John Kanell, the creator of the phenom that is Preppy Kitchen, lists his favorite, most-useful kitchen tools.

If you’re not already familiar with John Kanell, he is the passionate and creative culinary mind behind the Preppy Kitchen website. John believes in helping people become “prep”-ared in the kitchen; a skill that once mastered is sure to make for a super-confident and successful home cook. Be sure to order his fabulous new cookbook, Preppy Kitchen.–Anna Scott

And don’t forget to listen to John chatting with David and Amy on episode 54 of Talking With My Mouth Full.

OXO Good Grips Food Scale

OXO Good Grips Food Scale

Weighing your ingredients is easier than using measuring cups with less cream up, and far more precise. A true kitchen win-win.

OXO Good Grips Food Scale, $33 on Amazon.com

Tovolo Pro Grade Silicone Pastry Mat.

Tovolo Pro-Grade Silicone Pastry Mat

Pastry mats prevent anything from sticking to the counter and make transferring and rolling things a breeze.

Tovolo Pro-Grade Silicone Pastry Mat, $25 on Amazon.com

Javelin Pro Duo Digital Instant Read Thermometer.

Lavatools Javelin Pro Professional Digital Instant Meat Thermometer

This thermometer is fantastic for temping. It reads temp instantly and clearly, which I love for everything from meats, to caramels, and oil.

Lavatools Javelin Pro Professional Digital Instant Meat Thermometer, $55 on Amazon.com

Staub 5 1/2 Quart Round Dutch Oven.

Staub 5 1/2-Qt. Round Dutch Oven

This is great for making sourdough, soups, and everything in between. The dark iron finish inside is easy to maintain, especially for high temp cooking.

Staub 5 1/2-Qt. Round Dutch Oven, $223 on Amazon.com

Silpat Premium Non Stick Silicone Baking Mat.

Silpat Premium Non-Stick Baking Mat

These mats are great for cookies; reusable, nothing sticks and the cookies take on just a bit less color on the bottom.

Silpat Premium Non-Stick Baking Mat, $21 on Amazon.com

Ateco Plastic-Coated Canvas Decorating Bag.

Ateco Reusable Piping Bag

Simply put, these NEVER break.

Ateco Reusable Piping Bag, $6 on Amazon.com

Celebrational 11-Piece Cookie Cutter Set.

I love these for cookies (both cutting out and rounding after baking), biscuits, and donuts.

Celebrational Sale 11-Piece Round Stainless Steel Cookie Cutter Set, $15 on Amazon.com

Zulay 13-inch Danish Dough Whisk.

Danish Dough Whisk

So much better than a balloon whisk for mixing doughs.

Danish Dough Whisk, $9 on Amazon.com




About Anna Scott

Anna Scott has been an LC recipe tester since December 2010. Her love of food was inspired by her father, who taught her that a meal isn’t just the act of eating, but rather an experience that involves all of the senses—the presentation on the plate, the warm smell of the kitchen, the lively conversations at the dinner table, and the texture of the bread that you break. A Le Cordon Bleu graduate, she now works as a personal chef in Atlanta. The focus of both her clients’ meals and her personal cooking endeavors is on seasonal ingredients and on incorporating mise en place into her everyday repertoire.


Hungry For More?

Our 2022 Portuguese Gift Basket

This year’s gift basket is filled with sausages, cheese, salt cod, pastes, snacks, and sweets. Plus my Taste of Portugal spice blend. Happy holidays!

A Taste of Portugal–My New Spice Blend

Taste of Portugal, our first spice blend, is bursting with the flavors I grew up with: smoked paprika, garlic, citrus, bay leaf, piri piri chiles, coriander, red wine, and more.

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