The Cook’s Kitchen

Alton Brown, host of the popular FoodTV Network show, Good Eats, unveiled his list of 5 Essential Kitchen Gadgets in a recent issue of Oprah’s O magazine. As he said, “I have a small kitchen, so every piece has to audition constantly.”

Chef’s Choice Electric Kettle: “This hot pot takes any liquid to a boil and keeps it warm for a long time. It’s perfect for recipes requiring hot liquid - I use it to fill a double boiler or to heat broth and wine for risotto.

Shun Angled Knives by Kershaw - “I wanted a knife that was easy to use in the middle of a cutting board without hitting my knuckles, so I asked the folks at Kershaw to move up the handle. You can do very precise work with these knives, and I hope they will actually improve knife skills of novice cooks ($40-70, altonbrown.com).”

Zyliss Pizza Wheel - “This slicer is an ideal example of a tool that’s perfect at what it does, gets extra points for being original and is also good for other jobs. I use it for cutting pastries and anything else that’s not easily sliced with a knife.”

Soehnie Futura Scale Model 66522 - “This is the most accurate digital kitchen scale I’ve come across. You can reset the scale to zero with a bowl or plate on it, which makes it possible to weigh multiple ingredients as they go in.” ($70, kitchenuniverse.com)

Duncan’s Kitchen Grips Oven Mitts - “These are hands down the best devices on Planet Earth for holding on to hot things. They’re made of synthetic rubber, they’re water-repellent, and they’re textured.”