My husband is a chef at one of the most popular restaurants in our city, so you can bet everything we store in our cramped kitchen needs to make sense and work well. This viral bench scraper from OXO with over 18,000 Amazon reviews has become a mainstay in our meal prep routine for its ability to transfer ingredients from one surface or container to another, scrape food or debris clean off a cutting board, portion ingredients, level dry ones – the list spans as far as your culinary creativity goes.My husband encourages his cooks to keep this humble bench scraper on them at all times throughout service, and there are plenty of incentives to have one on hand at home as well.With a $15 price tag and a small space-saving fingerprint, the OXO Good Grips stainless steel multi-purpose scraper and chopper is a low-investment and high-reward kitchen tool that not enough people know about — but definitely should. I rely on it heavily for handling foodInstead of dulling our precious knife blades when clearing our cutting boards, we use this dedicated tool to help us clean (or sort ingredients) as we go. Its blade is sharp enough to cut cleanly through tough, fibrous veggies, but not so sharp that it requires a sheath for storage. Lifting food off a pan without it sticking is usually a tricky task for me. Like a spatula but a more precise, the OXO bench scraper neatly separates sticky food from a cookie sheet or pan (just be careful around cast-iron cookware, which does not thrive against stainless steel utensils). I use it to evenly portion ingredients or dishesGone are the days of ruining a perfectly nice pan of brownies or piping hot pizza with a dull knife that sinks into the dish without cutting it cleanly. The OXO bench scraper creates a precise, sharp edge for minimal crumbs and a more appetizing bite. Its flat design also facilitates cutting at unusual angles or from right above, making it ideal for dishes of all shapes and consistencies. What I love is that its handle is designed to sit high above a piping hot dish, eliminating burns. What’s more is that it’s got a neat built-in measuring stick in quarter-inch increments to evenly portion out dough. My chef husband is in his pie era, and while he usually bakes without recipes (vibes only!), he documents the amount of dough he uses per pie to be able to recreate or adjust it at a later date.It’s beyond comfortable to useMy goal is to always enter some form of flow state in the kitchen, pausing infrequently to take breaks. Cooking gets hands clammy, and thankfully, its rubber grip prevents any slipping due to moisture, so I don’t necessarily have to pat my hands dry after every step. It’s also got a pillowy texture to it, which feels remarkably comfortable to hold for extended periods and against tough and stubborn ingredients.It’s not a gimmickThere are countless new gizmos and gadgets on the market that seem cool but don’t do a whole lot (or break down after a few uses). Not only has this powerhouse of a kitchen tool withstood the test of countless homemade meals and dinner parties over the last several years, but it does what it promises to do, and then some. For the price, it doesn’t get more reliable of a device you’ll find yourself using multiple times a day. There are countless new gizmos and gadgets on the market that seem cool but don’t do a whole lot (or break down after a few uses). Not only has this powerhouse of a kitchen tool withstood the test of countless homemade meals and dinner parties over the last several years, but it does what it promises to do, and then some. For the price, it doesn’t get more reliable of a device you’ll find yourself using multiple times a day. The original version of this story was published on HuffPost at an earlier date.Wondering if the OXO bench scraper belongs in your kitchen? Check out these reviews from thrilled shoppers:“Great quality like every other OXO thing I own. Has been a lifesaver when making rolls, and when frosting cakes. I love this thing. The blade bit is a good size and thickness, the handle is thick and sturdy, it is easy to clean and store, and the price is pretty good for what you get!” — Bab A.“I’ve wanted one for a long time and finally got it! The handle is comfortable, and the weight is just right.Now I can scoop up copped up veggies for salads and stews in a jiff. 100% recommended.” — TheRedHead“I should have bought one of these years ago! We cook food for most meals and I generally do most of the chopping of everything. Having a scraper/chopper makes moving vegetables (or anything else) quick and easy. This is a necessity to easily transfer piles of vegetables to a heated stainless steel or cast iron pan without dropping half of them on the way. I use the sharp blade to clean up any larger pieces before transferring food. While I wouldn’t use this to cut a pile of vegetables, it is sharp enough to cut one or two if nothing else is available. The OXO grip on the handle ensures the scraper is not dropped and ensures a comfortable grip and hold.” — The Robin’s Nest“This little gadget’s been with me for over a decade. I still use it multiple times a week. I use it to cut bread dough and pastry, scrape the sticky dough off of my cutting board, transfer cut-up fruit to a bowl, as well as transfer diced and sliced veggies to the stove. I’m sure, there might be other brands out there with a tempting price tag, but I trust OXO products and their quality is hard to beat.” — GivingOurTwoCents“I have found this to be the best scraper that I have ever purchased. It is well made from stainless steel and multi-useful. I can lift the thinnest dough as well as separate dough. I can lift freshly baked cookies. I can mash garlic. Smash! Smash! Smash! I can transport chopped items from my cutting board with this bench scraper. This is a must have in anyone’s kitchen! It has a special place in my kitchen and it has become my best friend.” – Lilly Margo S.Want to see some other cooking tools that real chefs recommend? Check out a few of the must-have kitchen essentials previously rounded up by former shopping writer Kristen Adaway:AmazonA julienne peelerNew York-based chef Courtnee Futch named the julienne peeler as one of her most-loved kitchen tools. The handheld device has serrated teeth and is designed to create consistently shaped ribbons and thin strips out of vegetables. "When I'm looking for a way to garnish a dish or quickly prepare some gorgeous thinly sliced veggies for even cooking, I turn to the julienne peeler in a hurry. Because I clean as I go, I may have already washed my cutting board when I remember I'd like to add some shredded scallion, or carrots. It's easy to use and a great tool for knife skill beginners," she said.AmazonKuhn Rikon Colori paring knifeAccording to Maya Ferrante, former at chef Pecking House in New York, this paring knife is as great for its vibrant color as it is functionality. "This is a super sharp paring knife that holds edge and is perfect for everyday use. I'm a sucker for fun vibrant colors (also why I love GIR products) so again, added bonus for this knife. I have a bunch of them, straight and serrated, and they're so handy for everyday peeling fruit, slicing bread and cheese and chopping vegetables. They are really lightweight and the handles are super comfy," she said. The all-purpose knife features a stainless steel blade with nonstick coating and it even comes with a matching sheath to protect it while not in use. It comes in 14 colors, including green, purple, red, dark gray and blue.AmazonMicroplane classic zesterWhether you're practicing recipes for the holidays or just looking to make grating easier, this zester Ferrante uses is exactly what you need. "This is our go-to in the house for grating parmesan. It's also super handy for grating fresh nutmeg and easily zesting citrus. When I really don't feel like taking out chopping board and knife, using this tool instead is a quick way to grate garlic and ginger into recipes," she said. The blade on the zester is designed to specifically take the flavor from fruit rinds without bringing the bitterness with it. It comes in an array of colors like black, yellow, light blue, orange, red and purple.