As we all join hands and turn as one to face the cold, hard inevitability of the approaching holiday season — only kidding of course, we really do love this time of year here at T&T ?? — it's time to get our cooking spaces sorted out because they're going to be seeing a lot of use.
For our ongoing series of kitchen gear guides, we present six items we love that are worthy of inclusion in your own kitchen.
Mason Cash Batter Bowl. ($19–$33, depending on color)
Mason Cash Batter Bowl »
If you watch The Great British Bake Off or Downton Abbey, you've likely seen Mason Cash's ceramic batter bowl make appearances here and there.
It's essentially a large, sturdy mixing bowl with a handle and spout built right in. It gives you ample room to stir batters and doughs of all kinds, which can then be easily poured into muffin tins and cake pans, or onto a baking sheet. It’s also not bad for whisking together a whole lot of eggs for, say, making omelettes for the family.
Mason Cash pride themselves on the longevity of their bowls, crafting each one from sturdy stoneware that will last a lifetime without chipping or fading. They’re microwave- and dishwasher-safe, so they have plenty of utility and ease-of-use to go around. Even the raised pattern on the sides is useful, making the bowl easy to grip in your hands or nestle under your arm without twisting or turning as you beat batters into submission.
Souper Cubes silicone trays for freezing soups/stocks/broths/sauces. ($37 for two-pack with lids)
“Souper Cubes” Soup-Freezing Silicone Trays »
This one's perfect for your falltime soup-making needs. With the ingenious Souper Cubes silicone trays, you can freeze and store up to eight portions (four per tray) of your secret-recipe soup — or stocks, or broths, or sauces — in either half-cup (125mL) or full-cup (250mL) portions, which can be easily popped out and reheated later.
They’re not just for soups either; they also work perfectly for freezing stocks, broths, and sauces. And, each tray comes with a lid to keep out odors and freezer burn, and their rims are reinforced with steel wire so they’re easy to handle before freezing. Once a tray is emptied, it’s totally dishwasher-safe so even the cleanup is a breeze.
Fair warning though, do not use the trays in the microwave — empty the contents into a mug or saucepan instead.
Langria over-the-sink dish rack. ($155 for the larger one, $130 for the smaller model — check their sink width requirements before buying)
Langria Over-the-Sink Dish Drying Rack »
Autumn is a season for cooking huge dinners and a ton of baked goods for family gatherings. The side effect of this? A whole mess of dishes to clean up. Langria's over-the-sink dish rack offers an easy way to handle all of it, especially if you do a lot of hand-washing.
It's an easy-to-assemble U-shaped frame — made from rustproof, powder-coated 201 stainless steel — that really offers enough space for everything without getting in the way of your sink faucet or taking up counter space. It comfortably holds up to 88 lbs of dishes, made all the more secure by suction cups on the bottom to keep the rack in place.
And since the whole thing rests over your sink, there's no need to worry about funneling water anywhere. Everything naturally drains where it's supposed to.
Included with the rack are a series of hooks, snap-on baskets, and holder racks for storing a variety of utensils and cutlery, cutting boards, dishwashing tools, and more. You can adjust the positions of all these things as you like, and if you ever feel the need to wash the pieces themselves, they're easy enough to remove.
Simplehuman's stainless steel trash can. ($80)
Simplehuman 10-Gallon Stainless Steel Trash Can »
The last thing you want to deal with while cooking a big meal is some cheapo trash can with a foot pedal that never works quite right when you step on it, or a toddler/pet prying their way into the lid and getting into the trash. If you can stomach dropping the $80 on one, the Simplehuman stainless steel trash can is worth every penny.
The foot pedal works beautifully every time, opening with ease and without ever slamming the wall behind it. That way, you're not always having to play that game of, “How hard to I have to step on this to keep the %&#! lid under control?” When your foot comes off, the lid softly and slowly closes again — no slamming, no noise.
The lid lays nice and flush when shut, so toddler hands and dog noses can't easily pry it open. (Honestly, even adult hands have a hard time with it, which is almost a selling point.) It also keeps odors in quite nicely. When you need to take the trash out, the inner can/bucket is easily removed for carrying outside, which is especially useful if you fear the bag breaking on the way.
You can even lock the lid open for changing bags and dumping multiple things in a row. And finally, since the body is made from brushed stainless steel, you'll never have to worry about the thing falling apart. Not to mention how great it'll look in your kitchen ?
Unicorn “Magnum Plus” pepper mill. ($49 for the 9" tall one, $40 for the 6" model)
Unicorn “Magnum Plus” Pepper Mill »
Use a lot of black pepper in your cooking? Like to make big batches of soup that require lots of seasoning? Tired of how long it takes your manual grinder to spit out the amount of pepper you need? You want the Unicorn Magnum.
This beast is one of the most aggressive pepper mills we've ever seen, with nigh-unsurpassed pepper production per turn. Nothing even comes close. We'd describe it more as an explosion or stream rather than a mere sprinkling. It's a real thing to behold. You've actually gotta finesse the crank a bit when you only want a small amount.
Now, while the Magnum does allow for grind size adjustment, it doesn't really ever get too fine. The best you'll get is medium-fine to extra-coarse. This isn't the sort of thing you buy to delicately season a meal — it's a workhorse.
Fellow “Atmos” vacuum food storage canisters. ($25–$35 per container, depending on size and color; available in matte black and clear glass)
Fellow “Atmos” Vacuum Canisters »
Fellow's line of “Atmos” vacuum canisters is marketed mainly as a way to store coffee beans, but they also work well for dry food storage.
The premise is simple: Using a hidden pump within the lid — activated by twisting back and forth — you create a vacuum inside the canister, protecting the coffee within (or tea, or food) from oxidizing and thus keeping it fresher for longer. Once the airtight seal’s created, simply press the button in the middle of the lid to release it and bring the pressure back to normal.