Prep Tools | Beyond The Kitchen Sink

The sound of one hand grinding salt and pepper

Salt & Pepper Grinder

Salt and pepper make everything taste better. The two common spices find their way into practically every meal. While the popularity of salt and pepper cannot be debated, delivery method of said spices certainly can be. Salt and pepper grinders, shakers and mills come in all sizes, shapes and configurations. When it comes down to it, as fun as all these variations may be, all we want to do is season our food.

This Salt & Pepper Grinder set connects at the middle forming a cool hourglass shape, or, the grinders can be used individually. Best of all, operation is performed by using just one handâ€”perfect for prep work when having two clean hands is always a luxury. While this kitchen gadget may not enlighten you to the sound of one hand clapping, when it comes to Zen at the dinner table, these grinders have you covered.

Cutting board takes over the kitchen sink

Small kitchens can be difficult to work in, but that doesnâ€™t have to hold you back. Even if you have absolutely no counter space, solutions exist to get you through the prep work. Kitchen islands and workstations come in many shapes and sizes, practically guaranteeing that you will find something to expand your space. However, even if every available square inch is occupied, there is still room over the kitchen sink.

The Oxo Good Grips Over-The-Sink Cutting Board creates a workspace where before there was none. The cutting board slides over the sink with expanding rails that stretch out up to 9-inches. A stainless steel basket attaches to the arms, and serves as an easy transportation device to the cooking pot. Complete with non-slip edges, the cutting board holds firm as you chop, slice and dice, making certain the cooks everywhere get the most out of their kitchens.

***UPDATE 9/9/2013***
The link above no longer works, but here is a similar model that one-ups the Oxo by including a strainer. Maybe a bit smaller, but reviewers seem to like it.
ExcelSteel 201 Expandable Stainless Over The Sink Strainer With Cutting Board

Stem Gem claw game wins a strawberry every time

Using the Chef’n Stem Gem Strawberry Huller is like playing a skill crane that you win every time. There isnâ€™t even any skill necessary to win this claw game. The strawberry huller operates at the press of a button, expanding the grabber. Simply insert into the strawberry and twist to scoop out the stem and leaves. Easy! Of course, the best thing about this game is that instead of wining a shoddily made stuffed animal, you get a delicious ready-to-eat strawberryâ€¦ and then anotherâ€¦ and then anotherâ€¦

Kohler goes over the kitchen sink in Stages

You donâ€™t often come across a kitchen sink that comes packed with accessories, but that is exactly what you get with the new Kohler Stages sink designs. Available in either a 45-inch (K-3761, pictured above) or a 33-inch (K-3760, pictured below) configuration, the Kohler Stages Sinks integrate the cooking process into the product line by including accessories all designed to facilitate in the creation of the meal.

Continue reading Kohler goes over the kitchen sink in Stages

Moving on from square brownies

Brownies are certainly delicious, but wouldnâ€™t they taste better if they were cut into little wavy shapes? Sure they would! Pass up the squares and move on to zigzag brownies with the Wilton Zigzag Brownie Cutter. The soft-grip handle makes it easy to cut brownies into fun zigzag shapes, but why stop there? The cutting tool can also be used to cut Rice Krispies treats, sandwiches, or even lasagna. For $7.95 at Sur La Table, itâ€™s probably worth it if youâ€™ve been trying to cut those decorative edges with a knife. Especially since zigzag brownies just taste better.

No pizza is safe from Mario Batali pizza cutters

Okay, itâ€™s official: Mario Batali truly is a superhero. Just take a look at that Mario Batali Pizza Knife. Only the purest of heart and clearest of mind can wield such a ~~weapon~~ tool. It even has his personal superhero logo plastered on it, so there can be no doubt as to whom it belongs. The pizza knife measures fifteen and a half inches across, allowing for the ~~slaying~~ slicing of most pizzas in one fell swoop. For the not-so-pure-of-heart, or for those still in training, there is always the Mario Batali Pizza Wheel. As a convenience for the home cook, the master chef has made sure there is a place for these in the home; Both the wheel and the knife feature nylon styling to protect your delicate non-stick pans.