6 kitchen tools that will help you make restaurant-grade meat at home
A pair of Bear Paws for handling barbecue.
A meat thermometer that takes out the guesswork.
"Guessing at the done-ness of your meat is for amateurs," Davison says.
Instead, she recommends an instant-read thermometer to cook the steak exactly how you like. The meat will continue to cook as it rests, meaning the temperature you measure when you remove it from the oven will climb five to 10 degrees by serving time.
The Thermapen Mk4 has a display that rotates automatically so that you can read it in any position. It's also both water-resistant and gives easy-to-read temperature measurements in two seconds.
Davison recommends: ThermoWorks Thermapen Mk4 ($135.60)
A quality boning knife.
For trimming silver skin from tenderloins or removing the breast from a whole bird, a chef's knife won't cut it.
Davison says you need a boning knife that's at least six inches long. It will let you maneuver easily around joints and bones.
Davison recommends: The Victorinox 6-inch Fibrox Pro Flexible Boning Knife
An extremely sharp butcher knife for carving and slicing.
If you want to cut an expensive roast into clean slices, you'll need a carving knife, Lancaster says.
The one by Victorinox features a long, stainless steel blade that was ice tempered (or frozen) when it was made, meaning it stays sharper for longer. It also has an easy-to-grip handle.
Lancaster recommends: The Victorinox 12-inch Fibrox Pro Granton Edge Slicing Carving Knife ($54.65)
A sous vide machine that cooks meat evenly.
Sous vide is a method of cooking that involves heating food in a temperature-controlled water bath.
Sous vide machines ensure that meat and seafood are cooked at the exact right temperature, Lancaster says. Because vacuum-sealing prevents moisture loss, the food can be held in the bath for hours without parching or overcooking.
Connecting to your smartphone, the Anova One circulates water around the pot, ensuring a consistent temperature (and doneness to your preference) throughout.
Lancaster recommends: The Anova One Bluetooth Precision Cooker ($149)
A cast iron skillet that retains heat
"A cast iron skillet is the best way to cook a steak indoors," Davison says. "It's the only way to get that dark, steakhouse-style crust."
The Lodge Classic Cast Iron Skillet is great for roasting larger cuts of meat because it heats up more evenly than any other skillet ATK has tested.
Davison recommends: The Lodge Classic Cast Iron Skillet ($37.13)
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