Gadgets and Utensils

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Over the years we’ve looked at few different ways to increase counter space in the kitchen: add an island, cart, and table or try one of these strategic storage tips. But one of the best solutions? Get an over-the-sink cutting board. Over-the-sink cutting boards are really just long cutting boards, with a few extra inches added on either side.

I feel safe betting that every single one of you who’s ever been to an IKEA has been distracted from those meandering walkways in the Marketplace by pretty glassware or a fun new napkin pattern. There’s tons of cute, cheap stuff in the Marketplace — and where IKEA really delivers is in the kitchen section, with a mix of bargain-priced classics and unique accessories that look way more expensive than the price tag says.

Like Trader Joe’s, Costco, and Target, IKEA has its own cult following. And even infrequent IKEA shoppers have probably heard of the RÅSKOG Utility Cart and the BILLY Bookcase. But for every one of those super-popular products, there are a dozen lesser-known ones. So we polled our readers, loyal IKEA shoppers, to dig up some of the best, most underrated products. This way, there’s less pressure on you when you’re wandering through that snake-like maze.

Last week we asked you, our readers, to share the one kitchen item you’d recommend splurging on. The response was overwhelming, but right on in our view.

I’ve always aspired to do a lot of canning and preserving, especially in the summer months when cheap produce beckons. A flat of tomatoes that weighs 20 pounds? Sure, why not? In reality, I end up making a batch of canned tomatoes and maybe some homemade jam only once a year. But once we eat up all our canned goodies, that case of empty canning jars seems to take up an awful lot of space in the kitchen.

A few weeks ago we asked Kitchn readers who cook in small kitchens to share their most essential “pry-it-from-your-fingers” multi-tasking specialty tool or gadget. There were plenty of opinions, but one gadget kept coming up again and again, which gives us confidence to declare it the #1 essential tool for small kitchens. Can you guess what it is? Cuisinart SmartStick with Whisk and Chopper Attachments, $60 from AmazonThe immersion blender!And we heartily concur!

If you live in a small apartment, you know that space is key, especially in the kitchen. When every last inch counts, these five collapsible kitchen and cooking products become essential space-savers.1 Chef’n Trendy Colors Pinch-and-Pour Measuring Cups and Spoons Set, $19.95 from Sur La Table 2 Rosle 9.5″ Collapsible Colander, $34 from Amazon3 Progressive Collapsible Over-the-Sink Dish Drainer, $19.

A strawberry huller is one of those things you never think you need, until all of a sudden you’re stuck with the task of de-stemming an entire bushel of strawberries. Luckily, strawberry hullers are inexpensive and don’t take up much space, making them a useful tool to have in your kitchen. Your options range from simple metal tubes to more complex push-button mechanisms, but any style will get the job done — and make your next strawberry shortcake that much easier. 1.

I have a beautiful wooden spoon, one of my favorite things in my kitchen. It was carved by hand and because of that, it was expensive. Totally worth it, in my view, but a once in a lifetime purchase for me. Every now and then I wish I could afford to give one as a gift but cost prohibits. So when I stumbled on an old article from Mother Earth News on how to carve your own wooden spoon, I was intrigued.

You can find kitchen essentials at up to 70 percent off. Here are a few things we're eyeing.

Are you thinking about starting a new fitness routine? Or maybe you’re already a spin class regular, but you’re training for your first big race. Whatever the case, if you’re going to take your exercise regimen to the next level, what you’re eating outside the gym is just as important as what you’re doing at the gym (or the track, the pool, or the park). And, just as important as your running shoes or goggles, are certain kitchen tools and appliances.

Item: KitchenIQ Better Zester (formerly known as Edgeware) 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.

Item: GarlicCardPrice: $7.99Overall Impression: A handy tool that grates the garlic, not your fingers. For those who love strong, garlicky flavor, finely grating it is the way to go. Here’s a tool that quickly and easily grates garlic (and ginger) without harming your fingers in the process.Characteristics and Specs: Slightly larger than a credit card, the plastic GarlicCard comes in six colors: yellow, red, blue, green, pink, and black.

Item: The Ultimate Spatula from GIRPrice: $22.50Overall Impression: Great for getting into the nooks of pans, ergonomic design, super easy to clean Maybe you are wondering if the world really needs another spatula. This was certainly my first thought, too! But over the past few weeks, this spatula has slowly edged out the competition when it comes to my crowded utensil jar. I find myself reaching for it again and again, and annoyed when I realize it’s in the dishwasher being cleaned.

Item: The Odor-Absorbing Splatter Screen Price: $14.99 Overall Impression: Slim, no-fuss design; fits large skillets and eliminates splatters; helps reduce cooking odors I smell bacon and I immediately think, “Get in my belly.” Hours later, however, and I wish I could somehow scrub that heavy, lingering aroma from everything in sight. I know many of you feel the same since “How to eliminate cooking odors” is one of the top questions we hear on The Kitchn.

