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Making great food at home isn’t rocket science, anyone who knows us knows that’s true! Three things make a good cook terrific: the best ingredients, kitchen tools that work exceptionally well, and a passion for creating and eating wonderful food. You probably have that one item in the kitchen that you reach for again and again, a favorite wooden spoon, maybe a heavy cast-iron pan or the best knife in your collection. Whatever it is, you know the feeling of finding one thing that makes cooking more enjoyable. We’d like to tell you about some of our best finds.

Starting with the simplest, we both believe that probably the most essential thing in a kitchen is a good quality knife. You not only need a sharp knife, but you also need to look for one that feels balanced in your hand and releases well. We’ve chosen knives made of high-carbon steel in the traditional santoku design. The Japanese word means “three benefits,” and true to their name these knives mince, slice, and dice fantastically. They are made with grantons (indentations carved into the steel) that let the slices fall away from the knife. One chef’s knife (about 7 to 9 inches) and one paring knife (about 5 inches) will serve you well to start.

Three readily available items that Jonathan can’t live without are a stainless steel chopper/scraper, small glass prep bowls, and quarter sheet pans. The chopper chops well, but primarily we love it for picking up chopped onion or any ingredient on the counter and how easily it lets you add those ingredients to the pot or bowl. It is also fabulous for scraping messes off the countertop. Once you’ve used one, you’ll never want to cook without it again. Little prep bowls help keep ingredients for a recipe organized and are great for mixing spices, separating eggs or keeping salt handy on the counter. And, the quarter sheet pan…my all time favorite! This 10 by 14 inch sheet pan has sides so it is perfect for roasting veggies. Being able to fit two on one rack in the oven is fantastic. They are easier to handle and you can’t have enough of them. All these items sell for between $5 and $12 and can be found in our stores or in any good kitchen shop.

Jim has become a big fan of two of our more high-end retail items. Both are an investment for a lifetime of cooking and will perform perfectly every time. When you first pick up the Rosle garlic press you know it is different. It is balanced so well that not a lot of strength is needed to crush garlic. The press is constructed so that you can leave the skin on the garlic and it will crush beautifully, and the lever releases the sieve completely so the press can be cleaned right under the faucet. This item sells for about $38.

The final item to consider for your essential kitchen is a Viking food processor. We first tried this one in our new Cooking School and it is so awesome we bought one for home. There are too many features to describe in this article, but one thing we noticed right away is how quiet this appliance is. Plus, we love the fact that it has wheels on the back so it can easily move back and forth on the counter. Every detail is superior, the bowl is large enough for any recipe, and, quite simply, you’ll love it. The Viking processor retails for $300.

Finally, whatever tools you can’t cook without are the ones that are best for you, even if it is mom’s avocado green, hand-me-down hand mixer from the 60s. But when the old favorites need replacing or you just feel inclined to get new “toys” you can try some of our favorites. We guarantee you’ll love ‘em.