THE TEST KITCHEN’S TOP FIVE ESSENTIAL KITCHEN TOOLS

Face it: Americans are crazy about gadgets. Since the time of Benjamin Franklin, we have valued the ingenuity of the inventor who designs a simple tool that makes the execution of an everyday task easier. But as anyone who watches late-night television knows, America’s love of the gadget can—and does—go too far at times. No one needs a syringe to inject marinades into meat.

So how do you know which gadgets work and which ones don’t? That’s where we can help. Here’s our list of five gadgets you might not own, but really should. (See “SHOPPING FOR EQUIPMENT” for recommended brands.)

1. DIGITAL INSTANT-READ THERMOMETER: How else do you know when food is done? And, because it’s digital, it works in seconds so your hands don’t tarry in hot spots like the oven or grill.

2. LOCKING TONGS: Don’t use a fork. Sturdy, long-handled tongs (with scalloped edges that won’t pierce food) can turn, flip, rotate, stir, and more.

3. GARLIC PRESS: Stop kidding yourself. You’re never going to mince garlic finely and evenly enough. A garlic press ensures consistent (and perfect) results every time.

4. OVEN THERMOMETER: News flash—your oven probably isn’t properly calibrated. How do we know? We tested 20 home ovens and only a handful came close. You could pay big bucks to get your oven serviced by a professional or spend a few dollars on an oven thermometer so cookies don’t burn and roasts are perfectly cooked.

5. KNIFE SHARPENER: Using dull knives is slow and unsafe. You wouldn’t drive a car with nearly flat tires, would you? A fancy electric sharpener is nice, but even a good (and cheap) manual sharpener is far better than nothing.