Bar Necessities: The Right Muddler For Mojitos And More
Many classic drinks such as mint juleps and mojitos use fresh mint leaves. More modern drink recipes use herbs such as basil. To extract their flavors they are placed in the shaker or glass and crushed with a mini-baseball bat called a muddler, a must if you enjoy mojitos and other muddled cocktails.
Bar Necessities: Adding A Citrus Juicer To Your Home Bar
There are few things better than fresh citrus in your cocktail. This stainless steel juicer is an elegant and effective way of juicing citrus, thereby making it a valuable addition to your bar or kitchen.
Bar Necessities: Selecting The Right Bar Spoon
Long and slender with a spoon at one end and tines on the other, the bar spoon is a very handy multi-function tool for any home bar. Here is one of favorites which, as a bonus, comes with a muddler for muddling mint, fruit and so much more.
Bar Necessities: Reviewed Oxo Cocktail Strainer
A cocktail strainer is a valuable addition to any bar and the Hawthorn-style cocktail strainer from OXO is a great choice. It fits over the top of a cocktail shaker, keeping ice and seeds out of your drink. It has a short handle for storing, and a slightly raised lip to make pouring easier with less spillage.
Bar Necessities: The Best Cocktail Shaker Kit
Cocktail shakers often come as a kit with all the tools you’ll need. Our favorite among the countless cocktail shaker kits is one from Libbey, featuring a 20 ounce glass mixing glass, stainless steel shaker, and stainless steel Hawthorn-style cocktail strainer. It’s dishwasher safe, although hand washing is best.
Bar Necessities: Choosing The Right Measuring Shot Glass
The best cocktails are accurately measured and mixed and that means owning a quality measuring shot glass. Sadly, the numbers wash off many of the glass measures so the tried and true metal two sided jigger from reliable Oxo with measurement etched into the stainless steel and a non-slip grip is the best choice.
There’s Nothing Like a Rice Cooker
A rice cooker cooks, steams and warms more than just rice! Here’s the one that we like best.
A Slow Cooker Has Multiple Uses
A slow cooker has myriad uses including braising when your oven is full or you want to leave the house without leaving the oven on. It’s also perfect for keeping all kinds of foods, including smoked pulled pork, warm for serving.
Fissler CookStar Portable Induction Cooktop Review
Sometimes one burner is all you need. This compact and convenient burner is portable and uses induction technology to avoid heating up your kitchen. And it’s not too expensive.
A Deep Fryer Isn’t Essential But Very Useful On Occasion
You can’t beat a deep fryer for making a large quantity of party food. The one holds 2.2 pounds of food, has a clever oil drainage system, a viewing window in the lid, a non-stick interior, and an air filter that helps prevent oil smells. Plus, it’s relatively inexpensive and compact for easy storage.
Dymo Labeler Review
Keep your stored food items organized and easy to find with an inexpensive labeler.
Vacuum Storage System
A vacuum sealing system can extend the life of foods in the pantry, the fridge and the freezer. Forestalls freezer burn as well.
An Electric Coffee And Spice Grinder Can Improve Your Cooking
Freshly ground coffee beans and freshly ground spices are so much better tasting. Whole beans and seeds keep better longer in the pantry. Just pick up a cheap grinder and it will improve the taste of your coffee and your cooking.
Vitamix 5200 Blender. A Blender That Pulverizes The Competition
If you make a lot of smoothies, sauces, and other blended foods then a high quality blender is in order. While there are several decent economically priced blenders out there, the lifespan of these models tends to be short due to inferior parts and a lack of horsepower, especially compared to a Vitamix or Oster.
A Food Processor Is An Essential Small Appliance
A blender on steroids, this essential tool does a better job on thick purees like pestos. Plus, it comes with attachments that allow you to shred, slice, and grate your way to greatness.