Equipping your kitchen with the right tools can make your home the perfect place for upgraded cooking experiences. You likely have your basic items such as measuring cups, spatulas, rolling pins, and so on. But by choosing some specialty kitchen tools, you can upgrade your culinary skills and try new recipes and techniques. A variety of cooking tools can open doors to learning and perfecting different dishes.

Here are a few ideas for kitchen tools to try.

Boning Knives

A boning knife is a useful specialty kitchen item for your knife collection. Designed with a thin, flexible blade, boning knives are perfect for separating meat from the bone with precision. If you regularly prepare meat, poultry, or fish, this knife will give you the precision to make dishes without waste.

Mandolines

The mandoline slicer is a great way to slice a variety of foods. Whether you’re preparing potatoes for a gratin, slicing cucumbers for a salad, or creating vegetable chips, a mandoline is the right tool for the job. This device makes it easy to produce thin, even slices. It is nice to have the consistency of the mandoline for preparing dishes like scalloped potatoes.

Immersion Blenders

An immersion blender, or stick blender, is a very useful tool. This can be used for blending soups, smoothies and more. Unlike a traditional blender, you can prepare foods right in a pot, bowl, or even a large cup.

Digital Food Scales

A digital food scale is a great way to bring precision to the kitchen. This tool allows you to measure ingredients by weight rather than volume. This gives you the ability to achieve exact measurements of ingredients when you are preparing foods.

Microplane Graters

A microplane grater a small and useful tool to have in the kitchen. This allows you to finely grate ingredients such as cheese or ginger. Whether you are looking for an ingredient to blend into a dish, or something like dark chocolate shavings to top a dessert, this is a versatile tool to have on hand.

Cooking Thermometer

A cooking thermometer allows you to cook with precision. This can help make sure that foods are cooked thoroughly, such as meats. It also helps with other tasks such as tempering chocolate or making candy.

Mortar and Pestle

A mortar and pestle is useful for grinding different ingredients, ensuring fresh and flavorful foods. This device can be used to grind herbs, spices, seeds, and garlic into fine powders or pastes. You can experiment with different textures and and thicknesses on your own.