Ina Garten Says This Popular Kitchen Tool Is Overrated — Here's What She Recommends Instead

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There’s no shortage of kitchen tools and gadgets these days. From avocado savers to meat choppers, there’s seemingly a tool for every kitchen task imaginable. But unless you live in a mansion with endless kitchen storage, you have to pick and choose which gadgets will occupy your valuable drawer and cabinet space. Ina Garten agrees and even thinks one popular kitchen tool is overrated and unnecessary.

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Garten has a section on her website, Barefoot Contessa, called Ask Ina. Users can submit their most pressing culinary questions and Ina will reply with her best advice. One user asked, “Is there a kitchen tool you think is overrated?” to which Garten replied, “I never use a garlic press; I always have a knife handy and it does the same thing perfectly well.” Garten continued, “The fewer fancy gadgets you have, the more organized your kitchen will be.”

I’ll admit, I love my garlic press and I won’t be getting rid of it anytime soon but I can get behind Garten’s idea of less is more and agree that fewer gadgets will result in a more organized and easy-to-navigate kitchen.

If the garlic press is out, is there a specific knife Garten recommends instead? You bet there is. In another Ask Ina reply, Garten revealed she personally uses Wüsthof knives. “I use Wüsthof Classic knives and highly recommend them,” Garten writes on her website. “They are available online and at many major kitchen stores, such as Williams Sonoma and Sur La Table.” We also found the classic 6″ Chef’s Knife on sale on Amazon today.

WÜSTHOF Classic 6” Chef’s Knife

WÜSTHOF Classic 6” Chef’s Knife, Black
WÜSTHOF Classic 6” Chef’s Knife, Black

WÜSTHOF Classic 6” Chef’s Knife

Buy Now On Amazon $119.99


I know $119 still seems like a lot of money for a knife but when properly cared for, these knives will last a lifetime so try to look at it as an investment. After all, there is probably no other kitchen tool that will get as much use as a chef’s knife so it’s worth investing in a quality knife that will last.

Before you go, check out Garten’s best dinner recipes below:

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