It’s Spring -time to Spruce up your Kitchen – At long last the sun has appeared! And the sunshine spurs us into spring cleaning and planning for summer and warmer days ahead. Here are some new products I’ve found for you:
It’s often very awkward trying to reach those top shelves and ledges to dust. Well, help is at hand from this clever Microfibre Extendable Duster from OXO. Now you can banish dust from all corners of the home, as the handle extends up to 54”. It’s great for reaching light fixtures, bookshelves and tall cupboards without strain. The duster head rotates 270° and locks at multiple angles, making it easy to tackle every hard-to-reach spot. And it’s not expensive, just £19 from John Lewis and Amazon
I’ve resisted having a washing up bowl for years, as I hate the idea of stagnant water sitting there if it isn’t emptied. Well, I’ve relented and am absolutely delighted with the one from ReBorn® – the world’s first homeware brand made from local UK waste. Suitable for most sinks, the ReBorn washing up bowl has a generous 9 litre capacity. It has large carry handles for easy lifting, and legs to elevate the bowl for clean draining. It has an integrated plug for quick draining, that can also be set to strain water with food particles etc. With a handy pour spout, the water can be easily decanted to other vessels or used to water plants. All components can be taken apart for easy cleaning. Dedicated to creating planet-friendly homewares, ReBorn is actively challenging the way traditional makers operate. It believes in local production, using recycled materials such as plastic film, resulting in a low carbon footprint and reduced landfill, all while supporting the local economy. This NEW sage green colour ranges from ReBorn is made in Wiltshire UK, from 100% waste plastic. ReBorn products are recyclable everywhere in the UK, unlike most housewares which are made from mixed materials, resulting in 70 million items ending up in landfill annually here in the UK. The bowl is available for around £35 and there is a nifty sink tidy to match, with storage for brushes, bottles and cloths for around £20 to complete the look.
Avocados are a staple in our household, whether as part of breakfast, a salad or just as a snack (try filling the middle with soy sauce – it’s so good). Life is much easier now though, with the new Viners® Avocado tool. Designed to make slicing, de-stoning, and scooping effortless, this multi-functional tool takes the fuss out of avocado prep. Simply slice the avocado in half using the blade on the side. Once open, position the pitting section over the stone, press gently and twist to lift it out easily. Then use the slicer on top to glide through the flesh for perfectly even slices. It’s dishwasher safe for easy cleaning and comes with a hanging hook for space-saving storage. Around £5 from Amazon
A good grater works wonders. This one from OXO is fabulous. The OXO Good Grips Box Grater with Removable Zester has sharp and durable etched surfaces that provide an easy way to grate ingredients. The 4-sided design features a coarse grating blade and a medium grating blade, as well as an angled slicing blade. And the 4th side has a zester blade that can be used on the grater or be detached and used independently over a bowl or a cutting board. A comfortable soft handle provides a secure and slip-free grip while the non-slip foot keeps it firmly in place while grating. There’s even a convenient removable clear container with measurement markings that catches food as you grate it – and it stores inside the box grater. From around £35 from Amazon, John Lewis and other stores.
I must tell you about my latest cookware discovery: GreenPan, the pioneer world-leading Thermolon™ PFAS-Free ceramic non-stick cookware. You might have spotted these gorgeous pans in use on a popular cookery series on TV recently (set in the chef’s home). Compared with traditional non-stick, the superior quality coating offers outstanding cooking performance without harmful ‘forever chemicals’ such as PFAS, delivering outstanding cooking results. The company was developed by two childhood friends, Jan Helskens and Wim De Veirman, in Belgium in 2007. Having discovered that when overheated, traditional non-stick pans release toxic substances into the air, and into your food, they embarked on a mission to create a healthy non-stick alternative. And non-stick they certainly are – they’re not cheap, but definitely worth the investment. Around £335 for the set shown from greenpan.co.uk
And still on the cooking theme, with Mother’s Day and Easter roasts and of course barbecues ahead, it’s important to make sure your meat is properly cooked. This is where the MEATER Pro comes in. It’s a smart wireless meat thermometer that helps take guesswork out of cooking. Whether roasting Sunday dinner, grilling summer steaks, or mastering slow‑cooked joints, the MEATER Pro makes precision cooking effortless, with cutting‑edge technology and intuitive guidance via the companion app. The MEATER Pro combines advanced sensors and wireless connectivity, to help users cook like a pro with minimal effort. It has Smart Temp™ Multi‑sensor Technology monitoring both internal meat and ambient temperatures, Bluetooth 5.2 Long‑Range Wireless giving freedom to move around without being tethered to the oven or grill. High Heat Capability to withstand cooking environments up to 550 °C, so suitable for roasting, searing, grilling and more. Fast Charging & Long Usage – a short charge powers long cooks, ideal for roasts and BBQ sessions alike. And its dishwasher safe, so easy to clean. And the companion app offers alerts and guidance straight to your smartphone. From the official MEATER UK store and select retailers, priced around £129.00 – store-uk.meater.com/products/meater-pro
The Seasoned Gastronome