Description

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Leading kitchen gear experts Lisa McManus and Hannah Crowley share what they really think about Dutch ovens, air fryers, grills, and more in this indispensable handbook for gear heads everywhere

The perfect gift for fledgling cooks, newlyweds, cooking nerds, and new homeowners

Ever wondered why your knives dull so quickly? Whether it's safe to stand next to a running microwave? If compostable dinnerware is really better for the environment?

With its combination of straight-talking, science-backed advice from professional equipment reviewers Lisa McManus and Hannah Crowley, practical how-to guides, engrossing trivia, and beautiful full-color photography, Kitchen Gear is an indispensable source of collected wisdom you won't find anywhere else.

• Hannah and Lisa's unfiltered takes on which pieces are (and aren't) worth it: Spring for the high-end blender; rethink that knife block. And did you know you can make pour-over coffee with a dollar-store funnel?

• Improve your cooking with 100+ recipes that teach you what your gear is capable of: Use your sheet pan to make the easiest-ever layer cake. Make crispy fried garnishes in your microwave. Plus, use common tools in creative ways—fully-loaded nachos on the grill, anyone?
• Answers to all the hows, whys, and "wait, what?"s of your equipment: The question-and-answer format covers everything from frequently asked questions to real head-scratchers.
• Keep your tools in top condition: Season your pans the right way, de-stinkify silicone ice trays, and finally get that gunk off your toaster oven.
• Peek behind the scenes: Read all about the zany lengths Lisa, Hannah, and their team will go to for answers—from sawing coolers in half to programming knife-wielding robots. 
• Stock your kitchen with the best of the best: A buying guide points you to the top performers from America's Test Kitchen's rigorous reviews.

About the Author

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America's Test Kitchen publishes award-winning cookbooks along with Cook's Illustrated and Cook's Country magazines and produces public television's top-rated shows, America's Test Kitchen and Cook's Country. It is a very real 15,000-square-foot kitchen located in Boston's Seaport district and is home to more than 60 test cooks, editors, and tasting and testing experts.

Lisa McManus graduated from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism and worked at magazines and newspapers before joining America's Test Kitchen, where she is an executive editor for America's Test Kitchen Reviews. She also co-hosts the YouTube series Gear Heads, hosts Cook's Illustrated's Equipment Review videos, and appears as the resident gadget expert on America's Test Kitchen on public television.

Hannah Crowley worked at newspapers, on farms, and in restaurants before joining America's Test Kitchen, where she is an executive editor for America's Test Kitchen Reviews. In addition to reviewing equipment for over a decade, she co-hosts Gear Heads and hosts Is It Bad? on YouTube.

Praise For…

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“Kitchen Gear: The Ultimate Owner's Manual is especially highly recommended for cooks who don't already have their kitchens outfitted with the latest and greatest gadgets. It will save these novices a lot of time in the kitchen as it recommends skillets that produce predictably easy results, ice cream makers that churn out superior blends, coffee makers that excel in high-quality flavor, and more. Many may be surprised to learn that the right tool, even in a kitchen environment, will make all the difference not only in ease, but outcomes. Kitchen Gear is packed with expert tips on what is and is not useful in a kitchen. It should be the first book consulted when building a kitchen from scratch (once the walls are up).” —Midwest Book Review, February 2024

“When it comes to kitchen tool recommendations, I do not trust anyone implicitly. Luckily, Lisa and Hannah are the type of testers who show their work. They don’t just tell you what tools you need, but in signature ATK style, why they work and how to get the most out of them.”
—J. Kenji Lopez-Alt, author of The Food Lab and The Wok

“A cook without their kitchen gear is like a craftsman without their tools. This book is a breezy and bountiful guide to every tool you’ll need to make your way through the kitchen and cook like a pro.”
—Kevin O’Connor, host of This Old House

“Kitchen Gear is a reflection of what Lisa and Hannah are all about: getting to the bottom of the science behind cooking techniques and kitchen equipment and enjoying the process of learning, with the ultimate objective of empowering us, their readers, to cook and enjoy good food.”
—Michael J. Tarkanian, materials scientist at MIT