Must-have gadgets for the elegant chef

Entertain In StyleIf your cooking rivals Giada de Laurentiis and your entertaining skills, Martha Stewart, then chances are you qualify as an elegant chef. To make sure your tools match your style, ditch your battered, well-used whisk and coffee pot for these must-have kitchen gadgets that are perfect for the elegant chef. Food prep Food processor/blender/mixer

Speedy and effective food prep is one of the top tasks of every elegant chef, so it's no wonder that Lisa Schroeder, chef, author and restaurateur of Mother's Bistro in Portland, Oregon, includes these three gadgets on her must-have list. And, while it's nice if you can afford all three tools separately, for the elegant chef on a budget, the Ninja Kitchen System is up to the task. For just $160, this tool looks just as sleek as similar gadgets, but it comes with attachments for blending, mixing and processing. Plus, it passed with flying colors on ABC's 20/20 "Infomercial Nation" as a top-performing blender.

Elegant recipe idea: Blender cheesecake >> Stainless steel salad spinner

To quickly transfer your freshly spun salad from the kitchen to the table, pick up an OXO stainless steel salad spinner. After using the single-hand operation spinner to free your greens of excess moisture, simply dump the salad from the internal basket to the external bowl, add any additional fixings and deliver the finished product to your guests. Who doesn't like a gadget that makes salad prep more efficient?

Read more: Making super salads >>After-dinner treats Single-serve coffee maker

While a basic coffee pot certainly does the job for after-dinner coffee, the elegant chef may want to offer her guests personalized beverage options. Single-serve coffee makers with flavored capsules can deliver everything from basic black coffee to caramel macchiatos and café mochas. If you're in the market for a coffee maker with style, look no further than the Nescafe Dolce Gusto Circolo – the winner of the International Forum Design award. Bonus feature? This cool-looking coffee maker can make cold coffee drinks as quickly as it makes the hot stuff.

How to make the best coffee >> Whipped cream whipper

No chef wants to pull out a can of Reddi Whip in front of her guests when it's time to top desserts with whipped cream. Instead, make your own whipped cream quickly and easily with the iSi Easy Whip Cream Whipper. You don't have to stick to basic whipped cream, either. By adding flavorings to the cream before you mix it, you can make your dessert topping even more decadent. The white or brushed aluminum containers also look classy enough to set on any dinner table.

Elegant recipe idea: Strawberry whipped cream >>Handy kitchen tools Sensor trashcan

The elegant chef spends a lot of time chopping veggies, cutting meat and throwing the cuttings away. If you're always lifting and lowering the trashcan lid, chances are you're spending lots of time washing your hands, too. Cut down on the hassle by picking up a sensor trashcan that will automatically lift its lid when it detects motion. The sensor trashcans from iTouchless come in a variety of sizes and finishes to fit perfectly into any kitchen.

Watch: Chef recommended kitchen gadgets

Jordan Executive Chef Todd Knoll recommends four must-have kitchen gadgets.

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