Raisenne Round Bread Dough Riser
Here’s our problem with proofing: You can never fully control the environment. Your kitchen on a hot and humid summer day might be okay for high-moisture breads, but leave others dense and squat. And if it’s too hot, then you run the risk of the dough rising too fast and not having enough time to develop flavor. But a chilly air-conditioned kitchen will extend the proofing time significantly, as yeast divides and grows much slower in cold temps. That’s why we love this unique dough riser—it takes the guesswork and the risk out of the proofing process. Our kitchen team was incredibly impressed with how perfectly the dough turned out each time. We made loaves with and without using the Raisenne and the loaf made with the tool came out a half inch taller and a half inch wider. It’s compatible with any dough that needs to be leavened and is especially great for low-yeast and whole-grain breads that have longer rest times. Simply place the thin disk under your bowl or pan of choice, plug it in and let the heating circuits do the rest. It heats to an ideal 85 degrees, which is the optimal temperature to let your loaf grow at a consistent pace without sacrificing flavor for speed.
Raisenne XL Bread Dough Riser
Here’s our problem with proofing: You can never fully control the environment. Your kitchen on a hot and humid summer day might be okay for high-moisture breads, but leave others dense and squat. And if it’s too hot, then you run the risk of the dough rising too fast and not having enough time to develop flavor. But a chilly air-conditioned kitchen will extend the proofing time significantly, as yeast divides and grows much slower in cold temps. That’s why we love this unique dough riser—it takes the guesswork and the risk out of the proofing process. Our kitchen team was incredibly impressed with how perfectly the dough turned out each time. We made loaves with and without using the Raisenne and the loaf made with the tool came out a half inch taller and a half inch wider. It’s compatible with any dough that needs to be leavened and is especially great for low-yeast and whole-grain breads that have longer rest times. Simply place the thin disk under your bowl or pan of choice, plug it in and let the heating circuits do the rest. It heats to an ideal 85 degrees, which is the optimal temperature to let your loaf grow at a consistent pace without sacrificing flavor for speed.
Brod & Taylor Folding Bread Proofer
This nifty box creates a perfect proofing environment every time—and we all know consistency is key when it comes to getting a good rise on your loaf. It keeps an optimal 60-80% humidity level thanks to the included water plate and allows you to set a perfect proofing temperature (we recommend 85 degrees Fahrenheit) through the heated base plate—plus the structure keeps out any drafts or other environmental factors that would cause change. The proofer is large enough to accommodate several hand-shaped loaves, though when you’re finished using it, it folds completely flat for stress-free storage. And the additional accessory shelf creates even more room inside if you need it. We found that wheat loaves (which can be fickle) rose quicker and more consistently in the proofer, and it also worked wonders to revive a dormant sourdough starter.
Milk Street Tri-Edge Knife
The typical bread knife tears its way through loaves and mashes tomatoes to pulp. So we spent months re-engineering the bread knife from the ground up, testing competitors’ knives to learn what we wanted and discarding what we didn’t. The result, the *Milk Street Tri-Edge Bread Knife*, perfectly handles it all, slicing easily through any style of bread, delicate pastries, overstuffed sandwiches and tough tomatoes. It's also the perfect knife for difficult tasks, like chopping nuts and chocolate, handling dried fruit, and cutting up large blocks of butter.
Suncraft 9-inch Seseragi Bread Knife
With three unique blade edges, this smartly-designed serrated knife combines the function of two knives in one—slicing through any and all loaves with ease. The blade is 9 inches, so long enough to cut the largest loaf cleanly without sawing back and forth. And the tapered blade features a gently curved belly to facilitate clean slicing. A 2-inch section of wide wave serrations located closer to the tip of the knife dives in and saws through a crunchy, rustic outer crust, while the smaller teeth cleanly slice through the inner crumb. It’s also ideal for delicate foods like soft sandwich breads and juicy tomatoes. The knife features a small length of straight blade at the tip to pierce through tough crusts, tomato skins or melon rinds. Plus, the handle is specifically designed for a comfortable grip, with a slight curve to it.
Casafina Measuring Cups
Handcrafted in Portugal with local all-natural materials, this set of three beautiful measuring cups aren’t merely functional. The white speckled glaze and unique, timeless design complement any kitchen decor and make them attractive enough to leave out stacked on the shelf. Each of the three cups (1 cup, ½ cup, ⅓ cup) have a small handle and spout to help with pouring measured ingredients, and their durable construction means they can go easily from oven to microwave to freezer and dishwasher.
