6 Must-Have Veg Prep Tools

Victorinox Swiss Classic 4-inch Paring Knife

For working with smaller items, a paring knife is an essential tool. The smaller size gives you more control than a chef’s knife for jobs such as hulling strawberries, coring tomatoes and segmenting citrus. Plus, with a price tag under $15, it’s a great value.

$12.25, swissarmy.com

Epicurean All-In-One Board

This dishwasher-safe, wood-fiber cutting board is double sided – one side is flat and the other has a groove for catching liquid from juicier ingredients like tomatoes. Its large 171/2 x 13-inch size and non-slip rubber feet on both sides make chopping produce easy.

$40, epicureanusa.com 

Chef’n FreshForce Citrus Juicer

Squeeze out every last drop of juice from your citrus with this brightly colored press. It’s a little on the heavy side, but it’s effortless and makes for minimal waste. The company also makes a smaller press for limes, but we found the larger size to work well on both lemons and limes. 

$25, chefn.com

Shun Classic Nakiri

From one of our favorite brands of Japanese knives, the 6 1/2-inch Nakiri (meaning vegetable knife) is made for dicing, slicing, julienning and more. Its blade makes full contact with the board with every slice for precise cutting and fewer pieces getting stuck together. 

$175, shun.kaiusaltd.com

Microplane Premium Classic Zester/Grater

There’s a reason you’ll see a Microplane in every experienced cook’s tool kit – its long shape with comfortable grip does just about everything. Grate garlic or ginger? Check. Zest citrus? Check. Grate cheese? Also check. Plus it comes in a variety of colors.

$15, microplane.com