Holland Houseware

If you ever watch those cooking competitions on television you will have noticed that one thing all professional chefs have is a set of exceptional knives that they bring to wherever they cook. A home chef is no less dependent on having great knives to do great cooking. Fortunately, there are knives that are affordable than can do a professional job.

Some knife brands are developed and sponsored by professional chefs and the Stellar James Martin knives are one of those, and one to check if you need kitchen knives for great cooking. Chef Martin’s line of cutlery is made of tough molybdenum steel and come with a very desirable lifetime guarantee. They come in sets or individual knives for customizing your selection.

Most cooks can tell you that just letting your good knives rattle around in a drawer damages the cutting edge. They prefer wood block knife storage, because it protects the edges of their knives. Some of the best buys offered by James Martin are sets which come in their own custom wood blocks, although you can also purchase a large assortment of individual knives and cutting tools. Whatever you choose, make sure your knives are completely dry before you put them away.

It’s very difficult to beat the Kitchen Devil knives line in terms of performance, quality and value. These lightweight, but very functional knives can often be found online at bargain prices. Like the Martin knives, you may buy them as individual items, or you can buy the entire set and be prepared for every need. Kitchen Devil knives are very light, yet have a very professional appearance, and this may appeal to many home cooks.

Kitchen Devil knives are made with durable molybdenum steel, which is designed to create a sharper edge than stainless steel blades. As a result, Kitchen Devil knives are not only dishwasher safe but also retain excellent cutting ability.

Another feature of the line of Kitchen Devil knives is a beautifully designed comfort handle for a grip that is sure and pleasant to the hands as well. Each knife or tool will thus be easy to use and more likely to be put to more applications than a very expensive knife that just doesn’t feel good to hold. They come with a 10 year warranty to protect your investment.

Molybdenum steel knives are better equipped for rough home use than many significantly more expensive professional knives. Chefs commonly spend large amounts of money on their knives, and treat them with great care, but at home, you will likely be less cautious about caring for and maintaining your knives. Unlike many high-end professional knives, both Kitchen Devil and Stellar knives can even be put into the dishwasher. With just a little care, these knives may even outlast you!

One thing all good chefs have in common, and this is obvious on any cooking competition TV show you may watch, is a great set of knives. In order to do a good job, a chef at home, needs a good set of knives just the same as any other chef. Thankfully, for an affordable price, you can get stellar james maritin knives. Kitchen Devil knives are made with durable molybdenum steel, which is designed to create a sharper edge than stainless steel blades. As a result, kitchen knives for great cooking are not only dishwasher safe but also retain excellent cutting ability.

- Robin Holland-Smith

When reviewing this month’s super tools for the kitchen, the Oxo Good Grips line grabbed our attention as top-of-the-line kitchen tools. Oxo tools are innovative in design and include such features as soft rubber grips, user-friendly design, and a great deal of functionality. We enjoyed using these products so much in our own kitchens that we’ve listed our top five Oxo Good Grips products in this article to share with you.

1. Angled measuring cups: Simple and practical! These measuring cups allow accurate measurement with the ease of viewing by looking straight down into the cup. The measurement ticks on the side of the cup are clear and easily distinguishable and the innovative design is practical and easy to use. It also is visually stimulating and an attractive addition to any kitchen.

2. Snap-lock can opener: we really enjoyed using this unique can opener. To begin opening a can, just gently squeeze the opener - with a snap, it locks onto the can. After you’re done, just press the lock and it will open with a second snap. Not only is this can opener functional and fun to use, but it also is a boon to anyone (such as people with arthritis or with small hands) who struggles to have a tight enough grip to keep a can opener closed.

3. Fat separator: separates fat from any liquid, using a devices that looks like a measuring cup. Heat-resistant,, the fat separator can easily de-grease gravy and hot soups. The device has a rubber stopper on the spout that prevents fat from leaking out the spout’s top. It also includes a strainer to catch food particles that you’d also like to keep out of the final product.

4. Folding cutting boards. Oxo Good Grips presents this handy new innovation. It’s made of polypropylene to withstand higher temperatures. But the best part is you can fold it up so it takes up less storage space! And for safety, it includes rubber panels on the sides so it doesn’t move or slip while you prepare foods.

5. Manual slicers are available in either the mandolin or julienne varieties. They are readily gripped because they possess excellent handles. They will prepare thinly cut fruit or vegetables very quickly. The area around the blade is transparent allowing you to see precisely what is being cut. One has the choice of slicing on a flat surface or hooking the slicer over a dish.

We are looking at super tools for the kitchen this month. Of all the brands out there, the one that has really shown itself to be superior is the Oxo Good Grips line. The angled design of these cups is user-friendly as well as being an attractive addition to your kitchen. Manual slicers are available in either the mandolin or julienne varieties. They are readily gripped because they possess Great Handles. They will prepare thinly cut fruit or vegetables very quickly. The area around the blade is transparent allowing you to see precisely what is being cut.

