Best overall12-inch cast-iron skillet
9.8/10Sears salmon, bakes cornbread and lasts forever.
KITCHEN TOOLS
The tools in our test kitchen, bought with our own money and used every day.
Best overall
Most used8-inch chef’s knife
9.6/10The one knife you need for 90 percent of prep.
Best for bread5.5-quart Dutch oven
9.6/10Our sourdough pot, and the best braising pot we have used.
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Kind to knivesEnd-grain walnut cutting board
9.4/10Big enough for a whole chicken, gentle on blades.
- Self-healing surface
- Non-slip feet
- Needs oiling monthly
Best giftOlive-wood spoon set
9.2/10Three spoons that last a lifetime and look good on the counter.
- Won’t scratch pans
- Beautiful grain
- Hand-wash only
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HOW WE CHOOSE
We pay for them
Nothing on this page was sent to us for free.
Six months of use
A tool earns its spot after half a year of daily cooking.
Built to last
We favor tools you buy once and keep for decades.
Every budget
Where a cheaper version works, we say so.
QUESTIONS
A real site would earn a small commission on some links. It never changes what we recommend.
Was this helpful?
A good chef’s knife and a large cutting board. Everything else can wait.
Was this helpful?
No — wash, dry on the stove and wipe with a drop of oil. Five minutes, tops.
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Salt & Supper is a fictional food blog. Product names, prices and links on this page are examples. As an affiliate, a real site may earn from qualifying purchases.
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