Most pepper mills (this model also grinds spices) take forever to grind just one tablespoon. This new design—which we developed with Kuhn Rikon—is easy to use and produces all the spice you can use quickly and easily. Its innovative back-and-forth ratchet action is easier than a twist-style mill, especially for those with hand issues. The precision ceramic grinder is effective and durable, and the front-loading hopper is far easier than top-loading grinders, where half the spices inevitably spill during filling. Perhaps our favorite feature is the removable bottom container, which makes it easy to measure and transport spices to a stovetop pot or mixing bowl.

• Net Weight: 8 ounces
• Dimensions: Height: 8.5 inches
• Materials: BPA-free plastic
• Care: To clean, grind coarse salt to remove residue and any spice flavors

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.

With this device's wide range of use, you can mix and match crunchy vegetables with something tender for contrast. Or shave vegetables in varying thicknesses for different textures and flavor (fennel bulb is a great choice to try this with). Sliced thin enough, even tough root vegetables like turnips or beets are terrific in slaws and salads for textural contrast—and this mandoline transforms what would otherwise be arduous prep work into an easy task: Start by slicing vegetables into broad planks with the Benriner, then finish by hand, stacking and cutting crosswise with a chef’s knife for evenly diced vegetables that look professional every time.

• Includes: Fixed straight blade, coarse blade, medium blade, fine-toothed blade
• Dimensions: Length: 12.75 inches | Width: 4.4 inches
• Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Material: Blades: Stainless steel | Platform: BPA-free plastic | Base: Non-skid rubber

Protect your nonstick pans with our silicone-edged flexible spatula. An essential item for all home cooks, the ultra-thin design easily slides beneath delicate fish or chicken fillets and your morning eggs. Its stainless steel blade is sturdy enough to handle bigger items like steaks or pork chops, while its heat-resistant silicone edge won’t damage your nonstick pans as you’re scraping. The handle of this spatula has an open design that makes it easy to hang, so you can always keep it nearby.

• Dimensions: Length: 13 inches | Width: 2.75 inches
• Use: Safe for non-stick cookware, heat-safe up to 425°F
• Care: Dishwasher-safe

When Andrea Nguyen, author of The Pho Cookbook, visited Milk Street recently, she used this mesh spider/strainer to cook a small portion of noodles in the same pot she also was using to cook vegetables. This was new to us and we immediately fell in love with this inexpensive kitchen tool for cooking small portions of pasta, blanching vegetables and even deep frying. Made from stainless steel, it has a wooden handle and two hooks for hanging on the side of a large saucepan or stockpot. 

• Overall Size of Strainer - 16 x 5.5 x 5.5 Inches
• 6 Inch Strainer Basket
• Price is for one strainer

No more scrambling to find the right lid for your pot or pan: Kuhn Rikon's Smart Lid has a stepped edge that fits cookware between 9 and 11 inches in diameter, and the silicone material provides a tight seal. We especially love the ingenious steam valve built into the lid handle, which adapts to a number of cooking methods. You can set it to the off position to seal in moisture (such as for steaming) or set it to automatic, and the lid will release steam as needed—as opposed to the vents on other lids that stay open and might let out too much moisture. The lid’s convenient glass center allows you to keep an eye on cooking food, and the flower-shaped handle makes the lid easier to grip and maneuver.

• Net Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Dimensions: Height: 2.5 inches, Diameter: 12.25 inches
• Care: Dishwasher-safe
• Note: Recommended for electric or induction stoves. If using on gas stove, make sure flame does not come up sides of pan, which would cause damage to silicone rim.

Our pop-up colander is great for draining pasta or rinsing produce, and it will take up less space than traditional colanders when collapsed—no more wasted cupboard space. Made from heat-safe silicone, it functions double-duty as a steamer basket and easily nestles into larger sauce pots. For a fun Milk Street-inspired design element, we partnered with Kuhn Rikon to create the subtle bowtie design, which extends all the way up the sides of the colander and allows for quicker draining.

• Diameter: 9 inches
• Use: Recommended use between -40°F and 446°F; microwave-safe
• Care: Dishwasher-safe