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Here’s our recommendations for the top 10 kitchen tools and gadgets we’ve come across for everyday use…enjoy!
1. This clever measuring cup allows you to check your liquid measurements by looking straight down at your cup, instead of craning your head to the side.
This dishwasher safe measuring cup features a soft, non-slip handle.
Long known for their line of well designed and ergonomic kitchen tools, this measuring cup is one of my favorite Oxo items.
2. Acacia Wood Mortar and Pestle
Many serious cooks rely on a mortar and pestle to grind their fresh herbs and spices.
Made of durable plantation-grown acacia wood, like all good mortar and pestle sets, this should be hand washed.
3. Punk-U-Pine
This fun red little fella makes a great mushroom brush as well as a general use vegetable brush.
4. Lodge Logic 12-Inch Pre-Seasoned Skillet
Known for its even heating and superior heat retention, this skillet from Lodge works just as well over a campfire as it does on your stovetop.
Has two heavy duty handles for easy lifting.
12″ diameter, 2″ deep.
If you enjoy growing your own sprouts (a healthy and easy hobby that allows you to have a never ending supply of fresh sprouts for pennies a week) this Handy Pantry Sprouting Lid fits most wide mouth mason and round mayonnaise jars.
Made of a durable food-grade plastic with mesh holes large enough to drain well but small enough to hold in tiny sprouting seeds.
I have 3 different lids so I can rotate my “crops” as well as grow a variety of sprouts in different jars such as wheat and alfalfa.
6. Pizza Stone
If you like your bread and pizza crusty, the secret is having a pizza stone. Pizza stones are known for their ability to both hold and distribute heat evenly, keeping oven temperatures steady.
14″ x 16″.
7. Cuisinart SmartStick Hand Blender
Immersion blenders are a great, convenient, and one-handed way to mix soups, pudding, batter, sauces, vegetable purees, and salad dressing, as well as juice blends, shakes, and other beverages.
Best of all, using an immersion hand blender helps keep extraneous dish use at a minimum.
Using a stick blender, one can easily puree liquids and sauces right in the cooking pot without having to interrupt the cooking process and transfer them to a standard mixing bowl.
Measures approximately 3 by 3 by 14-1/8 inches.
Three-year limited warranty.
This does everything you expect you colander to do…plus it folds completely flat to conserve space!
If you often spend time cooking somewhere with little or no counter space (like a dorm or RV), this colander can really come in handy for rinsing produce or pasta.
Dishwasher safe.
9. There’s nothing quite like homemade ice cream…especially when you can add your own flavors and fixins to create your own custom flavors!
To help you find inspiration for your own custom ice cream flavors, please see this post about exotic ice creams as well as this one.
The double-insulated freezer bowl holds up to 2 quarts and a large ingredient spout provide plenty of room to add your favorite mix-ins.
I use my dehydrator to make my own dried berries to extend the flavor of the season (great for muffins, pancakes, or as part of a homemade trail mix). When we lived in Western Upstate New York, I also used my dehydrator to dry my own garlic scape (sprout) pesto and spice.
You can also make your own fruit rolls, dried fruits, and jerky.
The Aroma’s reversible, rotating drying tray ensures that foods dehydrate evenly in the machine.
Comes with 5 stackable trays, 1 roll-up sheet for making fruit leather, a drying screen and instructional cookbook.
Measures 8-1/2Hx13″.
December 11th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Have the OXO cup and LOVE it!!!