I have a drawer full of kitchen gadgets I used once. An egg slicer. A strawberry huller. A garlic press that is harder to clean than just mincing garlic with a knife. Most kitchen gadgets are junk. These are the ones I actually reach for.

The Keepers

Microplane Zester ($12-15)

It zests citrus. It grates parmesan into fluffy clouds. It grates garlic and ginger without a press. It grates nutmeg. I use mine three times a week. A box grater can do some of this but the Microplane is faster, easier to clean, and the results are finer.

Instant-Read Thermometer ($15-35)

If you cook meat, get one. It takes the guesswork out of chicken (165°F), steak (varies by doneness), and anything you are roasting. The ThermoPop is $35 and reads in 3-4 seconds. The $15 no-name ones on Amazon work fine too, they just take a second longer. This one tool will save you from dry chicken more than any recipe ever will.

Silicone Spatula Set ($10-15)

Heat-resistant to 600°F. Does not scratch non-stick pans. Gets every last bit of batter out of a bowl. Dishwasher safe. I own four and use them for everything — eggs, sauces, baking, scraping jars clean.

Immersion Blender ($30-50)

You can blend soup directly in the pot. No transferring hot liquid to a blender in batches. No burning yourself. It also makes mayonnaise, whipped cream, and smoothies in the cup it comes with. Cleans in 10 seconds under running water. I use mine more than my actual blender.

The Regrets — Skip These

• Garlic press (impossible to clean, knife is faster)
• Avocado slicer (a butter knife does the same thing)
• Herb scissors (five blades that all need cleaning — just use a knife and chop)
• Egg separator (the shell halves do this perfectly)