Top Chef: 10 Kitchen Essentials You Need Now

Take your holiday meals to the next level with our help.

Layer Cake Slicing Kit - Whether you’re feeding a crowd or a few close friends for the holidays, these must-have tools help ensure your favorite dishes come out perfectly every time. By Britt Middleton  With this genius cake slicer ring from the Sharper Image, you’ll never have to worry about lopsided layers again.    (Photo: Courtesy of Sharper Image)

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Layer Cake Slicing Kit - Whether you’re feeding a crowd or a few close friends for the holidays, these must-have tools help ensure your favorite dishes come out perfectly every time. By Britt Middleton With this genius cake slicer ring from the Sharper Image, you’ll never have to worry about lopsided layers again.  (Photo: Courtesy of Sharper Image)

Braising Pot - Braising is a favored method for tenderizing meats and vegetables. Ace the technique with a heavy-bottomed pot, like this one from Le Creuset. Made from durable cast iron, it goes from the stovetop directly to the oven, making for one less pot to scrub at the end of the night.  (Photo: Courtesy of Le Creuset)

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Braising Pot - Braising is a favored method for tenderizing meats and vegetables. Ace the technique with a heavy-bottomed pot, like this one from Le Creuset. Made from durable cast iron, it goes from the stovetop directly to the oven, making for one less pot to scrub at the end of the night. (Photo: Courtesy of Le Creuset)

Digital Thermometer - Avoid the embarrassment of an undercooked bird this Thanksgiving by investing in a quality meat thermometer. We love the Williams-Sonoma Smart Thermometer, which connects through Wi-Fi to send updates of internal temperature, estimated cooking time and more right to your smartphone. Now, you can spend more time mingling with guests.  (Photo: Courtesy of Williams-Sonoma)

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Digital Thermometer - Avoid the embarrassment of an undercooked bird this Thanksgiving by investing in a quality meat thermometer. We love the Williams-Sonoma Smart Thermometer, which connects through Wi-Fi to send updates of internal temperature, estimated cooking time and more right to your smartphone. Now, you can spend more time mingling with guests. (Photo: Courtesy of Williams-Sonoma)

Garlic Press - Love the taste of garlic, but hate the lingering smell of it on your hands after chopping? Get the flavor without the funk with an easy grip garlic press. It crushes cloves into a fine paste that’s perfect for adding to mashed potatoes and salad dressings. (Photo: Courtesy of Philippe Richard)

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Garlic Press - Love the taste of garlic, but hate the lingering smell of it on your hands after chopping? Get the flavor without the funk with an easy grip garlic press. It crushes cloves into a fine paste that’s perfect for adding to mashed potatoes and salad dressings. (Photo: Courtesy of Philippe Richard)

Microplane Herb Mill - You’ll love how the Microplane Herb Mill turns oregano, mint and more leafy herbs into fine confetti, giving your finished plates that professional touch.(Photo: Courtesy of Microplane)

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Microplane Herb Mill - You’ll love how the Microplane Herb Mill turns oregano, mint and more leafy herbs into fine confetti, giving your finished plates that professional touch.(Photo: Courtesy of Microplane)

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Knife Sharpener - No need to toss out your old, dull cutlery just yet. A quality knife sharpener can save you big bucks in the long run, revitalizing your old knives for a fraction of the cost of new ones.  (Photo: Courtesy of Wüsthof)

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Knife Sharpener - No need to toss out your old, dull cutlery just yet. A quality knife sharpener can save you big bucks in the long run, revitalizing your old knives for a fraction of the cost of new ones. (Photo: Courtesy of Wüsthof)

Impose Time Limits - When you give yourself, say, 30 minutes to pay all your household bills, you’ll be a lot more likely to focus for that half hour — and not answer the phone when your bestie calls.   (Photo: Courtesy of OXO Good Grips)

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Smart Timer - Staying organized in the kitchen is all about time management, and this triple timer from OXO is the key. Use it to track up to three different timed events, plus each timer has a distinct alarm sound you can coordinate with each dish. (Photo: Courtesy of OXO Good Grips)

Egg Poaching Pan - You may be timid about poaching your own eggs at home. Well, not anymore. This gourmet egg poaching pan with removable inserts takes out all the guesswork so you can focus on treating your guests to the best brunch on the block.(Photo: Courtesy of Demeyere)

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Egg Poaching Pan - You may be timid about poaching your own eggs at home. Well, not anymore. This gourmet egg poaching pan with removable inserts takes out all the guesswork so you can focus on treating your guests to the best brunch on the block.(Photo: Courtesy of Demeyere)

Food Scale - Too much or too little of any one ingredient can throw an entire dish off. Get the measurements right each time with a proper food scale. We love the modern look of this one from Joseph Joseph.(Photo: Courtesy of Joseph Joseph)

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Food Scale - Too much or too little of any one ingredient can throw an entire dish off. Get the measurements right each time with a proper food scale. We love the modern look of this one from Joseph Joseph.(Photo: Courtesy of Joseph Joseph)

Potato Ricer - Looking for smooth, restaurant quality mashed potatoes at home? The trick is in the mashing process. A potato ricer has tiny holes that act like a strainer when boiled potatoes are pressed through, ensuring lump-free spuds. (Photo: Courtesy of OXO Good Grips)

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Potato Ricer - Looking for smooth, restaurant quality mashed potatoes at home? The trick is in the mashing process. A potato ricer has tiny holes that act like a strainer when boiled potatoes are pressed through, ensuring lump-free spuds. (Photo: Courtesy of OXO Good Grips)