KitchenAid stand mixers have a devoted following, and those who have one say it's totally worth the splurge. If you have a mixer, love your mixer, and find yourself squealing every year over the new 2013 KitchenAid mixer colors, then do we have a treat for you: fabulous, colorful, oh-so-cute gingerbread cookies in the shape of that beloved KitchenAid mixer!

Q: I'm going to college soon and looking to buy my own knives. Should I buy a knife block with knives or buy the knives separately from the block? I'm looking to spend around $100 total. The three knives I use the most are a paring knife, a chef's knife, and a bread knife.

Sent by Heejung

You know what's great? Bringing home an armful of fruits and vegetables from the market, all bright, fresh, and ready to be tossed into salads, soups, and stir fries. You know what's not so great? Having a busy week and realizing later that the produce is wilting and rotting in your refrigerator. Properly storing fruits and vegetables is key to extending their shelf life, yes, but even that only goes so far. 

So when the editor-in-chief of The Cooking Lab, the culinary research team behind the Modernist Cuisine books, said he'd found a better way to preserve fruits and vegetables, we knew we had to listen. (Hint: it doesn't involve any chlorine, irradiation or peroxide baths, and it's not blanching.)

Q: I just bought a cast-iron skillet, and I love it, of course! I'm dying to make shakshuka in it this weekend. However, I've read online that cooking with tomatoes can harm the seasoning on less-seasoned skillets. Will it really strip my seasoning or give my shakshuka a metallic taste? Is there anything I can do to get around that?

Cooks who work on marble countertops already know that marble is great for working with pastry and chocolate. When chilled, a marble surface is ideal for keeping dough from sticking -- particularly when you're not keen on adding too much extra flour. If you're an avid baker, it's an essential tool to have in your kitchen. And you can get one for around $30!

How do you store your dishes? It's probably most common to keep plates, bowls, and cups in overhead cabinets, but if I had the option, I think I'd much prefer a deep drawer, particularly one that's divided by a few wooden dowels, like you see here. Neat, organized, and generally easier to lift a bunch of plates out rather than get those plates down. What about you? Do you have deep drawers in your kitchen?

Item: Hurom HH Series Premium Slow Juicer/Smoothie Maker
Price: $399.95
Overall Impression: This excellent juicer has gotten even better.

The Hurom Slow Juicer became one of my favorite kitchen appliances a few years ago, so I was curious to test out Hurom's new Premium Slow Juicer/Smoothie Maker. Would I want to ditch the old one in favor of this latest and greatest model? And what's this about making smoothies, too...? 

If you've been baking or cooking for awhile, this will sound like a no-brainer, but it's a life-changing tip for those who have never thought of it. Ready? Get rid of that ring that holds your dry measuring cups together. Forever. Do this and baking will instantly be an easier, cleaner and altogether happier experience.

Q: Can I use oven cleaner on a stainless steel pot without damaging it? The bottom has some "burnt on" residue and a plain scrubbie pad has not made a dent. Any suggestions?

Sent by Barb

Q: I'm looking for the perfect cheese grater, or even just a mostly okay one. I hate the rolled lip on the bottom of so many, which catches cheese goo and water and gets nasty and rusty. I want it sturdy enough to not warp with hard cheeses, two grater sizes, and large enough to accommodate at least two cups.