asparagus to the biggest bone-in pork roast are the qualities
to look for in a good set of tongs. The OXO Good Grips 9-
inch Stainless Steel Locking Tongs ($11.95) set the bar for
quality.
- Microplane Zester Grater
When you’re talking fine-toothed graters, pretty much only
one brand comes to mind: the Microplane Zester Grater
($14.95). It is more than just a useful gadget—it’s the only
one to get.
My favorite thing to do with a zester is to go to town with
it on an orange and watch as the little mountain of zest
effortlessly grows on my cutting board. Wait—my favorite
thing to do is grate delicate wisps of Parmigiano-Reggiano
over my Bolognese. No, I take that back. My favorite thing
is to grate fresh nutmeg on top of my gin flip. Or is it to
sprinkle chocolate shavings over my soufflé? Oh, but I do
dearly love the lovely little mound of ginger that smells oh
so lovely as it falls off the zester into my bowl. No, I’ve got
it, and this time I’m sure: it’s being able to throw out my
confounded single-tasking garlic press and using my
Microplane to grate garlic into tiny, even mince.
So many things to grate, so little time! - Whisks
They’re essential for mixing quick-bread batters or
emulsifying hollandaise. Use one in a large pot of soup to
incorporate seasoning much more quickly than a wooden
spoon can. And a whisk is the best tool to whip cream or
foam egg whites into frothy meringue. Models with stiff