Every single year, the culinary market is flooded with a relentless deluge of feature-laden, Wi-Fi-connected, and supposedly revolutionary cooking products. Tech companies and home-goods manufacturers promise that the next smart appliance will completely transform how we prepare meals. Yet, amidst this endless cycle of digital innovation, there are certain kitchen necessities that simply cannot be improved upon. For a decade, the editorial team at Bon Appétit has been rigorously testing products head-to-head to find the absolute best cookware, tools, and appliances available. Over those ten years of putting countless items through the wringer, editors have consistently returned to a small, elite handful of favorites time and again.
With boxes full of kitchen gear arriving at the office practically every single day, the odds are heavily stacked against any particular item finding a permanent, stable spot as a designated favorite. The competition is fierce, and the standards are exceptionally high. Yet, a core group of 15 timeless pieces has managed to reach the top of the publication’s rankings and simply stay there. As part of the annual Gear of the Year Awards, these enduring products—selected collectively by Test Kitchen editors and the reviews team—are recognized as Forever Award winners. Investing in these time-tested pieces offers absolute confidence that they will not be bested by newer trends anytime soon.
Mac MTH-80 Pro Chef’s Knife
People are perpetually asking food director Chris Morocco what knife they should buy. According to Morocco, it is sort of like asking someone what car you should purchase. It really depends on what you are trying to do with it, how fast you want to go, and how much time you plan to spend at the mechanic.
However, the foundation of any dependable set of kitchen tools always begins with a chef’s knife you can trust every single day. Since the publication first started reviewing how different models slice, chop, and dice, nothing has come close to matching the Mac MTH-80’s unique combination of versatility, razor-sharp edge retention, and ergonomic comfort in the hand. It features a best-of-both-worlds design, balancing the delicate precision of a Japanese gyuto with the robust power of a traditional German-style knife. As Morocco describes it, the Mac will never let you down and remains the one relatively affordable knife that an owner will never feel compelled to upgrade. Nimble enough to maneuver fluidly on a cutting board, precise enough to expertly skin a fish, and strong enough to break down a whole chicken, the mighty Mac firmly sits in the elite territory of gear you would take with you to a desert island.
Benriner Super Slicer Mandoline
Despite its lingering reputation as a safety hazard when not handled by a professional chef, a quality mandoline makes prep work exponentially faster, easier, and more precise than relying on a set of knives alone. And no mandoline performs those tasks better than the classic Benriner. Light in weight, fiercely sharp, and endlessly adjustable, the Super Slicer can produce identical, paper-thin slices of potato for an intricate Hasselback preparation as well as rounds of radishes so transparently thin that you can read a magazine right through them. If you ever encounter a recipe that directs you to thinly slice virtually anything, this is the exact tool you want at your disposal.
Zojirushi NP-HCC10 Rice Cooker
If you have only ever cooked rice on a standard stovetop, you simply do not know how much better the process can be when using a dedicated, high-performance rice cooker. With this induction-heated Zojirushi model, home cooks consistently achieve fluffy, evenly cooked grains with zero attention or active effort required.
Deputy food editor Hana Asbrink feels passionately about her machine, noting that if she were pressed to pick just one appliance, this would be the item she grabs before fleeing a burning building—apologizing briefly to her coffee maker. She notes that there is a good reason she is still using her 15-plus-year-old Zojirushi rice cooker: its sheer quality. The machine has not faltered over all those years, and its pleasing, singsong alert remains a comforting joy to hear. Although Zojirushi has introduced many fancier and significantly more expensive models since the NP-HCC10 was first released, none of them actually produce better rice. In fact, through multiple blind rice tastings conducted every year, this specific model has consistently come out on top.
