Aux Co. Ltd. Gassiri Tongs
Though upon first glance Aux Co. Ltd’s Gassiri Tongs seem just like any other pair, our kitchen team was blown away after testing them. The rounded shape makes it easy to pick up spherical items like meatballs, eggs or potatoes that may run away using a normal pair of tongs. But the sides of these tongs are what really set them apart—one is designed with slits and the other with a scoop that can hold about a tablespoon of liquid. Use the slotted side to strain out unwanted liquid, like when rendering bacon, or use the scoop side to add pasta water to your sauce. Sturdy stainless steel construction—complete with a sufficient handle length—also makes these tongs strong and safe so you can pick up heavy, hot ingredients without any problems. However, they can still be used delicately—they work just as well picking up a strand of spaghetti or a soft boiled egg.
Aux Co. Ltd. Japan Sukueru Knife
This unique serving spoon-knife combo tool is a must-have for serving. Right at the table (or the picnic blanket or the potluck), you can use the serrated edge to cut out your perfect portion of food and then use the dipped bowl of the spoon to easily scoop it into your plate. The concave shape and wider width actually lifts up the food and holds it there—it won’t go tumbling back onto the platter like it would with a classic narrow, triangular server. The blade is sharp enough to cut through pizza crust and it’s ideal for slicing through gooey lasagna without lopping off that top layer of chewy cheese trying to slice and serve. Plus, it’s made from durable, dishwasher safe stainless steel with a satin finish, which is great for camouflaging scratches after frequent use. (And we promise you’ll be using this tool quite a bit.)
Aux Co. Moritsuke Tong
Roughly translating to “the Japanese art of presenting food,” moritsuke is a beloved tradition and delicate art. It’s a fitting name for Aux Co. Ltd’s Moritsuke Tongs, which are precise like kitchen tweezers, but still sturdy, making them the perfect multiuse tool for anything from frying to plating to serving. Sleek, with a long handle and slight offset angle, these tongs are great for twirling pasta, flipping over food in a pan, deep-frying and tossing salads. The cupped head of the tongs is ideal for picking up food without crushing it and is also strong enough to pick up heavier ingredients, like meatballs, and place them on a nest of spaghetti. Plus, the narrow head of the tongs come together to a fine point, allowing for precision and ease while plating, even for smaller ingredients like thinly sliced pieces of meat. And when they’re not in use, they can be flipped upside down to keep any food residue off your table.