It’s high summer and the vegetables are rolling off the farmers’ trucks. Do you have the equipment you need to do justice to it all?
A Corn Stripper
Credit: C. W. Cameron
Credit: C. W. Cameron
Field-fresh ears of corn are one of the highlights of summer. Once you have your fill of corn on the cob are you ready to put corn kernels in your salads or make a big batch of creamed corn? Then you face the daunting task of stripping the kernels off the cob. You use a knife, the kernels fly everywhere and you're slicing kernels in half as you work your way around the cob. Enter the Cob Corn Stripper from Chef'n. Just place the cob into the center portion of the stripper and push down with the serrated stainless steel blade. The stripper slides down the cob and releases all the kernels perfectly. Rinse, repeat. And the stripper is dishwasher safe. Done. $8. Available online from Bed Bath and Beyond and Sur La Table at Perimeter Mall, 4400 Ashford-Dunwoody Road, Atlanta. 678-441-9120. Sur La Table at North Point, 1082 North Point Circle, Alpharetta. 678-280-0086.
A Knife Sharpener
Credit: C. W. Cameron
Credit: C. W. Cameron
Chopping all those tomatoes and cucumbers, cutting up pounds of green beans and mounds of zucchini means your knife really gets a workout. So how are those knives holding up? Are they perfectly sharp or have they gotten dull over time? If they’re really dull, you probably need professional sharpening or a professional-quality home use electric sharpener. Once your knives are sharp, keep them that way with this lightweight compact knife sharpener from Chef’s Choice. It’s easy to use and designed with handle holds that make it work whether you’re right- or left-handed. A few swipes through slot one and then slot two will give you a finely honed edge so you can keep on chopping. It’s an inexpensive and quick way to keep those knives in great working condition. Easy. $9.99. Available at Cook’s Warehouse, 1311 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta. 770-565-8005.
A Fermentation Jar
Credit: C. W. Cameron
Credit: C. W. Cameron
Fermenting is definitely a thing these days. Restaurants all over the city are fermenting their own pickles, kimchi and hot sauce. Make like a chef and make fermented foods at home. It's a great way to deal with that excess produce and you end up with some really delicious good. This food fermentation kit from Fermentation Creation has everything you need. You get a half-gallon jar with a special lid that has an airlock and rubber seal. That's really essential for safely making your fermented products and while your food is fermenting, it's fun to watch the carbon dioxide escaping through the airlock. You really feel like you're watching something living at work. The kit also comes with instructions, recipe cards, a little rubber cork to cover the hole in the lid when your food is ready to store, and two ounces of special salt designed for fermented foods. Sauerkraut is easy and delicious, but Fermentation Creation offers online recipes for dilly beans, kimchi, mango pickle and fermented cranberries among many other delicious things. It'll just be the start of adding more probiotics to your diet. $25. fermentationcreation.com
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