Product: OXO Good Grips Locking Tongs with Silicone Heads Price: $13.99 Overall Impression: Why didn’t I get these sooner? They’re so useful and the folding feature is great. You would think that someone who makes her living eating, cooking and writing about food would have all the equipment, especially the stuff that’s inexpensive and makes basic tasks a lot easier. But I’m not like that.

Product: Midnight Scoop Price: $50 First Look: This is an ergonomic, heavy-duty ice cream scoop that’s built to dig through hard ice cream and last for a lifetime. I’m serious about my ice cream. However, there was a period of time in my early 20s when I was a lazy ice cream scooper. I would pull the container from the freezer and use my spoon as a spear to carve out pieces of hard ice cream. Not surprisingly, this resulted in a lot of bent spoons.

The perfect gift. It fits literally anyone!

As the founder of a sous-vide business, I spend a lot of time thinking about sous-vide cooking — mostly about how amazing it is and how I can share this magic with everyone else. But I’ll admit that, to the uninitiated, the immersion circulator, like the one I developed with my husband, can seem like just another kitchen gadget that will end up gathering dust in your already-crowded cabinets or cluttering your precious counter space.

IKEA is brimming with inexpensive, Scandi-style kitchen essentials that probably cost less than your fancy morning coffee.

My husband and I were in Paris recently for a day and a half, and we tried to see, do and eat as many things as we could. The trip was a success, in part because everything is so much easier without three children in tow. E. Dehillerin, Paris’ famed cooking store, was on my list. It was one of my favorite stops on our short trip, and my husband teased me, snapping a picture of me snapping a picture of the store. I promised not to spend too much, and I didn’t.

A couple of years ago, I was in dire need of a vacation and impulsively booked a trip to Mexico City. I spent a leisurely 10 days stalking its streets, barreling through its subway tunnels, and eating as many types of its ridiculously fresh, impeccably prepared street foods as my stomach could handle. With so many days spent in just one place, I felt I was truly able to get to know the city, its flavors, and its people, including one in particular.

We know it’s important to conserve space when traveling, particularly if you’re flying or backpacking and don’t have the space luxury of a car. But that doesn’t mean you have to give up the supplies you’d need to take advantage of an impromptu picnic opportunity. These five picnic essentials are small, light, and totally portable, so you can be ready for a picnic whenever, wherever!1.Opinel Carbon Blade Folding Knife, $11.

There are some kitchen tools that are just universally indispensable, but there are also favorites that vary from person to person. While one cook might have never used a mandoline, another may reach for theirs several times per week. With that in mind, we scoured our archives to find some of the best kitchen tool recommendations from some of our favorite chefs.

Chef Dan Kluger is a tinkerer: He grinds his own sausage, makes his own ricotta, and mills the wheat that’s used in his pizza dough at Loring Place in New York City. So we figured he’d have some strong opinions on the best tools to help him with all of these little tasks. And we were right. We asked him to name the five kitchen tools he couldn’t live without and he had answers ready to go.

Buy one of these and you won't have to worry about errant bristles or having to replace your brush anytime soon.

Homemade ravioli is fantastic stuff, as we discussed this morning. But making it is also pretty darn messy and labor-intensive. Prohibitively so. Is it worth buying a ravioli maker to make life easier on ourselves?Making ravioli is simple enough in theory. You lay a sheet of pasta on your work surface, add scoops of filling, and seal them in with another sheet of pasta. Cut the raviolis out with a chef knife or pizza slicer and you’re done.

For those nights when even a double helping just won’t do.This mostly useless kitchen gadget cracks us up. Who knows what your cost threshold is for kitchen items that simply make you laugh (or serve as fun gifts), but if it’s around $16, here you go.AND it isn’t all quirk. There’s a measure for small and large portions, too, if you’re into measuring your pasta portionsIt comes in green and white plastic and stainless steel.

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:TOP ROW• 1 Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron 2-Quart Heart Casserole, $159.95• 2 Five-of-Hearts WafflePro Waffle Iron, $69.95• 3 Mini Flexible Heart-Shaped Ice Cube Tray / Gelatin Mold, $3.

What are the essential tools every cook needs in the kitchen? Both new and experienced cooks can benefit from going back to the basics. First up: essential prep tools and utensils. Note: We’ve offered a few product recommendations in each category based on personal preferences, experience, and editor and reader reviews. In general, we favor stainless steel and glass over plastic because it’s higher quality and infinitely more durable (and we think that balances out the higher cost).

We’re all about to partake in some serious ice cream eating. Whether you have an ice cream truck that drives through your neighborhood or you have a local scoop shop that you like to hit up on a weekly basis, we’re guessing you’re going to be doing some at-home indulging too. (Summer is hot!) If you don’t want to work too hard to get those pretty, perfectly rounded scoops from the carton (we don’t blame you!), you’re going to need the right tool.

