Be real: those kitchen drawers are packed with gadgets you once believed would revolutionize your routine, but they've barely seen the light of day since. The specialized choppers, quirky holders and one-trick tools aren't elevating your skills -- they're just creating clutter.
What actually deserves a permanent spot in your kitchen? I consulted with professional chefs, and they all agree: focus on fundamentals and forget the drawer stuffed with unitaskers and gimmicks.
While some kitchen gadgets are indispensable and others, chefs say, are severely underrated, many just aren't worth the space they take up. A quality knife, a solid cutting board and a dependable pans are the most important pieces of cooking equipment.
To separate the essential from the superfluous or downright useless, I asked culinary pros to share the tools they swear by and the gadgets they'd skip. Their advice will help you avoid falling for flashy products and instead invest in items that you'll reach for every single day.
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Masaharu Morimoto
Celebrity chef, restaurateur
Masaharu Morimoto shared his pick for the most overrated kitchen tool. Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images
1. Mandolin
Chef Morimoto encourages beefing up your knife skills to make thin and uniform vegetable slices. Milk Street
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