Q: We were just watching an old episode of Jacques and Julia Cooking at Home and saw Jacques Pepin admiring Julia Child's flat universal lids with handles. After noting that it would fit onto pretty much any pan, Jacques Pepin used it to flip out and transfer a baked hashbrown easily onto a plate. Julia Child laughed and said she'd bought them at a flea market in the 1940s — so there goes that lead. Has anyone seen lids like this for sale anywhere? I covet them!

Sent by Leah More

My husband and I have suddenly become juice fiends this summer. We drink it straight, mix it with fizzy water, and of course, use it in fresh-fruit cocktails. We've been considering getting a counter-top juicer so we can make our own fresh juice, but hoo-boy, can these juicers get expensive. Do we really need one? More

Q: I just bought a bamboo steamer, with the intention of making one thing (potstickers).

Anything else I can use it for?

Sent by Olivia More

Sous vide cooking has been called revolutionary. It's been named the best thing for cooking since the microwave. It's also been accused of being wasteful, unnatural, and just plain weird. But what, exactly, is it? More

I came home from a recent trip to a very unpleasant surprise: my stainless steel prep table was peppered with tiny blooms of rust.

I was baffled how this could happen. Stainless steel will pick up some scratches and stains, but it should be protected from rusting by a layer of chromium oxide (one of the characteristics of stainless steel and why we use it so much in the kitchen).

I was just starting to despair when I realized the reason for the rusting and found its solution. More

Not all of the tools in our kitchens were originally intended to actually be in the kitchen. Like these tweezers. Who would have thought a medicine cabinet transplant would come in so handy around food?! More

Q: I am looking for a product that has a coffee grinder on the top and a French press plunger on the bottom. Basically, a French press with a built-in grinder on top.

Does such a thing exist?

Sent by Alix More

Q: My boyfriend and I are in the market for a new frying pan/skillet, and we're trying to move away from non-stick cookware. We've done a lot of research on cast iron vs. stainless steel cookware, and we've heard a lot of great things about both, so we are having trouble deciding which way to go!

I wanted to ask you all and your readers what they prefer to cook with- we're willing to make this frying pan an "investment piece" since we use our current frying pan on a nearly daily basis.

Sent by Kate
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Splash-Proof Super-Fast Thermapen

• $69
• Thermoworks

The Thermapen is the best thermometer you can buy. It's a truly accurate, instant-read thermometer that can be used for everything from grilling to candy-making. Thermoworks is having their yearly open-box sale; it's a rare chance to get this thermometer for this price. More

Handled Ceramic Casserole Dish

• $49.00
• Pottery Barn

I am just such a sucker for handmade white ceramics, especially when they are shaped in a slightly offbeat way, like these long and narrow casserole dishes. Pottery Barn is usually not the first place I look for cookware or serving pieces, but this line is really doing it for me this summer. Can't you picture this piled high with whole ears of grilled corn?

19.5" long x 10.5" wide x 2.5" high. Made of stoneware with an ivory glaze finish. More