All posts filed under: Things for Cooking

Pluck Egg Separator

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Separating eggs takes a moderate amount of confidence, but once you have it mastered you don’t need any tools, just your hands and the eggshell. But for those who feel a bit less confident in that arena, a well-designed egg separator is a practical kitchen aid. Invented by Mark Fusco, Pluck is the latest release from the product development company Quirky. It features a clear end nozzle and a white silicone top with a visible seam that I wish could have been avoided in the manufacturing process; the two parts come apart for cleaning. Pluck is easy enough to master: Break an egg into a bowl, then squeeze the white silicone bulb to suck out the yolk from its dear friend albumen (the white) into a clear plastic chamber. When you release the squeeze, the yolk slips out intact and ready to use or discard as needed. I gave the Pluck a test-run this morning as I prepared some egg whites for breakfast. I rarely eat yolks anymore, and I usually separate eggs using just the …

Takenaka Bento-Box

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While walking around this summer’s New York Gift Show, i spotted these colorful and glossy Bento Boxes. Handmade in Japan by Takenaka, these adorable containers have removable partitions and come in 13 colors and seven styles, making it easy to remember which one is yours when you have to run out the door in the morning. The color choice can also make sure one is only used for veggie dishes or kosher dishes, if so desired. Dishwasher and microwave safe.

Kaikado Canisters

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Kyoto-based Kaikado has been producing airtight canisters for tea and other items since 1875. Made through a manufacturing process that involves as many as 140 steps, the tea caddies, or chazutsu, have been handmade virtually the same way since the company was founded. A double-walled construction protects the leaves from humidity while helping them maintain their scent. As the joints of the lid and body are lined up, the lid descends in a smooth, silent motion while expelling air from the container. Depending on the metal you choose, the color will change over time — copper in 1-2 years, brass in 3-5 years, and tin in 30-40 years. I love how the manufacturer describes the unique patination process that happens through handling the canisters. “Gently caressing the entire body of chazutsu day after day brings out a mysteriously elegant sheen and gleam to its years. Chazutsu provides utility and pleasure as it ages gracefully with ownership.” Wow, that’s some sexy stuff. Stay tuned for a novel starring the containers called Fifty Shades of Earl Grey. Available in …

knIndustrie Cooking Utensils

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These sculptural cookware lines from knIndustrie, an Italian company founded a year ago that now is sold in over 240 stores in Italy alone, were on display at last month’s Eurocucina show in Milan. The pieces are functional for the stove top, and then can be used as elegant serving dishes on the table once you remove the handle. The new FoodWear collection, designed by Rodolfo Dordoni, includes stainless steel casseroles, low casseroles, and pans that can be used on all types of stoves including gas, ceramic glass, thermal, and electromagnetic induction. The line comes with a handle in a black steel finish and two covers, in either bronze glass or polished steel, that can be used upside down as a stand for cake, quiche, cookies or other non-drippy items. Also new from the company (and designed by Dordoni) is WhitePot, which has an inner white ceramic “nanotech” surface, an external stainless steel surface, and a detachable walnut handle. The detachable handles have the added benefit of making the pots easier to store and clean …

Pod food cover

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The award-winning Singaporean design firm Creativeans displayed this simple but functional food cover at last week’s Salone del Mobile in Milan. Using a magnet and a simple crease, the food cover (a typical household item in Singaporean homes) can be folded flat to be used as a table mat, or be inverted to be used as bowl or serving tray for fruit, bread, or other items. What I like best is that you can store these flat under some plates, and then just pop them open when you need them. I see children and drunk party guests also wearing them as hats … though that is not recommended by the designers or sober adults.

Dreamfarm Kitchen Gadgets

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The only Australian manufacturer to win three Red Dot design awards, Dreamfarm doesn’t make new versions of old products, they invent better ones. Take Teafu for example, a gadget designed to make tea faster and stand up without any drips. First, you can use Teafu like a spoon to scoop your loose tea, then squeeze the premium-grade silicone pod with an ergonomic handle to diffuse the leaves faster and get out all the liquid before removing the infuser. If you prefer a quick drink of water to a cup of tea, then check out Tapi. Retailing for just $4.95, Tapi turns almost any faucet with a straight spout into a drinking fountain. The water-safe rubber spout eliminates the need for a cup and works with a simple squeeze. Switching to the line’s cooking gear, Chobs is a cutting board accessory that raises the board off the counter, makes it non-slip, and indicates which side of the board to use for meat or vegetables, preventing cross-contamination. Finally, Garject presses unpeeled garlic cloves, scrapes itself clean, and …