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Kitchen gadgets

Consumer Reports magazine: February 2012

A new "must have" kitchen gadget seems to emerge each week, especially on TV infomercials. We asked our Facebook fans which basic gadgets they actually use, then tested several variations—some 40 products in all.

Personal considerations such as hand size and cooking habits precluded our experts from naming any single-best gadget. But they've pointed out the types of can opener, peeler, grater, zester, and garlic press whose wide appeal and smart design should guarantee years of use.

More often than not, old reliable designs pleased most of our testers. We did, however, discover some clever twists on the tried-and-true, as well as a few brave new variations that could warrant a spot in your kitchen drawer. Worthy choices are below. Two other specialty tools worth considering: the Zyliss Smart Guard Mandolin, $20, which slices uniform fruit and vegetable rounds (for dishes like potatoes au gratin or a pear tart) and the Chef'n Juicester, $15, whose large reamer and built-in measuring cup make it easy to squeeze precise amounts.

Garlic press

Oxo Good Grips #28181, $16

Features that count. Large garlic chamber, ergonomic grip, built-in rubber cleaner.

Bottom line. Lever-style garlic presses let you mince cloves with minimal pressure. We also tested a one-piece garlic rocker that eliminates moving parts but can trap garlic in its mincing holes as you rock it over the cloves.

Peeler

Kyocera Perfect Peeler, $18

Features that count. Comfortable handle and sharp ceramic blade that adjusts to left, right, and horizontal positions.

Bottom line. Vertical blades are tried and true, but some testers liked horizontal blades, for right- or left-handers. Others favored double-sided blades that peel toward you or away. Some testers said serrated and ceramic blades were especially sharp.

Grater

Oxo Good Grips Box Grater, $18

Features that count. Multiple grating surfaces, soft grip, nonslip base, and optional storage container with measurement markings.

Bottom line. Box graters offer the best combination of stability and grating options but are bulky. Consider adding a smaller, handheld rotary grater for tableside grating of hard cheese. Versions with a sealed cap let you store cheese inside.

Can opener

Oxo Magnetic Locking Can Opener, $20

Features that count. Cushioned handle locks shut to hold can secure as you turn knob; magnetic arm keeps lid from falling into can.

Bottom line. Traditional manual openers like this one required little effort. They left sharp edges, however, which is why we also liked manual openers that cut cleanly along the side of the can, though you can't then use the lid to squeeze liquid from, say, a can of tuna.

Zester

Better Blade ZestNest, $15

Features that count. Sharp blade and easy-grip case that holds one-third cup zest.

Bottom line. Conventional zesters, with a handle and curved metal end, are easy to use; a grater-style zester can work fast. ZestNest combines both virtues and stores extra zest. The downside: You can't see how much you've zested.