Having the right tools to slice, roast, simmer and serve your next recipe is key. Make dinner with cookware that heats unevenly or a knife with bad balance and you're already behind. Nobody knows the importance of reliable kitchen hardware better than career chefs, and these culinary pros can spot a gimmick from a mile away.

So then, which tools and gadgets deserve a spot in your cupboards and drawers? I asked a handful of professional chefs, and they didn't hold back. A common thread among these kitchen masters is their favor for basics -- prioritizing classic multipurpose kitchen tools over one-trick ponies.

Consider herb strippers or meat shredders: the job these tools are designed to do can be accomplished just as well, or better, with a staple kitchen tool you already

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