Can You Identify These Utensils You'd Find in a Chef’s Kitchen?

By: Lauren Lubas
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Can You Identify These Utensils You'd Find in a Chef’s Kitchen?
Image: Wiki Commons by â±®

About This Quiz

There are dozens of kitchen utensils and gadgets available on the market. We watch celebrity chefs use them all the time, and we think they are necessary for our kitchens. When you watch celebrity chefs work their magic on TV, you immediately think you need a Microplane in your life. Whether or not you use it in your cooking doesn't matter. The chef has it, and you must have it. If you love owning (and using) every kitchen gadget available, you have probably created the perfect chef's kitchen for yourself. You have utensils you may never have heard of before, but seeing a chef use those utensils has given you confidence in your cooking skills.

If you think you know a thing or two about what utensils belong in a chef's kitchen, we've found 40 that you should probably know. Let's see how good you are at identifying kitchen utensils and their uses. If you ace this quiz, you will prove that you are at the chef level, at least when it comes to knowing your kitchen gadgets and utensils.

Immersion blender What is this small appliance that looks like it could be a medieval torture device.
Immersion blender
Immersion blenders are a great tool that help chefs make sauces with the perfect consistency. Some households have them, but the ones in chef's kitchens are usually industrial-sized for the amount of food these chefs make.
Stand mixer
Hand pump
Air pump

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Microplane This device was originally meant for wood workers. What is it?
Hand grater
Microplane grater
That's right, graters were originally created for woodworking. The difference between a Microplane and a hand grater is the size of the grate. Microplanes grate very fine, which makes them perfect for spices, roots and hard cheeses.
Hand slicer
Macroplane

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Bread knife Do you know what kind of knife this is?
Cheese knife
Butcher knife
Bread knife
Bread knives can be spotted by their serrated edges and long blades. They are perfect for cutting bread that has a hard crust and a soft center. While many think they have to saw through the bread, applying pressure on an angle is the best way to cut it.
Paring knife

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Garlic press Can you name this odd-looking tool?
Bean masher
Potato ricer
Microplane
Garlic press
For those who don't like mincing garlic with a knife, chefs recommend the garlic press. They are especially helpful if you have a lot of garlic to mince for a single recipe (or for a single day's cooking).

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Sieve What is the name of this straining tool?
Colander
Sieve
You've probably seen chefs use this while they are making soups and other liquid-based dishes. This mesh straining system gets small particles out of liquids, and it also sifts flour and dry ingredients for baking.
Slipper
Vortex

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Potato masher Do you know what this hand tool is called?
Potato masher
The potato masher (or hand masher) is a tool used to pulverize boiled potatoes. While many use electric beaters for this task, doing it by hand gives you a better texture and consistency.
Potato ricer
Potato beater
Potato boiler

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Grain mill Can you name this gadget that helps chefs grind grains?
Sieve
Steamer
Food processor
Grain mill
While most chefs buy their flours from restaurant supply companies, some chefs like to go the extra mile and create their flour meal because it adds flair to the restaurant.

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Rotary grater What kind of grater is this?
Rotary grater
There are several different types of graters, and if you've ever been to Olive Garden, you have probably seen a rotary grater. They make grating hard cheeses easy business for chefs and servers alike.
Hand grater
Cheese mill
Box grater

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Zesting citrus Do you know the purpose of this utensil?
Stirring soup
Drying lettuce
Zesting citrus
Zesters are an essential tool for every chef. While some chefs don't mind using graters for zesting, others require a unique tool to ensure the perfect consistency of the zest they produce.
Juicing limes

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Spiralizer This tool looks like a large pencil sharpener. What is it called?
Spinner
Sifter
Sieve
Spiralizer
Vegetable spiralizers are all the rage these days. Not only do they help home cooks stay healthy, they help master chefs plate gorgeous spreads with ease. They look and function much like pencil sharpeners, except they cut the vegetables into thin strands.

