When it comes to choosing kitchen gadgets, we recommend following one simple rule: No matter how small the job, bring home only well–designed items of quality that will stand up to daily use and that will add joy to your cooking.

Tools of the Trade

At Crate and Barrel, we approach equipping the kitchen drawer the way we would a hardworking tool kit. Our swivel peeler must have a comfortable, ergonomic handle for better leverage. The garlic press must mince with one effortless squeeze. We choose wood cutting boards in maple, walnut or sustainable bamboo that are rock hard to take a good chop, yet beautiful enough to serve on. And long before they became popular on the food networks, we discovered the Microplane® grater—the ingenious idea of a woodworker whose wife borrowed his wood planer to grate hard cheeses and chocolate. Multiply our nit–picky approach across salad spinners, measuring spoons, silicone spatulas and so forth…and suddenly your choices become not only easier, but ones you can trust.

Must–Have Gadgets

Every kitchen should be stocked with these favorite essentials. The more you cook, the more you'll discover our other great tools of the trade to add to your collection.