At America’s Test Kitchen, we also test cookware in order to find the best quality products for home cooks. Shop our selection of recommended equipment below: we use these tools frequently in test kitchen recipes and we think you'll find them useful, too.
Onboard Holland America Line
Recommended Equipment
Equipment Must-Haves
-
Thermoworks Thermapen Mk4
Thermoworks Thermapen Mk4 is still the best instant-read thermometer on the market. It's dead accurate, fast, and so streamlined and simple that it's a breeze to use.
-
Victorinox Swiss Army Fibrox Pro 8" Chef's Knife
One chef’s knife has been a champ in our kitchen for nearly two decades. Can any other blade come close to offering what it does—and at a bargain price?
-
Nordic Ware Baker’s Half Sheet
A rimmed baking sheet is essential for sheet cakes and handy for cookies. But if yours is flimsy or you use it only for baking, you’re not getting your money’s worth.
-
OXO Good Grips 12-Inch Tongs
Which pair offers the best precision and comfort?
-
Cuisinart Custom 14 Food Processor
How much do you need to spend to get a machine that makes light work of chopping, slicing, shredding, and mixing?
-
Di Oro Living Seamless Silicone Spatula
A spatula should feel like an extension of your arm, nimbly stirring, scraping, and folding any food you put in its path. Why is a good one so hard to find?
-
Rubbermaid 13.5" High-Heat Scraper
This model can feel oversized, but the long handle offers good leverage in deep bowls and pots. The large, flat blade makes quick work of folding whipped egg whites, which would suffer from too much agitation. You may not use it every day, but it can’t be beat for certain tasks.
-
Cuisipro Stainless Steel 5-Piece Measuring Spoons
Small design elements make a big difference.
-
All-Clad Stainless 12-Quart Stock Pot
Do you have to spend big money for a big pot?
-
Vitamix 5200
We investigate the new crop of pricey blenders to see what you get—and whether it’s worth it—when the sky’s the limit.
-
BEST MID-PRICED BLENDER: Breville Fresh & Furious
From burnt-out motors to cracked pitchers and smoothies that aren’t smooth, most midpriced blenders are a bust. Luckily, we found one you can count on.
-
OXO Good Grips Triple Timer
Timing is everything—don’t use just anything.
-
Zyliss Stainless Steel Potato Masher
What makes a great potato masher?
-
RSVP International Potato Ricer
A ricer is a must-have tool for perfectly smooth and fluffy mashed potatoes.
-
Microplane Premium Classic Zester/Grater
We love the Microplane Classic, but it’s not the only rasp around anymore. Can any of the newcomers top our old favorite?
-
Cutting Board WINNER: Proteak Edge Grain Teak Cutting Board
We thought we’d picked a winner—until our favorite board warped after just a few years. This time we upped the ante: three months of test kitchen boot camp.
-
Cutting Board BEST BUY: OXO Good Grips Carving & Cutting Board
Our favorite bargain board sports rubber strips on both sides that keep its lightweight frame anchored to the counter—and make it reversible.
-
Dexter-Russell 6" Dough Cutter/Scraper—Sani-Safe Series
Bench scrapers aren't just for pastry—we use ours for a wide variety of kitchen tasks.
-
Chef’n FreshForce Citrus Juicer
Distinct from citrus presses that use small holes, this model features a star-like arrangement of large draining slots, which direct the juice in a steady stream with no splattering or overflowing.
-
Garlic Press
Sure, you can mince garlic with a knife, but a good garlic press makes the job faster and easier.
-
TOP-RATED FOR INDUCTION: T-Fal Professional Non-Stick Fry Pan
We demanded our contenders clear a slew of sticky hurdles. This one worked best on induction stovetops.
-
OXO Good Grips Non-Stick 12-inch Open Frypan
We demanded our contenders clear a slew of sticky hurdles. (Note: This item is not compatible with induction stovetops.)
-
Recipe Holder
With this clever device, you may never lose track of another recipe printout or card again.
