slicer

Mortar and pestle meets grater and slicer

Kitchen gadgets come in all shapes and sizes, but it's the ones that try harder that stick out. The importance in that can be found in what they try to do. Sometimes it makes sense: think food processors with differing blades and stand mixers with attachment collections. But occasionally one comes along that tries to integrate two seemingly disparate tasks into one package. Yet, when an everyday gadget gets paired with a not-so-everyday task, everybody wins.

The Mastrad Mortar and Grater Combo ($80.00) is a kitchen tool perfect for some, less so for others, but curious all around. … Read more

Snap to slice and slide

It may not be polite to play with your food, but when it comes to food prep, that axiom goes out the window. All manner of kitchen gadgets and devices are designed to not only get the job done, but to add a little bit of fun to the kitchen. Conceptually it's not a bad idea; we all have to eat, and to some the kitchen may be a playground, while to others it's a torture chamber. Tools that are fun and easy to use help make it enjoyable for all.

While the Swissmar Multi Slicer may not … Read more

Cutting-edge design--literally

Kitchens are home to some of the most engaging technology anywhere. Design comes right along with, as both a tool to improve usability and as an aesthetic factor. However, cutting-edge design is usually reserved for big-ticket items or elaborate contrivances. But sometimes, even the more utilitarian appliances get a design makeover. In this case, the decidedly old-school meat slicer gets a fresh coat of paint.

The Kalorik AS29091 Red 200-Watt Electric Slicer is decked out in a metallic red finish, making it look like no other cutting tool on the (chopping) block. Measuring 15 inches by 8 inches by 10 … Read more

Have your cake and slice it, too

Ever tried to slice a round cake into equal pieces? Perhaps you are more skilled than I, but I have a ridiculous amount of trouble slicing a cake into eighths, twelfths--or even fourths. Apparently, I am not the only one in the world with this problem, hence the invention of this innovative cake-slicing guide from Wagaii (Taiwanese for "I like it!" according to their Web site).

It's a small plastic flower with removable petals and leaves. (I'm guessing it's plastic, actually, because I don't speak Taiwanese.) Remove the single disc of petals and place … Read more

Keep the doctor away

Slicing an apple into a perfect spiral isn't the easiest thing to do. The Giro Apple Slicer can make the process relatively simple, whether you want a pretty accent for a dish or a fun way to eat an apple. The slicer curves into the apple, cutting the spiral around the core in a smooth stroke. It looks like a simple stainless-steel disc, missing the center and with a slight bend, but the Giro Apple Slicer is a useful tool to have. It is sharp, though, so even if a little one wants a spiral-cut apple, it's probably … Read more

Choose your slices with Dial-a-Slice

Some days, you need thick apple slices to pack in lunches. Other days you need thin pear slices for a juicy dessert. With the Dial-a-Slice Fruit Corer and Wedger, you can get both with the same slicer. It adjusts between thick and thin slicing in a snap--just pull down, twist and push up to lock in your preferred set of blades in the Dial-a-Slice. You can choose between 16 thin, uniform slices, perfect for baking, or 8 thick wedges ideal for snacking. You can even slice up a mixture of both sizes, perfect for desserts where you want a variety … Read more

Guide each slice

Whether I'm slicing onions, tomatoes, or potatoes, I always worry that whatever I'm cutting is going to get away from me. It's tough to hold round vegetables and fruits in such a way that you can safely slice them. However, the Stainless Steel Slicing Guide offers a solution that holds produce, like onions, in place while getting your fingers entirely out of the way.

The guide is 18/10 stainless steel with sharp heavy-duty prongs that can slide into just about anything you care to slice. Push it into a piece of produce and use the handle … Read more

Perfect pie pieces, with a push

Whenever I bake a pie, my husband threatens to pull out a protractor to make sure we get even slices. The Progressive International Collapsible Pie Cutter makes it possible to achieve perfect slices without having to go to all that trouble. You can add or remove dividers to the pie cutter so that when you place it on top of the pie and push down, you can get two, four, six, or eight even slices. With a little planning, you can even reconfigure the slicer so that you get uneven slices if, for instance, one guest wants just a smidgen … Read more

Slice mushrooms with one push

When I'm done slicing a mushroom, it tends to look like I used a saw. With the Mushroom Slicer, though, it's easy to get thin slices that look good and all it takes is one little push. The slicer looks like a glass, but has blades in the base. You line it up over the mushroom and press downwards. It chops mushrooms and collects the slices in the cup, with each new mushroom pushing the last upwards. The Mushroom Slicer works with other small fruits and vegetables of similar almost-firm consistencies--strawberries and tomatoes come to mind.

The Mushroom … Read more

Garlic slices with a twist of the wrist

When a recipe calls for sliced garlic, I almost always substitute crushed. The idea of me slicing up a tiny clove of garlic without taking off a fingertip seems unlikely. The Garlic Slicer offers a much safer alternative. You can place a clove of peeled garlic inside and simply twist to get thin slices of garlic. The Garlic Slicer delivers three slices at a time, using three evenly spaced stainless steel blades in a disc to slice through cloves. You can fit up to two cloves into the slicer at once, which means shallots can also fit.

In addition to … Read more