Everything You Need to Upgrade Your At-Home Salad Game
I'll admit it, I have a weakness for over-the-top restaurant salads that are double the portion size of everyone else's meal. The ones I order typically have the most ingredients on the menu, from piping hot, juicy blackened chicken to extravagant toppings like sugar-coated pecans. Sometimes they're so hearty and presented so beautifully, I wonder if they should even be considered salads.
Sure, there's nothing wrong with my love of salads — that is, until I try to recreate one at home. Sigh. My chopping methods are never as impressively smooth, my lack of organizational skills in the kitchen make for a big mess I dread cleaning up, and the resulting appearance never seems to be up to par.
But of course, there are plenty of tools, clever gadgets, and convenient storage solutions to help me upgrade my game. I've tried most of the products on this list, and I can attest to their brilliance — especially in comparison to other models on the market that lack in comparison. Seriously, I've yet to operate a salad spinner as smooth as the design from Sur La Table; whip up a dressing in a portable blender as lightweight and powerful as the Ninja Blast; or pit an avocado as seamlessly as I do with OXO's $10 Good Grips Slicer.
Ahead, scope out my ultimate salad shopping guide that will lead you to produce restaurant quality bowls and impress all of your guests in a pinch.
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Avocado Pitter and Slicer
OXO Good Grips 3-in-1 Avocado Slicer ($10)
I've never used a pitter that works so well. No matter how ripe your avocado may be, trust the blades on this tool to yank out the pit with an easy twist. The plastic blade looks like it wouldn't slice through the skin of your fruit, but it absolutely does without being sharp to the touch. Finally, you can use the opposite end to slice the avocado half into slivers with the fan blade. The product is top rack dishwasher safe, too.
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Avocado Hugger
Sur La Table Food Huggers Avocado Huggers, Set of 2 ($14)
I love that these avocado huggers come in a set of two, one slightly bigger than the other if you tend to rotate between mini and medium-sized avocados. Not only is this a more sustainable way of preserving your food (no plastic baggies or plastic wrap needed), the silicone is also 100 percent BPA and phthalate-free, and you can throw them in the dishwasher for an easy clean in between uses.
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Oil Mister
Sur La Table Pump Action Oil Mister ($17)
While I do love to massage my kale with EVOO (better done with a drizzle), if you need a little extra dressing or oil after your salad's done, this pump helps you achieve that with a healthy spritz. Of course, you can use it to coat your pans before cooking or you can choose to infuse your oil with a sprig of rosemary, for example, by letting it marinate in the canister for a few days. The product holds a total of four ounces, and you should hand wash the pieces.
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Avocado Masher
Williams Sonoma Avocado Mash & Scoop ($18)
Even though this product is pictured being used with avocados, you can also use it to mash potatoes, chickpeas, or garlic for your dressing. You can also use the stainless steel head to scoop out an avocado, squash, or any other softer fruit. The tool is dishwasher safe for easy cleaning and equipped with a BPA-free plastic handle.
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Push Vegetable Chopper
Sur La Table Push Chopper ($23)
Not going to lie, I've been intimidated by multi-piece vegetable choppers before, but this lightweight design is extremely easy to use — the more you press down the top, the coarser the chop, so you can slice and dice to your liking depending on the type of salad you're about to make. The one caveat? You do have to hand wash all the pieces carefully.
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Food Thermometer
ThermoWorks ThermoPop 2 ($25, originally $35)
If you're adding a protein to your salad, you can achieve perfectly-cooked chicken or steak with the help of this easy-to-use waterproof thermometer that offers super-fast, high accuracy readings in two to three seconds. Our editor tested it out in her ThermoWorks ThermoPop 2 review, giving it five stars.
Editor quote: "Unlike a lot of high-end, modern thermometers, I didn't need a Bluetooth connection or a special app on my phone to set up the product in order to start cooking . . . I didn't have to worry about turning it off after I was finished cooking, either, since the device sleeps after 10 minutes of inactivity." — Rayna Rossitto, editor, Branded Content
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Spice Cellar
Nambé Nara Acacia Wood Salt Cellar ($25)
There's no denying the sleek look of a salt cellar like this one sitting on your countertop. Made of rich acacia wood, it's equipped with a rotating lid for easy access if you need to quickly sprinkle your spice in a pinch. The design measures 4.25 by 2.5 inches and helps to "dress up the presentation," as one reviewer wrote.
