A gaggle of gadgets - What's New? Small Appliances, Tools, And Gadgets - cookware - Brief Article - Product Announcement

* Anyone who has spent time in the kitchen following new or old recipes invariably hits that moment when one of the ingredients has to be prepped a certain way. Trying to do that specific task with common kitchen utensils often is inefficient and fails to accomplish what one is striving for. It's at times like these when the cry goes up, "Why don't they make a gadget that'll do this?" Well, there is a Swiss company that has done exactly that and, through its American division, Zyllis USA, Foothill Ranch, Calif., you can now get your hands on a variety of items that will take you through those sometimes exotic chores with ease for a generally inexpensive price.

The Comfort Food Chopper ($19.99) consists of a zigzag blade at the base of a plunger with a spring-loaded knob at the top. Once the protective panels are closed around the blade, pumping the knob drives the blade up and down in a chopping motion and revolves it at the same time so as to get at all portions of the item being chopped. Roughened insets on two sides of the panels give purchase for the gripping hand for safety and control. The food can be chopped in the one cup-capacity container that attaches to the instrument and then stored for later use by snapping on a lid, or the operation can be done directly on a cutting board if you have more than that amount. All of the pieces are dishwasher safe for easy cleanup.

The Cheese Grater ($14.95) is hand-gripped with the cheese loaded into the top compartment and a grating drum inserted into the tubular opening at the base. A rotating handle is inserted into the end of the drum and, by turning it clockwise, the cheese is grated. An extremely clever feature is that the grater is designed so the handle can be inserted at either side, depending on whether you are right-or left-handed. The Deluxe Garlic Press ($14.95) works with an entire clove of garlic without having to peel it. Simply place the garlic into the bowl of the press, swing the top handle over, and squeeze both handles tightly. The interior plunger pushes the garlic bits and juices through the holes while removing the peelings, which cannot pass through them. A quick rinse under the faucet removes the peelings for disposal.

To alleviate one of the major frustrations in the kitchen, the Strong boy Jar and Bottle Opener ($14.99) can remove the most-stubborn lids and caps almost effortlessly. An adjustable steel loop at the end of a 7" handle can be extended at the twist of a knob to fit almost any size lid. Simply tighten the loop around the lid until it grips securely, then put pressure on the handle until the vacuum is broken and the lid can be turned. The length of the handle provides maximum leverage to help you turn the opener. For bottles, a special rubber grip operates like a wrench to remove even the smallest caps. (The cap pivots out of the way so the steel loop can be extended.)

These handy gadgets can be ordered over the Internet at cooking.com, chefscatalog.com, or cookscorner.com.

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This * indicates USA Today has tested a product for operating in full compliance with the manufacturer's specifications and to determine its performance as applicable to our readers' needs. Disadvantages, if any, also are reported. Although we cannot guarantee a product, we offer the starred designation as a guide to readers.

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