A $9,000 ice cream maker is this world-famous chef’s favorite kitchen gadget

Chefs cherish their kitchen tools and they all have favorites. There are must-haves for every chef, such as a… high-quality knives and reliable cooking utensils. But then there are the less obvious gadgets and kitchen assistants that take dining in the kitchens of the world’s best restaurants to the next level.

To find out which kitchen utensils the world’s best chefs appreciate most, I asked five this year Culinary and arts festival in Nassau, Bahamas. In between enjoying epic dinners and attending unique gastronomic workshops and classes, these titans of the cooking world told me which kitchen tools they couldn’t live without—just in time for the holiday.

While Daniel Boulud’s $9,000 Pacojet ice cream maker may not fit into most people’s holiday shopping budget, some of the picks on this list do, so you can present an amateur chef or baker in your life with a culinary instrument that has been approved by a top chef.

Carla Hall

Favorite Gadget: Microplane

Microplane

Whether it concerns peeling citrus fruits or shredding garlic, both Carla Hall And Maneet Chauhun have put their stamp of approval on the mighty microplane.

“It’s honestly one of those little gadgets that you don’t know you need until you use it,” says Hall, who has her own line of Sweet Heritage kitchenware. “It’s perfect for zesting lemons or grating hard cheese – things that add a pop of flavor without a lot of fuss.”

“A quick swipe and you have a hint of citrus or a layer of Parmesan, that makes all the difference,” she adds.

This microplane costs less than $20 and fits nicely in a stocking.

Maneet Chauhan

Favorite Gadget: Microplane

Chauhan, owner of the Nashville-based company Chauhan Ale and Masale Houseechoes Hall’s sentiments. “A microplane is great for grating fresh herbs, bringing out all the aromatics that make a dish stand out,” she says and recommends this particular model from Williams Sonoma.

For a more colorful option, Hall suggests this $18 microplane from Amazonwhich she describes as a ‘small tool that has a big impact’.

“It’s also super useful for ginger, nutmeg or even a little chocolate on top of desserts,” she adds.

This zester is available in more than a dozen colors.

Marcus Samuelsson

Favorite gadget: Cast iron frying pan

A no-nonsense cast iron skillet is what chef Marcus Samuelsson likes. The eight-time James Beard Award winner, who has his own restaurant, Marcus Fish and Chop Houseon the grounds of Baha Mar, raves about its versatility, reliability and ability to retain the flavors of previous cooking sessions. It’s also nostalgic, as he used one with his grandmother.

Although Samuelsson has no favorite brand and claims that when it comes to a frying pan, “the older the better,” Lodge is an American classic, and a 10-inch pan won’t cost you more than $25. And here are two lighter versions tested and approved by CNET editors.

“When I cook with my son Zion, we probably do seven out of ten dishes in a cast-iron skillet,” says Samuelsson. “It really reminds me of the pure skills, love and passion my grandmother gave me.”

Daniel Boulud

Favorite gadget: Pacojet

Pacojet

World famous chef and restaurateur Daniel Boulud thinks a little outside the box with his choice: the Pacojet. “It’s a powerful savory emulsifier and ice cream maker and it’s my all-time favorite kitchen gadget,” he reveals.

While this particular machine certainly does it all, it is intended for commercial kitchens and will cost an average consumer almost $9,000. As an alternative, consider investing in one of CNET’s best ice cream makers of 2024.

Geoffrey Zakarian

Favorite Gadget: Mandolin

If you’re looking for a quick way to cut vegetables evenly and quickly, a mandoline is the right choice. Of course, chef, restaurateur and possibly the world’s best dressed man, Geoffrey Zakarianhas chosen the one he designed for Dashcomplete with a safety-first design so you don’t risk a trip to the emergency room.

It’s such a great tool,” said Zakarian. The mandoline offers more than thirty ways to slice, including julienning, mincing, and dicing. It’s also foldable, dishwasher safe, and comes with a cleaning brush.