Hasegawa Wood Core Soft Rubber Cutting Board
This cutting board is not only durable, but it also will prolong the life of your knife blade. The “pull-and-slice” technique is the common way to slice food in Japanese cooking, which can often lead to chipped edges if using a hard cutting board. But this one is coated in layers of soft plastic that provides much better protection for your knives and protection for your fingers, since it’s non-slip. Plus, the material has strong antimicrobial properties—one of the highest standards in Japan—so it won’t hold germs as much as a standard cutting board would between uses. Its wood core keeps the cutting board from warping from use. And since it’s not entirely made of wood, it's much more lightweight to use.
Suehiro Ceramic Water Wheel Knife Sharpener for Double Beveled Knife
This easy-to-use sharpener is the perfect introduction for anyone new to knife maintenance. The handheld Suehiro sharpener contains two synthetic whetstones, which are made from ceramic and joined together to form a ‘roller.’ The roller is fitted inside a refillable water tank at the exact angle for sharpening. To use, simply add water to the tank (whetstones work best when wet), grip the handle, and run a knife back and forth through the roller.
The Suehiro is recommended for the occasional full sharpening, rather than daily honing. Steel honing rods are popular among home cooks for their speed and convenience, but what many don’t realize is that they don’t actually provide a long-lasting edge on your blade. This innovative knife sharpener solves that problem, delivering a better edge every time in a convenient hand-held package that does the job in a fraction of the time.
Aldo Armato Sun-Dried Tomatoes in Oil
The Armato family has been producing fine Italian products, from olive oil and condiments to preserved vegetables and pastas, at their mill in Liguria, Italy, for five generations. If you have these in your pantry, then you will have the finest tomatoes of Liguria all year-round. The Armato sun-dried tomatoes are juicy and sizeable, dried first to express their sweet and compelling flavor before they are bathed in buttery Ligurian olive oil. The tomatoes are picked at the peak of ripeness and preserved in golden extra virgin olive oil pulled from fruity Taggiasca olives. Chop or leave whole to use as a topping for focaccia, mixed into pasta, added to sandwiches, blended in pesto, turned into aioli, stirred into ricotta or incorporated into eggs and omelets. And don’t forget to use the oil they are packed in—infused with the sweet, mildly acidic and salty flavor of the tomatoes, it’s perfect for a vinaigrette or for dipping bread.
Proud Grill UltraVersatile Grill Basket
Our trick to seamless grilling? Grill baskets. Perfect for grilling delicate foods without damage from sticking or falling through the grate, we put ten grill baskets to the test to find the cream of the crop. Proud Grill’s UltraVersatile Grill Basket beat out the competition thanks to higher perforated walls and dividers, plus a removable, stay-cool handle. The durable yet lightweight stainless steel heats up quickly, and thanks to a large fire-facing surface area, food can spread out and grill instead of steam, which is the case with some other grill baskets. Plus, higher sides keep food in the basket when flipping—no fallen ingredients in sight.
Unlike most grill baskets, the Proud Grill has a detachable handle that remains cool throughout use, offering excellent maneuverability while remaining safe. And it can be attached to all four sides of the basket. Removable dividers are also an added bonus feature, allowing you to divide the basket into up to five sections to grill more than one item at once. Compatible when placed both vertically or horizontally on most grills, even smokers, use it for vegetables, fish, shrimp, wings or any other ingredient that might fall through the grates on a standard grill.
Proud Grill Magnetic Two-Piece BBQ Tool Set
Replace your bulky collection of grill tools with Proud Grill’s Magnetic Two-Piece BBQ Tool Set. This multi-use tool serves as extra-long grill tongs when connected, but apart, one piece serves as a spatula while the other serves as a grill fork. The unique design works thanks to an easy-to-operate magnet: It keeps the tools connected as tongs—perfect for serving and rotating—or disconnects easily to separate the long, flat spatula for flipping burgers and the sturdy grill fork for picking up grilled chicken. And because the set is magnetic, you can take them apart and configure them however you like, then attach them to your grill when you’re done for safekeeping. Dishwasher-safe, this set can handle anything from chicken and steak to cauliflower with ease, without all the clutter of typical grill tools.
Milk Street Everything Pan with Glass Lid
Now featuring a glass lid! We consider a big, broken-in cast-iron skillet the most useful pan in any kitchen. It holds heat like no other cookware, develops a nonstick surface to rival the best coating and is virtually indestructible. But getting that well-seasoned surface? That takes time and effort to build up. Plus, the shape of a skillet has its limitations: Steep walls can result in food getting stuck in the corners or uneven cooking.
So we modernized the classic cast-iron skillet using a hybridized shape that combines the best of a skillet and a saucier in one. Like a skillet, the shorter, sloped sides of the Everything Pan provide maximum surface area for cooking—it has as much internal space as many 12-inch pans, even with its smaller 11-inch diameter. But like a saucier, we added rounded edges to aid with whisking and stirring for more even cooking. The curved edges where the bottom meets the side are rounded to help turn food and ensure nothing sticks in the corners.
