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"  1. Citrus Reamer  Forget everything else; if it&amp;#039;s citrus juice you&amp;#039;re after, this is the thing you want. Easy to use and clean, this thing finds all the juice. Keep it on hand for any recipe that calls for fresh squeezed juice, cocktails, and even a shot of morning OJ. Just beware; you&amp;#039;ll need to fish out the seeds. Buy it  here and use it when making  citrusy desserts! 2. Large Chef&amp;#039;s Knife  Most beginning cooks are more comfortable with a small knife, but the sooner you learn to handle a larger, 8 - 10&amp;quot; high-carbon steel knife, the better your knife skills will be. Big knives also mean faster work, easier prep, and increased efficiency. Basically, it&amp;#039;s your new best cooking friend. Buy it  here and use it when cutting  cauliflower! 3. Sharp Paring Knife  After all that talk on the importance of a good big knife, you&amp;#039;ll also want a nice, dangerously sharp paring knife. It&amp;#039;s great for slicing softer foods, precision work, peeling apples and potatoes, and trimming. There are a host of affordable ones out there; great options include ceramic and high-carbon steel blades. Paring knives generally aren&amp;#039;t forever knives, so get whatever is affordable and feels good. Buy it  here and use it when prepping  kale salads! 4. Microplane Grater  This is THE grater. Precise, sharp, and perfect. Use the fine grater for precision zesting, as well grating everything from spices to Parmesan. Pair it up with a flat course grater and you can cover all your grating needs without that bulky metal box. Buy it  here and use it when zesting toppings for  chocolate cakes! 5. Slotted Spoon  A decent slotted spoon can do a lot in the kitchen &amp;amp;#151; everything from retrieving poached eggs to fishing out dumplings to straining. Along with a plain old large spoon, this is a go-to utensil. Buy it  here and use it when serving  snacks! 6. Silicone Spatula  This is for all you bakers out there. The precise cut of a good silicone spatula allows you to scrape out every ounce of batter (and that means less clean up and/or more for your mouth). Heat-tolerant silicone is also perfect for fluffy scrambled eggs and saut\u00E9ing in general. Buy it  here and use it when making  brownies! 7. Mesh Strainer  Sure, it&amp;#039;s a strainer that&amp;#039;s just right for smooth soups and clear broth, but it also doubles as a colander and steaming basket. Any tool that saves space is a necessity in my book. Buy it  here and use it when serving  pasta! 8. Metal Tongs  In the kitchen, tongs do it all. They can help you master the French toast flip, turn meats, retrieve noodles from boiling water, and even come in handy when you need to fish a burning bit of toast out of the back of the oven. Buy it  here and use them when serving  kale salad! 9. Y-Shaped Peeler  In selecting a peeler, look for quality. You want a sharp blade that peels smoothly &amp;amp;#151; fighting with a peeler can be a fast track to peeling off your finger instead of a potato. Next, forgo the typical straight model for a Y-shaped one. This shape offers more versatility, allowing you to peel carrots with aplomb, while also taking down monster winter squash and giant yams. Buy it  here and use it while  peeling vegetables! 10. Whisk  Though a fork can work wonders in a pinch, with a stiff stainless steel whisk you can make the fluffiest whipped cream, velvety aioli, and great ganache. Besides the obvious baking uses, whisks are also ideal for a smooth roux (hello mac and cheese) and mixing dry ingredients. Buy it  here and use it when making  mac and cheese! 11. Kitchen Shears  Kitchen shears are scissors you can wash. These essential kitchen wonders allow you to mince herbs, cut chocolate, and shred chicken. Get some, and cut through everything standing in between you and culinary greatness. Buy it  here and use it while prepping  chicken! 12. Bread Knife  Admittedly, the bread knife is an incredibly specialized tool. The thing is, if you ever want to slice a loaf of bakery-fresh crusty bread (or a bagel), you&amp;#039;re going to want a good serrated knife on hand. Besides perfecting its sole use, the bread knife makes quick and easy work of sliced tomatoes too. Buy it  here and use it while slicing crostinis! Elizabeth Stark is a food writer with a passion for seasonal food, great desserts, and inadvisable wine pairings. Read more on her blog,  Brooklyn Supper.  Follow Elizabeth on  Twitter,  Pinterest, and  Facebook. Photo Credit: Elizabeth Stark "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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