Four Kitchen Staples That Earn Their Counter Space

Every kitchen eventually fills with gadgets that seemed like a good idea at the time. The ones worth keeping tend to share a few traits: they do a job you genuinely repeat, they are easy to clean, and they still feel good to use a year later.

These four are long-standing favorites with a loyal following. None of them is flashy, and that is exactly the point.

A multi-cooker for busy weeknights

If you cook at home regularly, a multi-cooker can replace several single-purpose appliances. It pressure cooks beans and stews in a fraction of the usual time, slow cooks on days you are out, and makes dependable rice. The Instant Pot Duo is the model most people picture when they hear the name, and its seven functions cover most everyday cooking.

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Instant Pot

Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1

A multi-cooker that handles pressure cooking, slow cooking, rice, steaming and more in a single pot.

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A skillet you will keep for life

A cast iron skillet is the opposite of a gadget. It sears, roasts, bakes cornbread and goes from stovetop to oven without complaint. Lodge’s 10.25-inch skillet arrives pre-seasoned, and with simple care, meaning a quick rinse, thorough drying and a thin coat of oil, it gets better with use.

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Lodge

Lodge 10.25-Inch Cast Iron Skillet

A pre-seasoned, American-made skillet that goes from stovetop to oven and can last for decades with basic care.

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A faster way to better salads

Soggy, wet greens are the quickest way to a disappointing salad. A good salad spinner fixes that in seconds. The OXO Good Grips spinner is a favorite because the pump handle works with one hand and the brake button stops the basket when you are done.

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OXO

OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner

A pump-action spinner with a brake button that dries washed greens quickly with one hand.

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A slower, nicer morning coffee

Pour-over brewing is simple, quiet and rewarding. The Chemex has barely changed in decades, and its thick paper filters are known for producing a clean, bright cup. It also looks beautiful left out on the counter.

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Chemex

Chemex Classic Pour-Over Glass Coffeemaker

An iconic pour-over brewer known for a clean, bright cup of coffee and a good-looking glass carafe.

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How to choose what to keep

• Buy for the meals you really cook, not the meals you imagine cooking.
• Prefer tools with few parts. Fewer parts means less to wash and less to break.
• If it will live on the counter, make sure you like looking at it.
• Check the size against your cabinet or shelf before you order.

Prices and availability change often, so check the current details at the retailer before you buy.