11 Kitchen Tools from Amazon to Help You Cook Like a Pro

The right tools can make a difference for even the most professional chef. Sure, all of us food writer types like to wax poetic about how all you need is a good chef's knife to make a delicious meal. But let's be honest: we need more than that. It all starts with the right tools. A timeless piece that will stand the test of time (and countless meals) while improving your cooking skills. Since you're already here, you're probably familiar with how to use the kitchen. If you're looking for a modern or proven level-up, we've found some favorites on Amazon that will take even the most seasoned home cook to new heights.

Next level kitchen tools available on Amazon:

• Merten & Storck Carbon Steel Frying Pan, $45 (originally $50)
• OXO Kitchen and Herb Scissors, $20
• Mac Knife 8-Inch Hollow Edge Chef Knife, $145
• Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker, $105 (originally $219)
• Nesco VS-12 Vacuum Sealer, $103 (originally $140)
• Breville Control Grip Immersion Blender, $130.
• OXO Glass Salad Spinner, $64
• Microplane Premium Zester, $17
• Mueller Austria Mandolin, $28 with coupon (originally $50)
• Escali Primo Digital Food Scale, $25
• Dough-Joe Samurai Baking Sheet, $92

Merten & Stock Carbon Steel Frying Pan

You probably already own a good stainless steel or cast iron skillet. If you haven't added a carbon steel pan to your cookware lineup, we recommend the Merten & Storck Carbon Steel Pan. Unmatched affordability and exceptional performance earned it the highest score in the carbon steel pan test. It's lightweight, so you can easily grill chicken thighs, chewy skillet cookies, and more without getting stuck.

OXO kitchen scissors and herb scissors

Every kitchen needs a good pair of scissors. These OXO kitchen shears have powerful features at an affordable price. It's lightweight and sharp, making it easy to tackle everything from perfect roast chicken and vegetables to delicate herbs. The serrated blade provides a firm grip on slippery foods, and the wide handle provides a comfortable, controlled hold for more difficult tasks. The cushioned handle also quickly absorbs pressure for the inevitable encounter with cartilage or rogue bone. The design makes it easy to clean, especially after cutting meat.

Mac Knife 8 inch hollow edge chef knife

The Mac Knife 8-Inch Hollow Blade Chef Knife beat out the competition and earned the title of Best Overall in our rigorous Japanese knife and chef knife tests. This Japanese beauty has the perfect balance of strength and delicacy. Food & Wine Editor-in-Chief Hunter Lewis praises the “very balanced and great feel” thanks to the perfect weight distribution between the sturdy blade and comfortable Pakkawood handle. This design fits like a glove even on larger hands, ensuring sure control during every chop and slice.

Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker

The Anova Culinary Wi-Fi Immersion Circulator conquered ease of use and cooking accuracy in our tests, taking the top spot as our favorite sous vide cooker. This compact, powerful device unleashes the magic of sous vide cooking for beginners and experienced chefs alike. This Anova model of his boasts perfect temperature control, cooking food to perfect doneness every time. It's easy to set up and there's no fear for newcomers to the world of sous vide cooking. What's more, the included app offers guided recipes and tutorials for your convenience, but you can also cook independently using the onboard controls.

Nesco VS-12 Vacuum Sealer

Vacuum sealing is one of the easiest and best ways to preserve food. The Nesco VS-12 Deluxe Vacuum Sealer is our first choice, offering easy-to-use versatility for experienced vacuum sealers and beginners alike. This sleek countertop model doesn't take up much of your kitchen counter and features an intuitive button panel for easy operation. We were particularly impressed by Nesco's delicate touch. In our tests, the bag of Chex Mix sealed perfectly and maintained the integrity of the cereal without crushing a single piece. This gentle approach makes it ideal for delicate items like pastries and fruit, but also for sous vide projects.

Breville Control Grip Immersion Blender

A good immersion blender will save you time and energy. For us, the Breville immersion blender is a winner and passed every test. Unlike other products, it even overcomes stubborn chia seeds in smoothies and crushes them in 2 minutes. Sure, the powerful motor makes it a little noisy at the highest settings, but you get unparalleled performance in return. Velvety smooth soups, record-fast smoothies, and easily emulsified mayonnaise are just a few of the great flavors.

OXO glass salad spinner

Forget flimsy plastic or opaque stainless steel salad bowls. This spinner features a sleek, clear glass bowl that doubles as a beautiful serving dish. OXO's glass salad spinner attracted attention for its elegant combination of practicality and beauty. Witness the transformation from grainy kale greens to vibrant salad as you watch the vegetables clear through the transparent bowl in real time. OXO's signature push-button spinner operates smoothly and efficiently removes excess water for crisp, restaurant-quality salads. A clever integrated plastic disc keeps the spinner above the water surface, ensuring your leafy greens stay dry.

microplane premium zester

Microplane's premium Classic Zester is the choice of home cooks and culinary professionals alike. This lightweight champion tackles everything from peeling lemons to grating hard cheese with incredible ease. The secret lies in the surgical-grade stainless steel blade, which is meticulously crafted with proper tooth angles. During testing, they easily overcame citrus peel without scraping out the bitter pith, and even grated garlic, ginger, or spices to enhance the aromatic flavor.

muller austrian mandolin

Your knife skills may be top-notch, but a mandolin will help you achieve even slices quickly. Mueller His multi-bladed mandolin is a chameleon in the kitchen, seamlessly transitioning from countertop companion to handheld helper. Unfold the sturdy stand for consistent slicing sessions, or keep it compact and place it over a bowl for easy direct filling. This dual-purpose dynamo features five interchangeable blades, from julienne master to coarse shredder. With just a twist of the knob, you can create paper-thin potato slices or thick vegetable batons. When you hold the mandolin, it feels stable and the base will not wobble on the countertop. The stand's ergonomic handle gives you even more control so you can cut with confidence every time.

Escali Primo Digital Food Scale

Escali precision scales strike a harmonious balance between functionality and convenience. The lightweight yet durable design makes it easy to handle heavy ingredients like flour and sugar, while the sleek all-plastic exterior makes for quick cleanup. Wiping up spills and flour dust is easy and requires no messy soap or water.

Dough-Joe The Samurai Baking Sheet

Baking Steel is your ticket to culinary stardom, from the pizzeria's perfect pizza to crispy bread and golden flatbread. Dough-Joe Samurai Steel redefines baking perfection with unmatched heat retention and consistent performance, saying goodbye to hot spots and undercooked spots. Forget about unevenly cooked pizza and soggy dough. This steel provides a restaurant-quality finish in your home oven.