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Perforated spoon What would a chef call a metal spoon with holes in it?
Strainer spoon
Perforated spoon
While many home cooks might not see the need for them, perforated spoons have many uses in a chef's kitchen. They are great for fishing out large ingredients from soups and stews or other liquids.
Slotted spoon
Mixing spoon

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Mandoline Can you identify this utensil that is essential for consistency?
Mandoline
Mandolines are great tools for every kitchen, and chefs use them in their prep work all the time. This is because mandolines cut food the exact same width every slice, and they do the job much faster.
Grater
Slide slicer
Waffler

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Sauce gun When it comes to perfect portioning, chefs use this device. What is it?
Whipple
Handle spout
Sauce gun
You may have seen these on a few cooking shows where restaurant workers are making things like pancakes. Each squeeze of the sauce gun trigger gives a chef the same amount of liquid to release either onto a plate or onto the cooktop.
Squeeze release

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Pointed oyster knife What is the name of this shucking tool?
Fish scaler
Pointed oyster knife
For chefs who work with a lot of seafood, this tool is essential. Oysters are notoriously difficult to shuck without making a mess of the shell, and the best way to do it correctly is with an oyster knife.
Bone tweezer
Truffle slicer

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Meat thermometer Many kitchens have this tool. Can you name it?
Infuser
Egg timer
Meat thermometer
If you don't have a meat thermometer in your kitchen, you are either extremely intuitive, or you don't cook frequently. Every chef has at least one meat thermometer in the kitchen. Many chefs have one for each type of meat.
Pocket knife

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Whipped cream maker You've probably seen this tool in cooking contest shows. Do you know what it's called?
Onion press
Whipped cream maker
Whipped cream is not easy to make. It's even more difficult to make while under pressure and the hot lights of a cooking set. That is usually why you see a chef's whip fall flat as it comes out of one of these tools.
Dairy press
Oxy-nator

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Curved extra fine tip tweezers Can you name this utensil that is often used for plating?
Skinny tongs
Thin offset pincers
Curved extra fine tip tweezers
When it comes to fine plating, various kinds of tweezers are used in the kitchen. They are perfect for adding delicate garnishes and toppings to beautiful meals. Remember, a chef's hands get dirty, and a pair of tweezers can make or break the plating situation.
Pinch platers

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Chocolate Spatula This item will be in any pastry chef's kitchen. Can you name it?
Candy scraper
Sugar cone
Milk mixer
Chocolate spatula
Chocolate can be a lot of fun to work with ... if you don't mind getting a little messy. Chocolate spatulas have many uses, including spreading the chocolate for tempering and creating even lines.

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Fish Spatula Do you know for what this spatula is used?
Fish
Fish spatulas are long and flat because fish are generally long and flat. Using a spatula that is too thin might break the fish that it is very delicate as it cooks. That is why nearly every chef has a fish spatula on hand.
Chocolate
Eggs
Pastries

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Shrimp cleaning tool What is the name of this odd-looking utensil?
Meat thermometer
Mandoline
Skrimp tweezers
Shrimp cleaning tool
Shrimp cleaning tools are meant to help chefs remove the vein that is found down a shrimp's back. If you don't clean this, the taste and texture of the shrimp will be affected. While a paring knife will do the job just fine, it takes considerably longer.

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Truffle slicer This tool might not look like much, but it's essential in any chef's kitchen. What is it?
Handoline
Frog skinner
Truffle slicer
Truffles are all the rage in high-end cooking. Many chefs dump truffles into a typical dish and tack on $20 to the price. A few truffle shavings are then put on the top of the meal. That's where this gadget comes in handy.
Cook top scraper

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Pepper mill This is often seen during serving, but it is also in the kitchen. Do you know what it's called?
Meat tenderizer
Vegetable spiralizer
Pepper mill
While many home cooks buy ground pepper, there is something to the aroma and coarseness of fresh ground pepper. For this reason, many chefs keep a pepper mill on hand, so they can have fresh ground pepper whenever they want.
Salad spinner

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Ice cream scoops While these used to have only one function, chefs are finding new ways to use them. What are they?
Ice cream scoops
Ice cream scoops have become more versatile over the past few years, as people realized that they could be used to portion out sticky or soft foods, such as mashed potatoes.
Ladles
Potato mashers
Melon ballers

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Cube grater It looks like a box, but it's actually a grater. Do you know what it's called?
Microplane
Cube grater
Cube graters are the perfect tool for prep work. They give chefs no-mess grating results, as all the gratings fall into the box. They are perfect for large grating jobs that need to be done before a dinner service.
Citrus tool
Mandoline

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Citrus cutter It may look medieval, but it has a purpose. What is it?
Can opener
Onion chopper
Citrus cutter
Citrus cutters and slicers are usually tools seen in a home cook's kitchen. However, when it comes to prepping a banquet or a large spread, these are excellent tools for any chef with a big workload.
Cheese cutter

