New Sometimes it is easiest to store food in a bowl you have on hand, but it may not always have a lid. The new Date Dial Sealing Lid from Cuisipro creates a vacuum seal that keeps food fresh longer. An adjustable dial in the handle can be set to the date the food was stored – handy for identifying what is fresh and what is not. They are available in three sizes to ensure a good fit on most bowls.
New Easy, quick, and healthy homemade chips are now possible thanks to the new Mastrad Chip Maker and Slicer Set – and frankly, it is a lot of fun too. Potatoes, root vegetables, and firm fruits turn into crispy, crunchy chips that are perfect for snacking or dressing up salads, without using any fat. Use the slicer to create consistently thin slices, arrange them in a single layer on the silicone tray, and place in the microwave for 3 minutes. Fair warning: these chips will disappear faster than you can make them!
New A watched pot never boils, but somehow an unwatched pot always boils over. Leave it to Kuhn Rikon to come to the rescue (and find another ingenious use of silicone). The new Spill Stopper sits on top of your pots and prevents liquids from boiling over and making a mess of your cooktop. It works great as a spatter guard, and tames liquids from messing up your microwave as well. Toss it in the dishwasher and it is ready for next time. Available in two sizes, in green and red.
There are countless of ways of frothing milk, but none perform like the Milk Café from Breville. Choose a frothing disc – creamy milk for a latte or frothy milk for a cappuccino – pour enough milk for up to 3 cups into the stainless steel carafe, select a temperature, and press start. Induction heating warms the milk and a spinning action produces small, tight bubbles. Add ingredients like cocoa powder to make hot chocolate, and then place the carafe into the dishwasher for cleanup. It is addictively simple and makes café-quality drinks at home.
The Messermeister Take-apart Utility Shear’s versatility extends beyond cutting kitchen twine and plastic packaging. The built-in screwdriver, jar lid opener and gripper, bottle opener, and bone cutter will make this one of the most-used items in your kitchen. The take-apart design allows for easy cleaning, and stainless-steel construction means it will last for years to come. Available in red or black.
Historically, pressure cookers have not been known for ease of use and good design, but the Perfect Plus line of pressure cookers from WMF are just that. The award-wining design is as functional as it is beautiful, and it has all the benefits that pressure cooking offers: rich, flavourful food cooked in half the time of conventional methods. Made of 18/10 stainless steel, it can be used on all cooktops including induction, and hand-washes easily. Available in 4.5 L and 6.5 L sizes.
The editors of Cook’s Illustrated are known for obsessively testing every product that goes through their kitchen, and for finding good value. The HIC Porcelain Lasagna Baking Dish got top marks in a 2010 comparison, and ever since it is been hard to find in-stock. It is broiler-safe, lightweight, easy to grab from the oven, and durable. The 9” by 13” pan is joined by a 7.5” by 10.25” pan, equally versatile and sure to be enjoyed.
New Small kitchens (read: new condos) in need of a splash of colour are the perfect fit for the new Joseph Joseph Nest Cups. Ranging from 1 teaspoon to 1 cup, these 6 measures stack together ingeniously, taking up the least amount of space possible, while letting chefs have some fun in the kitchen.
New When a garlic press is too large, and chopping garlic with a knife is too messy, Joseph Joseph offers an innovative solution: the Rocker Garlic Crusher. Small and efficient, it is placed on top of the cloves, and with a downward rocking motion it forces garlic through a stainless steel mesh that can be scooped out with a spoon. It is easy to clean with hot, soapy water, or can be tossed into the dishwasher. Only available in stainless steel.
Need more colour in your kitchen? The 6-piece Mixing Bowl Set is made of brightly coloured melamine that stacks neatly for storage. Sizes range from 0.25 L to 4.9 L, and can handily double as serving bowls. They are not microwave safe, but can be cleaned in the dishwasher.
Inexpensive, brightly coloured, and made of 100% cotton, Tag dish towels come in handy right when you need them. A variety of styles are available in jacquard, waffle, and flat woven. Given their quality and value, it makes sense to have several around your kitchen.
Japanese and other Asian-style knives typically have an acute 15˚ edge on the blade, so traditional knife sharpeners will not work. The Model 463 from Chef’s Choice is made specifically for these knives. It uses a 2-stage process: one to resurface the edge of the blade to work out burrs, and a second to finely hone or maintain an edge. Made in the USA, Chef’s Choice has always been a highly recommended brand, and with this model, all of the knives in your kitchen can remain sharp and maintained for a lifetime.
The pinnacle of food magazines, Lucky Peach is the creation of David Chang (of Momofuku fame) and McSweeney’s. Appropriately, it is filled with witty (and very unconventional) humour, gorgeous photography, and some of the best writing this side of Anthony Bourdain. Those looking for a collection of recipes will be disappointed, but anyone looking to understand more about food – and the world that revolves around it – will relish every last word.