Somewhere on your list of things to do in 2017 is “eat healthy.” We know it’s there. So we went looking for tools that could help you get the job done. But we didn’t head to our favorite kitchen gadget shops. We found these tools while shopping in some more “unusual” places.
Credit: Yvonne Zusel
Credit: Yvonne Zusel
The Must-Have Kitchen Gadget for 2017 – the Spiral Cutter
There's not much you can't find at Richards Variety Store. Halloween costumes? All you could want. Toys and puzzles. Got it. Stickers and coloring books. Tons. Pinatas and the candy to fill them. Check. Or you could stock a kitchen with all the pots and pans, dishes, glassware and utensils on the shelves. On the kitchenware shelves you'll find four different spiral cutters for fruit and vegetables – a must-have for paleo and gluten-free diets. Carrot noodles, zucchini spirals, cabbage pasta, all at your fingertips with one of these. They work like a giant pencil sharpener turning out long strands of gently curled vegetables. Want to dip your toe into spiralizing? Try the version that sells for $11.95. Or go all out with this model from Helen Chen Asian Kitchen with three different cutting blades and suction cups to keep the machine secure on your countertop. $29.93. Richards Variety Store, 931 Monroe Drive, Atlanta. 404-879-9877. richardsvarietystore.com
You know you need to weigh your food. It's the only way to be sure you're eating that three-ounce portion of meat or that one-and-a-half ounce serving of cheese. And a scale is invaluable when you start working with all those recipes that are now showing up with weight instead of volume measurements. But where in the world are you going to put one more piece of kitchen equipment? This folding digital scale from Joseph Joseph collapses down to a small rectangle less than two inches wide and six inches long and it weighs in grams, pounds and ounces. These days you can pick up nails and a gallon of paint, have keys made and stock your kitchen all at your favorite local hardware store. $34.99. Intown Ace Hardware, 1404 Scott Boulevard, Decatur. 404-378-6006. intownhardware.net
Credit: Yvonne Zusel
Credit: Yvonne Zusel
One Classic that Must Be in Your Kitchen
Steamed food = healthy food. So how about a steamer that works as a pretty serving container as well as a very effective kitchen tool? Bamboo steamer baskets have been around for decades. They beat out stainless and silicone steamers because you can use one by itself, or put together a stack and steam layers and layers of delicious food. And they're pretty enough to use for serving your steamed goodies. Be sure to use your steamer in a wok, skillet or other vessel with sloped sides so you keep the steamer itself off the bottom of the pot. The Buford Highway Farmers Market carries bamboo steamers in a wide range of sizes. Don't forget to pick up a top. $6.49 for a 6-inch steamer. $9.99 for an 8-inch steamer. Buford Highway Farmers Market, 5600 Buford Highway, Atlanta. 770-455-0770. aofwc.com
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