- Robin Holland-Smith

Americans throw out over two thirds of all the food they buy, according to a study surveying over 5000 households. Spoilage is cited as the primary reason that Americans throw food away. This article includes ways that you can reduce the wastage of food at your house, by making better use of your home’s plastic food storage containers to preserve food for longer periods of time.

1. Freezer-proof storage bags: these special plastic food storage containers are sealed against freezer-burn. Freezer-burn is a nasty chemical process that dehydrates your food and makes it develop an “off” taste while stored in sub-zero temperatures. These special bags keep your food the same as the day you bought it - for up to three years!

Secondly, breathable vegetable bags have been introduced to help keep fruits and vegetables fresh. They allow a little bit of air to circulate within the bag, but continue to seal the contents away from large amounts of oxygen that can produce spoilage. Fruits and vegetables kept within these breathable bags can last for up to six weeks, or much longer than the contents of regular plastic food storage containers.

Third, consider using multi-compartment plastic food storage containers to store small quantities of leftovers, soups, fruits, and vegetables. They are remarkably convenient because you can open a single cube of frozen food without having to deal with the rest of the cubes. This makes it much easier to freeze individual servings of soups or fruit.

4. Vacuum food storage has several advantages, from taking up less freezer space to extending the storage time with great quality. Air causes foods to become stale or spoil, and removing it using special bags and a special vacuum machine reduces volume and keeps foods fresh much longer than any other method. Special attachments allow you to remove air from your plastic food storage containers as well. Vacuum storage not only takes less space in the freezer but also protects against the damage of freezer burn.

If you’re like most people, you’re interested in long term food storage techniques. You’re tired to throwing expensive food into the garbage because there’s no way to preserve it. Or you find a great buy at the store but know you don’t have the room to store the extras you’d like to buy. You’ll be glad to know that now there are special food storage containers available that work with your freezer and refrigerator to extend the life of your groceries and help you get more for your food dollar.

A study found over 5,000 American households throw away almost 70% of the food they buy due to spoilage. Plastic food storage containers can help control food waste and save money. Use freezer-proof storage bags to stop freezer-burn which dehydrates food and causes a foul taste. Use breathable vegetable bags which circulate air around fruits and vegetables for long term food storage up to six weeks. Freeze small portions of fruit for smoothies or broth for soups in cubes. Vacuum food storage takes up less freezer space and prevents freezer burn. Save money and freezer space and extend the life of your groceries with special food containers like these.

- Robin Holland-Smith

Although I’m not completely sure about this, but I personally think that the first cooking implement created by man was the knife. Ages ago, man used knives to hunt and gather their food, and later on used to prepare food when fire was discovered. Today, the knife remains as one of the most important tools you could have. The ubiquitous knife is used everywhere, from homes to restaurants to cruise ships.

But although we can all agree about the importance of this versatile tool, it’s sad to see that very few people know how to properly handle and care for a knife. Perhaps it’s because knives don’t have manuals when we buy them.

One of the things that really annoy me is watching people use knives wrongly. But then, no one showed us how to use knives properly whe we were little. Our parents just told us that knives were dangerous and to keep away from them. There may be no instruction manuals for knives, but it’s not a reason why people shouldn’t learn to use them properly.

You have to learn how to correctly hold a knife. Basically, there are three ways to hold a knife, depending on the knife and what is being cut. For cutting against a board, a knife should generally be held with the thumb and forefinger gripping the blade. The handle should be held with the other fingers. When cutting hanging meat, for example, the knife should be held like a dagger to get proper leverage. And when turning or peeling with a small knife, it should be held with one or two fingers gripping the blade, with the othersthe rest around the handle.

Learn also how to care for your knives. A wooden board should be used for chopping and cutting. Plastic boards require more cleaning, and they are not quite as gentle on the edge of a knife as wooden boards. It’s also better to use one where the cutting surface is end grain, rather than side grain. Why? The end-grain is the least abrasive surface to cut against, so your knife’s edge will last a longer time.

Always store a knife in a way that protects the blade, such as a plastic sleeve or a paperboard. Clean a knife after using it, then dry and store. Do not wash knives in a dishwasher, no matter how convenient it may seem. Remember that you have to protect the edge from other hard surfaces. To properly sharpen a knife, the best way is to use a knife sharpener with an abrasive, diamond surface. Of course, you can always use a whetstone, but it takes a lot of experience to be able to sharpen a knife to razor-like sharpness with it.

Azlan Irda is the co-founder of AfterKnife.com, which provides high-quality knives and supplies. Visit our website to get all the case knives and supplies you need.

Azlan Irda is the co-founder of AfterKnife.com, which provides high-quality knives and supplies. Visit our website to get all the pocket knives and supplies you need.

- Azlan Irda