Every time I set the table, I always put out a full set of silverware because you never know who’s gonna need a certain utensil. I mean, I wouldn’t think about using a knife to cut my spaghetti, but I have a friend who does it every time he comes over for Spaghetti Thursdays. Likewise, I opt to use the side of my fork instead of a knife to cut my pancakes, and my friend thinks that’s a bit loony as well.
With the Knork 4-pc Set (Amazon, $24.99), neither my friend nor myself will feel odd for not using a knife at mealtime. Plus, it’s one less utensil to put on the table (and to wash later). The Knork features a finger platform in its center that allows the user to press down on it and use a rocking motion to cut food. The outer prongs of the Knork aren’t really all that sharp, but curved instead, making the Knork safe as well as easy to use. Because both outer prongs utilize this technology, the Knock is ideal for everyone regardless if they’re a righty or a lefty. If you know someone who suffers from a disability or medical condition that makes it hard for them to use both hands while eating, this is the perfect solution.
While the Knork is perfect in just about any situation, don’t think that you’re gonna be able to cut cans or your shoe with it. It’s not some silly knife from a crazy infomercial or your first job as a door-to-door knife salesman. Seriously, why did you think you’d be able to make $18.00 an hour so easily? That’s just stupid.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Set of four
-Cuts like a dinner knife and spears like a fork
-No sharp knife edge
-Use finger platform and rocking motion to cut food
-Right or left handed
-Rust, stain, and corrosion resistant
-Matte finish
-Dishwasher safe
It’s the middle of August and the days of summer are rapidly counting down. Soon, it’ll be a little bit cooler, the wind will whip a little faster, and the leaves will fall from the trees. That doesn’t sound too bad, especially considering the continuous heatwave we’ve been experiencing this whole summer, but autumn can’t last forever. You might think you’d appreciate a cold winter’s day accompanied by a light snowfall, but that’s just the heat talking. As soon as it gets colder, you’ll start wishing you can spent more time enjoying the great outdoors when you had the chance. How do I know? Because even I feel that way, and I’m anything but outdoorsy.
If you’re gonna take advantage of this beautiful weather, you’re probably gonna have to venture outside. In my opinion, the best way to spend some quality time with nature involves a patio chair, some adult beverages, and a good ole fashioned cookout. Your partner in crime on this quest? The Can Cooker (Amazon, $79.99). See, not all of us can host a BBQ at our place because we don’t have access to a grill, whether it’s a space issue or inadequate funds. This cooker uses a heat source (fire pit, campfire, etc) to slowly steam cook a meal to perfection, making it a delightful alternative to grilling. Not to mention, this cooker is incredibly easy to transport and requires virtually no set-up to use. You can feed up to 20 people at a time and each meal only takes about an hour to cook. Think of it as a “set it, and forget it” alternative to grilling. I mean, how many times have you hosted a backyard BBQ and you’ve missed out on half the fun because you’ve been chained to the grill the whole time, sweating away? The answer is too many.
They recently outlawed grills at my apartment complex, so I thought I would never again experience the joys of outdoor cooking. Lo and behold, I have found a solution! I mean, they didn’t say anything about fire pits, right?
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 12.5″ x 11.8″ x 15.2″
-Weight: 5 lbs
-Easy to use
-Uses steam to cook
-Creates convenient meals in one hour
-Feeds up to 20 people
-Ideal for camping and tailgating
I’ve recently become quite the cooking savant. Well, to clarify, I’ve recently started making edible meals, and even that’s a bit of stretch. I am keen to learn though, which I think is the most important thing. While I love learning how to cook, if only because it helps me save money and for the immense satisfaction that comes with creating something delicious, I hate cleaning up afterward. Somehow, I manage to cover every inch of every surface in my kitchen with bits of food. It’s just as delightful as it sounds.
At least if I’m using the Elevate Kitchen Utensils (Generate Design, $49.00), I can be sure that my cooking tools aren’t being covered in last week’s taco residue. Yes, this six-piece set is nauseatingly cute with its rainbow-colored handles, but that’s not what makes it great. Ok, that’s not the main thing that makes it great. With a weighted handle and an integrated tool rest, each of these tools is designed to sit above the surface when placed down. Meaning, you can set that spoon on the counter for two seconds without having to worry if germs are contaminating it before you pick it up again to stir the spaghetti sauce. Heat resistant and dishwasher safe, each piece features a hanger hole so you can even make them a work of art on your wall.
