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Samin Nosrat's Kitchen Favorites

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Oct 1, 2025

Guest

Samin Nosrat

Samin Nosrat, the beloved chef behind Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, chats about her latest cookbook, Good Things. She shares how to maximize a tiny kitchen using efficient restaurant tricks and essential tools like the Y peeler and carbon steel pan. Samin emphasizes the power of condiments—think chili crisp and preserved lemon paste—to elevate simple meals. She also discusses rethinking entertaining to reduce stress, focusing on connection with guests rather than perfection in dishes.

31:38

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ANECDOTE

Tiny Kitchen, Restaurant Tricks

Samin lives in a very small house and optimized vertically, borrowing restaurant tricks like pot racks and speed racks.
She stacked parchment on a top shelf so she can pull sheets quickly during baking work.

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ADVICE

Keep Three Practical Knives

Keep three knives: a chef's knife, a serrated bread knife, and a paring knife with a bird's-beak shape for agility.
Prioritize keeping knives sharpened because sharpness matters more than price.

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ADVICE

Sharpen Knives At Home

Invest in a good sharpener so you actually maintain sharp knives instead of letting them go dull.
Samin recommends the Tormek electric home sharpener because it enforces correct angles and is easy to use.

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Samin explains why Good Things became a recipe book

04:07 • 3min

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Designing a tiny kitchen with restaurant tricks

07:31 • 2min

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Knife storage and magnetic bars

09:15 • 42sec

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Everyday essential tools and ergonomics

09:56 • 2min

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What knives normal people need and sharpening importance

12:07 • 46sec

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Tormek electric sharpener transforms at-home sharpening

12:53 • 4min

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When single-use tools are worth it

16:47 • 2min

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Immersion blender and mini chopper as compact workhorses

19:10 • 1min

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Kitchen gear people think they need but don't

20:30 • 2min

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Using condiments to keep cooking interesting

22:40 • 4min

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Spices, grinding, and storage tips

26:59 • 1min

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Preferred olive oils and what to look for

28:00 • 1min

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Rethinking entertaining to avoid burnout

29:30 • 2min

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Lightning-round: last thing bought and favorites

• Mentioned in 3 episodes

Good Things, Recipes and Rituals to Share with People You Love

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Samin Nosrat

#911

• Mentioned in 30 episodes

Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat

Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking

Samin Nosrat

Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat is a culinary guide that focuses on mastering the four essential elements of good cooking: salt, which enhances flavor; fat, which delivers flavor and generates texture; acid, which balances flavor; and heat, which determines the texture of food. Written by Samin Nosrat, this book bridges the gap between home and professional kitchens with its simple yet revolutionary philosophy. It includes 100 essential recipes, dozens of variations, and vibrant illustrations by Wendy MacNaughton. The book is designed to empower readers to become more confident and creative in the kitchen, regardless of their skill level.

Chef and cookbook author Samin Nosrat, best known for Salt Fat Acid Heat, joins us to talk about her new book Good Things—and how she keeps cooking joyful, even in a small home kitchen.

She shares the tools she relies on daily, the condiments that transform simple meals, and her approach to entertaining without burning out.

This episode covers:

How she organizes her tiny kitchen: Borrowing tricks from restaurant kitchens, Samin makes a small space efficient and inviting.
The essential knives and sharpeners she recommends: Good blades (and the right sharpener) make prep faster, safer, and more fun.
Tools she swears by for everyday cooking: From an immersion blender to a carbon steel pan, her kitchen MVPs do heavy lifting.
When single-use tools are worth it: A food mill or Japanese mandoline can feel niche but save time and improve results.
Condiments that elevate simple meals: Chili crisp, salsa macha, and preserved lemon paste turn basics into showstoppers.
Her philosophy on entertaining: It’s about connection, not perfection—and choosing dishes that don’t leave you stuck in the kitchen.

Also, Samin shared more tips for hosting a stress-free dinner party with Wirecutter kitchen writer Maki Yazawatrio.

Wirecutter Picks in Samin's Kitchen:

The Y peeler Samin reaches for daily: Kuhn Rikon Original Swiss Peeler
The sleek knife block in Samin’s small kitchen: Benchcrafted Mag-Blok
The spatula she can’t cook without: GIR Silicone Spatula
A handy and compact kitchen workhorse: Cuisinart Core Custom 4-Cup Mini Chopper

Other Products Samin Loves:

How she keeps pans spotless: Field Company Chainmail Scrubber
A fancy at-home knife sharpener: Tormek Knife Sharpener
Olive oil that supports a good cause: Seka Hills Olive Oil
Another olive oil Samin counts on: California Olive Ranch
A special condiment Samin loves: Kuali Salsa Macha

Samin says she also keeps a carbon steel pan, fish spatula, microplane, mandoline, immersion blender, and spice grinder in her kitchen for everyday use. Plus, a food mill for perfect mashed potatoes! Like us, she recommends home cooks start out with three basic knives: a chef’s knife, a serrated knife, and a paring knife. Here are Wirecutter’s picks for these handy kitchen staples.

The Best Carbon Steel Pan Made In Carbon Steel Frying Pan
The Best Fish Spatula: Winco Fish Spatula
The Best Microplane Grater: Microplane Premium Classic Series Zester
The Best Mandoline: Super Benriner
The Best Immersion Blender: Braun MultiQuick 7 Immersion Hand Blender MQ7035
The Best Food Mill: Oxo Good Grips Food Mill
The Best Coffee Grinder (for grinding spices): OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
Wirecutter's advice on how to build your own knife kit (along with picks for all three knife types Samin discusses)

Additional reading:

Samin Nosrat's Tips for Hosting a Stress-Free Dinner Party
The Best Olive Oil You Can Buy At the Store
Life’s Too Short for Bad Olive Oil
Build Your Own Knife Set

More Samin:

Instagram: /ciaosamin
Facebook: /samin.nosrat
Website: https://ciaosamin.com/
Podcast: https://homecooking.show/
Samin’s new book: Good Things

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The Wirecutter Show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel.Engineering support from Maddy Masiello and Nick Pitman. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Efim Shapiro, Rowan Niemisto, Sophia Lanman, and Sonia Herrero. Original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Elisheba Ittoop, and Diane Wong. Wirecutter’s deputy publisher and general manager is Cliff Levy. Ben Frumin is Wirecutter’s editor-in-chief. Hosted by Rosie Guerin, Caira Blackwell and Christine Cyr Clisset.

Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast

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