eight-inch hollow edge chef's knife

A great chef's knife can set you back a lot. Can reasonably priced knives, nevertheless, also accomplish the task? Our many experiments indicate that indeed. Our overall best chef's knife winner comes from Amazon with a bit over $100 score. Dimples on both sides of the ultra thin blade define the Japanese-style Mac Knife. Particularly with sticky or juicy items like potatoes and tomatoes, such dimples help food from adhering while slicing, hence streamlining and expediency in prep work.

The Mac's blade is sharp enough to handle robust, hefty veggies like carrots and squash, unlike other lightweight blades. (We would like to consider this as one of those desert island cooking utensils since it is so handy). We also valued it for another, usually disregarded quality: an ultra-grippy handle created from natural materials. Designed for a comfortable grasp, it is built from Pakkawood. This reasonably priced knife excels in every area; add in the "stays sharp for longer" full tang design that promotes effective rocking action when chopping.

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A Cutting Board Made of Wood

2. Maple Cutting Board John Boos Chop-N-Slice

Professional cooks love Boos Boards because of its XL capacity and expansive proportions, which are ideal for completing prep work—they are the next best thing to a butcher block countertop. But they may be expensive, particularly if soft end-grain wood is used. Boos's more reasonably priced choice comes from edge-grain construction. (Edge grain is somewhat tougher, hence even after years of usage your board will be more resistant to gashes and knife marks). Made from sustainably-sourced maple wood, this board offers an unparalleled mix of durability and appearance.

A skillet made of cast iron

3. Lodge Cook Iron Skillet

Lodge's skillet comes pre-seasoned, which we valued since you could use it directly out of the box. With simply a swipe of a towel and some warm water, that coating of seasonings was rather easy to clear. It generated the most consistent browning during our cooking tests, and the silicone grip supplied made pan movement confidently simple. Though not heavy, at under five pounds it is very substantial. And you really cannot match that price range, which is several dozen dollars cheaper than other well-known cast iron companies.

A Versatile Knife Set

4. Wusthof Classic Ikon Set Comprising Seven Piece Blocks

For any home cook who doesn't want to go around for various pieces of equipment or for chefs wishing to start from scratch, knife sets are perfect.We evaluated hundreds of well-known brands to choose the finest in every area; Wusthof's 7-Piece Set really astonished us and earned the title of finest Overall.

Its slender profile is the first thing one loves. Knife blocks acquire a poor reputation for being countertop space hogs, but we're happy this one defies the pattern: it's unobtrusive and created from real (sustainably harvested) acacia wood, so it'll look great while working hard. This set consists of six knives and a set of shears built from completely formed, full-tang carbon steel. This set is best in maintaining a sharp edge even with everyday usage; the synthetic handle's contoured shape is not only safe and pleasant but also long-lasting (it won't warp or discolor). This is also a great present as the brand is well-liked among cooks who know a little bit about professional kitchen gadgets. 

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A Stand Mixer with Great Capacity

5. Redesigned Premium Touchpoints KitchenAid 7 Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer

For good reason—they are among the sturdiest, strongest, and longest-lasting stand mixers available— KitchenAid enjoys tremendous name recognition in this regard.After testing stand mixers lately, we really like this 7-quart model; in fact, this is our choice for the Best Large Capacity Stand Mixer. Professional pastry chef Sarah O'Brien gave it great scores; she argues that, when it comes to stand mixers, larger is better.

Here, the XL bowl capacity lets you create plenty of cookies, doughs, and almost anything else. For smaller-scale mixing, nevertheless, it is also well-designed. Simple lever handles on the side enable effective and easy lifting and lowering of the bowl. Along with extra attachments—a whisk, dough hook, and three distinct beaters—one normal, one with a silicone edge, and a unique pastry beater—this rebuilt model has a strong 500 watts motor.