Most technologies start out getting pooh-poohed by people in the field. There’s usually a good reason — they don’t match up to the established tech. Sometimes the new technology works its way past the hurdles and finds a niche; other times it never turns the corner and just fades away. For years, I’ve seen cookbooks and shows dismiss ceramic knives with a quick paragraph, but … [Read more...]
Nathan Crane, Jeopardy Champ, Theater Major and Connoisseur of Great Foods
In my regular life, I run a high school auditorium. There, I’ve got to keep track of the thousand details that make a production work. I bring that energy to our reviews here, and try to bring in the rigor and attention to detail that lets us separate the great gear from the pretty good. I’m also an avid trivia player who can boast about winning one day on Jeopardy! I’ve got a giant mental library of esoteric knowledge I can bring to the table to provide context to the food and equipment we try. Feel free to contact me via Cookware Junkies at cookwarejunkies@gmail.com ATTN: Nathan Crane.
10 Best Omelette Pans [Tested, Reviewed & Rated]
A good omelette classes up a meal to an unbelievable degree. It’s as skilled a performance as you’ll ever see at breakfast and the only eggs you should eat at a hotel buffet (or the hard-boiled, but those are the most boring of eggs). Making an omelette isn’t about the ingredients so much as it’s about technique, and a key part of the technique is your omelette pan. Do you need … [Read more...]
Whistling Tea Kettles [Complete Testing]
A nice cup of tea is very fine thing. The process is part of the experience, too. It’s a chance to slow down and let the small movements of tea-making take over your brain. All the pieces matter, too. Do you like bag tea? Whole-leaf tea in an infuser? Loose? Make a whole pot and enjoy the change as it steeps? One cup and go? There’s something meditative about a good cup of tea, … [Read more...]
Vegetable Choppers [Tested. Reviewed. Ranked]
![Best veggie Choppers [Tested. Reviewed. Rated.]](https://www.cookwarejunkies.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/best-choppers-review-150x150.jpg)
This sort of kitchen gadget has been a punchline for as long as I’ve been alive. But do they deserve it? It’s easy to be snobby about knife skills (it’s fun too), but a good cook uses the right tools for the job. It’s not hard to prep strawberries with a paring knife, but if you’re doing a few pounds, a strawberry huller is the better choice. If I’m making once batch of salsa … [Read more...]
Best Instant Read Thermometers – Tested, Reviewed, & Ranked
Salt Fat Acid Heat by Samin Nosrat. I’m Just Here for the Food: Food + Heat = Cooking by Alton Brown. We measure the salt, fat, acid, and food with spoons and cups and scales, but all too often we just eyeball the heat. An instant-read thermometer is a kitchen essential for the twenty-first century, and your path towards better cooking. About Instant-Read … [Read more...]
WiFi Thermometers for BBQ, Grilling, or Cooking
Most Wi-Fi devices aren’t worth the trouble. Automatically closing shutters! Toaster with bread notifications! Get today’s weather on your mirror! But there are some things that are better when connected to a network. A Wi-Fi thermometer effectively uses the power and familiarity of your phone to manage the complexity of temperature control and monitoring, and can help you be a … [Read more...]
Pizza Cutters [Tested & Ranked]
Too many cookware reviews take the tone that you absolutely have to have the item in question (pizza cutters) or else your kitchen is deficient and you’re missing out on something amazing. This is not one of those reviews. You can absolutely cut pizza with an ordinary chef’s knife and have a grand pizza-eating time, and I would never suggest otherwise. I’d argue, though, … [Read more...]
Meat Tenderizers [Test Kitchen] Review & Ratings
Confession time: I didn’t own a meat tenderizer before this test kitchen. Whenever I wanted to make something that needed cutlets pounded out, I’d use the bottom of my eight inch nonstick skillet. Every time, I said I should maybe get a real meat pounder, but then I’d be done with it and forget. Not to spoil the review, but pretty much all of these products are better than a … [Read more...]