Having the right tools to slice, roast, simmer and serve your next recipe is key. Make dinner with cookware that heats unevenly or a knife with bad balance and you're already behind. Nobody knows the importance of reliable kitchen hardware better than career chefs, and these culinary pros can spot a gimmick from a mile away.
So then, which tools and gadgets deserve a spot in your cupboards and drawers? I asked a handful of professional chefs, and they didn't hold back. A common thread among these kitchen masters is their favor for basics -- prioritizing classic multipurpose kitchen tools over one-trick ponies.
Consider herb strippers or meat shredders: the job these tools are designed to do can be accomplished just as well, or better, with a staple kitchen tool you already have.
While some kitchen gadgets are underrated, many are simply not worth the space they occupy. 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.
Don't miss any of CNET's unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add us as a preferred Google source on Chrome.
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
... continue reading