Benriner Mandoline Slicer
A mandoline vegetable slicer by Japanese company Benriner is standard equipment in most Japanese homes and restaurant kitchens around the world. We prefer this tool’s simplicity, durability and efficacy over other more complicated models. It comes with three interchangeable blades: The fixed straight blade—which is also removable and replaceable, ensuring long-term durability—creates slices ranging from .5 mm to 5 mm. Use the dial on the underside of the mandoline to fine-tune and adjust the thickness of your slices. You can also screw in one of other two blades, which allow you to julienne or finely shred your vegetables. We especially love that the finger guard, which extends across the width of the entire blade, is easy to handle and keeps a firm grip on ingredients while slicing. Additionally, a non-skid base, safety handle and notches in the mandoline will keep the device steady whether you lay it across a bowl or prop it against a countertop.
HIC Kitchen Stainless Steel Double Mesh Strainer
We like this durable 4-inch double mesh strainer from HIC because it will stay put. The two handles, a long hooked one and a short notch on the other side, are long enough to allow it to rest securely on the edge of pots, pans, mixing bowls and containers so our hands are free to measure and pour. The hooked end for is also good for hanging. This must-have kitchen tool is ideal for sifting, draining, straining and sieving foods and beverages. Use it to remove lumps, seeds, skins and other fibrous items for velvety smooth sauces and soups. It also can be used to rinse legumes, rice and grains before cooking and can catch seeds and pulp when juicing fresh citrus. And it doubles nicely as a sifter.
HIC Ilsa Cast Iron Gas Ring Reducer
Much as we love our stovetop coffee makers, too often the grates over the gas burners are too wide for them to sit safely above the flames. But in Italy, Christopher Kimball was introduced to a simple tool that keeps the country’s ubiquitous stovetop espresso pots perfectly balanced. The Ilsa Gas Ring Reducer consists of high-quality, heavy-duty cast-iron construction that decreases the size of gas burner openings in center grates while absorbing and diffusing heat evenly. It’s fantastic for making coffee, of course, but we find it’s equally useful for any small cookware, from saucepans to tea kettles.