9 Kitchen Tools for $10 or Less
KITCHEN SHEARS
We like Furitechnics Racheal Ray/ Gusto-Grip Basics, $10, cooking.com/rachaelray
Upside Inexpensive; comes apart for easy cleaning; comfy antimicrobial handles
Downside Not dishwasher-safe; reassembling blades can be awkward.
Use them to make Pan-Roasted Butterflied Chicken with Fresh Herbs
JUICER
We like OXO Good Grips Wooden Lemon Reamer, $5, oxo.com
Upside Inexpensive; small and lightweight; good for any size citrus; easy to clean; manually operated.
Downside Doesn't strain seeds or pulp; tiring for large jobs.
Use it to make Grapefruit Mousse
BASTER
We like Orka Squeeze Bulb and Basting Brush, $9, amazon.com
Upside Inexpensive; small and compact; no dripping; easy-to-press quick suction; bonus silicone brush attachment.
Downside Small-capacity tube; short length makes reaching inside the oven difficult; doesn't work as well without the brush attachment.
Use it to make Honey-and-Sesame Seed Funnel Cakes
WHISK
We like Zyliss Quick Blend Whisk, $8, cutleryandmore.com
Updside Non-touching tines prevent clumping inside whisk; works well on chunky batters.
Downside Tines are too rigid for scraping down sides of a pan.
TURNER
We like Chef'n Zipflip Flexible Medium Turner, $9, chefsresource.com
Upside Nylon head won't scratch nonstick surfaces; curved end can scrape sides of pan; lightweight; soft, nonslip silicone handle.
Downside Edge frays over time.
Use it to make Cheesy Potato Corncakes
COLANDER
We like OXO Good Grips Plastic Colander, $9, oxo.com
Upside Inexpensive; soft, nonslip handles; dishwasher-safe.
Downside Small size only holds 1 pound of pasta.
Use it to make One-Pot Ginger Chicken, Bok Choy and Couscous
CUTTING BOARD
We like Chefmate 14-by-17-inch Poly Cutting Board, $10, target.com
Upside Inexpensive; lightweight; dishwasher safe.
Downside Hard surface is less knife friendly than wood. Board slips easily on counter.
Use it to make Chop-Chop with Spicy French Dressing
ICE CREAM SCOOP
We like Wilton Ice Cream Scoop, $7, bedbathandbeyond.com
Upside Pointed ends for easy scooping; rubber pads on handle for no-slip grip.
Downside Handwashable only.
Use it to make Watermelon Sorbet
MEAT THERMOMETER
We like Polder 12454 In-Oven Meat Thermometer, $9, polder.com
Upside Thermometer remains in meat during cooking; easy to use; great for checking temperatures of large items like turkey.
Downside Leaves large holes in smaller meats.
Use it to make Beef Wellington
*Prices and other details were accurate when we published these articles.
