586770 Sat Jan 10 12:42:00 -0800 2009 20 41 Cookware 0 4314222 Martha Stewart once did a soft-boiled egg demo wherein she praised a gadget that was held atop the cooked egg while the user lifts a knob, releasing it so that a spring-loaded weight strikes the top of the shell, shattering it and making it easier/neater to access the inside without spillage. She said she preferred it to a knife or an egg-topper scissor. I've kept my eye out for one for years, without luck. On Lidia Bastianich's PBS show, I've seen her use tongs with arms whose sides ended in curved, blunt tines, so that a hefty amount of cooked spaghetti can be lifted from the water and held above it to drain. I'd buy one if I could find a seller. The readily-available kind that is like a spoon with tines lets too many strands slide off and back into the water. Sat Jan 10 12:42:00 -0800 2009 159317 greygarious 1 4314313 spaghetti tongs, http://www.amazon.com/Pedrini-Black-Satin-Spaghetti-Tongs/dp/B0000959G4 http://www.foodservicedirect.com/index.cfm/S/159/CLID/840/N/2719/Spaghetti_Tongs.htm Sat Jan 10 13:19:35 -0800 2009 4314222 22220 Kelli2006 1 4314355 There was something I saw in Cooks Illustrated which I hadn't been able to find, but saw in my MIL's place--an oven grill push, pull thing made of wood. She didn't know what it was (initially--a gift from someone), and gave hers to me this past Christmas because I might have a greater use for it. Sat Jan 10 13:32:08 -0800 2009 4314222 224238 Caralien 2 4317250 My grandmother had one. I think she called it a "pusher puller" or something like that. It had a notch for pushing in the oven rack. But a different shaped cut to "grab" the rack to pull it out. It was handy, you didn't need an oven mitt every time you needed to move the rack. I don't think I've seen one in a store though. Sun Jan 11 18:30:07 -0800 2009 4314355 63260 eamcd 3 4317260 http://www.surlatable.com/product/kitchen+%26+bar+tools/cooks%26%23039-+tools/wood+utensils/oven+rack+pusher-puller.do?search=basic&keyword=oven+ruler&sortby=ourPicks&page=1 Search for "oven ruler". Places other than SLT probably sell them as well. Sun Jan 11 18:34:28 -0800 2009 4317250 16406 ziggylu 2 4317274 Now I just had to look. I can't imagine spending $23 for one -- but here's a link (you'll see a picture). http://www.dynamic-living.com/product/wooden-oven-rack-push-pulls/FROOGLE/ $3.49 on eBay sounds more like it! There they call it an "oven rack jack." This site lists 3 different sources, all under $10. http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/gadgets/useful-gadgets-oven-rack-push-pull-004624 Now I may have to get one for myself! Sun Jan 11 18:39:58 -0800 2009 4314355 63260 eamcd 3 4331960 this one looks more like the one we have: http://www.activeforever.com/p-323-push-pull-helper.aspx It's about 5/8"-3/4" thick, 13" long, with a hole for hanging The SLT version looks a little thin and doesn't have a hook, so I'd probably break it when unceremoneosly pulling the rack out too quickly while frantic... Fri Jan 16 09:20:46 -0800 2009 4317274 224238 Caralien 3 4332892 I think I may get one of these too! My in-laws have one...my husband as a kid made it when he was in Boy Scouts. He still talks about what a great gadget it is. Fri Jan 16 13:28:59 -0800 2009 4317274 87282 lawgirl3278 1 4314523 Egg "cracker" or "topper" http://www.amazon.com/Paderno-World-Cuisine-Stainless-diameter/dp/B001E41OUQ/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1231626495&sr=8-2http://www.surlatable.com/product/kitchen+%26+bar+tools/cooks%26%23039-+tools/professional+egg+topper.do?search=basic&keyword=egg+topper&sortby=ourPicks&page=1 I also saw another one made by CLACK, but the only sites that have it are UK sites...don't know if that works for you. You can search "egg cracker" or "egg topper" to see more options. Sat Jan 10 14:36:24 -0800 2009 4314222 156502 jessleigh 2 4314533 that's like a cigar cutter, but for eggs, correct? Sat Jan 10 14:39:39 -0800 2009 4314523 224238 Caralien 3 4314552 They have that kind, too. But the original poster is looking for the kind you place on the top of the egg, lift the knob on the top, and in springs down and cracks the top of the egg. The kind you are describing is easier to find....but the other one is a little more "high tech!" Sat Jan 10 14:44:54 -0800 2009 4314533 156502 jessleigh 2 4315292 Thanks for the links, Kelli and Jessleigh...once I saw the price on the egg topper, I developed a greater appreciation for just smacking it with a spoon! Sat Jan 10 21:30:37 -0800 2009 4314523 159317 greygarious 3 4318285 i'm with *you* grey! dang, $75!!! that must've been in martha's pre-prison days of spending splendor! or, she got it "free"...... Mon Jan 12 07:53:00 -0800 2009 4315292 105717 alkapal 1 4332079 I want an affordable Tamis. I've seen a few at restaurant supply shops, but they are much more expensive than I think they should be. Fri Jan 16 09:56:45 -0800 2009 4314222 86802 vanillagorilla 2 4332236 I was trying to figure out what that thing was that my mother had in her kitchen! SLT has them for under $40 (metal), and this site has wood-sided ones from $20 http://www.bridgekitchenware.com Have you tried regular metal strainers? We have a set of 3 from BBB at a cost of ~$10 Fri Jan 16 10:40:50 -0800 2009 4332079 224238 Caralien 3 4332749 The cheapest fine one is still $30. That just seems so pricey for a metal screen and a bit of wood. Strainers don't really work as well for passing things like potato puree through. Fri Jan 16 12:53:19 -0800 2009 4332236 86802 vanillagorilla 4 4332788 Have you tried splatter guards or a food mill instead? (I'm sorry--I've never used a tamis) edit: from grant's post below: http://www.culinarykitchenware.com/sieves-metal-mesh-set-of-3-pr-71800.html 3 for $23, but they aren't fine... Fri Jan 16 13:00:22 -0800 2009 4332749 224238 Caralien 1 4332275 A cheese plane that works. The last few I've had had the blade set too close, so it didn't bite into the cheese and barely planed off anything. One had a hollow plastic handle that filled with water in the dishwasher and fell apart. Fri Jan 16 10:49:45 -0800 2009 4314222 10814 sbp 1 4332373 You mean this egg-topper thing? Not cheap.. http://www.culinarykitchenware.com/egg-top-cutter-pr-88595.html Fri Jan 16 11:16:49 -0800 2009 4314222 176367 grant.cook 1 4332466 Hmm.. authentic cataplanas, and those pasta-cutting rolling pins you can find in Italy. Fri Jan 16 11:37:36 -0800 2009 4314222 176367 grant.cook 2 4333070 What do the pasta-cutting rolling pins look like? (I have one that cuts ravioli...wondering if that's what you're talking about.) Fri Jan 16 14:37:14 -0800 2009 4332466 63569 flourgirl