7 Unitaskers That Are Actually Brilliant and Will Make Your Summer a Million Times Better
Remember HAGS? (In case you don’t, it was the abbreviation — Have a Great Summer! — kids wrote in yearbooks back in the day.) We still want you to HAGS and realize, for all of us grown-up home cooks, that AGS means something very different now than it did 20-plus years ago. Now, it means nice weekends, lots of fresh produce, and a cool glass of wine. Right? To help you HAGS, we rounded up a few essential unitaskers. And, yes, we realize that many people will consider “essential unitaskers” to be an oxymoron, but we honestly believe these finds will make these next few months a million times better.
1. OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Pineapple Slicer, $20 at Bed Bath & Beyond
While the internet may have lost its mind over this pineapple hack a few months ago, a specialized corer remains the best tool for breaking down the tropical fruit. There are dozens of options on the market, but we’re partial to this one from OXO. It’s sturdy, gets out every last bit of flesh, and is incredibly easy to use. If you plan on eating even just one pineapple this summer, this thing will earn its keep in your kitchen. Not like it takes up a ton of drawer space, though!
2. Chef’n Cob Corn Stripper, $8
Maybe you’re feeding kids with braces or you’re making a corn salad? This little gizmo is the best way to get those kernels off the cob. Somehow the stainless steel blades slip around ears of all sizes, and a few simple twists will strip the cob clean. Yes, you can use a knife and a Bundt pan to (neatly) get the job done, but then you have two things to wash. This unitasker works just as neatly and is dishwasher-safe.
This fun-to-use gadget makes quick work of slicing cherry tomatoes and grapes, should you find yourself making a caprese or fruit salad. Just pop the ingredients in, zip the slider, and everything gets cut in half.
At first we didn’t think avocado slicers were necessary. But we’re tired of using a sharp knife to cut the thing in half and remove the pit, a butter knife to slice the flesh, and a spoon to scoop out the pieces! This three-in-one OXO tool does all the things and then goes right into the dishwasher.
5. Lekue Stackable Ice Lollipop Molds, $16 for four
Even if you don’t make ice pops year-round, you will want to pick up a set of these. They’re our EIC’s favorite pop molds for a few reasons, but mostly because they can be stored flat in the freezer and won’t leak.
6. Chef’n Stem Gem, $8
If you’re making a shortcake, pitcher cocktails, or any type of salad that calls for a bunch of strawberries, this Stem Gem will make your life easier. Just grab the green stuff with its teeth and the strawberry basically hulls itself. And you can technically use this to core tomatoes, too, so maybe it’s more like a duotasker!
7. Franmara Wine Saver, $7
Let’s say you open a bottle of chardonnay to have a glass on Friday night and you want to save the rest for the weekend. Our resident wine expert can’t recommend this wine saver enough. And it’s gone down in price since she first wrote about it!
Are there any unitaskers you love this time of year? Tell us about them in the comments below!