10 Tools For A Well-Stocked Kitchen

Every year, millions are tempted by Williams-Sonoma and other glossy sites to buy expensive smokers, meat slicers, sous-vide machines, and heart-shaped waffle makers that could only really be used on Valentine's Day. And there are still others who fall prey to infomercial products that promise to broil, roast, grill, bake, steam, and fry our food. These products usually sit in their boxes, silently mocking us for purchasing something that promised more than a politician running for re-election.

While these gadgets are great for impressing friends and family or making their inventors rich, they aren't what you need for a well-stocked kitchen. The kitchen tools you should purchase should be easy to use, be able to do more than one thing in the kitchen (meaning those onion blossom makers and tater mitts probably weren't necessities), and be relatively inexpensive. This means that you should probably cross the $3,000 espresso machine and the $4,000 wine inventory system off your wish list.

Aside from basics like good knives, sturdy pots, wooden spoons, and spatulas, there are only a few things that a cook really needs in the kitchen. The following is a list of the 10 kitchen tools you need for a well-stocked kitchen. Although these kitchen tools won't automatically land you a place on Top Chef or make you the next Thomas Keller, they will make you a better cook. And the best part of it all? You won't have to go broke buying these items.

Click here to see 10 Tools for a Well-Stocked Kitchen Slideshow.