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Salad Bowl Kit
S'well Salad Bowl Kit ($40)
If you're like me and constantly looking for the right size bowl for your lunchtime salads, look no further. S'well's kit comes in 12 different finish options, with both prints and solid colors available, and you can even personalize it so it doesn't get mixed up in the office refrigerator. There's a removable tray with a two-ounce leak-proof dressing container that balances at the top so you can separate your dry ingredients until it comes time to mix everything together. The bowl itself holds 64 ounces and comes complete with a leakproof see-through lid. You can choose whether you want to hand wash it to preserve the quality for longer or throw it in the dishwasher for a fast clean if you need to use it again tomorrow.
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Salad Spinner
Sur La Table Stainless Steel Salad Spinner ($50)
This durable stainless steel salad spinner is hands down the best one I've ever owned. It provides a smooth and steady rotation so you can thoroughly dry off your produce after washing, before adding dressing. It's equipped with a nonslip base to keep it upright and if you remove the inner basket, you can also use it as a big serving bowl. While you should hand wash the lid, the bowl itself is dishwasher safe, and the dimensions measure a six-inch height and 11-inch diameter, so it's nice and big if you're hosting guests and making a larger salad.
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Double Mezzaluna Chopper
Williams Sonoma Double Mezzaluna ($55)
I love using my mezzaluna (which means "half-moon" in Italian) for making delicious tuna salad that I then use to top off my salads. If you have a wide wooden bowl, you can use it to swiftly chop garlic, nuts, or mince onions using a two-handed rocking motion and applying pressure to the beechwood handles. The blades measure seven inches and come with a plastic covering so you can store the device away safely. Since these blades are sharp, you should be sure to hand wash the item after use.
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Serrated Slicing Knife
Our Place Serrated Slicing Knife ($60)
Sometimes the easiest way to chop up your veggies for a salad is with a serrated slicing knife, which also gives you full control. This bestselling knife is available with a blue salt or spice-colored handle, and it's made from premium German steel that offers the ideal weight and balance to get the job done. The blade measures nine inches, and the handle is just over five inches. Like most serrated slicing knives, it should be hand washed. If you happen to be looking for a full knife set, check out the best-rated kitchen knives on Amazon.
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Portable Blender
Ninja Blast Portable Blender ($60)
Having a powerful portable blender like this one on hand to churn up dressings and drizzles for your salads is key. The vessel holds up to 18 ounces, the lid is leakproof, and the device is rechargeable immediately after use via a USB-C. What's more, the parts are also dishwasher safe for easy cleaning. Our editor tested it out and rated it four stars in her Ninja Blast Portable Blender review.
Editor quote: "What I love most about this blender is how it's designed for convenience in every way possible. The blender is a compact design that can fit in the palm of your hand, plus it has a carrying handle on the lid too . . . It's beyond easy to use with only two buttons: one to power on and the other to start and stop a blend. The start and stop button has an LED light that changes color to alert you of any issues or when it's ready to blend. Plus, the base also has a cheat sheet on the side for what each lighting pattern means." — Anvita Reddy, assistant editor, Commerce
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Salad Bowl Set
Nambé Portables Wood Salad Bowl Set ($125)
If you're looking to make a restaurant-worthy salad, you simply must serve it in an aesthetically-pleasing vessel. This one is made of acacia wood (to match that spice vessel we talked about before!) and comes with two uniquely-shaped servers that are undeniably chic. The open handle at the side makes for easy carrying to and from the table. You should hand wash the set to preserve its quality.
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Indoor Garden
Click & Grow Smart Garden 9 PRO Self Watering Indoor Garden ($290)
If you love adding fresh herbs to your salads, such as basil or cilantro, consider purchasing this self-watering indoor garden, which will also smell delicious sitting on the countertop in your kitchen. The device is app-controlled and comes with a planter base and built-in water reservoir that holds a month's worth of water, so a weekend away won't affect your progress. An LED lamp arm extends over the base to provide necessary lighting for growth, and the package comes with basil, mini tomato, and green lettuce starter pods.
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Sarah Wasilak is the associate director of commerce at PS. With plenty of experience in the shopping market, a keen interest in SEO, and 10 years as an editor at the brand, she enjoys writing across the lifestyle and health-and-fitness categories. She has bylines at PS, InStyle, Elle, Refinery29, Who What Wear, Elite Daily, Byrdie, and The Quality Edit and aims to amplify minority voices in all her work.