• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

By Root 229 0

community. It is that lineage which attracted me to Cool Tools in 2007, when I became its editor. Web culture is obsessed with the latest and, supposedly, greatest. But bloggers and writers may only briefly test an item before submitting a review. They don’t know what came before. Therefore, they are primarily concerned with what is new, rather than what is best. In contrast, the Whole Earth Catalog and, therefore, Cool Tools only draws attention to what works and stands the test of time.

That means that if you buy an item or try a tip included in this ebook, you should count on it. If, for whatever reason, our recommendation doesn’t quite satisfy, please let us know. If you use an item that’s superior to anything we’ve featured in this ebook, please let us know. If you have any questions or comments about this ebook, please let us know.

We hope this ebook is the beginning of how we can help you. Our website, which now has over 2,000 tool reviews, remains perfectly searchable and free. We encourage you to click around to discover some great classic tools and uncommon gems. Suggestions for tools much better than what we recommend are always wanted. If you use an item that’s superior to anything we’ve featured online, please let us know.

In case you couldn’t tell, Cool Tools thrives on feedback. Readers like you keep improving our recommendations, which in turn inspire others to recommend something better yet. In fact, if it weren’t for contributions from the readers below, this ebook wouldn’t exist. We thank the following readers for their submssions:

Aaron Scrignar, Adam Fields, AK, Amy Thomson, Aryeh Abramovitz, Bob Callaway, Brad Zebal, Bruno Teersteeg, Bryn-Ane MacKinnon, Chris Hecht, Chris Lewis, Christopher R. Carlson, David Jacoby, David King, Debora Dekok, Dudley Irish, Ellen Rocco, Ethan Stettner, Gareth Branwyn, Ginger Cooper, J. P. Roosma, Jay Allison, Jeff Jewell, Jeff Zimmerman, Jim Rubel, Jon Braun, Jon Margolis, Kelly Spitzer, Kurt Bollacker, Mark D. Esswein, Mark Frauenfelder, Marsh Gardiner, Matt Field, Michael Ham, Michael Krakovskiy, Michael Raab, Patrick Handley, Paul Knuth, Paul Saffo, Pen Duby, Raquel Maria Dillon, Rene, Robert Narracci, Sam Putman, Sessalee Hensley, Steve Allen, Steve Golden, Stewart Brand, Ted Boydston, Tim Plumley, Tom Lundin, Tom Streeter, Walter Susong III.

In addition, there are a handful of other people who’ve had a hand in keeping Cool Tools alive and well: Oliver Hulland is the site’s current editor; Wayne Bremser masterfully implements all changes to our CMS (Movable Type). Over the years, Cool Tools has been helmed by these previous editors: Elon Schoenholz, Bruce Sterling, and Charles Platt.

We’d love to have you among our future contributors. Tell us what you love.

—Steven Leckart

December 2011

Table of Contents

Cool Tools in the Kitchen

About the Author

Contents

Preface

1. Hot Stuff

Super Peel

Polder Thermometer/Timer

Royal VKB Oven Mitt Apron

Stainless-Steel Locking Tongs

Excalibur Food Dehydrator

Nesco Food Dehydrator

The Excalibur vs. the Nesco

Egg Timer

All-Clad Roaster

Silicone Baking Mat

Solaire Anywhere Portable Infrared Grill

Back to Basics Toaster and Egg Poacher

Big Green Egg

2. Cutting

Progressive Apple Peeler

Microplane Grater

Magic Fish Scaler

Pineapple Slicer/Corer

OXO Apple Divider

Dexter-Russell Fillet Knives

Whizard Handguard

Pumpkin Gutter

Spyderco Sharpmaker

Forschner Victorinox Chef’s Knife

OXO Peeler

Fiskars Kitchen Shears

Rösle Garlic Press

Kiwi Knives

3. Liquids

CocoTap

Joyoung Soy Milk Maker

Spout Ladle

Waring Pro YM350 Yogurt Maker

Hamilton Beach Commercial Juicer

OXO Salad Spinner

Quick Snap Ice Tray

Peanut Butter Mixer

Sodastream Home Soda Maker

Citrus Squeezers

OXO Splatter Screen

Cuisinart Smart Stick Hand Blender

Omega Juicer

Zojirushi Electric Dispensing Pot

VitaMix 5200 Countertop Blender

4. Utensils

Lee Valley Jar Opener

Bottle Scraper

King Arthur Dough Whisk

Give It A Rest Bamboo Utensils