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You can certainly get soup from pot to bowl without a ladle, but it’s amazing how much easier (and neater) the task is with one in hand. That’s the case with most kitchen gadgets. In general, having the right tools can make cooking more efficient and enjoyable.

Cooking Utensils and Gadgets Checklist
Here are some of the most helpful tools for cooking, including substitutions where possible.

• Bottle/can opener
• Colander: Use this perforated bowl-shape utensil to rinse food or to drain liquids from solid food.
  • When solids are fine, use a fine-mesh sieve.
• Cutting boards: Stock up on two.
  • Reserve one solely for raw meat, poultry, fish, and shellfish, and the other for ready-to-eat foods.
• Egg separator: Use to separate egg yolks from whites.
  Separating eggs by passing the yolk from shell to shell can spread any harmful bacteria that may be present.
• Fork- long handled: Use when carving or moving large pieces of food, such as roasts.
• Funnel: Helps avoid spills when pouring an ingredient from one container to another.
• Grater: This metal tool generally has a surface punched with small, sharp-edged holes or slits that are used to break foods into smaller pieces.
  • Those with large holes are sometimes called shredders, while those with the largest holes are sometimes called slicers.
  • Box graters have different-size holes or slits on each side. The size of the holes or slits determines the task for which the grater is best suited. The smaller the holes or slits, the finer the resulting food pieces.
• Kitchen shears: Use for snipping everything from fresh herbs to kitchen string.
• Ladle: In a pinch, substitute a heatproof cup.
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Mixing bowls: For most cooks, a set of four mixing bowls in the following sizes will suffice: small (1-quart), medium (1½-quart), large (2½-quart), and extra-large
• Pastry blender: For cutting fat (such as shortening) into flour to make baked goods. If you don’t have one, use two knives in a crisscross motion.
• Pastry brush: Use for brushing glazes over baked goods and for greasing pans.
• Pepper grinder: Use when you desire the more flavorful freshly ground pepper.
• Rolling pin: A clean, heavy bottle with smooth sides can be used instead.
• Rubber scraper: Use these utensils, also known as rubber spatulas, for scraping batter from a bowl and for folding ingredients together.
• Sieves: Use these circular wire-mesh utensils, also called strainers, to separate small particles from large ones. Stock up on one large and one small.
• Sifter: If you don’t have one, pour flour or powdered sugar into a sieve set over a bowl, then stir it to force the grains through the wire mesh.
• Skewers: These thin, pointed sticks are made of metal or wood and are used to hold pieces of meat, fruit, and vegetables.
  • To use wooden skewers for grilling or broiling, be sure to first soak them in water for at least 30 minutes to prevent them from burning.
• Slotted spoon, long-handled: Useful for removing solids from liquid mixtures.
• Spatulas: These flat utensils can be made of metal, rubber, plastic, and wood. A metal turner- type spatula is used for flipping foods; a narrow, flexible metal spatula works well for spreading.
  • Rubber or plastic spatulas also are called rubber scrapers
  • When using a spatula for cooking on the range top, make sure the one you use is heatproof; metal or silicone is a good choice.
• Spoon, long-handled: These work well for stirring large volumes.
• Thermometers: Click here.
• Timer: A digital timer can help you time cooking steps to the second.
• Tongs (metal or with nylon grippers): Use to lift and turn foods.
• Vegetable brush: Useful for scrubbing fruits and vegetables when skins will not be removed.
• Vegetable peeler: Essential for peeling vegetables; in a pinch, peel skins with a paring knife.
• Wire cooling rack: Allows air to circulate around baked goods to cool them quickly and keep them from getting soggy.
• Wire whisks: These come in handy for beating eggs and other ingredients.
  • They also can help you smooth out lumpy sauces.
• Wooden spoons (assorted sizes): These sturdy tools are useful for stirring thick dough and batter. Because wooden handles stay cool longer than metal handles, they are a good choice for stirring mixture while they heat.

Other Useful Gadgets
These tools are not essential for everyday cooking, but the more you cook, the more you’ll enjoy having them on hand.

• Cheese slicer
• Citrus juicer/reamer
• Citrus zester
• Meat mallet
• Mortar and pestle
• Parchment paper
• Pastry bag with tips
• Pizza cutter
• Pizza stone
• Potato masher
• Salad spinner
• Corkscrew: With many models available, choose the type you’re comfortable using.
• Food mill: If you don’t have one, force food through a strainer set over a bowl or pan.