Filed under: Kitchen & Dining
There are any number of kitchen utensils that will do double duty -- I can use a big spoon for a ladle, for example -- but there are some items that I can not easily substitute. Here are my three favorites.
For easy use in draining vegetables, cooked rice, or pasta, I always use a colander. Whether for hot or cold foods, I prefer one like this Martha Stewart Collection Colander ($8); it's a substantial 5 quart size, is dishwasher-safe (I don't like little bits of food being carried from one use to the next), and has a pair of handles for transport of drained foods, or an easy way to hang it up, out of the way.
When it comes to draining items from a ja
r or can, I could use a colander, of course, but then I have to put the strained foods back into the container. So I go with a strainer that fits just about any size jar or can that I normally purchase. This Stainless Steel Strainer ($15) is my first choice; the strainer is impervious to rust, fits a number of differently sized cans, and has perforations that are easy enough to clean by hand, although this gadget is dishwasher-safe. A benefit of a wide diameter stainer like this is that I can set the strainer down in the sink and let it drain by itself while I go about another task, returning to the now-strained food.My final favorite kitchen utensi
l is my spatter screen; even with an operating exhaust fan above my stove, the top surface gets some spattering while I'm cooking foods that aren't the leanest. I have a circular screen like this Lodge Stainless Steel Splatter Screen ($13-$15, depending on size); the fine mesh screen keeps hot liquids from flying all over the place, and is perfectly safe in the dishwasher.Shop more helpful kitchen utensils:
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