The Best Single-Use Kitchen Tools, According to Chefs

"Most people search for kitchen tools that serve multiple purposes, and, honestly, same. I don't have a lot of counter or cabinet space, so I too love a workhorse. But some little gadgets are so good at what they do that it doesn't even matter if they can only perform one task. And the pro chefs agree! I chatted with a bunch of them to discover their favorite single-use kitchen tools and also praised two of my own favorites below."

""My favorite tool in the kitchen is Chef Bruce Hill's Chef's Press food weight. I love to use it for weighing down all kinds of things, especially while grilling and searing. It helps keep foods that are prone to curling, like fish skin and thin cuts of meat, in good contact with either the grill grates or the high-carbon pan, resulting in nice even cooking, perfectly crispy fish skin and beautiful grill marks." - Chris Thompson, executive chef and co-owner of The National"

""There's a Thai gadget that I cannot live without -we're still using it to cook sticky rice at all our restaurants. Sticky rice is deceptively simple, but this bamboo steamer is the only way to get the texture right - fluffy, elastic, never soggy. It's a single-purpose tool, but once you use it, there's no substitute." - Kitipoom "Nicky" Khanara, executive chef of Lalyn"

Home cooks often prefer multipurpose tools but keep single-purpose gadgets that excel at specific tasks. A tofu press efficiently removes moisture without mess, replacing makeshift weights and paper towels. A dedicated garlic mincer produces uniform small cubes and is easier to clean than classic presses that crush cloves. Chef Bruce Hill's Chef's Press food weight keeps delicate proteins flat against hot surfaces for even contact, crisp skin, and strong grill marks. A bamboo steamer yields sticky rice with the correct fluffy, elastic texture without sogginess. High-performing single-use tools can justify limited counter or cabinet space.

Read at InsideHook