Equipment
These longtime winners have stood the test of time.
By
Published June 23, 2023.
When I finish an equipment review—a rigorous process that can take weeks or months—it’s tempting to dust off my hands and say, "Well, that’s that. We never have to test those again.” But that’s not how we work on the ATK Reviews team. Long after our stories are published in our magazines and on our websites, we continue to interact with our winning equipment and monitor how each item performs over time.
The biggest, most important way we continue engaging with our reviews is by stocking our favorite items in the test kitchen. It serves a practical purpose (our test cooks need equipment and we want them to have the best) and it provides us invaluable data on long-term durability. We notice if, say, the markings on a liquid measuring cup wear off. We also notice when things excel: when a chef’s knife remains sharp and nimble or a nonstick rimmed baking sheetresists warping after near-constant use.
We keep our eyes on products outside the test kitchen too. We read comments on our site and on Amazon, and we periodically check manufacturer websites. If a favorite product appears to have been redesigned or if intriguing new models enter the marketplace, we schedule a new testing. Absolutely everything comes under scrutiny a second time (or a third or a fourth), even items as seemingly simple and straightforward as wooden spoons. We always want to know that our favorite is still the best.
Our winners don’t always win a second time. The ones that do, especially those that have won multiple times, have a special place in our hearts—and in our kitchens. Here are 11 of our longtime winners.
RSVP International Precision Pierced 5 Qt. Colander
Year First Reviewed: 2001
Number of Wins: 3
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The bowl of the colander is covered with tiny perforations, so it drains quickly and no food escapes through the holes, and a tall base lifts it above any water or gunk in the sink. It’s lightweight, sturdy, and cleans up easily in the dishwasher or by hand.[Buy on Amazon]
Le Creuset 7¼ Quart Round Dutch Oven
Year First Reviewed: 1998
Number of Wins: 4
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The wide cooking surface, light-colored interior, and roomy handles of our longtime favorite enameled cast-iron Dutch oven make it exceptionally easy and satisfying to use. That it comes in a range of beautiful colors and can move from stovetop (or oven) to the dinning table is an added bonus. We like it so much, we also reviewed and recommend the 3½-quart and 5½-quart models.[Buy on Amazon]
Victorinox Swiss Army Fibrox Pro 8” Chef’s Knife
Year First Reviewed: 1994
Number of Wins:5
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This 15-degree blade on this affordable favorite starts off sharp and it stays sharp for an impressively long time. The rounded handle is comfortable in a variety of hand sizes and lends itself to a variety of grips so it can be easily used to delicately mince herbs or chop tough butternut squash. We like the 8-inch model best and think it’s the best size for most cooks, but the 6-inch and 10-inch versions are also excellent.[Buy on Amazon]
Wüsthof Gourmet 7” Fish Spatula
Year First Reviewed: 2008
Number of Wins: 2
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Don’t let the name fool you: This kitchen stalwart is our favorite tool for flipping much more than fish. Its large, long, narrow head slides under just about everything with ease—from pancakes and eggs to burgers or homefries—and is sturdy enough to support its weight. The handle is also easy to hold.[Buy on Amazon]
Teakhaus Edge Grain Cutting Board
Year First Reviewed: 2011
Number of Wins: 3
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At 18 inches wide and 24 inches long, there is plenty of room to chop, mince, slice, and dice on this reversible cutting board. It’s durable, it’s stable, and it sports slim finger grips on the sides that make it relatively easy to lift. The teak is gorgeous and it exudes oily resins that keep the wood conditioned; as a result, it requires less regular maintenance to prevent cracking, warping, or staining.[Buy on Amazon]
All-Clad Stainless 4-Qt Sauce Pan
Year First Reviewed: 2002
Number of Wins: 3
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For making small batches of soups and stews; steaming eggs or vegetables or dumplings; and making puddings or custards, you need a large saucepan. Our favorite has aluminum core sandwiched between layers of stainless steel that provides even, steady heat. The handle stays cool and is easy to grip. Its 2-quart little sibling has been a favorite of ours for small-volume cooking for even longer, since 1997.[Buy on Amazon]
OXO Good Grips 12-Inch Tongs
Year First Reviewed: 2006
Number of Wins: 2
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The pincers on these tongs are so precise and easy to control, they feel like a natural extension of our hands. We also love the locking mechanism. Gently tap a small metal tab at one end and the tongs pop open. We also recommend the 12-inch set with coated pincers for use in nonstick cookware and a smaller 9-inch set; the 16-inch tongs have long been our go-to tool for grilling.[Buy on Amazon]
Cuisipro Stainless Steel 5-Piece Measuring Spoons
Year First Reviewed: 2005
Number of Wins: 3
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This sturdy set of measuring spoons is accurate and includes five essential sizes: 1 tablespoon, 1 teaspoon, ½ teaspoon, ¼ teaspoon, and, somewhat unusually, ⅛ teaspoon. The spoons are oval, so all but the largest one fits inside even narrow spice jars. Because they’re flush with the handles, the spoons can be easily leveled off.[Buy on Amazon]
ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE
Year First Reviewed: 1997
Number of Wins:6
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Accurate, fast, and easy to use, this streamlined instant-read thermometer is an absolute essential for cooking, baking, and grilling. In the two decades since we reviewed it, ThermoWorks has continued to update and improve upon the original model. The current iteration is the fastest yet.As its name indicates, it takes just 1 second to measure a temperature. It also features a rotating screen that’s handy for righties and lefties temping at a variety of angles and automatic backlight and wake-up functions. [Buy on ThermoWorks]
OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner
Year First Reviewed: 1999
Number of Wins: 5
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This model’s basket is spacious, so you can clean piles of greens, herbs, or leeks in very few batches. There’s good clearance under the basket to collect runoff (you don’t want your clean greens sitting in dirty water). Since we originally tested it in 1999, the model has been improved upon: it now features an improved brake and a rounder bowl shape. Want a more compact version? We also tested and recommend its little sibling, the OXO Good Grips Little Salad and Herb Spinner.[Buy on Amazon]
Cuisinart Custom 14 Cup Food Processor
Year First Reviewed:2009
Number of Wins:2
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Our longtime favorite excels with power; precision; and a compact, streamlined design that takes up less space than most food processors, despite having one of the largest capacities. It comes with just three blades for chopping, shredding, and slicing that can all be stored inside the bowl, with no accessories box to deal with.[Buy on Amazon]
Our team will keep testing as new models and new categories of equipment hit the market. If anything else warrants a spot on this list, we'll let you know.
