Shopping online for kitchen equipment offers a great selection, competitive prices and, oftentimes, product information that's more thorough than what you'd get at your local department store or big-box home store. Here are some of the Internet's best resources for buying kitchen equipment online.
The retail division of King Arthur Flour is the definitive source for all things baking-related, from equipment to ingredients. Here's where you'll find bread machines, food processors and waffle irons, as well as specialty baking tools like a brotform (a coiled cane basket for rising German-style bread), or cookie scoops in multiple sizes. A host of recipes and online baking classes (free!) round out the offerings on this site.
Since 1946, New York City chefs in need of a new saute pan or a mandoline would head for Bridge Kitchenware in Manhattan's East Side. This year, the owners are closing the New York City store, but luckily for New York's culinary community, as well as the rest of us across the country, they'll be maintaining their Web site. Geared towards the professional chef, Bridge offers high-end, professional quality kitchen equipment. The product listings have little, if any, descriptions, and the appliances selection is limited, but it's a great source for bakeware, cookware, gadgets and cutlery.
Reader reviews and a star rating system will help narrow down your decisions, and the gift guide offers ideas for such recipient as "Chef with Everything" or "Gadget Guru." The produce selection focuses on higher-end brands.
Helpful features of this site include buying guides for nearly every product type imaginable that offer detailed information on features to look. The fun interactive selection guide helps you choose the best piece of equipment for your needs. Prices are competitive, and there's a range of manufacturers and price points to choose from.
Philadelphia-based Fante's is one of the oldest cookware stores in the country, and while their Web business isn't as speedy (delivery takes 1 to 2 weeks) as other online resources, they have a well-edited assortment of hard-to-find products, and great background information. This is where to go if you're looking for, say, an ableskiver pan or a Turkish coffee pot. The site boasts a wealth of detailed instructions and information about using various tools.
If you liked the look of the skillet you saw Alton Brown using on Good Eats, you can probably find it here. The Food Network's online store is organized so you can search by show, host, product or brand. Of course, the store also offer cookbooks and products that are branded or endorsed by the channel's celebrity chefs.
The online storefront of this Seattle-based kitchenware chain is nearly as fun as the actual stores. It's a great resource for gift ideas, since new, seasonal and occasion-based products are all organized into easy shopping on the home page. From basic cookware and cutlery to highly specialized gadgets and tools, this site is well-organized and easy to shop. Check the sale section often for great deals.
This comprehensive site is a stalwart for cooking equipment and tools. The number of offerings in any given category are limited to a couple of well-chosen brands, and prices tend towards the high end. A special section for kids' cooking offers videos, products and recipes geared toward chefs-in-the-making, and there is also a vast section of recipes, techniques and how-tos.
