Tools that the pros can’t cook without

Kitchen gadgets and appliances are always changing, with home kitchens the target for the vast majority of them. Have you ever wondered which (if any) of these tools chefs actually find useful or even indispensable? Gear Patrol has your answer – they recently surveyed chefs to find out the kitchen equipment they turn to over and over againn.

As you might expect, some of the tools are not ones that most home cooks would consider purchasing. Take Chicago chef Rick Ortiz’s favorite, the Caja China. It is a large outdoor roasting oven that uses coal placed above the meat for cooking. Says Ortiz, “It is great for cooking for family and friends in your backyard or at outdoor events.” Then there is the Minipack vacuum sealer, which will set you back a cool $2,000 USD. Not very practical for the home cook.

Some of the items are a bit more down to earth, like Hedley & Bennett Aprons. Yes, they are expensive for an apron but they are both durable and practical. Durability is a recurring theme, with one chef singing the praises of the Vollrath heavy duty mixing bowls. Due to their sturdy construction, they make great double boilers, says chef Craig Koketsu.