The Infophile's Kitchen Gadget Recommendation List
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Hi friends! This is mostly in service of the folks on Instagram who watch my frequent cooking stories and often ask about the various kitchen gadgets I have found that help make cooking and baking both easier and more enjoyable for me. I’ve sent a bunch of one-off links via DM but I decided that I’d do a big roundup here that anyone can access at any time. Some of these items are the exact ones I have, some are the updated versions, and some are the closest I can find to what I have because I probably bought it in a little kitchen goods store somewhere. All links are affiliate links. Yes, this list is long and you can always Ctrl+f to find things. These are things I’ve collected over the course of many, many years. As always, my own wishlist can be found at the bottom of the page. This post is not going out via email but will always be accessible here on theinfophile.com.
Fullstar Vegetable Chopper - Spiralizer Vegetable Slicer: This was an absolute game-changer. I hate chopping onions so I would often skip them in recipes. I didn’t want to leave them out but I really, really did not want to chop onions. Once I bought this chopper, my cooking life was changed forever. It also does softer vegetables like celery really easily as well. I haven’t used the other accessories it comes with, like the spiralizers, but the chopping alone is worth it and it has two different blade grids for different sizes of chops.
Pyrex 3 Piece Glass Measuring Cup Set, Includes 1-Cup, 2-Cup, and 4-Cup Tempered Glass Liquid Measuring Cups: I bet you already have at least one of these. They're great for things I have to mix inside the measuring cups and great for things I have to chill first in the freezer (like buttermilk for biscuits) or things I have to melt in the microwave. If I can measure and melt, chill, or mix in the same thing, I love it! They don’t pour incredibly great though and that takes some practice.
OXO Good Grips 3-Piece Angled Measuring Cup Set: These are great for measuring liquids without straining my back and neck but the shape does make it difficult to whisk things up inside of them. These are our go-to measuring cups for liquids like the water for making coffee in the French press or when I need to pour something in a gentle and steady stream. They pour really great.
OXO Good Grips 4-Piece Mini Measuring Beaker Set: I know I can’t be the only one who frequently messes it up when trying to pour vanilla into a teaspoon then carefully get it into the batter of whatever I’m baking. Or overshoots my pour if something calls for a tablespoon of vegetable oil. These little measuring beakers might be my actual favorite thing in the entire kitchen aside from the thing I use to chop onions. The beakers nest and there is also a 7-piece set if you want some larger sizes.
Microplane Premium Classic Zester Grater: I zest a lot of citrus and I grate a lot of ginger. I have had my Microplane for well over a decade and it’s still going strong. I am amazed at all the colors it comes in now.
Solula-Stainless-Small-Cookie-Scoop: How do I get uniform and round cookies without frustration and rather quickly and cleanly? Cookie scoop. My auntie bought me my stainless steel cookie scoop maybe twenty years ago and I have never looked back.
CAMKYDE Egg Separator: I am awful at separating eggs using just my hands or the shells and for a long time I would just avoid recipes that asked me to do that. Buying an egg separator made my life much easier and also made a bunch of recipes more accessible to me. This one I linked is not the one I have but it gets good reviews.
Cestari Silicone Garlic Peeler: I fully support people who find buying pre-peeled or even pre-minced garlic works for them. It is not something that works for me but I readily admit that peeling garlic is hella annoying so a silicone garlic peeler has made me much happier.
Joseph Joseph Garlic Rocker: I know that Anthony Bourdain shamed people for using garlic mincers in Kitchen Confidential but look, I’m not about to chop garlic by hand. I’m just not. I do once in a while when I think I’m being cute but really, it takes hella long and I find it tedious. This particular garlic press still gives me a nice size and it’s a single piece, which makes it easier to clean.
Hot Water Kettle: Okay, here is the more expensive one and here is the more reasonably-priced one. I don’t have either (I think we just got a random one at Target) but the two I just linked here are both recommended by America’s Test Kitchen (ATK). Having boiling hot water fast has been so helpful. Not only for hot drinks, but when I make beans weekly I need to have hot water on hand when the liquid in the bean pot gets low (I don’t add cold water, it makes the bean texture weird).
Ecolution Micro-Pop Microwave Popcorn Popper: I received this as a gift off my wishlist and I am amazed at how much I love it! Fresh popcorn without a bag to burn or throw in a landfill. It’s brilliant.
Mini Measuring Spoon Set: This is wildly unnecessary but absolutely adorable. Five spoons measuring from a “tad” (¼ teaspoon) down to a drop (1/64 teaspoon). In between are a dash, a pinch, and a smidgen. I like tiny, cute things and I am not ashamed.
Victorinox Swiss Classic Chef's Knife: This is the chef’s knife I use for all my cooking. I love it. It’s also highly rated by ATK.
Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker Machine: This is the model of ice cream machine we have. It’s great for beginners and super easy to use. No salt, no ice, just an insert you put in the freezer overnight.
