Q: At a rummage sale, I found two double-ended gizmos I think are measuring spoons, but their markings are not the usual teaspoon/tablespoon measurements, but rather 2.5, 5, 10, and 15. Amazon.com has a number of sets of metric spoons on offer, but all have Imperial equivalents, not just the numbers I see on my new acquisition.

Sent by Karen More

Item: The Belkin Chef Stand and Stylus for Tablets
Price: $39.99 at full price (Many sources, including Amazon, sell it for $21)
Overall Impression: An indispensable tool for using tablets like the iPad in the kitchen and for keeping them safely out of the way when cooking.

I had my iPad in the kitchen with me within hours of opening the box, and now I consider it a cooking tool just as essential as my KitchenAid mixer or my subscription to Fine Cooking. I usually prop my iPad on unused part of the counter, out of splashing distance but still within visual range, and use a mostly-clean knuckle to scroll through recipes when my fingers are sticky. This stand from Belkin has changed all that in one fell swoop. More

Calling all small-kitchen cooks! Inquiring minds want to know: what's your favorite pry-it-from-your-cold-dead-fingers multi-tasking specialty tool or gadget? We don't mean basic workhorses like the wooden spoon or cast iron skillet. We mean those not-totally-essential-but-still-really-useful-things that make cooking easier, faster, or more enjoyable. More

We get this question a lot: what kinds of pots, tools, and gadgets are essential in the kitchen? This seems like an overwhelming topic, especially if you're a newbie cook just setting up your first real post-college kitchen. Thankfully, The Kitchn has a few guides to help you on your way. (Also helpful to pro cooks who want to pare down!) If you missed 'em, here are the five guides we've offered so far... with more to come! More

Item: SodaStream Fizz
Price: $179.99
Overall Impression: Less streamlined than some other models but the Fizz Chip indicator is very useful.

We are avid drinkers of carbonated water and homemade soda in my household, and the SodaStream, which can convert tap water to sparkling water in a matter of seconds, is one of the appliances we use most. When our SodaStream Pure model died after two years of near-constant use, I was curious to try the company's latest model, the Fizz. More

Item: Edgeware Better Zester
Price: $14.95
Overall Impression: Pretty much the perfect citrus zester.

I use citrus zest constantly; very few cooking sessions go by in my kitchen without me reaching for my citrus zester at least once. Well, last year at the Housewares show in Chicago I saw a fantastic new zester that had some small but well-designed improvements that won my heart. More

Item: TopChips Chip Tray
Price: $19.95
Overall Impression: Handy! These trays aren't a magic bullet for perfect chips, but they certainly make the process easier and simpler.

One of the biggest hitches to making our much-loved microwave potato chips is the labor-intensive process of making them. They require numerous batches at different microwave times and with constant adjustments to power strengths — all for a few handfuls of chips. These silicone trays from TopChips help simplify the process. More

How many times have you called out friends' names as you've pulled meat off the grill? ("John! This one's rare!") Or, as a guest, stood over a platter of burgers wondering which is the well-done patty? These handy little skewers make it clear. More

In baking and beer brewing, my two biggest passions, precision matters. When my old, battered scale died an honorable death, I decided to upgrade to this bad boy. It measures down to the gram at lightning speed, and I wouldn't be too surprised if it could leap tall buildings in a single bound as well. More

What better time of year than Valentine's Day to get a little whimsical in your kitchen? Make heart-shaped pancakes, decorate with tea bag tags, prettify your milk with frozen hearts, or add some lovin' to your cooking with one of these heart-shaped kitchen products: More