15 Kitchen Items That Are Worth the Splurge, According to Chefs

Essential Kitchen Knives

Every home cook should have a durable, sharp set of kitchen knives. "As an executive chef, my knives are one of the most important tools I use," said Tracey Shepos Cenami, executive chef for La Crema and Kendall-Jackson in Sonoma, Calif. Regardless of your skill level, a good set of knives is a wonderful investment," she added. Sharp knives are safer than dull knives, and they allow you to work more quickly and efficiently in the kitchen. Whether you're prepping meat, vegetables, or fish, a sharp chef's knife with a well-balanced, ergonomic handle can keep your fingers safe and your hand, arm, and wrist supported.

Our Picks:

• Misen Essentials 3-Piece Knife Set

• Mac Knife Series 10-Inch French Chef's Knife
  

Sturdy Cutting Board

A heavy-duty cutting board provides a safe place to prep all of your ingredients. Skip the cheap or flimsy models that slip around the countertop. The best cutting boards are easy to clean—to help prevent cross-contamination—and they should have some sort of feature that keeps them securely on your countertop, such as silicone edges or rubber feet. 

Our Pick: Oxo Good Grips Carving and Cutting Board

Price at time of publish: $33

Prep Tools to Increase Efficiency

Shepos Cenami recommends having a few tools that can help make preparing ingredients in advance much quicker and easier. “While it may initially seem time consuming, I have found ingredient prepping to be incredibly efficient, especially if I’m cooking several dishes at once,” she says. "For home cooks, a mandoline slicer is a great tool to have at the ready for any vegetable prep.

A mandoline is an efficient way to make vegetable prep much quicker: it allows you to slice hearty vegetables—like potatoes, carrots, or radishes—in uniform cuts of varying thicknesses. 

Our Pick: Oxo Chef's Mandoline Slicer 2.0

Price at time of publish: $100

Microplane Zester

"I like to have a Microplane grater at the ready for zesting citrus—it can also be used for cheese, too," says Shepos Cenami. This handy (and inexpensive) tool is perfect for grating Parmigiano-Reggiano and other hard cheeses and can be used for finely grating whole nutmeg, fresh ginger, and chocolate.

Our Pick: Microplane Zester

Price at time of publish: $17

Heavy-Duty Cookware That Will Last for Generations

It's easy to forget that a beautiful dinner isn't just the sum of its ingredients. How those ingredients were prepared and in what type of vessel is also extremely important. Heavy-duty cookware is durable enough to cook a variety of different foods, and if you invest in quality options made from sustainable materials, you’ll be able to use them for years to come. Shepos Cenami recommends investing in cookware that's versatile enough to accomplish a variety of tasks.

Her two must-haves? A good cast-iron skillet and a heavy-duty Dutch oven. A Dutch oven can be used to sear, bake, braise, and fry all in one pot.

The best part? When you buy the right kind, both of these items are gorgeous to look at—which makes them an ideal centerpiece and serving vessel for any special dinner party. 

Our Pick: Le Creuset Oval Dutch Oven

Price at time of publish: $400

Cast-Iron Skillet

We've long been fans of the cast-iron skillet. It's a pan our food editors use every day. This workhorse gives you an unbeatable sear. It can also be used for baking cornbread or our favorite skillet cookie. And if you care for your cast-iron skillet, it will last a lifetime—or longer.

Our Pick: Smithey Cast Iron Skillet No. 12

Price at time of publish: $210

Nonstick Pans that Are Super Slick

Nonstick pans make easy work of cooking the stickiest foods—like eggs and delicate fish filets—because their slick surfaces make cooking and cleaning up a breeze. If you don't already have one, you don't know what you’re missing. Investing in a single pan (or a set) will save you so much time and frustration; we promise you’ll never cook an omelet in anything else. 

Our Pick: Zwilling Madura Plus Nonstick Pan

Price at time of publish: $80

A Versatile Stand Mixer That Does the Work for You

Whether you’re into baking, making fresh pasta, or grinding your own meat, a KitchenAid mixer is a worthy investment. It's one of the most versatile pieces of equipment for a home cook, and thanks to the brand's wide range of attachments, it's good for so much more than baking a cake or batch of cookies. KitchenAid mixers do have a heavy price tag, but they are versatile and durable—and when properly taken care of, they can last for generations. 

Our Pick: KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer

Price at time of publish: $450

The Right Linens

Any professional chef knows how important it is to keep yourself and your clothes protected when working with food. That's why investing in durable kitchen linens—like an apron, hand towels, and oven mitts—is a smart idea, especially if you entertain often. 

Our Picks:

• Hedley & Bennett Essential Apron
• Price at time of publish: $85

• Five Two Silicone Oven Mitts
• Price at time of publish: $25

• Hedley & Bennett Chef's Towels
• Price at time of publish: $25 for set of two

Top Notch Sea Salt

It might not be the first thing that comes to mind; investing a little extra money in high-quality salt can make all the difference to a finished dish. It's a simple ingredient that's an easy way to take anything you cook to the next level, and it is worth stocking in your pantry for everyday use. “My favorite cooking product is high quality, artisanal sea salt—it elevates every dish,” says Alain Verzeroli, culinary director at Michelin-starred Le Jardinier in New York.

Our Pick: Maldon Sea Salt Flakes
Price at time of publish: $7

Tasty Olive Oil

Like sea salt, extra-virgin olive oil is an ingredient chefs swear by and believe it's worth spending on. Use a lower-priced option for cooking and another as a finishing oil and to make vinaigrettes.

Our Picks:

• California Olive Ranch California Olive Oil Bag in a Box
• Price at time of publish: $43

• Canaan Palestine Organic Fair Trade Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Price at time of publish: $37

• Tourangelle Organic Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
• Price at time of publish: $22