Cortez Milling Co. Blue Bird Flour 5#
This ultra-finely ground, high protein flour from Cortez Milling Co. in Southwest Colorado is perfect for making soft, tender, chewy tortillas and flat bread. They use red winter wheat purchased from local dryland farmers, whose higher gluten content makes dough that is pliable and resists tearing. This softer, more finely ground flour is neutral in flavor, a touch sweet with no bitterness. We also love that Blue Bird flour is bagged in 5-pound muslin cotton bags with the iconic blue bird print on the front, which can be repurposed in a number of fun ways.
CrushGrind Kim_Bo Dutch Oven
This 4-in-1 Dutch oven designed by Danish company CrushGrind is your new do-everything pot. Made from durable enameled cast iron, with a capacity of 6.75 quarts, the Kim_Bo has all of the heat retention properties of a true Dutch oven, but it does so much more. It works as a pot, pizza stone, grill pan, bread dome and griddle, thanks to the base pot and two convenient lids: a flat cast-iron one without a handle, and a silicone one that seals tightly to the pot for heat and steam retention. Use the cast-iron lid to grill vegetables or fry eggs, while adding the silicone lid simultaneously to cover the main pot (it’s heat-safe up to 465°F and can go into the oven, too). The Kim_Bo works on any stovetop—gas, electric, induction—or on grills, in the oven and even on a campfire. Plus, the sturdy pot is scratch-resistant.
Dutch Oven: The pot, paired with either the flat cast-iron lid or silicone lid, works beautifully as a Dutch oven. Try it for boiling, frying, braising, searing, poaching or baking—it even works for sous-vide cooking. The Kim_Bo’s heavy-duty cast iron retains heat, and either lid redirects heat and steam back toward food.
Grill Pan or Griddle: The flat, handle-less lid works on the stovetop as its own piece: Use the ridged side as a grill pan, or the smooth side as a griddle. Try the grill for meat, fish, vegetables or fruit; the tall, chunky grill lines sear food thoroughly, leaving bold cross-hatch grill marks.
Pizza Stone: A hot stone is the key to Italian-style crispy pizza crust. The Kim_Bo’s flat lid works perfectly for a quick bake and perfectly browned crust.
Bread Dome: Making bread? Place your boule or loaf on the lid, then turn the pot of the Kim_Bo upside down over it to steal in steam and retain heat for a proper rise and beautifully golden crust. The Kim_Bo’s heirloom-quality seasoned cast iron delivers radiant heat for evenly baked loaves every time. Plus, the sturdy cast iron won’t crack like clay bakers will.
Cuisipro Measuring Cups
Because of their robust construction and fine machining, Cuisipro’s award-winning precision tools are elevated kitchen essentials and a pleasure to use. These stainless steel measuring cups are our favorite brand because their perfectly flat rims make it easier for leveling off ingredients with a knife, while their elongated elliptical shape can fit into narrower containers. We found that the longer handles are useful for scooping ingredients—with these cups, you won’t need to stick your hand deep into a bag of flour each time you bake. These cups are also visually appealing; both the eyelet hole at the end of the cup and the handle shape have contours that echo the clever oval design.
Milo by Kana 3.5-Quart Enameled Dutch Oven
For those who want the versatility of a Dutch oven but don’t need large batches every time they cook, the 3.5-quart Dutch oven from Milo by Kana is just the right size. Made from a high-quality enameled cast iron that doesn't require seasoning before first use, it is large enough to bake loaves of bread and make dinner for two, but small enough that it won’t take up all your cabinet space—or dishwasher space, for that matter, since the company’s products can go right in for easy cleanup.
Casa Amarosa Tortilla Warmer
When serving tortillas, naan or pita breads with our sauces, we often make the flatbreads in batches ahead of time. In countries like Mexico, an insulated sleeve like this is essential for keeping tortillas hot for the duration of a meal or party. We love the festive colorful pattern on this neat product, which is handy for keeping all manner of flatbreads warm and retaining moisture for over an hour—we far prefer it to using a makeshift dish towel. Use the tortilla warmer as an attractive serving vessel for our Italian Piadina flatbreads or Middle Eastern Pita Bread in addition to tortillas.
Serrv International Birds of a Feather Bread Warmer in Natural Basket
Made by artisans in Bangladesh, this beautiful bread warmer is fashioned from terra cotta clay that’s gathered by hand along riverbanks before it’s cleaned, thickened, molded and fired at a low temperature. This oven-safe stone features a lovely nature-inspired design as well as a whitewash, which softens the material’s natural reddish hue. It sits within a basket that’s handwoven using kaisa grass and palm leaves, which are fast-growing local resources. Plus, the employment these fair trade items provide to rural Bangladeshi women is vital, there aren't many other ways for them to earn an income. For best results, make sure your bread (slices, rolls, etc.) is spread out on the clay base, covering as much area as possible. It warms through surface contact.
