It’s a sad day indeed when your favorite kitchen tool bites the dust, be it a spatula handle that snaps, a nonstick pan’s coating that gets badly scratched, or a coffee maker that stops working one woeful morning.
We’ve all been there. And we also know what gear we’d immediately replace should it break—that is, products we use so often and that work so well there’s no not having them. Below, you’ll find 15 such items, all picked by Serious Eats staffers.
A couple of months ago, I very nearly snapped my beloved citrus juicer in half. Maybe I hulked out, maybe I had it for practically forever…but I immediately bought a new one. It’s the best citrus juicer you can get. Its hinged system squeezes every bit of juice out and its star-shaped perforations direct juice downward. — Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm, associate editorial director
This countertop toaster oven has changed my daily cooking routine for the better. It’s my daily driver for toasting bagels and comes in clutch on holidays when I’ve bitten off more than I can chew. It has a super convection function that cuts down on cooking time massively and also ensures crispy, golden-brown potatoes, roast chicken, and the occasional fish stick. Honestly, I use it more than I do my standard oven. If it kicked the bucket, I’d be adding a new one to my shopping cart faster than you can say “toast.” — Grace Kelly, editor
I use my ChefAlarm as my oven thermometer (it’s the most accurate!) and truly can’t function without it. I once thought I broke it and almost immediately purchased another one, but it turns out it just needed new batteries. Phew! — Genevieve Yam, culinary editor
I love freshly ground black pepper. I put it on everything—be it eggs, soups, or ice cream. (Yes, you read that correctly.) I recently upgraded from a so-so pepper grinder to our top pick, the Peugeot Paris pepper mill, and I don’t think I’ll ever want to use another pepper grinder. It looks great on my counter and the grinding action is very speedy. I also love that it produces a consistent grind based on the selected setting so I never have to bite into a too-large shard of pepper. If this ever breaks, I’m going straight to the kitchen goods store up the street to replace it. — An Uong, writer
How did I live for over three decades without a rice cooker? Now that I have one, I’m never going back to stovetop rice. It also cooks beans!!! — Rochelle Bilow, editor
I’m a zester through and through. I firmly believe almost everything, from risotto to seared salmon to a basic weeknight salad, is always better with a bit of citrus zest. I use my Microplane to zest daily. I also use it for grating garlic, ginger, and cheeses as well. It’s well used, well loved, and I can’t cook without it. — Leah Colins, senior culinary editor
I got this knife as a gift about five years ago and it quickly became my go-to for just about every chopping and slicing task in my kitchen. The knife is incredibly well balanced, the blade stays sharp with infrequent sharpening, and I like that it’s smaller than my other chef’s knives, so it’s easier to maneuver. — Megan O. Steintrager, associate editorial director
I’ve owned my Boardsmith end-grain cutting board for several years now and it shows not even the slightest sign of any kind of fatigue or failure. (Ahem, that’s why I recommend it so strongly despite its high price—in this case, you truly get what you pay for.) If mine were to finally meet its end, as unimaginable as that would be, I would whip out my phone and order a new one while staring at the board’s remains and wondering just how many thousands of onions I’d diced on it before this fateful day. — Daniel Gritzer, editorial director
Look, I know you’re dying to ask: Amanda, how would someone manage to break a pan? Truthfully, I don’t know but if anyone could manage to do it, it would be me and I would be devastated to go even a day without this. Many of my I-don’t-feel-like-feeding-myself-after-work-but-need-to-anyway meals involve noodles or pasta of some kind, so I would be lost without this pan. — Amanda Suarez, associate visuals director
I’m no one without my morning coffee (or at least no one you want to talk to). If something happened to my coffee maker, I would have no choice but to purchase another. My favorite is this Breville model. It has so many customization options, looks great, keeps coffee hot for a long time, and has a programmable setting. The latter is crucial when my husband goes to the office super early. — Riddley
I was once a swivel peeler gal (not by choice) and hence hated peeling. The Y-peeler from Kuhn Rikon changed everything, and now I’ll never deign to swivel peel my produce or parmesan again. It’s sharp and swift and peels the skin off potatoes, apples, and even hardy butternut squash without a hitch—literally. If mine broke or dulled, I’d be online buying a new one in a jiffy. — Grace
Before I worked at this very food website, I hated cooking chicken—I either wouldn’t cook it long enough, or I’d be so scared of cutting into pink flesh that I would overcook the chicken instead. All of that changed when I got my hands on this instant-read thermometer. It’s the easiest way to make sure I’m getting the temperature of my chicken—along with other meats—just right, and I truly don’t know how I survived without it! — Yasmine Maggio, associate editor
I was gifted this Hamilton Beach immersion blender (one of our favorites) nearly 10 years ago now and it’s something I reach for multiple times a week. Whether I’m blending soup or using the whisk attachment to make whipped cream, it’s just one of those kitchen tools I can’t imagine living without. I love that it comes with a mini chopper, which I often use to make just the perfect amount of pesto or salsa for my two-person household. — An
I agonized over this purchase for months, but it was worth it: I’ve owned—and loved—my Yamazaki dish rack for over four years, now. It’s been with me through three moves and countless meals. I frankly can’t imagine it ever breaking, but if it did I’d pay for next-day shipping. — Rochelle
I love looking at my knives! Why would you hide them away in a drawer? Or worse—gasp—a blade-dulling knife block? How do you grab your boning knife when you’re, say, wrist-deep breaking down a whole chicken without contaminating everything? My magnetic knife holder allows me to do just that. I can see all my gleaming knives, and grab what I need when I need it, and I never need to guess where the sharpest objects in my kitchen are. — Kelli Solomon, senior social media editor
Why We’re the Experts
- Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm is the associate editorial director for Serious Eats.
- She’s been with the site since 2021 and previously worked for America’s Test Kitchen and Food52.