Dedicated viewers of Alton Brown's acclaimed Food Network showGood Eatsknow of his penchant for using unusual equipment. He has smoked a salmon in a cardboard box, roasted prime rib in a flowerpot, and used a C-clamp as a nutcracker. Brown isn't interested in novelty, he's just devoted to using the bestand simplesttool for the job. Alton Brown's Gear For Your Kitchenoffers honest, practical advice on what's needed and what isn't, what works and what doesn't. For instance: You only need three knives, but they are a lifetime investment. And don't bother with that famous countertop grillit doesn't get hot enough to properly sear. In his signature science-guy style, Brown begins with advice on kitchen layout and organization, then gets to the lowdown on these cooking elements: Big Things with Plugs; Pots and Pans; Sharp Things; The Tool Box; Small Things with Plugs; Storage and Containment; and Safety and Sanitation. Gear For Your Kitchenis essential for all of Brown's fans as well as anyone who wants a good guide to great kitchen gear. With more than 125,000 hardcover copies in print, this indispensableand highly entertainingbook is now offered in a paperback edition that every home cook can afford.