Fellow Aiden Coffee Maker
When the Technivorm Moccamaster received recognition from the Specialty Coffee Association, it fundamentally reset expectations of what consumers ought to expect from an automatic drip coffee maker. Specifically, it ushered in the revolutionary idea that an automatic brewer could produce coffee capable of competing with the distinct taste of pour-over. Fellow raised that bar even further with the release of the Aiden coffee maker. Rather than simply attempting to compete with pour-over methods, this machine effectively functions as an automated pour-over system for individuals who lack the time or inclination to engage in the traditional morning ritual. Its endlessly tweakable options for brew time and water temperature grant users even more precise control over a pot of coffee than a traditional Chemex, while its user-friendly interface makes exceptional coffee more accessible to a wider audience than ever before.
Breville Bambino Plus
Breville’s diminutive starter espresso machine may not be the flashiest unit on the market, but it stands as close to a remarkably perfect beginner coffee maker as reviewers have ever used. It occupies a remarkably small footprint on the counter, demands low commitment, remains affordable, and—true to Breville’s engineering pedigree—produces exceptionally good espresso. Furthermore, Breville has perfected automatic milk steaming in a way that entirely removes the uncertainty typically felt by anyone new to home espresso. Having tested almost every machine in this price and capability tier, reviewers agree that nothing comes close to the Bambino Plus as an entry point into home espresso making.
Escali Primo Kitchen Scale
The words cheap and plastic are not typically associated with items that perpetually occupy the top of expert rankings, but the Escali Primo understands that it has a single, vital job to do, and it does not need to get dressed up to do it.
Former senior Test Kitchen editor Shilpa Uskokovic is a longtime devotee of the Escali Primo, pointing out the frequency with which people claim they can cook but cannot bake. She advocates for the digital scale as the ultimate solution. Having used her oldest unit for 11 years through two demanding restaurant kitchens and a pandemic-era micro-bakery, she notes that it still functions perfectly. The scale measures accurately in both grams and ounces, handles substantial weight loads easily, and features an exceptionally clear digital display that remains readable even when a large mixing bowl is resting directly on top. Combined with its remarkably low price point, it remains one of the smartest purchases any home cook can make.
Lancaster No. 8 Cast-Iron Pan
Historically, cast-iron pans were manufactured to be significantly smoother and thinner than the standard heavy-bottomed skillets most people are familiar with today. While shifting manufacturing economics changed that standard, the recent renaissance of high-end cast-iron cookware has successfully revived vintage-style designs, with the Lancaster emerging as a clear favorite. The Lancaster pan is noticeably lighter and thinner than popular mass-market alternatives like Lodge, meaning it is exceptionally easy to maneuver on the stove and heats up much faster. Its exceptionally smooth cooking surface offers superior nonstick performance right out of the box, which only continues to improve and develop over years of regular use. Staff writer Wilder Davies emphasizes that while the pan commands a higher price tag, the investment is entirely worthwhile for a cooking implement that delivers a pleasant experience and serves as a genuine heirloom for generations to come.
All-Clad D3 7-Piece Cookware Set
When asked to name the best cookware brand on the market, professionally trained chefs and culinary experts alike almost universally point to All-Clad. Chris Morocco describes the stainless-steel line as unkillable, and years of rigorous testing in the Test Kitchen have never revealed a competitor capable of seriously challenging its supremacy. Culinary schools, professional restaurant kitchens, and serious home cooks all rely on these pans for long-lasting, high-performing results. Although the publication historically resisted recommending pre-packaged cookware sets in favor of customized collections, All-Clad’s tightly curated seven-piece set—which includes essential lids alongside a sauté pan, saucepan, frying pan, and stockpot—represents a universally necessary foundation that remains unmatched.
