Here are some of my all-time favorite gadgets to make your cooking life better.
This is about great gadgets that deserve a spot in your kitchen because they work hard and smart.
• PERFECT PEELER: I use a peeler pretty much every day for something. Potatoes, carrots, apples, winter squash, etc. I am a fan of Kuhn Rikon peelers, which are lightweight and easy to use on peels thick and thin. OXO also make an assortment with different blades, shapes and widths.
• MICROPLANE: One of those products where the brand name has become synonymous with the thing itself, even though other manufacturers make similar items. This is basically a small, handheld grater. The most classic one is long and narrow, with lots of fine blades that turn lemon zest and hard grating cheeses and chocolate into fluffy mounds of delicate tiny shreds. You can also get versions that grate food into larger strands.
• INSTANT-READ THERMOMETER: There are many versions on the market, from digital to analog to Bluetooth to infrared. When you want to make sure that you are not overcooking a roast beef, or that your bread is cooked through, an instant-read thermometer is indispensable. In the most user-friendly digital arena, Thermapen instant thermometers are fast and precise with a wide temperature range.
