Buying Guide Shopping for Equipment
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KITCHEN EQUIPMENT BUYING GUIDE Shopping For Equipment With a well-stocked kitchen, you’ll be able to take on any recipe. But there’s so much equipment out there on the mar- ket, how do you figure out what’s what? Price often correlates with design, not performance. Over the years, our test kitchen has evaluated thousands of products. We’ve gone through copious rounds of testing and have identified the most important attributes in every piece of equipment, so when you go shopping you’ll know what to look for. And because our test kitchen accepts no support from product manufacturers, you can trust our ratings. Prices in this chart are based on shopping at online retailers and will vary. See AmericasTestKitchen.com for updates to these testings. KNIVES AND MORE ITEM WHAT TO LOOK FOR TEST KITCHEN FAVORITES Chef’s Knife • High-carbon stainless steel knife Victorinox Fibrox 8-Inch • Thin, curved 8-inch blade Chef’s Knife (formerly • Lightweight Victorinox Forschner) • Comfortable grip and nonslip $39.95 handle PARING KNIFE • 3- to 31/2-inch blade Wüsthof Classic with PEtec • Thin, slightly curved blade 31/2-Inch Paring Knife with pointed tip (model #4066) • Comfortable grip $39.95 Best Buy: Victorinox Fibrox 31/4-inch Paring Knife $4.95 SerraTed KniFe • 10- to 12-inch blade Wüsthof Classic MUST-HAVE ITEMS MUST-HAVE • Long, somewhat flexible, slightly 10-Inch Bread Knife curved blade $89.95 • Pointed serrations that are uniformly spaced and moderately sized Best Buy: Victorinox Fibrox 101/4-Inch Bread Knife $24.95 SLiCing KniFe • Tapered 12-inch blade for slicing Victorinox Fibrox 12-Inch large cuts of meat Granton Edge Slicing Knife • Oval scallops (called a granton $49.95 edge) carved into blade • Fairly rigid blade with rounded tip STeaK KniVeS • Super-sharp, straight-edged blade Victorinox Rosewood Straight • Sturdy, not wobbly, blade Edge Steak Knife Set (model #46059) $169.99 for a set of six Best Buy: Chicago Cutlery 4-Piece Walnut Tradition Steak Knife Set $23.99 for a set of four KNIVES AND MORE ITEM WHAT TO LOOK FOR TEST KITCHEN FAVORITES SanTOKu KniFe • 61/2-inch blade MAC Superior 61/2-Inch • narrow, curved, and short blade Santoku Knife • Comfortable grip $74.95 BOning KniFe • 6-inch blade Victorinox Fibrox 6-Inch • narrow, highly maneuverable and Straight Boning Knife razor-sharp blade (Flexible) • Comfortable grip and nonslip $19.95 handle MeaT CLeaVer • razor-sharp blade Global 6-Inch Meat Cleaver • Balanced weight between handle $144.95 and blade • Comfortable grip Best Buy: LamsonSharp 71/4-Inch Meat Cleaver $48 HyBrid CHeF’s • High-carbon stainless steel knife Masamoto VG Gyutou, KNIFE • Lightweight 8.2 Inches • Thin blade that tapers from spine $162.50 to cutting edge and from handle to tip eLeCTriC KniFe • Comfortable handle Oster Electric Knife Set • Slices turkey skin without ripping and $19.99 baked goods without crumbling MandOLine • razor-sharp blade(s) Swissmar Börner Original • Hand guard to shield fingers V-Slicer Plus Mandoline • gripper prongs to grasp food $29.99 • Measurement-marked dial for precision cuts Best Buy: Kyocera Adjustable • Storage for extra blades Ceramic Mandoline Slicer $26.96 CARVING • Heavy, sturdy board Williams-Sonoma Medium BOard • deep, wide trench to trap juices Maple Reversible Carving • Central well to hold meat snugly Board $58 KNIVES AND MORE ITEM WHAT TO LOOK FOR TEST KITCHEN FAVORITES CuTTing • Roomy work surface at least 20 by Proteak Edge Grain Teak BOard 15 inches Cutting Board • Teak board for minimal $84.99 maintenance • durable edge-grain construction Best Buy: OXO Good Grips (wood grain runs parallel to surface Carving and Cutting Board MUST-HAVE ITEM MUST-HAVE of board) $21.99 innOVaTiVe • Sturdy, sink spanning bamboo Island Bamboo CuTTing board Over-the-Sink Cutting Board BOard • Collapsible colander for easy with Colander multitasking $39.99 KNIFE • diamond sharpening material electric: Chef’sChoice Model SHARPENER for electric sharpeners 130 Professional • easy to use and comfortable Sharpening Station • Clear instructions $139.95 Manual: AccuSharp Knife MUST-HAVE ITEM MUST-HAVE and Tool Sharpener $7.99 POTS AND PANS ITEM WHAT TO LOOK FOR TEST KITCHEN FAVORITES TradiTiOnal • Stainless steel interior and fully clad All-Clad Stainless 12-Inch SKiLLeT for even heat distribution Frypan • 12-inch diameter and flared sides $135 • Comfortable, ovensafe handle • Cooking surface of at least 9 inches • good to have smaller (8- or 10-inch) MUST-HAVE ITEM MUST-HAVE skillets too INEXPENSIVE • Fully clad with stainless steel interior Emeril Pro-Clad Stainless SKiLLeT for even heat distribution Steel Tri-Ply 12-Inch Fry Pan • 12-inch diameter and flared sides $34.99 • Comfortable, ovensafe handle • Cooking surface of at least 9 