Cool Tools in the Kitchen - Kevin Kelly [1]
Don’t get it? I didn’t either at first, but this short clip is worth thousands of words.
—J. P. Roosma
Super Peel
$37
Available from Amazon
Manufactured by EXO Products
Versatile Kitchen Timer/Thermometer
Polder Thermometer/Timer
The Polder timer/thermometer features a 43-inch cord running from the thermometer to the probe, which allows you to take active readings without opening the oven. I really like being able to adjust the cook time or reset the finish temperature on the fly. Plus, there’s a magnet on the back, so you can attach the thermometer to the side of the oven.
The Polder also allows you to preset a desired high/low temperature simultaneously. When either temperature is reached, the unit’s beeping alarm sounds. It’s helpful for remembering to check on liquids and meats. My 8-year-old son has even used ours to check the temperature outside: You can insert the metal probe underneath your window, and it’s quite accurate.
The timer, which counts up or down, is very handy for a range of other household uses, such as, “You have three minutes to pick up your room before I come in with a trash bag that’s headed for Goodwill!” Best of all, the thermometer is amazingly durable. We’ve had ours for at least four years and have dropped it many times.
Lastly, it can be set to display in Celsius or Fahrenheit, which proved to be a huge help when we spent some time living in Ireland. I had my American recipe books and was able to use the Polder thermometer to convert temperatures for a Celsius-based oven.
—Ginger Cooper
Polder Original Cooking All in One Timer/Thermometer
$26
Available from Amazon
Manufactured by Polder
Apron with Pot-Holders
Royal VKB Oven Mitt Apron
We avoid clutter in our kitchen, so all towels, pot holders and oven mitts live in a drawer next to the stove. Accessible, but nowhere near as handy as this apron that literally puts two padded mitts at your side, right where you need ‘em, whenever you need ‘em. So simple, so elegant. The slits lessen your below-the-belt coverage, of course, but the convenience is a worthy trade.
—Steven Leckart
Royal VKB Oven Mitt Apron
$25
Manufactured by Royal VKB
Available from Amazon
Durable Steel Hands
Stainless-Steel Locking Tongs
As a former cook in four restaurants, I’ve found these simple tongs to be an indispensable utensil day in and day out. Stirring, cooking and tossing pasta, flipping steaks, and grabbing anything hot including pans. They become an extension of your hands. I continue to use them in my own kitchen. I often see a lot of inferior, cheap and just plain useless tongs included with BBQ sets. They are usually too long or poorly designed to be effective. Get these: Williams-Sonoma Stainless-Steel Locking Tongs, or a pair of OXO Stainless-Steel Locking Tongs.
—Alan Hachey
I learned how indispensable a decent pair of tongs can be around the campfire while working as a river and ocean kayak guide. We cooked as much of the meals as possible on a grill over the fire to conserve fuel on multi-day trips. I still cook this way whenever possible and use these OXO Stainless Steel Locking Tongs to not only move food around on the grill, but also to move hot coals or briquettes! These tongs lock closed for easy storage and have a “hook hole” for hanging up. The non-slip rubber grip has held up for years in the dishwasher. Available in 9-inch, 12-inch, and 16-inch models. For obvious reasons, I would suggest the 16-inch ones for outdoor cooking. Buy one of these for that unfortunate soul still using—gasp!—a fork at the barbecue.
—Lewis Duffy
OXO Good Grips Stainless-Steel Locking Tongs, 12-inch
$10
Manufactured by OXO
Available from Amazon
Or:
$11 for Williams-Sonoma’s Stainless-Steel Locking Tongs (12-inch)
Available from Williams-Sonoma