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.

Meatball Baker makes life less greasy

Everybody loves a good meatball, but not everybody likes making them. For some, the thought of a frying pan filled with little sizzling spheres splattering in their own grease keeps meatballs off the menu. Luckily, there is another option. If you liked the Meatball Grill Basket, the Meatball Baker is right up your alley.

Basically a roasting pan with a special rack, the gadget keeps meatballs elevated, allowing for fat to drip away from the food. Featuring three rows that hold the meatballs in place, the nonstick carbon steel pan measures 10-inches by 13-inches with a depth of 2.5-inches. The insert itself is 9-inches by 11-inches and can be used for much more than meatballs.

With the rack and pan set having the ability to keep food raised above dripping grease, the opportunity to dig deeper (and greasier) into previously avoidable recipes is just too good to pass up. So dust off that old cookbook from a time when fat content didnâ€™t matter and get to exploring!

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

Know when to be hungry with the Cube Timer

Kitchen timers may not be difficult to operate, but that doesn’t mean they couldn’t be made easier to use. The Cube Timer takes the process and makes it as easy as possible. Just pick up the cube and put it back down again with the desired time interval on top. The timer counts down from a 5, 15, 30 or 60 minute setting, while the ‘0’ setting stops the timer in progress. For those that can’t stand the suspense, an LED readout displays the exact time remaining–good news for the hungry clock-watchers that tend to gather by the stove around dinnertime.

***UPDATE 1/7/2025: Wouldn’t ya know it: time ran out on this little guy. Here is another option that uses 15 20 30 60 timer increments. Check out the Feilifan Cube Timer and remember to keep track of time.

Feilifan Cube Timer, Time, Kitchen Timer Kids Timer for ADHD Productivity Workout Flip Timer Classroom for StudyTime Countdown Management Settings 15 20 30 60 Minutes-White

Crab Dip Bowl not just for crab dip

I find something slightly unnerving about serving platters made to look like animals. Considering the fact that most crabs would likely not approve of crab dip, itâ€™s no wonder that this particular giant crab is holding a lighthouse hostage. If you can get past the steely glare offered by this hand painted Crab Dip Bowl Set, the lighthouse serves as a convenient 5-inch spreader. The crab itself holds 8-ounces, and in view of the size of those claws on the thing, you just may want to serve a simple cheese spread instead.

Simple solution for storing nonstick pots and pans

Nonstick cookware goes bad. Not in the sense of that rotten tomato lurking in the back of your fridge, more like the coating just wears off after so many uses. Other than scraping the surface with metallic utensils, there is another common way to hurry your cookware into the pan graveyard: by storing it.

All nonstick pan owners are faced with a dilemma: Just where am I supposed to store this thing? You could put one on top of the other with the nonstick surfaces facing each other, thereby protecting the coating. Or, another popular option is to just keep the nonstick pans on top of all the other cookware. However, at some point it’s time to get real. Other than a wall rack or hanging ceiling mount the best place for pots and pans is stacked right on top of each other. Right on top of each other, that is, with these Pan Protectors sandwiched in between.

***UPDATE 1/7/2025: Those cute polka dot pan protectors must’ve gone bad — product no longer available. So, here is a cool alternative. Cool as you can use these Dual-Use Silicone Pan Protectors for Stacking & Trivets to keep hot pans off the counter as well.

Dual-Use Silicone Pan Protectors for Stacking & Trivets for Hot Dishes | Silicone Trivet Mat | Perfect for Pot and Pan Protectors for Stacking | Cookware Protectors for Stacking (S-BLU/BLU)