If you’re scoffing at the thought of kitchenware as art, let me just mention that I have cake pans hanging on my kitchen wall. Yeah, it’s mainly because they won’t fit in my cabinet, but who wouldn’t want to display a TMNT cake pan, circa 1989? I rest my case.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: approximately 11.8″ x 3.5″ x 2.4″ (each utensil)
-Set of 6 includes solid spoon, slotted spoon, flexible turner, slotted turner, ladle, and spaghetti server
-Weighted handle and integrated tool rest
-Heat resistant up to 240C/480F
-Hanger hole for convenient storage
-Boxed gift set
-Dishwasher safe
-Made of polypropylene
I hate trying to decide what to have for dinner. If I don’t plan it out the week before, I either end up ordering take-out every night of the week or I eat every snack in the house instead of cooking a real meal. The issue here is that most of the stuff in my kitchen takes way too long to make, probably because it’s either out of a box or sitting in the freezer. There are actually only about three things I know how to cook that require little to no effort on my part. My favorite go-to meal is spaghetti because, come on, it really can’t get much easier than that.
I think the most annoying part about making spaghetti when you have to drain it. You’ve got this pot full of boiling hot water and you’ve got to dump it into a colander, without burning your hands. That doesn’t seem like a big deal because you can just put the colander in the sink, right? Well, you could, except when was the last time you actually cleaned your sink? Do you really want all those nasty food remnants from your sink to seep into your freshly cooked spaghetti? I didn’t think so. The Silicone Pop Colander (Amazon, $29.99) not only stores flat in your cabinet to save space, but it also features collapsible legs that keep its contents above the sink floor. And because it’s non-porous, non-absorbent, and dishwasher safe, you can be sure that your cooking won’t be tainted by those of previous meals. The only drawback is that you need a sink a bit on the larger side in order to fit the collapsible legs. I’m afraid those out there with double sinks won’t be able to partake.
Not only is spaghetti incredibly tasty, but it’s dirt cheap and it lasts forever. I could probably eat nothing but a box of spaghetti for a whole month. Ok, well maybe it won’t last that long, but you get the idea.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Collapsible design keeps contents above sink floor
-Space saving
-Withstands heat up to 250 degrees
-Non porous and non absorbent
-Available in red or gray
-Made of silicone
-Dishwasher safe
A lot of people don’t cook because it’s just too much of a hassle. The same thing can be said for baking – even with the help of Aunt Betty (Crocker, that is), you still have to measure, mix, and not screw up your dessert of choice. Sadly, homemade sweets and treats just taste better than their store bought counterparts. And I don’t even have to explain to you how much better Mom’s mac n’ cheese is than Kraft. But you need extensive skills and complicated utensils to make such delicious delicacies, right?
I’m not gonna lie to you, there will be some effort involved in the creation of foodstuffs. But with the right tools, it won’t be so bad. Take the Adjustable Rolling Pin (Generate Design, $33.00), for example. Seemingly just a jazzed up version of an ordinary rolling pin, it can make cooking and baking easy even to those for whom the kitchen is a foreign country. With the help of three sets of removable discs, this rolling pin can adjust to three different heights. Meaning, you don’t have to worry about whether your pie or pizza crust is the exact thickness it needs to be because the rolling pin does the work for you. It even has measurements on the actual rolling pin so you know how big the dough is once it’s rolled out. All you have to do is put a little muscle into it and you’ll be feasting on something scrumptious in no time.
Ok, so since we’re being truthful here, I will admit that I have been known to buy a frozen pie crust or two. But please don’t tell anyone – it’ll totally destroy my image over at Bakers R Us, and I’ve got a rep to protect.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 16.5″ x 2.75″ x 2.75″
-Includes rolling pin and 3 sets of removable discs
-Adjusts to 1/16″, 1/4″, and 3/8″ thickness
-Beech rolling pin must be hand washed and naturally dried
-Discs and locking nut are dishwasher safe
-Made of beech wood and plastic