From searing a steak or whisking up gravy to baking a skillet pan pizza or shallow-frying fritters, the Everything Pan will take you from breakfast through dinner and can go from the stove straight to the table, thanks to its gorgeous two-handled design and an exclusive, custom-fit magnetic wood trivet. The pan’s walls are low enough so that you can easily flip eggs and pancakes but tall enough to boil pasta or simmer soups and stews.
After casting, the Everything Pan is tumbled smooth—a final polishing step that most modern cast iron producers skip—which makes all the difference between the sleek, satin finish of a well-seasoned vintage pan and the rough, pebbled surface of most new pans. It’s then treated with a durable, all-natural vegetable oil seasoning, making it slippery-smooth right out of the box.
Natsukashiya Japanese Gummies — Set of 3
Since 1901, Natsukashiya has been producing handcrafted confections in Japan with the same traditional preserving techniques. On a recent trip to Japan, our Milk Street team discovered the unassuming confectionery and some of their naturally sweet bites. Made with real fruit juice from produce grown all over Japan, each of Natsykashiya’s bite-sized jellies are tender and chewy with a crystalline crunch from the fine sugar coating. This set of three is complete with yuzu, white peach and grape flavors that are sweet—but not cloying, so the full brightness of the fresh fruit shines through. Unlike other gummies that are artificial, overly sweet and stick to your teeth, even those who don’t crave candy will reach for a second or third helping of this special treat.
Gulf of Maine Conservas Wild Bluefin Tuna
Widely considered the “king of fish,” bluefin tuna is such a delicacy it’s typically reserved for sushi and sashimi—until now. Sustainably line-caught one fish at a time on the Gulf of Maine, this canned wild bluefin tuna is far from your everyday grocery store brand. Darker in color and hand-packed in large, flaky pieces with extra virgin olive oil, this delicate tuna is rich, meaty and buttery. Moist and full of savory, natural flavor that isn’t overly fishy or dry like other brands, Gulf of Maine Conserva’s canned tuna is so good, it doesn’t need any sauces or ingredients. Add it to toasts, crackers, salads and pastas plain, or dress it up with a splash of vinegar or lemon juice, herbs, alliums and something briny. Or, add it to any of your favorite classic tuna dishes.
Milk Street Flavor Jolt
Spending hours to roast a chicken just for it to turn out bland? One-note steamed veggies? Expensive steak that's only good, not great?
There is a simple solution, one that many home cooks around the world already use every day: umami. That deep, savory flavor that leaves you coming back for more, umami is typically the JOLT you need to transform a dish from mediocre into magnificent.
On our travels, we have found that many cultures use a simple flavor-enhancer (MSG, Maggi Seasoning, kombu, shio koji, etc.) everyday to bring out the full flavor of other ingredients. Over the past year, Milk Street has tested and refined those options to come up with Milk Street Flavor Jolt , a combination of umami-rich spices, flavorings and concentrated seasonings—sourced from Europe to India and Japan—combined into a convenient one-stop flavor enhancer that will coax the best out of every meal.
The secret formula turned out to be more complex than we thought: Dried vegetables (tomato and carrots), umami-packed mushroom powder and alliums like garlic and onion make up the base of this mix, contributing a delicate sweetness that underpins the blend. Red miso powder brings a bit of assertive saltiness while earthy turmeric, mustard and paprika warm up the mix. Not to be forgotten, our secret weapons for extra depth: shio koji powder and asafetida. Both known for imparting rich, pleasant funkiness, the two flavorings round out the mixture. We tweaked flavors and salt ratios until we finally developed a seasoning blend that elevates and amplifies the distinct flavor of anything you put it on. Beef is richer, carrots sweeter and brighter.
Dust it over finished dishes for a flavor boost or blend with salt to season vegetables and rub steaks, chops, roasts and whole birds. It's terrific when used on its own and adds extra dimension to curry blends and chili powders.
Trunas Seafood Stock Tablets
These clever tablets manage to contain an incredible amount of flavor in a dime-sized package. The primary flavors are a rich roasted fish and a hint of seaweed, though it’s not as briny as homemade dashi. The tablets yield a meaty broth that really does give you the character of traditional stocks, with plenty of alliums, celery and sweet-earthy carrots. Compared to other fish stock products, this one is much more robust, with a roasted fish flavor that stands out from the pack. The other ingredients give it incredible depth, and it never tips into that dreaded “fishy” realm like some concentrated fish products. Because they are so compacted, these tablets need heat to properly dissolve—just throw them directly into your cooking pot.
