‘Top Chef’ Season 22 Is Heating Up — With the Help of These Top Kitchen Tools

Top Chef is the show that first got me interested in cooking. How the contestants turn cooked lasagna into a restaurant-quality dish while fighting for stove space and dealing with time restrictions is beyond me. Even now, 22 seasons later, I’m as baffled as I am enthralled. 

While we can’t all walk into Whole Foods with no game plan and leave less than an hour later intent on making hand-cut beef tartare with flash-frozen deviled eggs and homemade potato chips, it’s entirely possible for us to stock our kitchens in such a way to make that happen should we wish it. From stand mixers to box graters, I rounded up some of the top tools used on this season of Top Chef. Don’t worry, no spoilers ahead. 

The Top Tools Used on This Season of Top Chef      

• KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Stand Mixer, $396, originally $450 at amazon.com 
• OXO Good Grips Box Grater, $17, originally $25 at amazon.com 
• Williams Sonoma Classic Stripe Towels, Set of 4, $25 at williams-sonoma.com
• OXO Angled Measuring Cups, Set of 3, $24 at williams-sonoma.com
• John Boos Block Reversible Wood Cutting Board, $125 at amazon.com
• Williams Sonoma Stainless Steel Nesting Mixing Bowls, Set of 5, $60 at williams-sonoma.com
• Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor, $200, originally $250 at amazon.com
• All-Clad Brushed Stainless Steel Stockpot, $400 at williams-sonoma.com
• Microplane Classic Zester, $15 at amazon.com
• KitchenAid Variable Speed Corded Hand Blender, $60 at amazon.com  

KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Stand Mixer

From dough to ice cream (made using this convenient bowl attachment), KitchenAid’s stand mixers have more than earned their keep in the first few episodes of season 22. As my mom has used the same model for more than 30 years, I can confirm that it pays for itself over time. Buy one now while it’s on sale and you will likely never have to buy another stand mixer again.     

OXO Good Grips Box Grater 

A box grater is useful for so much more than just cheese. In fact, when the chefs were tasked with making dough during a recent Quickfire Challenge, most used their graters to break down blocks of butter in seconds. You can also grate carrots for carrot cake, zucchini for fritters, and potatoes for hash browns. Grab this popular OXO model for less than $20 at Amazon. 

Williams Sonoma Classic Stripe Towels, Set of 4

You never see the contestants stray far from their kitchen towels. This set from Williams Sonoma impressed Food & Wine editors for its absorbency and design. They’re also machine washable, made without harmful substances, and available in 11 colors.       

OXO Angled Measuring Cups, Set of 3 

OXO’s Angled Measuring Cups also made an appearance in the Top Chef kitchen. As I own this set, I can personally attest to its utility. With three different sizes, measurement markings in both the Imperial and metric systems, and angled numbers — which allow you to see the liquid line from above — there’s no reason not to love these cups. 

John Boos Block Reversible Wood Cutting Board 

Every station also comes stocked with a wooden cutting board. If you’re in the market for one yourself, John Boos is an excellent choice at a more affordable price point. It also happens to be a favorite brand of Ina Garten, Giada De Laurentiis, Rachael Ray, and Food & Wine editors. This style is reversible, so you can cut vegetables on one side and display charcuterie on the other.     

Williams Sonoma Stainless Steel Nesting Mixing Bowls, Set of 5 

Stainless steel mixing bowls feature prominently in almost every episode across almost every season. The reason is their durability. Outside of this set’s convenient nesting design, they’re also capable of withstanding extreme temperatures and are dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup. I’m a big fan of the range of sizes included in this Williams Sonoma bundle of five. 

Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor

Cuisinart’s handy food processor sees just as much use in my kitchen as it does on the set of Top Chef. Maybe that’s a bit of an overstatement, but I really do use mine nearly every week for all sorts of cooking tasks. Whether I’m mixing pie dough or making chimichurri, this food processor has never let me down. I like that it’s large enough for big baking projects but not so large that it’s difficult to store.  

All-Clad Brushed Stainless Steel Stockpot 

Stainless steel stockpots are constantly bubbling away on the Top Chef stove. While I can’t say for sure if they’re all designed by All-Clad, this brand is hard to beat. Unlike nonstick cookware, stainless steel will last for decades in your kitchen without needing to be replaced.   

Microplane Classic Zester 

This seemingly unimportant tool has an impressively large and passionate following in the culinary community. Professional chefs and home cooks alike swear by Microplane’s ability to zest lemons, grate cheese, and so much more. Its quality is such that it’s a mainstay on Top Chef.  

KitchenAid Variable Speed Corded Hand Blender

While I’m not racing against a clock in my kitchen, I still value efficiency. I love having an immersion blender when I don’t feel like transferring boiling-hot soup from a pot to a full-size blender. With this near to hand, I can purée, whip, and emulsify without having to dirty another dish.