Animal House
Watch your fingers around this guy!
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Most people will pull the husks off an ear of corn and make a cursory attempt to remove any remaining silk (corn hair). If you want to make sure your corn is silk-free, you may want to use this brush.
This one is a bit more “corny”.
Or, you could skip the brush and go with a simple rubber band.
Here’s the Silkeezz de-silker in action
It’s strawberry season and time to start making shortcake, fruit salads, smoothies and more. To do these recipes, you’ll need to remove the strawberry stems. These hullers will make quick work of the task. They range in price, comfort, and kitsch appeal.
There’s no doubt what the Chef’n StemGem Strawberry Huller is going to do. It’s cheery shape and colors turn your strawberry hulling chore into a game.
You’ll appreciate the ergonomics of the OXO huller after your 3rd batch of jam. It may not be as pretty, but it will fit your hand more comfortably.
This huller by R & M is no frills and has a price to match. You can pick one up for less than a cup of coffee.
Use this handy, dandy strawberry slicer to turn that mound of berries into a batch of sliced goodness.
Rosa Jackson has a great recipe that spotlights the flavor of ripe strawberries: Strawberry tiramisù.
High quality knives make all the difference in the world. This set of Shun Classic knives would be a great starter set for the culinary student.
Shun knives are especially sharp due to the angle of the cutting surface. The cutting edge is ground to an angle of 16 degrees, whereas most German knives only use 22 degrees. The Japanese steel also allows the knives to hold their edge longer.
Here’s a great review for these knives.
The best knives I’ve ever owned, bar none. They come with a razor edge and are easy to re-hone with just a few strokes on the Kershaw-Shun steel (well worth purchasing to accompany this set). The damascus pattern and perfectly crafted profile slice through darn near anything (food-like anyway) with ease. I also got a 9″ scalloped slicing knife and sharpening steel to round out the set. The weight and balance are perfect. They are designed for right-handed chefs with a d-shaped handle so if you are a leftie they may not be as comfortable or easy to use.
L.A. Kane – Amazon
Here’s a video describing the Shun Knife experience via Williams Sonoma.
We’ve all had problems opening jars. Well, maybe not Lou Ferrigno; but the average non-hulk person has problems opening jars.
There are some helpful methods to make it easier. You could put the jar under warm tap water. You can place a rubber band on the edge of the lid to give you more grip. You could hand it to someone else and wait for them to loosen the lid before taking credit for finally releasing it.
While sticky jar lids are annoying, they can be a serious problem for those with arthritis and weak hands. This device from Black & Decker
There is a Greek cheese
This silicon grill mat by Grill Friends
The GrillMat was designed by Taming the Flame author and creator of www.girlsattheGrill.com, Elizabeth Karmel, with the intention of solving two problems of outdoor grilling–food sticking to the grill and food falling between the grates. The 11 3/4 x 15 3/4 GrillMat is made from a platinum process silicone that is heat safe up to 500 degrees farenheit and is the only 100 % non-stick cooking sheet designed for indirect heat use on the outdoor grill. The GrillMat is to be used with indirect heat (not over an open flame) which is the preferred grilling method for delicate fish and small foods and vegetables. The GrillMat is perforated with small holes to allow fats and juices to drip away from the food and create the distinctive grill flavor.
Elizabeth Karmel’s Grill Friends 11-3/4-by-15-3/4-Inch Silicone Non-Stick Grilling Mat, Black – Amazon
Epicurious.com also has great things to say about this mat
Grilling fish is a little tricky because it often sticks, breaks, and falls through the cooking grate. Fish baskets are one option, but fish often sticks to those as well. A silicone mat prevents sticking; you simply lay it directly on the cooking grates and then lay the food on top of it. This one has perforations, which allow the fish juices to drip down to the heat source at which point they vaporize and flavor the fish as it cooks. Silicone mats can also be used to grill vegetables.
Read More http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/kitchenequipment/essentials/grillingcoolextas#ixzz0hyre7B0S
Grilling Gear: The Ultimate List