Tovolo Sweet Treat Ice Cream Tub: These are what we keep our homemade ice cream in and they are fantastic.
Zeroll Original Ice Cream Scoop with Unique Liquid Filled Heat Conductive Handle: Okay, here’s the story: I know this is the company of the ice cream scoop I have and this looks like the same version of what I have, but new. My own actually, again, came from my auntie over two decades ago. Mine was probably from the 1950s. She found it at a yard sale in Lake County, CA and snatched it up. Earlier this year, it accidentally went through the dishwasher and was ruined. I am so utterly dedicated to how amazing this ice cream scoop is that we went to an antique fair and I scanned every booth until I found a vintage one and bought it immediately (the new ones weren’t even in stock online when I was looking for a replacement).
K BASIX Set of 3 Fine Mesh Strainer: I actually got the set that has the silicone handles but they are currently not available. I use the hell out of these strainers. They’ve been fantastic for making shrubs and washing rice.
Zulay Metal 2-In-1 Lemon Lime Squeezer: I have two separate ones, one a lime-size and one a typical lemon-size. I don’t know the brand of mine and I bought them at a shop in person. Having one of these has been nothing short of a blessing.
KitchenAid Juicer Attachment: We have friends, family, and neighbors with lemon trees that are always offering us lemons. Having this attachment has made it way easier for me to juice an entire grocery bag of lemons before freezing it in 8oz containers so that I always have a cube of lemon juice ready for fresh lemonade on demand.
Chef'n Original Stem Gem Strawberry Huller: This is not the exact one we have and while I think this gadget is unnecessary for most people we actually use it a lot. When strawberries are at their peak season we usually end up getting 30-40 pounds over two months and then hull them and freeze them for future gelato. I also made jam this year, which was a good five pounds of strawberries, and used another four pounds in making shrubs. I also did some baking with strawberries. So, yeah, it’s a niche product but a finger-saver if you’re processing a lot of strawberries annually.
OXO Good Grips Cherry & Olive Pitter: Similar as above, we go cherry picking every year and end up processing A LOT of cherries. We actually have two of these so we can get through 20+ pounds of cherries a lot quicker.
Nordic Ware Braided Rope Bundt Cake Pan: Okay, my hot tip for baking, especially if you’re baking something to bring somewhere, is to use a fancy-looking pan. Even if you bake something incredibly simple or use a box mix, leveling-up your baking pan game makes it look like you did way more than you actually did. I don’t have this pan yet but it’s on my personal wishlist. I have other Nordic Ware pans and they are a solid investment if you actually use them.
Nordic Ware Classic Fluted Loaf Pan: Ditto to the above but if you’re making a pound cake or something else that is done in a loaf pan and has a relatively flat top (because you turn it upside down), this pan makes it look stunning. I own this pan, I love this pan, and it's the pan used in the photo further up this page.
Nordic Ware Skull Bitelets: I have nothing poetic to say about this pan except it sparks a whole lot of joy whenever I use it.
Silpat Baking Mat: These are brilliant. I don’t use them for every single thing, but for cookies they have improved my life.
Marcato Atlas 150 Pasta Maker: This is the pasta maker I have. I have only used it once so far, but I intend to use it more frequently this second half of 2023 and beyond.
Silicone Sealing Rings for Instant Pot 5 & 6 Quart: Does your Instant Pot sealing ring get funky? If yes, first of all, leave it out to air out and only slip it back into the lid when you’re going to use the pot. Yes, you can easily remove it from the lid. Second, get yourself some backup rings for different things. I have a ring I use for savory things and a ring I use for sweet things.
KitchenArt Professional Series 2 Cup Adjust-A-Cup: Measuring cup for sticky stuff like corn syrup, honey, peanut butter, molasses, etc. I don’t even have the words to adequately describe how much this silly thing has improved my cooking and baking experience. You set it to the volume you want, fill it to the appropriate line, and then the thing acts as a plunger so you actually get every drop of the ingredient out of it.
Zyliss Restaurant Cheese Grater: There were many life-altering events in 2020 but one of them was my discovery that it’s only about 20 bucks to buy an Olive Garden-style cheese grater. I insist on using fresh Parmesan so now I can grate it directly onto my food or, on occasion, directly into my mouth.
OXO Good Grips Pot Holders and Oven Mitts: I didn’t think I’d actually ever have a strong opinion about oven mitts as long as they kept my hands from getting burned but I have been proven wrong. These are, again, an ATK recommendation and I am never getting another pot holder unless it’s a replacement for these. I have been really skeptical of silicone pot holders but these are only silicone on the outside. They are fully lined and heat protected but the thing is, if you get hot oil or liquid splashed on it, the hot liquid doesn’t seep through to burn you. And if you get anything on the silicone bits, you can just rinse it off. They work so incredibly well and I use the oven mitts daily.
