Dallas chef Jennifer Schaertl has cooked for The Grape and Suze. She knows plenty of tricks for getting the most out of the fewest kitchen gadgets and the smallest spaces. Here are the multipurpose gadgets she loves most.

8-quart stockpot with steamer basket. Instead of several sizes of pots, use one large pot for all jobs. Each piece fits inside for easy storage, and the steamer insert can double as a colander.

Pot rack. Easy to make with the wire rack from an old barbecue grill, chain and hooks. Pots, lids, spoons and whisks can be hung for convenient storage.

Tongs. In a professional kitchen, sturdy tongs are used to turn meat, to stir, to move pots with hot handles around the stovetop, and to pick things up and out of poaching liquid.

6- to 8-inch chef's knife. The perfect knife. All chefs have them, and they can be used for all cutting, chopping and slicing – even for peeling garlic.

Box grater. Tackles grating and microplaning needs (from grated hash browns to shaved truffles). It can hang from a pot rack.