Breville
Control Freak
Incredible temperature control. Maybe one of my most absurd tools but the probe for deep frying makes it totally worth it.
Wolf
Elite Countertop Oven
This this is a beast. It's the largest countertop oven I've ever seen. However the UX is miserable and it constantly makes me miss my old Breville countertop oven. The performance and size makes up for it. But for the money, the Breville is a better oven.
Vitamix
Professional 750
Vitamix is the blender king. You don't need fancy features and basically any Vitamix will do. They're incredible.
Baratza
Vario W
Quite expensive but totally worth it if you value great coffee (and exacting grind size and amount).
KitchenAid
Professional 600
A great workhorse. People say the "old models" are better because they didn't have plastic parts, but the new plastic parts are sacrificial (which is a good thing). Have had to replace a few pieces on ours but it's currently 10 years old and going strong.
Wicked Edge
WE100
Freaking sweet knife sharpening system. There are a few different systems similar to this one, but this is the brand I use. Definitely worth the investment (and learning curve) if you want to keep your knives razor-sharp easily.
Anova
Precision Cooker
Pretty much all the "big name" circulators are good. I personally have and like my Anova. Fun uses include perfect chicken and incredible pulled pork. You can even use these to thaw foods quickly (just don't leave it in too long... and use cold water!)
Cuisinart
Prep 11 Plus
Absolutely workhorse. I use this for dips (hummus, muhummara) but one thing I LOVE it for is shredding things (cheese, vegetables). It makes quick work of whatever you throw at it.
All-Clad
Copper core
My favorite pans. Buy them at homeandcooksales.com (official factory seconds)! They heat evenly, clean up well and will last a lifetime. I love my 5 Qt saute pan but it's gigantic.
Breville
Control Grip
Probably my most-used kitchen gadget. Great for blending eggs to scramble, making smooth-ish soups or purees and the chopping container is great for garlic, ginger and chilies.
Instant Pot
8 quart duo
No explanation necessary. This now-ubiquitous device is a go-to for making so many dishes now. So much easier than stovetop pressure cookers and doubles as a slow cooker and steamer too. Wish it had a bit more oomph when searing but you can't ask for everything. I like the 8 quart and even wish it was bigger.
ThermoWorks
Mk4
Stop guessing if your food is cooked properly. I use this every time I make protein. Pull steak at around 130-135 and chicken at 155.
Nesco
VS-12
I've had a bunch of different vacuum sealers now and none of them are great. This one is nice with it's double seal feature but I still have gripes about it. I don't like how difficult the tray is to clean and it is slow to heat when doing a bunch of bags in a row. Generally seals pretty well and hasn't broken yet!
OXO
11 Lb scale with pull out display
Looks like this is a newer model than what I have, but the pull-out display is great for when the bowl is too large and blocking the screen. Not quite sensitive enough for tiny amounts (sub teaspoons etc) but great for everything else.
All-Clad
Stainless steel 5 piece
I hate when measuring cups have bendy handles. These are little cutesy with their pot-handles but they're great. I wish they didn't have inside rivets that catch a spatula but they'll last forever.
Microplane
4-sided stainless professional box grater
I wish the smallest (microplane) side didn't slide off, but otherwise love this box grater. Super sharp and absolutely demolishes cheese or whatever else you throw at it.
Everie
12 Qt
This makes sous vide so much easier. No more plastic wrap or ping pong balls for long cooks — just slap the lid on and go. Also about as big as you could want for most things.
All-Clad
Rectangular Measuring Spoons
I love my Williams Sonoma rectangular measuring spoons. Same as for measuring cups, I hate when they bend and these fit into smaller mouth containers than normal round spoons.
Generic
Hand Juicer
Great for quickly squeezing lemons or limes without taking up a ton of space. Don't forget to put the cut side DOWN.
Classic zester
Awesome for quickly grating garlic, parm or ginger. Easy to clean (just don't go backwards with the sponge).
OXO
Super handy for their namesake task (flipping fish) but also can be used for random things like an impromptu strainer or flipping pancakes.
Kwizing
Tired of eating bones when preparing fish? Take a minute before you cook it to yank the bones out. Super easy with these tweezers and you can usually do 2 bones at a time.
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Years ago Mario Batali worked with Dansk to make the best wood and rubber spatula on the planet. Now they're impossible to find outside of eBay. Get something that feels good in your hand and has a firm (but not sticky) rubber head. And if you find more of the Batali/Dansk spatulas, please let me know.
Dalton-Ruhlman
Acacia Wood Paddle
Their store has been down since 2019 but you can still find some of these if you look hard enough. Or just buy something similar. Wood is a great tool choice in the kitchen as long as you take care of it. Having flat edges is incredible for scraping the bottoms of pots.
OXO
4-Cup angled measuring cup
Easy to see how much you've poured. Durable, simple to clean.