If you don’t have parchment paper at home (and I’m guessing many of you don’t), you’ve likely seen it lining the trays at your favorite bakery. Moisture-resistant and grease-resistant, it really shouldn’t be relegated to professional kitchens any longer. Home cooks and bakers need the stuff, too, for many reasons. Let’s discuss why, shall we?

Where would we be without our vegetable peeler? It’s definitely on our list of essential prep tools and utensils. If you cook a lot from scratch, your vegetable peeler probably gets a lot of use! So, you need a good one: sharp, easy to maneuver, and effective. Here are 5 great ones:• 1 Messermeister Pro Touch Swivel Peeler, $12 from Amazon: Highly recommended by Cook’s Illustrated, it’s also the peeler of choice for award-winning cookbook author Joanne Weir.

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!

I am so obsessed with whisks. I have, at last count, seven whisks — including one spiral sauce whisk that is still buried in our moving boxes and I miss rather desperately. I use my whisks of varied sizes and shapes all the time for dressings, sauces, and yes, puddings, so this plethora of wire is not just for show. I’m always looking for an excuse to buy a new whisk, and so this incredibly clever design caught my eye — do you see what it does?

Would it surprise you to learn that the maker of the flour sifter or cheese grater your great-great grandmother may have used is still in business? Jacob Bromwell is the oldest housewares company in America, and one of only a handful of kitchenware companies that still manufacture all their products in the US. The company was founded in 1819, which means they’ve been producing kitchenware products for 194 years!

We’re into wedding season now, which means bridal showers, honeymoon send-offs, and housewarming parties. A set of these hand-painted ceramic measuring cups or spoons from Chicago-based 7 Doors Studio would make sweet one-of-a-kind gift, particularly for animal lovers!7 Doors Studio is the work of painter, illustrator, and designer Kat Silverstein. Her hand-painted ceramic kitchen tools are made to order, and each set takes about a week to paint.

Last week I went to the Total Home event in New York, an annual showcase of new products from a few select brands, including Le Creuset, Simplehuman, Schmidt Bros knives, Edgeware, and Casabella. Here are a few new products that caught my eye: Edgeware: I was perhaps most excited about the Grate Ginger tool from Edgeware. As you know, we loooooooove Edgeware’s citrus zester, and this new little tool looks like it might end up in that class.

Like its name suggests, Butcher Block Co. specializes in all kitchen things made with butcher block. From cutting boards to countertops, carts, and kitchen islands, they have an impressive collection from top-of-the-line butcher block makers like John Boos and Catskill Craftsmen — and all with a price match guarantee.As the company says on their website, they “try to make it easy” to shop for butcher block products.

The cutting boards you see above are IKEA cutting boards… well, partially. The boards themselves are the new PROPPMATT chopping boards, but the handles are all DIY inspiration — and something IKEA is totally on board with! IKEA’s Life at Home blog recently posted these photos of the new chopping boards, with ideas (in Swedish) to make your own leather handles. The boards seem tailor-made for this, since the three styles all come with a hole punched in at the top of the board.

What do you get when you combine the aesthetics of German Bauhaus and Japanese wabi-sabi? You get the beautiful products showcased at Baum-Kuchen, a husband-and-wife run studio/shop based in Los Angeles. While the kitchen goods selection is small, the few pieces they do have are Japanese-made investment pieces — lovely in their design, durable, and very functional. You may recognize the second product from Faith’s Daily Find last week.

Spoon rests are a slightly controversial kitchen tool: some cooks love ’em, while others think they’re a waste of space. For my part, I think they’re handy, and it beats getting drips all over my stove and countertop. Most spoon rests are affordable, too; you can find handmade ceramic or stoneware rests for around $10. Here are 10 we like, from simple wood and white versions to one with a whimsical cloud shape.

This all-in-one kitchen tool set, part of the MoMA Store’s new Spring 2014 collection, is tailor-made for the cook without a lot of storage space to spare. It’s hard to believe, but stacked within this minimal bottle design you’ll find eight common kitchen tools! The set includes a funnel, citrus juicer, spice grater, egg masher, cheese grater, lid opener (for loosening stubborn jar tops), egg separator, and a 1 1/4 measuring cup. The set measures 12h x 3.

Have a last-minute hankering for something heart-shaped this Valentine’s Day? Even if you don’t have the right kind of cookie cutter, heart-shaped treats can be yours with this smart tip from Heidi at Food Doodle. Heidi makes a cookie cutter out of a cleaned and recycled can, snipped and dented to make the perfect heart shape. If you don’t have the tools for cutting down a can, a shallow can, like one from tuna fish (very well cleaned!) would work well. So simple and cute!