new kitchen things

Our old metal steamer from Ikea started to rust so I finally had an excuse to buy this one. The feet won’t scratch pots and it is flexible silicone so it moves to fit nicely into most sizes of pot (it doesn’t work in my small 1-quart saucepan). It’s easy to clean and doesn’t take up much storage space, we hang ours on the side of the fridge. I like it. Mine is Avacado green and it also comes in cherry pink and translucent.

OXO Food Scale

I never did get around to buying the Escali Primo digital scale I was so cheerful about back in November and since then the OXO Food Scale has caught my eye. The display pulls out so you can read it if a large bowl is put on the scale, and it’s thin enough to store easily. It even has a backlit display for when you are, um, baking in the dark?

Simplehuman Sensor Soap Pump

It’s touchless, you just put your hand under the spout and it dispenses your soap. Actually, I wish I had never head of this because then I wouldn’t think about how awesome it would be every time I reach out to my normal soap pump with my flour/oil/blueberry juice/melted chocolate covered fingers. I resent you Simplehuman Sensor Soap Pump. No come back I love you!

Cuisinart Chef’s Classic Stainless 4-Quart Saucepan

Last year I had a crush on a small All-Clad saucepan but put off buying it, and eventually was lured by the “dishwasher safe” sticker on a small Calphalon Kitchen Essentials saucepan at Target. It’s been working great but I realized too late that, duh, the glass lid will inevitably shatter when I drop it (and I will drop it).

So when my four quart saucepan bit it I decided to look for a replacement with a metal lid. I was happy to find that the June 2007 issue of Cook’s Country recommended the Pinzon 3.5 Quart Stainless Steel Sauce Pan at Amazon for a very nice $20, but now I’m sad because it’s not available anymore (or currently, let’s hope currently).

Cook’s Country also recommended the Cuisinart Chef’s Classic Stainless 4-Quart Saucepan, but it’s about $60. Do I buy the Cuisinart Chef’s Classic? Or hope Amazon brings back the inexpensive Pinzon saucepan? Maybe get the saucier-shaped Cuisinart Chef’s Classic Stainless 3-Quart Chef’s Pan that is a not-too-bad $30? Why couldn’t I have needed a larger saucepan last summer when the recommendation came out?

WÃ¼sthof Come Apart Kitchen Shears

This post at Baking Bites reminded me that I really need to replace my six year old Ikea scissors and get a proper pair of kitchen shears. The WÃ¼sthof Come Apart Kitchen Shears are exactly what need and are recommended by Cook’s Illustrated. And apparently they are comfortable for left-handed people as well.

· comments [29] · 03-25-2008 · categories:food · shopping ·

29 responses so far ↓

1 Karrey // Mar 25, 2008 at 6:17 am

I used to be really into all of the Oxo brand stuff, until a few months ago when I started making an effort to not buy things that were made in China. I never realized how difficult it would make everyday shopping! The entire line of kitchen utensils by Oxo is made in China. We’re having a dickens of a time trying to find a new pizza wheel.
2 BethR // Mar 25, 2008 at 7:05 am

while skimming through the soap dispenser comment, i thought you were listing how awesome it would be to fill it with things like melted chocolate.

that would be awesome.
3 Hawkeyegirl // Mar 25, 2008 at 7:55 am

I found one saucepan on ebay- its a bit pricey though.
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Pinzon-3-5QT-18-10-Stainless-Steel-Sauce-Pan-w-Lid_W0QQitemZ150229110736QQihZ005QQcategoryZ46275QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
4 megan // Mar 25, 2008 at 8:24 am

Hawkeyegirl – Gosh, is it already a collectors item?

Beth – Oh yes, a touchless melted chocolate dispenser would be nice to have too.
5 LK // Mar 25, 2008 at 8:59 am

d’oh. I thought the same thing as Beth.

I have a set of the Cuisinart Chef’s Classic, and I’m completely pleased with it. The prices fluctuate a LOT on Amazon, I caught the 10 piece set for $100 a few months ago.
6 Amanda // Mar 25, 2008 at 9:33 am

I don’t know if you know this, but if you buy anything from Bed Bath & Beyond, and I’m talking ANYTHING, and it breaks, or just general use degrades the product, it’s the company’s policy to accept any returns, in any form. I worked there and have thoroughly taken advantage of the return policy, especially on my Calphalon, which I did drop the glass lid and the glass popped out because it landed knob to floor. Just an FYI that might help you in your future endeavors into expensive cookware. :)
7 sarah // Mar 25, 2008 at 10:02 am

I agree with LK–the price for Cuisinart sets (and hopefully single pieces!) on amazon fluctuate a lot. I bought the 7-piece chef’s classic for $85 last year in May. It only has a 3 qt saucepan though.
8 liz // Mar 25, 2008 at 11:05 am

I love those kitchen shears. They came in the Wusthof knife set my dad got me for Christmas a few years ago(which has spoiled me – I hate all other knives now). The shears really do come apart & go back together easily, which is important when you’re as uncoordinated as I am.

