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Pros say the cooking magic is all in the prep, but that’s also where the time suck is. So if quick and easy is your jam, you’ll want to add a few specialty kitchen tools to your arsenal. We’re not talking just pretty accessories or crazy-fun gadgets — not that there’s anything wrong with those! But you need some real prep-work essentials. Here are 14 must-haves that will help you cut, chop, slice, and dice your way to a delicious meal in no time.
Kuhn Rikon Colori Paring Knife
Food bloggers and food industry pros alike HEART this paring knife big time. It’s cute, inexpensive, and easy to clean, and the blade remains sharp for years.
Target x Brit + Co Wood Burned Cutting Board
You can’t prep food without a cutting board, but why buy an ordinary one when you can put your creative stamp on yours? The cutting board in the Brit + Co collection for Target is personalized AND a fun DIY.
Misen Chef’s Knife
This Kickstarter knife was designed to take the place of an entire knife set and provide the perfect blade for any prep job. It’s also the least expensive high-quality chef’s knife around. If you can only have one, make this your pick.
HIC Mezzaluna Rocking Vegetable Chopper and Mincing Knife
This crafty little tool makes mincing and chopping SOOOOO easy. Just rock it like a seesaw and watch your perfectly minced fresh herbs pile up.
OXO SoftWorks Swivel Peeler
You’ll appreciate this peeler’s comfort grip any time you’ve got produce to prep. The built-in cutter at the tip makes extracting bruises from fruit or eyes from potatoes a breeze.
Crate & Barrel 5-Blade Herb Scissors
Sure, you could use ordinary household shears to cut your herbs, but this five blade version will do the job in a jiffy.
OXO Good Grips Mini Chopper
Jarred garlic may be good in pinch, but when you’re bringing on the flavor bomb, you want fresh. This dishwasher safe press-chopper delivers all the gusto with the ease of store-bought.
Microplane Citrus Zester
Every cook needs a Microplane on hand for zesting citrus fruits and grating ginger and garlic. Pros prize this one for its razor-sharp teeth and comfortable grip.
Chef’n Hullster™ Tomato Corer
This cute little huller looks like something Strawberry Shortcake might have dreamed up, but it removes the core from a tomato with ease.
Chef’n Looseleaf Kale and Greens Stripper
From stripping herbs to cleaning kale, this little kitchen gem is a must-have. It’s like having your own sous chef working beside you at the counter.
Chef’n Flexicado Flexible Avocado Slicer
Unlike some other flexible slicers, this one has stainless steel blades, giving you picture-perfect pieces every time. We predict more avocado toast in your future!
Crate & Barrel Aqua Silicone Large Spatula
You’ll find yourself reaching for these spatulas with the flexible heads whenever you’re scraping bowls or plating out Insta-worthy presentations.
Williams Sonoma Glass Prep Mixing Bowls
The secret to quick and easy cooking is to have all your ingredients prepped and at the ready before you start cooking. With these nesting prep bowls, you can set up your mis en place like a pro.
Kuchenprofi Pot-Top Strainer Sieve ($18)
So much handier than a colander, this clever sieve attaches to any standard 13-inch pot, allowing you to blanch and drain veggies on the fly.
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