Tools that Deliver

By Lori Powell

There is nothing more satisfying than a kitchen tool that delivers...both in design and function. We are inundated by all sorts of must-have gadgets for our kitchen.

My personal requirements are that a tool must have several functions: be sturdy, be easy to clean and easy to store. Most of all, the tool must live up to its advertised promise of making my cooking tasks easier and quicker in order for me to be sold.

I have many food styling tools that I adore but only a handful of kitchen tools. Below are just a few of them:

Joyce Chen Scissors:
They will cut through everything while staying sharp. Your must-have, all-around kitchen shears that will cut through chicken bones, trim pastry dough, snip herbs (definitely better than a knife in this case since it does not crush the herb), remove fat from meat, open pre-packaged meats such as bacon, and even do double duty to cut ribbon and gift wrap cleanly. They are ergonomically designed for both women and men. Another bonus is that the shears are dishwasher safe and can be re-sharpened.

OXO Stainless Steel Tongs:
What did we ever do before these were invented? They can be used for almost anything that needs to be grabbed, including what you need to get from the top shelf of your kitchen. I am not too tall so I find this quite useful. These tongs have an interlocking mechanism that responds quickly to opening and closing (good for storage), nonslip handles (they have rubber running along the outside edges of the handle) and are dishwasher safe. Gone are the days of using ice tongs as cooking tongs! Also they have no rough edges to cut your hands while gripping them or when closing, while other lesser brands can result in cuts and scrapes.

Lamson Sharp Slotted Turner:
A spatula that has slits with high carbon steel that runs through the handle, with a very sharp beveled edge on the end that enables you to flip any sticky, stubborn ingredient, such as eggs, fish or crepes. It can even tackle the weight of a half-pound hamburger. Also, the edge is great to break up ground meat that you are browning for chili and stews. Another design bonus: the slots in the blade allow the food to release easily while enabling the excess grease to drip off. This turner is super-durable and easy to clean since it goes in the dishwasher. Also it is good looking with its red poly handle.

Tomorrow, Andrew shares his favorite tools.

Just in time for holiday cooking, Special Fork is featuring Tool Week. For the entire week Special Fork Bloggers will be blogging about their favorite kitchen tools.

Those of you who are our fans on Facebook will be eligible for a drawing of some cool kitchen tools especially selected by Special Fork (value: $75). And don't forget to tell us about your favorite tools.

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