inches nOnSTick • dark, nonstick surface T-Fal Professional Total SKiLLeTS • 12- or 121/2-inch diameter, thick Non-Stick 121/2-Inch Fry Pan bottom $34.99 • Comfortable, ovensafe handle • Cooking surface of at least 9 inches MUST-HAVE ITEM MUST-HAVE • good to have smaller (8- or 10-inch) skillets too POTS AND PANS ITEM WHAT TO LOOK FOR TEST KITCHEN FAVORITES CaST-irOn • Thick bottom and straight sides Lodge 12-Inch Skillet SKiLLeT • roomy interior (cooking surface of $33.95 9¼ inches or more) • Preseasoned eCO-FriendLy • PFOa-free (perfluorooctanoic acid) Scanpan Professional SKiLLeT surfaces are nonstick and more 121/2-Inch Fry Pan durable than silicone coatings $129.95 • roomy interior (cooking surface of 9 inches or more) nOTe: We prefer our favorite nonstick skillet for its superior performance. duTCH OVen • enameled cast iron or stainless steel Le Creuset 71/4-Quart Round • Capacity of at least 6 quarts French Oven • diameter of at least 9 inches $304.95 • Tight-fitting lid • Wide, sturdy handles All-Clad Stainless 8-Quart Stockpot $279.95 Best Buy: Lodge Color Enamel 6-Quart Dutch Oven $49.97 SauCePanS • Large saucepan with 3- to 4-quart Large: All-Clad Stain less capacity and small nonstick 4-Quart Saucepan with Lid saucepan with 2- to 21/2-quart and Loop capacity $224.95 • Tight-fitting lids • Pans with rounded corners that Best Buy: Cuisinart MultiClad MUST-HAVE ITEMS MUST-HAVE a whisk can reach into Unlimited 4-Quart Saucepan • Long, comfortable handles that are $69.99 angled for even weight distribution Small: Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick 21/2-Quart Shallow Saucepan $39.95 riMMed • Light-colored surface (heats and Wear-Ever 13-Gauge Half BaKing SHeeTS browns evenly) Size Heavy Duty Sheet Pan • Thick, sturdy pan by Vollrath (formerly Lincoln • dimensions of 18 by 13 inches Foodservice) • good to have at least two $14.99 POTS AND PANS ITEM WHAT TO LOOK FOR TEST KITCHEN FAVORITES SauTé Pan • aluminum core surrounded by Viking Stainless 7-Ply 3-Quart layers of stainless steel Sauté Pan • Hefty but well-balanced pan $219.95 • 91/2- to 10-inch diameter • Helper handle and tight-fitting lid Best Buy: Cuisinart MultiClad Pro Triple-Ply 31/2-Quart Sauté Pan with Lid $79.95 OMeLeT Pan • gently sloped sides for easy turning Original French Chef 8-Inch and rolling of omelets Black Nonstick Omelette Pan • nonstick finish $139.95 • Heavy construction for durability and even heat distribution • 8-inch size for French omelets STOCKPOT • 12-quart capacity All-Clad Stainless 12-Quart • Thick bottom to prevent scorching Stock Pot • Wide body for easy cleaning and $389.95 storage • Flat or round handles that extend at Best Buy: Cuisinart Chef’s least 13/4 inches Classic Stainless 12-Quart Stock Pot $69.99 rOaSTing Pan • at least 15 by 11 inches Calphalon Contemporary • Stainless steel interior with aluminum Stainless Roasting Pan with core for even heat distribution V-Rack • upright handles for easy gripping $99.99 • Light interior for better food MUST-HAVE ITEM MUST-HAVE monitoring V-raCK • Fixed, not adjustable, to provide All-Clad Nonstick sturdiness Roasting Rack • Tall, vertical handles positioned on $24.95 long side of rack POTS AND PANS ITEM WHAT TO LOOK FOR TEST KITCHEN FAVORITES COOKWare SeT • Fully clad stainless steel with All-Clad Stainless Steel aluminum core for even heat 10-Piece Cookware Set distribution $799.95 • Moderately heavy, durable construction Best Buy: Tramontina 18/10 • Lids included Stainless Steel TriPly-Clad • ideal mix of pans includes 12-inch 8-Piece Cookware Set skillet, 10-inch skillet, 2-quart $144.97 saucepan, 4-quart saucepan, 8-quart stockpot HANDY TOOLS ITEM WHAT TO LOOK FOR TEST KITCHEN FAVORITES KiTCHen • Take-apart scissors (for easy cleaning) Kershaw 1120M TaskMaster SHEARS • Super-sharp blades Kitchen Shears • Sturdy construction $49.95 • Work for both right- and left-handed users Best Buy: J. A. Henckels International Kitchen Shears—Take Apart $14.95 TOngS • Scalloped edges OXO Good Grips 12-Inch • Slightly concave pincers Locking Tongs • Length of 12 inches (to keep $12.95 your hand far from the heat) • Open and close easily MUST-HAVE ITEMS MUST-HAVE WOOden • Slim yet broad bowl SCI Bamboo Wood Cooking SPOOn • Stain-resistant bamboo Spoon • Comfortable handle $2.40 SLOTTed • deep bowl OXO Good Grips Nylon SPOOn • Long handle Slotted Spoon • enough holes for quick draining $6.99 BaSTing • Thin, shallow bowl Rösle Basting Spoon SPOOn • Handle at least 9 inches in length with Hook Handle • Slight dip from handle to bowl $28.95 aLL-arOund • Head about 3 inches wide and Metal: Wüsthof Gourmet Fish SPaTuLaS 51/2 inches long Spatula • 11 inches in length (tip to handle) $44.95 • Long, vertical slots • Good to have a metal spatula to Plastic: Matfer Bourgeat use with traditional cookware and Pelton Spatula MUST-HAVE