9 kitchen gadgets that reveal whether someone actually cooks or just pretends to
Ever walked into someone's kitchen and noticed that pristine KitchenAid mixer that clearly hasn't mixed anything since 2019?
We all know someone who talks a big game about their culinary skills but somehow always suggests takeout when you visit. Their kitchen tells a different story than their Instagram feed.
After years of dinner parties and helping friends move (where you really see what's in those kitchen drawers), I've noticed patterns. Certain gadgets separate the real cooks from those who just like the idea of cooking.
Here are nine kitchen tools that reveal the truth.
1. A well-worn wooden spoon
Show me someone with a stained, slightly burnt wooden spoon, and I'll show you someone who actually cooks.
That discoloration from tomato sauce? The slight char mark on the handle from when it got too close to the flame? These are battle scars from real kitchen action.
Meanwhile, the pretenders have that perfect set of bamboo utensils still bundled together with the original ribbon. They look great in that ceramic crock by the stove. But have they ever stirred a risotto for 20 minutes straight? Doubtful.
Real cooks have that one ugly wooden spoon they reach for every time. It's their kitchen workhorse, and they'd be lost without it.
2. A sharp chef's knife (emphasis on sharp)
Anyone can own an expensive knife. But is it actually sharp?
I once helped a friend prep for a dinner party. They pulled out this gorgeous Japanese knife that probably cost more than my monthly grocery budget. First tomato we tried to slice? The knife just squished it.
People who cook regularly know dull knives are dangerous and frustrating. They either sharpen their knives themselves or get them professionally done. They test the edge on paper or their thumbnail.
The pretenders? They have the fancy knife block but couldn't tell you the last time those blades saw a whetstone.
3. A splatter screen that's actually splattered
You know that mesh screen that goes over your pan when you're frying? If someone owns one and it's actually dirty, they cook.
This isn't the sexiest kitchen gadget. You won't see it featured in lifestyle blogs. But anyone who's cleaned oil splatter off their backsplash at midnight knows its value.
The people who really use their kitchens have these unglamorous problem-solvers. Their splatter screens have that permanent film that never quite comes off, no matter how much you scrub.
4. Multiple cutting boards in various states of wear
Does this person have one pristine bamboo cutting board? Or do they have a collection that includes the beat-up plastic one for onions, the wooden one with knife grooves for bread, and maybe that flexible mat for transferring chopped vegetables?
Real cooks accumulate cutting boards like runners accumulate shoes. Each has its purpose. They know which one to grab without thinking.
In my kitchen, I've got separate boards since going vegan. My partner has theirs for occasional non-vegan prep, and I've got my arsenal for everything else. The wear patterns tell you which ones get the workout.
5. A thermometer that lives in the drawer
Not displayed. Not still in its packaging. Just there in the drawer with the other everyday tools.
People who actually cook know that "until golden brown" and "cook until done" are useless instructions. They check internal temperatures. They know that 165°F isn't just a suggestion.
The thermometer might be digital or analog, instant-read or probe-style. Doesn't matter. What matters is that it's accessible and shows signs of use.
Bonus points if they have both a meat thermometer and a candy thermometer. That's someone who's attempted homemade caramel at least once and lived to tell the tale.
6. Mismatched storage containers
Instagram kitchens have those matching glass containers with bamboo lids, all perfectly sized and nested. Real cooking kitchens have chaos.
They've got the old yogurt container that's perfect for leftover soup. The takeout container that somehow became permanent storage. That one lid that fits nothing but they keep anyway, just in case.
People who cook regularly are constantly storing leftovers, prepped ingredients, and tomorrow's lunch. They grab whatever's clean and available. The aesthetics are secondary to function.
7. A kitchen scale with faded numbers
As food writer Michael Ruhlman argues, a scale is the most important tool in the kitchen that most Americans don't use.
But serious cooks? They weigh everything.
Not because they're on a diet. Because they know that "one medium onion" means nothing. Because they've learned that baking is chemistry and chemistry needs precision. Because they've tried to double a recipe using volume measurements and created a disaster.
Their scale shows wear. The numbers might be fading. There's probably some ancient flour in the crevices that won't come out. This is a tool that gets daily use, not something pulled out once a year for that ambitious macaron attempt.
8. A microplane grater that's actually sharp
Microplanes are like gym memberships. Everyone gets one with good intentions. Few actually use them regularly.
The cook's microplane is sharp enough to take your fingerprint off (ask me how I know). It lives somewhere accessible, not in that drawer of forgotten gadgets. There might be a permanent lemony smell to it.
They use it for citrus zest, fresh nutmeg, parmesan if they're not vegan like me, or ginger. They know that pre-ground nutmeg is a completely different creature than fresh-grated.
The pretender's microplane? Still has the plastic guard on it.
9. Tongs. Multiple pairs of tongs.
Why would anyone need three pairs of tongs?
Ask any line cook. Tongs are an extension of your hands in a hot kitchen. You need the long ones for grilling, the short ones for sautéing, the silicone-tipped ones for non-stick pans.
People who cook have tongs within arm's reach of the stove. They use them for everything. Pasta, salad, flipping vegetables, reaching that spice jar in the back of the cabinet.
I've mentioned this before but professional chefs often call tongs "my hands." That tells you everything about how essential they are to someone who actually cooks.
Wrapping up
You might have noticed something about this list. None of these items are particularly expensive or fancy. You won't find them featured in holiday gift guides or influencer unboxings.
That's the point.
Real cooking isn't about having the right Instagram props. It's about having the tools you actually use, worn down from countless meals, stained from that time the turmeric got everywhere.
So next time you're in someone's kitchen, look past the shiny gadgets. Check for the battle scars. See if their wooden spoon has stories to tell.
And if you recognized your own kitchen in this list? Congratulations. You're not pretending. You're the real deal.
Your mismatched containers and splattered screens prove it.
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