- Category
-
- Prep 107
- Cooking 71
- Serving 50
- Entertaining 16
- Storage 25
- Miscellaneous 16
The Essential Kitchen
We thought it might be helpful to group our Cool Tools in categories that reflect their role in the meal creation process. So here is our attempt to be helpful:
- Prep: These are the tools that are your workhorses, and the ones that most take the place of a sous-chef. These Cool Tools help you prepare your ingredients to be cooked. In finding Cool Tools for food prep, functionality, time saving and ease of use are the most important things we look for. Each and every one of these does its job particularly well and takes your food prep from drudgery to fun (well, almost!) When we finally carry knives, they will fit in this section.
- Cooking: These are the Cool Tools that you actually use during the cooking process; that means they have to be easy to use, handy to pick up, and work well without thinking about it, because your focus should be on the food--these Cool Tools take a supporting role.
- Serving: These are the Cool Tools that take your meal from the kitchen to the table, and make it easy and beautiful to serve your food.
- Entertaining: These are all the Cool Tools that are part of your entertaining repertoire and make the event easy for you and memorable for your guests.
- Storage: When the meal is over, what do you do with all those leftover bits? These Cool Tools will help.
- Miscellaneous: These are some more Cool Tools that we love, but they didn't fit neatly into one of the other categories.
- Progressive Biscuit & Cookie CuttersWhy It's Cool: 7 pieces in sizes 1 1/2”-3 7/8” diam., plain and fluted edges, nested for space savings, dishwasher safeHow can a set of Biscuit Cutters become a Cool Tool? Everybody has a “Biscuit Cutter” … it’s that round water glass you’ve always used ...like your...Progressive Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons - P13Why It's Cool: Sits on counter without tipping, fits spice jars, 2 ends for twice the use, designed for easy storageMeasuring spoons are one of the most often-used tools in any kitchen. We need them for everything from precision baking to approximate cooking, so that we can repeat great results...Progressive Microwave MatWhy It's Cool: Keeps the heavy Microwave tray clean, and cleans up easilyOK, you know this problem, right? You put something into a container and put it in the microwave to heat up. You thought it was contained (it’s in a container, after all)....Rösle Ice Cream ScoopWhy It's Cool: Thin edge cuts through ice cream easilyOne of our favorite desserts during the summer is really simply: just good quality vanilla ice cream, brandy and some cut up fresh fruit. In this case the whole is soooo much...Tovolo Dripless Baster - T38Why It's Cool: Valve prevents baster from dripping; angled tip for better pick-up and flat shape for easy storageI always thought basters were pretty much the same--no opportunity for great design. You know: just squeeze the bulb, pick up some of the liquid in the pan, try to lift the nozzle...Tovolo Collapsible Microwave Cover - T42Why It's Cool: Height and perforations to release steam and prevent splatters, collapses for easy storageOK, let’s start with the assumption that every once in a while you may want to reheat a plate of food: whether it’s leftovers on the second day, or a late night at work and a...Chef'n Large Juicester (Citrus Juicer) - C32Why It's Cool: Reams citrus to extract maximum juice, measures juice, strains out seeds, non-slip baseThere are so many recipes that require just a little citrus to brighten the dish, and many of them require a specific measurement. While we love the Stainless Steel Citrus Juicer,...Cuisipro Deluxe Pastry BlenderWhy It's Cool: Easily blends ingredients with different textures (a must for deviled eggs)The challenge of mixing ingredients with different textures can be approached several ways: ranging from basic flatware - 2 forks, or 2 dinner knives - to your food processor....AdHoc "Tutto" Pump Oil / Vinegar SprayerWhy It's Cool: Beautiful European design, sprays a beautiful fine mistOccasionally life hands you lemonade when you thought you only had lemons … right? When we started testing oil pump spray bottles, we looked at several and, after testing,...Tovolo Flexible Cutting Mats (Set of 4) - T33Why It's Cool: Sturdy enough to stand up to a dishwasher without curling, yet flexible enough to deliver your chopped food to a bowl or panWe all have cutting boards of various sizes and materials … and sometimes we have and stick with one favorite … that large professional wood board is a favorite: looks like a...