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Grill brush Can you name this cleaning tool?
Grill brush
Whether a chef is cooking on a flat top grill or a charcoal grill, a grill brush is an essential tool in their kitchen. Not only will these remove any excess food particles, but they also help maintain the texture and flavor of foods that are about to go on the grill.
Toothbrush
Counter brush
Floor brush

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Bain-marie Do you know this tool that heats food slowly?
Whipple pot
Double handler
Bain-marie
A bain-marie is a pot that is basically a double boiler. It heats food by heating water underneath a cooking vessel (such as another pot or a glass bowl). While many believe this is only used to melt and heat chocolate, it has several other purposes, including the preparation of delicate sauces.
Stock pot

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Cake tester Most pastry chefs have at least one of these. What is it?
Cake tester
Those of us home cooks who take on cake making from time to time will generally use a toothpick to test whether a cake is done or not. However, for those who bake a lot, cake testers are an excellent tool for the kitchen.
Aeration device
Infuser
Pressure release valve

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Sea urchin cutter You might find this in a seafood restaurant's kitchen. Do you know what it is?
Nut cracker
Sea urchin cutter
Sea urchin isn't a common menu item in most restaurants. However, for those restaurants that take on fine dining and random delicacies, a sea urchin cutter is one of the tools a chef will always have on hand.
Vice
Check handler

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Pocket torch Can you name this tool that most fine dining chefs own?
Whipped cream maker
Pearler
Fermentation crock
Pocket torch
Though most home cooks won't have one of these in the utility drawer, chefs find them to be one of the essential tools available on the market. They are perfect for pastry chefs and expeditors alike.

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Caviar dropper Do you know what this tool is called?
Melon baller
Sieve
Caviar dropper
With the popularity of engineering food to look and feel like different foods, many chefs have taken to turning food into caviar. That is why this tool was invented. It helps chefs of fine dining restaurants create interesting dishes.
Infuser

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Fish scaler What is the name of this tool?
Oyster knife
Fish scaler
Any good seafood restaurant will have one of these on hand for a chef. Bringing in fresh seafood every day is important to maintain quality standards in a seafood restaurant ... and with fresh fish come a whole lot of scales.
Infuser
Shrimp cleaner

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Basket skimmer This is usually used for fried foods. What is it?
Basket skimmer
When you are frying foods, you have to be aware of the high heat in which your food is cooking. Your average utensil won't work, and you should always use utensils that are made of metal when working with hot oils. Chefs know this, and that is why you can find one of these in every chef's kitchen.
Ladle
Tongs
Slotted spoon

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Olive oil Do you know what the item in this bottle is?
Olive oil
Olive oil's functionality can seem endless at times, which is why it's such a staple in households all over the world. Due to its high demand, it's no wonder the world would have found a more convenient method with the spray can!
Whipped cream
Syrup
Juice

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Smoking gun Can you identify this utensil?
Salad dryer
Smoking gun
Getting a smokey flavor without having to light up a grill is difficult to do. However, when chefs want to smoke meats with minimal space, you can generally find one of these in their kitchen.
Sauce gun
Fish scaler

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Kitchen scale Do you know what this is called?
Meat flipper
Meat grinder
Kitchen scale
Most chefs and restaurant kitchens will have a kitchen scale on hand (at least one). This is because the restaurant business is all about consistency and portioning. It's important to give those who dine in a restaurant a dish that tastes exactly how they've come to expect it to taste each time they order it.
Meat thermometer

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Coil whip What is this whisk called?
Flat whisk
Blended whip
Tapper
Coil whip
Coil whips might look weird, but when a chef needs something whisked properly, this is the tool they turn to. You can find these near any prep station in most restaurants around the world.

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Foamer This tool might look like an immersion blender, but it is so much more. What is it?
Whisk
Foamer
While some people might think that anything turned into foam is gross, many chefs think that foaming is essential. It might be an outdated concept, but you can still find foamers in chef's kitchens.
Microwhisk
Flip whip

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Marrow spoon This tool might look weird, but it has a purpose. Do you know what it is called?
Marrow spoon
If you walk into any high-end steakhouse in the country, you will probably see marrow on the menu. It might sound disgusting, but the center of a bone has a lot of flavor and nutrients. To get it out of the bone, chefs use a marrow spoon.
Tooth pick
Cake tester
Meat thermometer

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Butcher's twine Can you identify this chef's kitchen essential?
Spider silk
Floss
Moss
Butcher's twine
Butcher's twine is perfect for any roast, stuffed item or whole poultry that is being cooked. You will usually find butcher's twine at the prep station of every chef's kitchen because it is such a necessary tool.

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