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
Wiki Commons by Fluous
What is this small appliance that looks like it could be a medieval torture device.
Immersion blender
Stand mixer
Hand pump
Air pump
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

Microplane
Wiki Commons by Donovan Govan
This device was originally meant for wood workers. What is it?
Hand grater
Microplane grater
Hand slicer
Macroplane
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

Bread knife
Wiki Commons by WLU
Do you know what kind of knife this is?
Cheese knife
Butcher knife
Bread knife
Paring knife
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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Garlic press
Wiki Commons by Jonatan Svensson Glad
Can you name this odd-looking tool?
Bean masher
Potato ricer
Microplane
Garlic press
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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).

Sieve
Wiki Commons by Donovan Govan.
What is the name of this straining tool?
Colander
Sieve
Slipper
Vortex
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

Potato masher
Wiki Commons by Donovan Govan.
Do you know what this hand tool is called?
Potato masher
Potato ricer
Potato beater
Potato boiler
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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Grain mill
Youtube via survivalresources
Can you name this gadget that helps chefs grind grains?
Sieve
Steamer
Food processor
Grain mill
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

Rotary grater
Wiki Commons by Brownretail
What kind of grater is this?
Rotary grater
Hand grater
Cheese mill
Box grater
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

Zesting citrus
Wiki Commons by Dvortygirl
Do you know the purpose of this utensil?
Stirring soup
Drying lettuce
Zesting citrus
Juicing limes
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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Spiralizer
Wiki Commons by jessica mullen
This tool looks like a large pencil sharpener. What is it called?
Spinner
Sifter
Sieve
Spiralizer
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

Perforated spoon
Youtube via OpenSkyVideos
What would a chef call a metal spoon with holes in it?
Strainer spoon
Perforated spoon
Slotted spoon
Mixing spoon
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

Mandoline
Wiki Commons by Beeblebrox
Can you identify this utensil that is essential for consistency?
Mandoline
Grater
Slide slicer
Waffler
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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Sauce gun
Youtube via JB Prince
When it comes to perfect portioning, chefs use this device. What is it?
Whipple
Handle spout
Sauce gun
Squeeze release
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

Pointed oyster knife
Wiki Commons by :Steven Walling
What is the name of this shucking tool?
Fish scaler
Pointed oyster knife
Bone tweezer
Truffle slicer
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

Meat thermometer
Wiki Commons by USDA
Many kitchens have this tool. Can you name it?
Infuser
Egg timer
Meat thermometer
Pocket knife
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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Whipped cream maker
Wiki Commons by Miia Ranta
You've probably seen this tool in cooking contest shows. Do you know what it's called?
Onion press
Whipped cream maker
Dairy press
Oxy-nator
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

Curved extra fine tip tweezers
Youtube via Kitchen Alchemy from Modernist Pantry
Can you name this utensil that is often used for plating?
Skinny tongs
Thin offset pincers
Curved extra fine tip tweezers
Pinch platers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

Chocolate Spatula
Youtube via Howcast
This item will be in any pastry chef's kitchen. Can you name it?
Candy scraper
Sugar cone
Milk mixer
Chocolate spatula
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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
Wiki Commons by Jcvamp
Do you know for what this spatula is used?
Fish
Chocolate
Eggs
Pastries
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

Shrimp cleaning tool
Youtube via DESIGN INSIDER
What is the name of this odd-looking utensil?
Meat thermometer
Mandoline
Skrimp tweezers
Shrimp cleaning tool
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

Truffle slicer
Youtube via Bryan Willis
This tool might not look like much, but it's essential in any chef's kitchen. What is it?
Handoline
Frog skinner
Truffle slicer
Cook top scraper
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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Pepper mill
Pixabay / Alexas_Fotos
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
Salad spinner
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

Ice cream scoops
Wiki Commons by Evan-Amos
While these used to have only one function, chefs are finding new ways to use them. What are they?
Ice cream scoops
Ladles
Potato mashers
Melon ballers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

Cube grater
Youtube via DKSH NZ
It looks like a box, but it's actually a grater. Do you know what it's called?
Microplane
Cube grater
Citrus tool
Mandoline
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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Citrus cutter
Youtube via 9malls
It may look medieval, but it has a purpose. What is it?
Can opener
Onion chopper
Citrus cutter
Cheese cutter
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

Grill brush
Youtube via Char-Broil Grills
Can you name this cleaning tool?
Grill brush
Toothbrush
Counter brush
Floor brush
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

Bain-marie
Wiki Commons by grongar
Do you know this tool that heats food slowly?
Whipple pot
Double handler
Bain-marie
Stock pot
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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Cake tester
Youtube via Food52
Most pastry chefs have at least one of these. What is it?
Cake tester
Aeration device
Infuser
Pressure release valve
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

Sea urchin cutter
Youtube via Chas Tohiariki
You might find this in a seafood restaurant's kitchen. Do you know what it is?
Nut cracker
Sea urchin cutter
Vice
Check handler
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

Pocket torch
Wiki Commons by Hustvedt
Can you name this tool that most fine dining chefs own?
Whipped cream maker
Pearler
Fermentation crock
Pocket torch
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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
Youtube via Tech Insider
Do you know what this tool is called?
Melon baller
Sieve
Caviar dropper
Infuser
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

Fish scaler
Wiki Commons by chris_73
What is the name of this tool?
Oyster knife
Fish scaler
Infuser
Shrimp cleaner
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

Basket skimmer
Youtube via Maven Supplies
This is usually used for fried foods. What is it?
Basket skimmer
Ladle
Tongs
Slotted spoon
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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Olive oil
Pixabay / margenauer
Do you know what the item in this bottle is?
Olive oil
Whipped cream
Syrup
Juice
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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!

Smoking gun
Youtube via Williams Sonoma
Can you identify this utensil?
Salad dryer
Smoking gun
Sauce gun
Fish scaler
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

Kitchen scale
Wiki Commons by Batholith
Do you know what this is called?
Meat flipper
Meat grinder
Kitchen scale
Meat thermometer
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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Coil whip
Wiki Commons by solart
What is this whisk called?
Flat whisk
Blended whip
Tapper
Coil whip
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

Foamer
Youtube via cappuccinable
This tool might look like an immersion blender, but it is so much more. What is it?
Whisk
Foamer
Microwhisk
Flip whip
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

Marrow spoon
Wiki Commons by Metropolitan Museum of Art
This tool might look weird, but it has a purpose. Do you know what it is called?
Marrow spoon
Tooth pick
Cake tester
Meat thermometer
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

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Butcher's twine
Youtube via cappuccinable
Can you identify this chef's kitchen essential?
Spider silk
Floss
Moss
Butcher's twine
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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