After living out of boxes for so long, I got pretty good at knowing what cooking tools I really needed versus all the other fluff. I figured I’d share some of my newfound knowledge, so I’ll be writing a series of posts that covers the core stuff you should have in your kitchen. This stuff will make cooking a lot more fun.

Let’s start out with the small stuff (a la, the hand tools):

• Swing-A-Way Heavy Duty Can Opener. Talk about a boring tool! I don’t own electric openers, since they take up space and really aren’t needed. Get yourself a big heavy duty Swing-A-Way manual opener. It works like a dream–it is not anything like those dollar store cheapie things. It’s easy to use because it has magical gears, which take all the strees out of opening a can. You can find these at Target and Walmart for about $9. I also own a really cool looking Rosle manual opener–it doesn’t pierce the can, but removes the entire lid top. I like it, but it does not work on small cans (ex. paste) and on some other cans. The Swing-A-Way will open anything, and can probably be run over by a truck in the process. (Note: They make two models, one larger than the other–get the larger one.) This is a simple little tool that will last forever–and it’s made in the USA.
  
• Microplane graters. This company originally made hand tools for woodworking and they make excellent graters. Get a ribbon/bigger one and one of the long skinny ones. They cost between $10 and $16 each. I use mine all the time and they are still razor sharp. They have nice big handles, too. Another excellent US product.
  
• Zyliss Susi Garlic Press. They make a jumbo model these days that will fit even the biggest cloves. I have a older model that I’ve been pressing garlic through for nearly 20 years. Sometimes a pain to clean, but always used. Solid aluminium and made in Switzerland. I also like some of their other tools, but the garlic press is the only must-have.
  
• Kuhn Rikon peelers. They make a line called the piranna–white with a red handle inserts–that are great. Razor sharp, they make peeling potatoes and carrots super easy. I’ve heard that OXO also makes a good peeler, but I prefer to give my money to the Swiss (sensing a theme here?). Kuhn Rikon makes a variety of kitchen tools and is an excellent brand. They make some kick-ass top-of-the-line pressure cookers.
  
• Stuff for moving food around: You need at least a decent ladle, wide spatula, and narrow spatula. I got a decent heavy plastic set from Target a while back. I also have metal, but rarely use them, since I cook most of my skillet stuff in non-stick. The key is a heavy tool that won’t bend under pressure. You also must have at least two solid wooden spoons.
• Waiter’s wine opener. I have a couple of fancy wine openers, which work fine, but I always forget how to use them, and they take up too much space. Instead I used the old fashioned waiter’s wine opener. I picked up an Italian one from the local grocery store for about $10. It opens every bottle every time without any tugging. Throw out those damn things with the crazy arms that go up and down. Get yourself a waiter’s opener and you are set for life. As a bonus, it opens bottles, too. A screw and a lever–basic mechanical concepts that work wonders.
  
• OXO Metal Tongs. I have two long ones and a short one. Get them. Use them. Love them. They also make one with a plastic tip, so you won’t scratch your non-stick pans. I just have the metal ones and try to be careful. They lock shut via a nice hanging hook, which is great, since a busy cook can lock them closed with his teeth.
  
• Measuring stuff. Get some decent metal measuring cups for dry stuff, a set of nice measuring spoons, and a pyrex 2 cup for liquids (this is getting very hard to find, so some reason). If you want to splurge get a WonderCup for sticky stuff (if you do a lot of baking). I’m having a heck of a time finding the pyrex measuring cups (mine are in storage somewhere), so I often make do with a little OXO 1/4 cup. It’s much easier to use for small amounts of liquids and has pretty much replaced my metal spoons (I only use the spoons for dry)
• Small metal wisk. Nothing fancy, but always useful for baking, eggs, and whatnot.
• Metal bowls. I got a couple of small (6 inch) stainless steel metal bowels from Meier a while back. I can’t believe I got along without them. They are super handy for combining ingredients, defrosting chicken (in water–I never microwave to defrost), and so on. My set was made in India and have taken a beating. Who thought that you could love a bowl? Well, maybe not love, but at least admiration and respect. Make sure to have at least 3 on hand.
• Speaking of my love for bowls, get yourself a set of Ziploc containers. I think they are called Twist and Lock and come in sets of 3. The 2 cup round ones that have the screw top. Make sure to get the screw top ones! They are harder to find, but are well worth it. Great for leftovers, plus they double as a 1 and 2 cup liquid measure. (Picture is of larger size. I use the Small more often.)
  

I’ve got a ton of other small hand tools in the kitchen, but the above are those that I use every day. I would be remiss however if I didn’t mention another sleek simple piece of engineering: The Zeroll Ice Cream spade. It’s shiny aluminium and filled with a “defrosting” liquid. I had their scoop in the past, but much prefer the spade design. Its thin wide tip is perfect for carving through the hardest ice cream. It’s one of those simple hand tools that feels good in your hand and works even better.

Update: When you start these kinds of lists you always forget something, and I forgot one of my favorite tools: The Design House Pickup Tongs. These are tongs that look just like chopsticks, held together with a spring loaded loop at the top. Hard to describe, but very useful. At first I was very skeptical about these, since they looked like they would fall apart. But they have held up very well and are extremely useful for turning small items and tossing stuff around. They are made of heat resistant plastic, so they are safe on non-stick pans.