I love kitchen gadgets. From measuring cups/spoons, chopsticks and skewers, to hand-held can openers, apple corers and corn-on-the-cob holders, I have drawers full of them. I was thinking about the ones I use most and the ones I must have, and came up with my top-5 favs.

No. 5. Meat thermometers

My oven is so screwed up that I can’t depend on time guidelines in recipes. And when it come to cooking a  chicken, turkey or standing rib roast, using a thermometer makes my life much easier (and tastier!) Now if they could just make one I can read without glasses!

 No. 4. Graters

Cheese rules. It’s in the top three of my favorite foods (bacon and tomatoes are the other two). I prefer buying blocks of cheese instead of the already shredded versions, because it’s fresher, and I don’t always need shredded.

I also use graters to prepare potatoes for hash browns or casseroles. Occasionally I will grate carrots for a salad -same with cabbage. But I mainly use graters for cheese.

 No. 3. Garlic press

 This gadget could easily be No.1 for me. I love fresh garlic (I will use the jarred stuff in a pinch – usually when traveling). I’ve also used my garlic press to mince small amounts of onions, usually for bread-machine recipes.

My best friend loves slicing her garlic by hand. Bless her. And that’s why this gadget isn’t No.1. I guess I could mince it by hand if I had to. Or else have her come and do it for me 🙂

 No. 2. Pepper and salt grinders

Pepper is just so much better freshly ground. Right now I  have three peppermills that I’m using – one for pure black peppercorns, one for white peppercorns and one for multi corns. My current salt mills are for sea salt and a rosemary-spiked salt.

 No. 1. Great knives/scissors

Let’s face it – bad knives suck. Good knives fit your hand well, are sturdy, sharp and have some heft, and should be forged. Always wash them by hand. Do not skimp in this area – great knives will definitely give you a strong ROI.

My dad sold Cutco knives in 1950s when he was in college. I still have some of them and they continue to do the job, 50+ years later. Brad bought me a set of Henkels that are awesome, and I recently bought a Wusthof bread knife that rocks. You do get what you pay for.

There is nothing more cathartic than chopping up stuff – onions, green/red peppers, celery, etc. You get the idea. Great, sharp, knives are my top tools in the kitchen. My favorite knives are the serrated ones, cleavers and my bread knife.

My kitchen scissors are great for all sorts of things, especially for cutting herbs, such as rosemary, chives, cilantro, parsley, etc., most of which I grow in my limited garden. My favorite kitchen scissors – the ones that are off limits to the kids and husband – are made by Wusthof and easily come apart for effortless cleaning.

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So that’s my list – what would you add?