This processor had a sharp blade with great coverage. It turned out crisply cut vegetables and nuts and fluffy parsley. Its strong motor blended hummus and pesto with minimal scraping, and its small feeding tube allowed us to slowly add oil for fantastic mayonnaise.
Our Favorite Tools When Cooking for One
Top-rated equipment from our reviews of gear for small-batch cooking
This extremely sturdy, warp-resistant baking sheet turned out evenly cooked and browned chicken, cauliflower, and focaccia. Its lightweight, compact size made it easy to maneuver into and out of the oven. Its size is ideal for preparing recipes that serve two and for kitchen tasks that require only a small amount of space, such as toasting a handful of nuts or a few tablespoons of sesame seeds.
Although it shifted around a bit in the our favorite small rimmed baking sheet, this affordable rack was strong and sturdy. It easily fit 12 cookies (a half-batch of many cookie recipes). Testers felt comfortable maneuvering the rack when it was loaded with 1¼ pounds of pork spareribs. The rack is also dishwasher-safe, which made cleanup easy.
Like its larger counterpart which fits our favorite rimmed baking sheet, this small rimmed baking sheet lid snapped on and off quickly and was easier to use than plastic wrap or aluminum foil. The lid kept sliced eggplant looking fresh in the refrigerator and sliced strawberries and bananas free of freezer damage. However, we wished the lid latched onto the baking sheet on all four sides, instead of two, as this felt less secure. The lid was also fairly durable. It bowed a bit when we stacked 10 pounds of food items on top of it, but not nearly enough to damage the lid. It snapped back into shape a couple hours later. More on this test
This pan has an excellent, durable nonstick surface that released everything we cooked in it with ease. The shape is ideal, with a broad cooking surface and gently flared sides that allowed us to move food around without spilling and easily flip eggs, steaks, and fish fillets. The simple brushed-metal handle stayed cool and was comfortable to hold, whether we were tossing cauliflower florets or tilting the pan to turn out a frittata. The pan scratched and dented lightly in our abuse tests, but we deemed it acceptable.
We loved this pan’s solid construction and slick nonstick surface. Scrambled eggs slid out of the pan without hesitation, steaks flipped easily, and the pan performed effortlessly as we moved it from the stovetop to the oven when making shepherd's pie. The actual cooking surface is only about 7 inches wide, so we had to be extra-careful when sautéing a skillet full of vegetables for shepherd’s pie; some pieces flew over the sides as we stirred. However, our scaled-down recipes for two people fit well in this pan, and we loved its long, sturdy handle.
We loved how deeply this pan browned foods: The steak had a dark crust and the fond made a flavorful pan sauce. It came preseasoned, but some scrambled eggs stuck to the surface, and we saw traces of black cast-iron seasoning on the crust of apple pie. (It’s worth noting that this pan will become more nonstick with use over time.) Plus, it requires seasoning after every use. However, these are minor quibbles. It’s a great pan at an excellent price, and it will last a lifetime.
This small saucepan performed very well, earning a place in our kitchen. It cooked evenly and steadily and survived our durability tests virtually unscathed. Its handle felt secure and comfortable in our hands and stayed cool throughout testing. It also cleaned up easily. We think it’d make a great addition to any cookware collection.
The heaviest, thickest ramekins in our lineup, these sturdy ceramic dishes didn’t slide around in a slippery baking dish and stayed perfectly still while we layered delicate berry pudding. Straight sides meant soufflés and puddings emerged picture-perfect, and thick walls provided gentle insulation, producing baked eggs with creamy whites and runny yolks. A bonus: They stack securely for easy storage.
This compact version of our top-rated salad spinner is a great choice for smaller households or for when you don’t want to use the full-size version for smaller quantities of greens or herbs. Its basket holds about 2.4 quarts compared to nearly 5 quarts in the larger model, but it performed on par with the full-size version, effectively and easily cleaning produce and spinning it dry, removing nearly all the water from salad greens. Because the basket is positioned on a small spike, holding it well above the bottom of the bowl, we were able to pour a full cup of water into the bowl before any reached the basket of greens, keeping runoff from rewetting food once the basket stopped spinning—unlike other spinners we’ve tested. We also found it easy to clean and dry this spinner, but a few small pieces of the lid broke and cracked after we deliberately dropped it from the kitchen counter to the floor as an abuse test. The damage was cosmetic, however, and it still operated as new. More on this test
This thin, lightweight plastic model was easy to hold and lift but was also stable on the counter thanks to its grippy rubber sides. It’s dishwasher-safe, and while it got a bit scratched by the end of testing, it was otherwise intact, resisting warping, cracking, or staining and retaining no odors. Testers liked cutting on its textured plastic surface and appreciated that one of its sides had a small trench for collecting juices from roasts or wet foods.
Coming in a variety of useful sizes that nest for compact storage, our winning set performed ably on almost every test. Its wide, shallow bowls were easy to hold, fill, empty, and clean. They can be used in the microwave and the oven. While the bowls in this set were the only ones to break when dropped, the heaviness of the glass with which they’re made makes it unlikely that they’ll easily fly off the counter.
The shorter version of our favorite 12-inch tongs, this model easily picked up foods of all shapes and sizes—from dainty blueberries to a hefty jar of salsa—and was extremely comfortable to operate. The uncoated, scalloped stainless-steel tips allowed us a precise grip, making it especially easy to lift and arrange thinly sliced fruit, and the tongs' locking mechanism was smooth and intuitive.
Our longtime inexpensive favorite remains a pleasure to use. With a sharp, gently curved blade, it effortlessly dispatched every task we set before it, mincing garlic precisely and breaking down chicken and dense butternut squash with authority. Its light weight and rounded spine made it easy to wield for long periods, and its textured plastic handle was comfortable to grip for hands of all sizes.
We loved using this diminutive whisk, which performed every task quickly and efficiently, thanks to the five sturdy wire loops in its relatively broad head. And with a thick, medium-length handle, it was easy to grip. The handle itself was made from smooth metal that was completely sealed off where the loops connected, so it was particularly easy to clean.