The Basics
These are your go-to Cool Tools that you use almost every time you cook. They may not be fancy, but they are well-designed, well-made, and do what they are supposed to do...only better!
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Progressive Collapsible Mini FunnelsWhy It's Cool: Large enough holes for most jobs, stores easilyThe funnel is the Rodney Dangerfield of the kitchen--it gets no respect! But if you don’t have one, you wind up chasing peppercorns around the kitchen counter or wiping up a lot...
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...
Tovolo Flex-Core Spatulas - T35Why It's Cool: Flexible, yet strong, mixing and scraping ability with a comfortable stainless steel handle for easy clean-upEvery kitchen needs multiple spatulas … it’s an unavoidable fact of cooking! Wherever anything is, you need a spatula - of one size or another - to scrape or fold one...
Cuisipro Peelers - C51Why It's Cool: Ergonomic handle and balanced weight, along with wicked sharp blades make peeling chores easyEvery kitchen needs a peeler … or two. This most basic kitchen tool performs so many functions: from peeling potatoes, carrots or beets, to cleaning knobs of ginger or jerusalem...
Charles Viancin All Silicone Cutting Boards - CV11Why It's Cool: Flexible to deliver cut food to pan or bowl, doesn't move on counter as you cut, dishwasher safeWhen we reviewed the original Charles Viancin Lilypad Cutting Board, we talked about the many choices of cutting boards, including the fact that we all probably have several, in...
Charles Viancin Silicone Measuring Cups - CV10Why It's Cool: Space-saving, flexible and eye-catching measuring cups that are easy to use.Measuring ingredients is just a necessary fact of life in the kitchen and there are a lot of different measuring vessels that you can use. What you want in a good measuring vessel...
Colbrook Kitchen QuickMix Mixing Jar (Egg, corn starch, ... everything mixer!) - C22Why It's Cool: Great for beating one or two eggs or mixing cornstarch and water--it truly is a quick mix!So how can an inexpensive piece of plastic be a Cool Tool? I have to tell you...I love this thing. It’s called a QuickMix, and that’s exactly what is does. I use it at...
Progressive Cut Resistant Glove - P22Why It's Cool: Protects your hands when using a mandoline or slicerIn a couple of the other write-ups, we talk about the fact that mandolines are sharp: really sharp. That’s a good thing and a bad thing (well, not really bad, just, you...
Oxo Measuring Beakers - O30Why It's Cool: Measure small amounts of liquids and spices without spillingSetting up your mise-en-place before you start cooking is one of those steps that can make you a more efficient (and often calmer) cook. But what do you do about all those small...
Tovolo Silicone SpatulaWhy It's Cool: Heat resistant, sturdy, but flexible, great shape, comfortable to use--it has it all!Every spatula has two parts: a business end (the head) and a gripping end (the handle); both are important in choosing a spatula. But first let’s start with why you need a...