Marukin Mentsuyu All-Purpose Noodle Sauce & Soup Base
Used widely across Japan as a standalone sauce, soup base and dressing for cold noodles, this umami-packed mentsuyu from Marukin needs no diluting. Unlike other similar products on the market, this full-flavored, complex sauce is completely ready to use—without adding any water. A blend of premium soy sauce and dashi broth, each high quality ingredient is sourced from Japan. Balancing both salty and sweet, each bite is smoky and briny without overpowering. With a variety of uses, we like it served alongside both hot or cold noodles, as a dipping sauce or as a broth. It also works well as a dipping sauce for tempura, as a base for other soups, subbed in for dressing, marinade, pickling liquid or splashed in as a flavor enhancer for egg dishes.
Salad Sling
Simple but brilliant, the space-saving Salad Sling is our go-to replacement for a bulky, breakable traditional salad spinner. Made from ultra-absorbent microfiber, the Salad Sling is designed with four long “handles;” simply load your greens into the middle, pull the corners together and swing. A combination of the Salad Sling’s absorbent fibers and centrifugal force pull moisture from lettuce (it’s big enough for a whole head), hearty greens and herbs in a matter of seconds. The triple-layer Salad Sling has a waterproof liner to keep any water droplets from flying around your kitchen. Have multiple ingredients to dry? Just empty and flip the Salad Sling and load up the dry side. When you’re done, simply hang it to dry or toss it in the washing machine, then store it away compactly with your kitchen towels. Available in Original and Mini sizes, and as a set of two.
Puerquito Salserito - Set of 2
Crafted in Mexico by local artisans, Hernan Mexico’s whimsical pig puerquitos are the perfect vessel for condiments, toppings and small snacks, from nuts and pretzels to guacamole, salsa or shredded cheese. Available in a set with two sizes, these hand-painted red clay bowls will make an attractive and functional addition to your kitchen.
Tojiro Stainless Steel Chinese-Style Cleaver
Every kitchen should have a Chinese-style cleaver, whose tall, heavy-duty blade and forward-heavy balance do most of the work for you when chopping big batches of vegetables and mincing meats or herbs. We found an excellent model from Japanese producer Toryumon that, unlike most flat-bellied cleavers, has a slightly curved edge similar to a European-style chef’s knife, so American home cooks will find it easier to use. Roughly 7 inches long and 3.5 inches tall, the blade is smaller and more approachable than other models and ideal for those with smaller hands.
Natsukashiya Japanese Peach Gummies
Since 1901, Natsukashiya has been producing handcrafted confections in Japan with the same traditional preserving techniques. On a recent trip to Japan, our Milk Street team discovered the unassuming confectionery and some of their naturally sweet bites. Made with real white peach juice from peaches grown in the Yamanashi Prefecture, each of Natsykashiya’s bite-sized jellies start with a crystalline crunch from a fine sugar coating, which gives way to a tender and chewy interior. Fresh, with a clear and sweet peach flavor, the full brightness of the fresh fruit shines through. Unlike other gummies that are artificial, overly sweet and stick to your teeth, even those who don’t crave candy will reach for a second or third of this special treat.
Natsukashiya Japanese Grape Gummies
Since 1901, Natsukashiya has been producing handcrafted confections in Japan with the same traditional preserving techniques. On a recent trip to Japan, our Milk Street team discovered the unassuming confectionery and some of their naturally sweet bites. Made with real grape juice from grapes grown in the Nagano Prefecture, each of Natsykashiya’s bite-sized jellies start with a crystalline crunch from a fine sugar coating, which gives way to a tender and chewy interior. Crisp and slightly floral with a hint of sourness, the full brightness of the fresh fruit shines through. Unlike other gummies that are artificial, overly sweet and stick to your teeth, even those who don’t crave candy will reach for a second or third of this special treat.
Natsukashiya Japanese Yuzu Gummies
Since 1901, Natsukashiya has been producing handcrafted confections in Japan with the same traditional preserving techniques. On a recent trip to Japan, our Milk Street team discovered the unassuming confectionery and some of their naturally sweet treats. Made with real yuzu juice from citrus grown in the Kochi and Tokushima Prefectures, each of Natsukashiya’s bite-sized jellies start with a crystalline crunch from a fine sugar coating, which gives way to a tender and chewy interior. Bold, with a zippy tartness, and a sweet citrus flavor, the full brightness of the fresh fruit shines through. Unlike other gummies that taste artificial and overly sweet or stick to your teeth, even those who don’t crave candy will reach for a second or third of this special treat.
Trunas 'One Tablet' Chopped Garlic
Minced garlic brings the flavor, but at what cost? It stinks up your cutting board, is sticky and takes time to chop. Enter Trunas One Tablet Chopped Garlic, the freeze-dried version of minced garlic that actually maintains the potent taste, scent and color in a single cube. With zero additives or chemicals, and unlike grocery store renditions that are murky in flavor and slimy when they defrost, Trunas requires only a few drops of water to rehydrate and resemble freshly minced garlic. Quicker, more convenient and easy to store (no freezer required), use these tablets in soups, stews, noodles, marinades, sauces and anywhere else you’d need freshly minced garlic. Each bag contains about 20-25 tablets.
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