Serrv International Double Vine Bread Warmer in Natural Basket
Made by artisans in Bangladesh, this beautiful terra cotta container warms rolls and bread through contact after the pottery has been heated up in the oven. Fashioned from terracotta clay that’s gathered by hand along riverbanks before it’s cleaned, thickened, molded and fired at a low temperature, this oven-safe stone features a lovely nature-inspired design as well as a whitewash, which softens the material’s natural reddish hue. It sits in a handwoven basket of kaisa grass and palm leaves, which are fast-growing local resources.
Field Company Lightweight Cast Iron Dutch Oven
This 4.5-quart cast-iron Dutch oven from Field Company heats evenly and is sized just right–big enough to hold full batches of soups and stews, but small enough to store away in your kitchen. While you can use it to make any dish that needs long, slow, even heat like stews or beans, it works just as well for searing thanks to its durable seasoned cast-iron surface. Our favorite feature: Field cast iron is lighter than other brands, meaning you’ll get high quality without the heavy weight when moving your Dutch oven from the stove to oven to table. And concentric ridges on the inside of the tight-fitting lid gather condensation to distribute moisture evenly and baste the surface of your food as it braises.
Mastrad Three-Piece Mixing Bowls
This durable three-piece metal mixing bowl set from French brand Mastrad is designed to do more than just hold ingredients. Equipped with a non-slip silicone base for extra stability, these bowls won’t shift or slip at all while mixing, stirring or folding. The steep sides, fitted with measurement lines on the inside, help keep food from spilling out. Unlike regular mixing bowls, each bowl in this set comes with a transparent fitted lid for storage, perfect for keeping an eye on freshness. But even better, each lid is also splatter-proof and contains a removable middle piece so you can whisk, beat or blend without making a mess. The largest two lids can even fit an immersion blender! When not in use, this nesting set stores compactly, so it won’t take up too much space in your cabinet. Available exclusively online at Milk Street in the US.
Milk Street Precision Rolling Pin
Unless you are a pastry chef, getting pie and cookie dough (even pasta dough) rolled out evenly to an exact thickness is perhaps the hardest skill to master in the kitchen. The Milk Street Precision Rolling Pin solves this problem so that even novice bakers can get it right the first time, every time. How does it work? Simply screw in the end caps for the desired height and roll out your crust or dough. (The ends are thicker than the middle by the thickness you want for the dough.) This system is extra-sturdy and easy to use and the pin is plenty long, 23 inches, to handle any width of dough. Plus, we added a laster-etched ruler to the length of the beechwood pin for measuring pans and ensuring your dough is just the right width. You can also use this pin without the end caps - it is 18-inches long and perfect for smaller, more delicate tasks.
Dreamfarm Brizzle Basting Brush
This ingenious silicone tool won a Good Design Award because it makes basting with pan juices, drizzling oil or brushing egg wash much easier, more efficient and less messy. The flexible brush head of the Brizzle by Dreamfarm includes a cup that bends to scoop up 1 tablespoon of liquid—the equivalent of 15 dips of a regular basting brush—from hard-to-reach corners without having to tilt a heavy baking dish or tray. Four holes hidden among the 100 bristles let the liquid drizzle through, making it easy to spread quickly over the surface. And a weighted curved handle keeps the brush head off the counter so it creates less mess. We especially love using it to baste pastries with melted butter or egg wash or to apply a thin layer of barbecue sauce to grilled meats. It’s also nonstick, won’t trap bacteria, dishwasher safe and heat resistant to 500°F. Choose from red or black to complement your kitchen decor.
Milk Street Digital Class: The Never Ending Search for Perfect Pizza with Peter Reinhart
Guest chef Peter Reinhart, most recently the author of “Pizza Quest,” is the teacher of this pre-recorded Zoom cooking class that finally makes it possible to achieve restaurant-quality pizza at home. You’ll learn how to mix and easily handle a high-hydration dough, which requires different technique than sturdier doughs that have a higher ratio of flour to water. Peter shows you the stretch and fold method, which is a remarkable way to maximize gluten development and trap the carbon dioxide created by yeast. What does that mean in simple terms, you ask? Big, gorgeous air bubbles that you thought you could only get from your favorite pizzeria. When it comes to shaping, you’ll learn two approaches: a stretched, Neapolitan-style round dough and a no-fuss pan pizza. No matter which shape you choose, you can top it with Peter’s simple all-purpose pizza sauce and his secret garnishing sauce (hint: it’s a transformative mixture of peppers, garlic and vinegar)—or you can go rogue with your own favorite toppings. The best part? You don’t need a fancy oven to pull off feats of pizza magic. Peter walks you through baking tips, including his signature embedded cheese technique, to create memorable pizzas in run-of-the-mill home ovens.