People always ask me what my favorite kitchen gadget is. It's a fair question, considering I own a kitchenware shop, I live and breathe this stuff, and I'm actually a bit of a gadget whore. But to me, it's much like choosing my favorite child out of thousands of progeny; I tend to waffle a bit, if only in the name of self-preservation. That said, a friend recently challenged me, suggesting I wouldn't be able to write about my favorite gadgets in less than 5,000 words. It may not surprise you to hear that I had to throw down the gauntlet, of course, responding much like a seventh-grade boy in the face of a dare—thankfully, this one has nothing to do with exposing myself to oncoming traffic.

So, here we have it, Ben Salmon's favorite gadgets. These are the items I gravitate to first in my own kitchen, the ones that continue not to be replaced by the newest, latest toy that finds its way into my collection:

Fusion Brands Poach Pod

I love poached eggs, but I used to hate making them. Pouring vinegar into the water, swirling the water around the eggs to try to prevent the whites from butterflying out, the inevitability of one of the yolks breaking ... forget it. Poached eggs are a comfort food for me, but making them totally stressed me out. Until I found Poach Pods. These silicone doodads make it easy. Rub a little oil on each one (two come in a set), crack in the eggs and place them in simmering water—they float like lily pads on the water. Put the lid on the pan and wait four to six minutes. Take them out, run a spoon around the edge and voila!, they slide right out, producing the perfect-shaped, restaurant-style poached egg. It doesn't get much better than that, especially considering poached eggs are one of the healthiest way to prepare eggs. So much better than buying a whole small appliance or pan just to poach eggs in.

Messermeister Julienne Peeler

Julienning is a tedious pain— and so not worth it when you're not the sous chef at a fancy four-star restaurant. Here's a peeler that will do all the work for you. Just slide it down a carrot and you have a great addition to any salad. It makes for a particularly attractive garnish with minimal effort. I especially enjoy getting a few continuous pieces from a long vegetable, grouping them together and tying them in a loose knot. Very attractive and incredibly easy.

Versovino Il Decanter Piccolino

The Versovino has pretty much changed my life. Instead of pouring a whole bottle of red wine into a decanter and letting it breathe for 30-45 minutes, the Versovino decants and aerates an individual glass of wine in about 45 seconds. It's essentially a glass bulb with a cork on one end and a pouring spout on the other. Place it right into the mouth of a bottle, pour from the bottle into the bulb and then from the bulb into your glass. It does an amazing job of taking out the acidity and making wine of any price significantly more drinkable. As a bonus, the Versovino also acts as a proportioner, pouring a perfect three and a half ounces, which is the size doctors recommend. I don't drink red wine without it.

Diablo Sandwich Maker

I'll admit that I kind of dig the Hot Pockets you find in the freezer section of the grocery store, but I'm not into all of those preservatives and sodium. The Diablo enables you to make hot, melty goodness in the comfort of your own kitchen. It's essentially a double-sided mini non-stick pan that cuts off the crust of a sandwich, crimps the sides and goes right on the burner. It makes killer melted sandwiches, mini calzones or even personal apple pies. I owe a debt of gratitude to the Diablo—it got my wife through her first trimester of pregnancy.

Polder Digital In-Oven Thermometer & Timer

Tired of constantly opening the oven and sticking the instant-read thermometer into your roast? With this guy, you stick the probe into the meat, string the 43"-high heat silicone probe wire out of the oven—it's thin enough that you can still completely close the door—and constantly monitor the internal temperature. You can set an alarm to go off once it reaches a certain temp, and it has a timer feature as well. There's a magnet on the back or you can stand it up on the counter. There's even a pan clip, so it can also be used as a candy or frying thermometer.

ISI Cream Whipper

Making your own whipped cream is so much tastier and easier than you can imagine. There's no reason not to do it yourself. I use to make it with my stand mixer, which works perfectly well except for the fact that you really have to use the whipped cream right away as it won't hold together for more than a day. Enter the Cream Whipper. Add in a charger, heavy cream and shake, and you have homemade whipped cream at your fingertips, and with no additives or preservatives, to boot. Add in syrups, vanilla, chocolate or alcohol like Kahlua or Baileys to create your own flavored whipped cream. Don't use it all in one sitting? Just stick it back in the fridge and take it out when you're ready to use it again. Depending on how long you wait, you may have to put in a new charger, but that's it!

Kyocera Adjustable Ceramic Slicer

Nothing makes me sigh like making potatoes au gratin. I love it, but, come on—the freaking prep kills me. And I'm sorry, but I just don't have the space, patience or money for a full-on mandolin. This is a great hand-held version with an extra plus: a ceramic blade that stays sharper longer than stainless steel and doesn't leave fruits and vegetables as vulnerable to oxidation. I've left sliced apples out on the counter for several hours and they hardly turned brown. All of your slices come out perfect, even and fast. I especially love this adjustable version that allows you to produce four different thicknesses without having any extra parts, which would most certainly get lost in my house.

Ben Salmon is a former literary agent and the owner of Kitchen a la Mode: Accessories for Cooking & Entertaining in the heart of downtown South Orange. Each Thursday, his local food column at Patch explores the food and drink scene in South Orange, Maplewood and Millburn.