Confidence In the Kitchen Starts With These 7 Tools, According to Tamron Hall and Lish Steiling

Legendary chefs and expert vintners are descending upon South Carolina in a few short weeks for the inaugural Food & Wine Classic in Charleston. Expect amazing food — from Lowcountry cooking to classic diner dishes — excellent wine, and even better company. Among the talent slated to appear at the festival are talk show host and broadcast journalist Tamron Hall and award-winning culinary producer and chef Lish Steiling. Together, they hope to inspire boldness in the kitchen with their recently released cookbook, “A Confident Cook.” 

According to Hall and Steiling, acquiring the proper tools is the first step to building a solid foundation. Read on to shop the pieces they recommend for boosting confidence in the kitchen, including cast iron skillets, Vitamix blenders, and more, starting at $17.

Amazon Kitchen Tools for Cooking Confidently

• John Boos 18- x 12-Inch Wooden Cutting Board, $104
• John Boos Wooden Cutting Board, $49
• ThermoPro Digital Meat Thermometer, $17, originally $25
• Mac Knife 8-Inch Chef’s Knife, $145
• Made In Cookware 8-Inch Chef’s Knife, $159
• Lodge 12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet, $30, originally $50 
• Vitamix 5200 Blender, $430, originally $550    

John Boos 18- by 12-Inch Wooden Cutting Board

Both authors, along with Food & Wine product testers, recommend John Boos cutting boards. For Steiling, the lure is in its large size (18  x 12 inches). “There is nothing worse than trying to cut a bunch of vegetables and chasing them all around your kitchen because things are rolling off your cutting board,” she said. “It makes you feel uneasy and a bit nervous, not only for the meal but for your fingers. With a cutting board that is a bit larger, you can be sure that all of your hard work will stay on the board, not on the floor.” 

John Boos 16- by 10-Inch Wooden Cutting Board 

Hall’s John Boos board of choice is slightly smaller at 16- x 10-inches, but no less effective. It’s made of maple, which is a soft but sturdy wood that won’t dull your blades. Like all wooden cutting boards and tools, this pick requires a bit of maintenance, including regularly oiling the surface and never exposing it to a dishwasher. That being said, it’s durable, versatile, and beautiful. Yours will last for years if you take care of it.   

ThermoPro Digital Meat Thermometer

Another product Steiling recommends for kitchen confidence is a reliable digital meat thermometer since it “takes the guesswork out of cooking a multitude of proteins.” There are a wide variety of styles and price points to pick from – Steiling recommends the Thermapen One, our favorite model we tested — but this more affordable model by ThermoPro has the recommendation of more than 34,000 Amazon shoppers and is 40% off for a limited time.   

Mac Knife 8-Inch Chef’s Knife

As for knives, this is where Steiling chooses to invest her money. “It's worth it as it is something you use every day, multiple times a day,” she said. While she loves the balance and weight of this Japanese-made chef’s knife that an Amazon shopper called “razor-sharp,” she recommends experimenting with different brands until you find the one that works for you.    

Made In Cookware 8-Inch Chef’s Knife

For Hall, this experimentation led her to Made In’s 8-inch chef’s knife. Food & Wine editors agree that the knife is a worthwhile investment with its sharp edge, slip-resistant handle, and combination of German, French, and Japanese bladesmithing techniques. Naturally, even the sharpest of edges will eventually dull, which is why Hall sharpens hers daily before she cooks. “Dull knives are not only dangerous, but they also slow you down,” she cautions. 

Lodge 12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet 

Hall has been using her cast iron skillet for 20 years. Since her go-to brand, Karibe, is difficult to find, a great alternative is Lodge, which offers a 12-inch skillet with more than 16,700 five-star ratings at Amazon. It’s compatible with all cooktops, including induction stoves, campfires, and grills, and comes with a silicone sleeve to protect your hands from the heat. 

Vitamix 5200 Blender 

According to Hall, a blender is another important investment piece. She particularly loves the brand Vitamix for its impressive power, 10 speed settings, and large capacity. Whether you’re blending frozen fruit for smoothies or puréeing hot broth and boiled butternut squash for soup, it’s a product that pays dividends in the kitchen.