Instant Pot Official Silicone Steamer Basket: I just wanna give a shout out to this steamer basket. The handles are so helpful and getting the food out of it after the food is cooked is really where this little baby shines. It says it’s for an Instant Pot but we totally use it in pots on the stove as well.
COLE & MASON Derwent Pepper Grinder: If you haven’t gathered, fresh ingredients and control over specific ingredients is very important to me. Also, ATK has never failed me so while I was hesitant to pay this much for a pepper mill, I’m so glad I did. I pair it with the Late Harvest Peppercorns from Oaktown Spices and chef’s kiss. (Here is a link to the more affordable yet still highly-rated alternative pepper mill).
Le Creuset Stoneware Utensil Crock: Honestly, this is just a small luxury. I covet the Le Creuset dutch ovens but they are incredibly expensive. Instead, I bought myself a couple of these (the 1qt size is not huge) and they spark joy daily.
KitchenClouds Anti-Fatigue Kitchen Mat: If you’re going to be in the kitchen for an extended amount of time, whether it’s cooking or doing the dishes or both, get yourself an anti-fatigue mat. Your back and feet will thank you.
Mercer Culinary M23210 Millennia Black Handle, 10-Inch Wide Wavy Edge, Bread Knife: I did not understand how much of a difference it makes to have a good bread knife until we got this one and holy shit. It cuts through loaves of bread as if they were cream cheese.
Shun Multi Purpose Shears, Stainless Steel Kitchen Scissors: I haven’t tried cutting pizza with kitchen shears but I hear some people do that. I do, however, use kitchen shears to cut off strips of focaccia.
Victorinox 3.25 Inch Paring Knife with Straight Edge, Spear Point: Nice little paring knife from the company that makes my darling chef’s knife.
Trudeau Silicone, Set of 4 Pinch Bowls: You can always depend on me to use a little bowl or multiple little bowls whenever I’m creating in the kitchen. These ones have squeezy sides that help control pouring out of them. I often measure my spices into a little bowl to combine them before throwing them into whatever it is I’m making.
Le Creuset Stoneware Pasta Bowls, White, 9.75", Set of 4: I have wanted pasta bowls for years and I had an idea of what I wanted them to look like but I never found exactly the ones until I took a chance and looked at what Le Creuset had. These bowls are perfect, yes, for pasta, but they’re also just really great to reheat leftovers in because the food can spread out a bit and heat evenly compared to our regular, deeper bowls.
Simplehuman 9 oz. Touch-Free Rechargeable Sensor Liquid Soap Pump Dispenser: If you buy one thing off this list, buy this. It is an absolute blessing to have this touchless soap dispenser, especially when my hands are covered in dough or egg or I’ve been touching raw meat.
Le Creuset Silicone Trivet (est. 1925): I had purchased this on a whim, needing something to throw in my cart so that I would get free shipping on my order. I have used this so many times since I bought it. We have granite counters and I use it to sit under my teapot if I'm making tea, or under my mug to keep the warmth. I also use it under some of my cutting boards to keep them from sliding if the counter gets wet. It's brilliant.
Portable Candlelight Cheese Raclette: Nicole and I picked up something like this when we were in Switzerland visiting loved ones and it never fails to spark joy each time we use it. Yes, there are larger, electric raclette “cheese melters” and so on but for the two of us or even if there were a few more of us, this is just fine. We absolutely love ours.
Books
Heirloom Beans: Great Recipes for Dips and Spreads, Soups and Stews, Salads and Salsas, and Much More from Rancho Gordo (Bookshop | Amazon): Bean Day Sundays have truly been a highlight of my life the past year and this book is truly what gave me the courage to dive in.
Bread Illustrated: A Step-By-Step Guide to Achieving Bakery-Quality Results At Home (Bookshop | Amazon): My wife started to work her way through this book. Bread can be incredibly intimidating and this book is possibly as good as having something right there teaching you, if not better.
Salt Fat Acid Heat by Samin Nosrat (Bookshop | Amazon): I swear by this book. If there is anything on this list that has actually leveled-up my cooking, it’s this book. It’s not just a cookbook. There is a whole section to read, some amazing charts and graphs, and I do not say this lightly: this book changed my life.
Snacking Cakes: Simple Treats for Anytime Cravings by Yossy Arefi (Bookshop | Amazon): This book is my obsession. The cakes are versatile, there are instructions for making each in a variety of pans. Most use what you probably already have on hand from equipment to ingredients. And it’s all meant to be made in a single bowl. No creaming the butter and sugar, nothing fussy, and usually done in about an hour. Really great recipes if you’re bringing a dessert to a cookout.
Snacking Bakes: Simple Recipes for Cookies, Bars, Brownies, Cakes, and More by Yossy Arefi (Bookshop | Amazon): Similar as above but it expands beyond cakes! Brilliant!
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