And I totally want a chocolate dispenser now.
9 maria // Mar 25, 2008 at 12:41 pm

I’ve dropped my glass pot lids several times, and have (thus far) been lucky enough that they didn’t break. I hope I’m not jinxing myself.

I really like the Emeril sauce pan that I bought at BB&B. I bought it primarily for candymaking, but now it’s used for ramen and bechamel and who knows what else. I know it’s not a great pan, but it works fine for me.
10 Gwen // Mar 25, 2008 at 1:29 pm

I have the kitchen shears, and can vouch for their left-handed compatibility. I love them. They are VERY sharp, too — be careful with your fingers!
11 valerie // Mar 25, 2008 at 1:38 pm

I have the Simplehuman Sensor Soap Pump. Since I’m a germ-a-phobe, I think it’s great. The only problem is it’s hard to adjust the amount of soap it dispenses at one time – one is too little, and two is too much. But I guess you can never use too much soap?
12 Jennifer // Mar 25, 2008 at 1:54 pm

Those Kitchen Shears are fantastic. City Kitchen’s on 4th Ave downtown has had them at a great price ($10?) forever. I bought up several pairs for hostess gifts, which have been universally enjoyed. I have one pair left if you get shut out.
13 EB // Mar 25, 2008 at 3:28 pm

I love those shears! I put off getting some for a long time and now I snip snip at everything!
14 Julie in Houston // Mar 25, 2008 at 5:16 pm

I love that soap dispenser. When I build my dream home someday, its going to have automatic sinks. I’ll have to get an automatic soap dispenser to match! :)
15 michelle @ TNS // Mar 25, 2008 at 5:57 pm

that vegetable steamer will be mine. oh yes, it will be mine.
16 Haven // Mar 25, 2008 at 6:33 pm

I own the Wustof Come-Apart Shears and they are awesome, no gunk gets stuck in-between the blades. We have a whole Wusthof knife block set and have been really impressed with the quality.
I, too love/loathe the Simplehuman Sensor Soap Pump and must have it.
17 playmaker // Mar 25, 2008 at 7:34 pm

I have the Target Calphalon cookware, and I tell you, those lids are indestructible. They’re made of some sort of tempered glass or something, and have clattered all over my kitchen floor over the years. Not one of them has ever broken or even cracked. They’re really durable.
18 megan // Mar 25, 2008 at 7:40 pm

Thanks everyone!

Playmaker – This is good to know. I might buy a the larger sized Calphalon saucepan if something good doesn’t come around on Amazon.
19 YC in Seattle // Mar 25, 2008 at 8:37 pm

I have a $20 postal scale from Costco. It does just as well as the other much more expensive kitchen scales. I don’t think it does 1/8 oz, but it’s a nice small, cheap alternative. It also has a hold button “for large packages”, so you can see what the weight was after you take the weight off.
20 Jane // Mar 26, 2008 at 3:36 am

I put the Escali kitchen scale on my Christmas list after I saw it here. I got it and LOVE it!
21 Looby // Mar 26, 2008 at 9:45 am

You can order individual metal lids from Calphalon if and when you manage to break the glass one.
22 megan // Mar 26, 2008 at 9:50 am

Thanks Looby!
23 Kyla // Mar 26, 2008 at 10:47 am

Oh! That soap dispenser is awesome! I’m off to buy two! I’ve always been a little scared of my soap dispenser in the kitchen, because after handling raw meat, I have to wash my hands, and then wash the soap dispenser =X In the bathroom, my kids are always taking waaaay too much soap. This will be awesome, thanks for the tip!
24 Sarah // Mar 26, 2008 at 1:56 pm

I bought the Escali scale too after seeing it here. I love it! I never really put big bowls on it so I guess that’s not so much of an issue for me.

About the scissors, I’ve had Wusthoff shears for a while now and just have not been impressed with them. I just bought the Messermeister brand take-apart shears on Amazon (they just came back in stock), and these are awesome. Totally worth the price. I love that the blades are thin, it makes them easier to maneuver. I always felt the Wusthoff ones were too bulky.
25 megan // Mar 26, 2008 at 2:47 pm

Sarah – thanks for the tip on the scissors. I usually use my kitchen shears for mail so I might want thinner blades as well.
26 Rebecca // Mar 27, 2008 at 11:11 am

Yeah for left handed people!!!
27 Lys // Mar 27, 2008 at 6:09 pm

Now – can I say that the sensor soap pump works wonderfully. I got the Williams Sonoma version as a gift and it is a lifesavor. I don’t worry about cross contamination or just general ick issues. It is well worth it!
28 Joanna Schmidt // Mar 28, 2008 at 7:00 pm

I love that green, yow.
29 Beth // Mar 29, 2008 at 9:55 am

completely agree on the Bed Bath and Beyond post. It seems everything they sell is “disposable” in that…before long you toss it.

I love the green strainer and am getting one!

new kitchen things

29 responses so far ↓

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