Vitamix 5200 Blender
Driven by a motor powerful enough to propel a small boat, Vitamix blenders have become a standard fixture in commercial and professional kitchens. The 5200 represents the blender in its purest, most unadulterated form. Eschewing digital touchscreens and specialized pre-programmed settings for smoothies or dips, it relies entirely on raw, unvarnished power to liquefy virtually anything placed inside the container. Hana Asbrink highlights its versatility for unexpected tasks, such as whipping up a quick kalbi marinade in seconds, mixing pancake or crepe batter in a flash, churning out weekend milkshakes, or even rapidly pulsing together a quick pie crust without needing to haul a heavy food processor down from a top-shelf storage closet. While alternative models feature various bells and whistles, the classic 5200 remains a benchmark that is difficult to imagine improving upon.
Nordic Ware Natural Aluminum Half-Sheet
Sheet pans are rarely considered buy-for-life cookware, as they inevitably take a beating over years of heavy roasting and baking. However, assuming that all sheet pans are interchangeable would be a mistake. Having tested countless brands while writing a cookbook that required baking hundreds of galettes, Test Kitchen editor Rebecca Firkser exclusively recommends Nordic Ware by name. No other baking sheet tested matches its impressive combination of rapid, even heat distribution and rugged commercial durability. Used multiple times a week for cookies, roasted vegetables, and sheet-pan dinners, the Nordic Ware pan proves utterly reliable while remaining an incredible bargain.
Le Creuset Dutch Oven
The Le Creuset Dutch oven stands ready in the Test Kitchen for everyday stewing and braising, and Firkser relies on hers heavily at home as well. She notes that it is her kitchen’s most-used pot, deployed for tasks as diverse as tossing pasta, searing chicken thighs, deep-frying doughnuts, and baking artisan sourdough bread. Being lighter than competing enameled models, it heats up quickly and retains evenly conducted heat. Heavy, exceptionally versatile, and visually striking, it functions as a functional statement piece built from cast iron designed to outlast us all.
Staub Cocotte
Choosing between top-tier enameled Dutch ovens is a challenge, as Staub’s classic cocotte matches Le Creuset as an indispensable kitchen workhorse. Senior Test Kitchen editor Jesse Szewczyk describes his Staub oven as the most frequently used product of any kind in his home kitchen. Initially drawn in by its chic design, he was ultimately won over by its enduring quality, utilizing it to bake bread, braise meats, and even cook breakfast pancakes. Unlike cookware that requires delicate handling, the Staub finish withstands rigorous scrubbing with soap and water with reckless abandon while remaining in pristine condition.
Presto Flipside Waffle Maker
This affordable waffle maker has won over a string of staff members through its ingenious rotating design and consistent ability to produce superbly crisp on the outside yet fluffy on the inside waffles. Eschewing the tedious collection of digital settings, sensors, and automatic programs found on premium machines, the Presto proves that simpler is often better. It features a manual timer that does not automatically shut off when time expires, allowing the user to cook each waffle to exact personal preference. Furthermore, its slim vertical design stands out against bulky countertop appliances, as it stores upright to maximize kitchen space.
Weber Kettle Grill
Despite repeated attempts to identify newer and flashier alternatives, the iconic Weber kettle grill remains virtually unassailable. Featuring a compact spatial footprint paired with a surprisingly large cooking area, it allows users to effortlessly transition between high-heat searing and slow smoking while remaining remarkably easy to clean. While the broader grill market tends to polarize between low-end disposable models and exorbitantly priced specialty units, the Weber Kettle strikes a pitch-perfect balance between high-level performance and enduring value.
Breville Sous-Chef Food Processor
The unwavering endorsement of the Breville Sous-Chef food processor has occasionally put the team at odds with steadfast loyalists of the classic Cuisinart. While both appliances offer comparable power and precision, the Breville distinguishes itself through intuitive assembly that eliminates the notoriously fidgety and frustrating locking mechanisms of older designs. As Chris Morocco observes, the parts do not rattle, and everything fits together with absolute precision, delivering phenomenal cutting power to any ingredient added to the bowl. Because appliances that are easier to operate ultimately see much more frequent use, the thoughtful engineering of the Breville makes it an indispensable tool for heavy kitchen prep.