Anthony Bourdain Swore By These 5 Kitchen Items

New kitchen innovations never fail to grab our attention. While it’s tempting to buy up Amazon’s entire cookware section, sometimes, it’s best to go back to the basics. The late, great chef Anthony Bourdain was a kitchen minimalist who denounced single-use gadgets like the garlic press and instead recommended durable, professional-grade gear you’ll use for years to come. He believed in quality over quantity, and his kitchenware recommendations reflect that. Shop Bourdain’s favorite Microplane zester, bread knife, coffee grinder, and chef’s knife below.

Anthony Bourdain-Recommended Kitchen Items

Global 8-Inch Chef’s Knife

“As a starter chef knife, the Global is pretty good for a first-timer. It’s also beloved by other professionals,” Bourdain said in 2017. This 8-inch model is our favorite all-steel Japanese knife. It features a thin, lightweight blade and a slightly curved profile for extra precision. Get yours while it’s 37% off at Amazon.

Black + Decker 1-Touch Coffee Grinder

Are your meals lacking flavor? Follow Bourdain’s advice and snag a spice grinder, like this model from Black + Decker, for better flavor and aromatics. The fan-favorite tool has over 13,400 five-star ratings. While it’s labeled as a coffee grinder, it’s additionally capable of turning whole spices into fine powder.

Microplane Classic Zester

Made from surgical-grade stainless steel, this classic Microplane zester is a favorite among both experts and home cooks. It has over 9,500 five-star ratings at Amazon and is recommended by celebrity chefs like Bobby Flay, Martha Stewart, and, of course, Anthony Bourdain. The zester’s razor-sharp teeth are ideal for grating whole spices, citrus, hard cheeses, and more.

F. Dick ProDynamic Offset Serrated Knife

“I like the F. Dick offset serrated [knife],” Bourdain wrote in his memoir “Kitchen Confidential.” It has an angled blade to create leverage and protect your fingers during slicing. According to Bourdain, “It’s cheap, strong, and takes a beating. Perfect for bread, tomatoes — anything with a skin.”

Lodge Cast Iron Skillet, 12-Inch

When it comes to durability, you can’t do better than a classic Lodge cast iron skillet. In “Kitchen Confidential,” Bourdain wrote: “A proper sauté pan should cause serious head injury if brought down hard against someone’s skull. If you have any doubts about which will dent — the victim’s head or your pan — then throw that pan right in the trash.” Also loved by our editors for its consistency and low price, the skillet builds up a seasoning over time, becoming more nonstick the more it’s used; this also makes it a smart alternative to Teflon pans.