I hear ya. My OXO bench scraper makes soup-making less messy.
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This is yet another argument for large chef knives.
Somewhere I have an inherited bench scraper, maybe Frugal Gourmet logo. The handle is just rolled from the same sheet as the blade. If it was more in reach, maybe I’d use it.
That’s the one I own, use it almost daily
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Or Chinese cleavers! A large chef knife certainly can pick up a lot of stuff from the cutting board, but the bench scraper does a bigger, better, neater job. I, however, also confess to failing to pull it out, even though it is in a drawer about twenty inches to the left of where I am usually working. Dopey moi.
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Yes, sure. No one’s scooping with a 6" petty, but maybe the ones using pettys are the ones who keep a scraper nearby.
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If you’re a baker, a bench scraper is a necessity. You really need to get rid of the flour on your work surface before using a wet cloth and turning it into papier maché glue. Also invaluable for scooping up dropped raw eggs.
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I like the bench scraper over the cleaver or knife because running the blade across the cutting board I worry dulls the blade and might cut my hand.
Which is a segue to my favorite recent kitchen gadget: the chain mail glove. I found one second hand which softened the ouch of the purchase and I use it whenever chopping vegetables. I still emphasize safe cutting technique so I don’t lose my skills, but I love knowing I will not be sliced. The seller had multiple sizes from his closed catering business so I bought enough for my wife and teenage son.
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Remember all the hoohah over stropping? If anything, running a blade at an acute enough angle to scoop will burnish or polish the edge.
Good score on the glove. If there are more, I’d buy an XL or XXL…
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OK - It never would have occurred to me to frost/crumb coat a cake with a bench scraper. Brilliant! Thanks.
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This Luma Electric Kitchen Composter has been a very welcomed addition to the family. It’s quiet and nearly odorless.
Not sure it’s my favorite, but it’s been getting alot of use of late.
I just picked up a corer/slicer, it’s not very good. I’m going to look for one of your Prepworks, they save so much time with apple recipes. I also love my Ninja mini chopper it gets used so much!
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I watched a YT Video - while biscuit making they sliced the dough in half with the bench scraper, layered the half on top for laminating several times to get those nice layered/laminated biscuits. It makes it so easy! Helps clean up the mess as well.
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Add a (makeshift or real) turntable and it’s a fun kid activity too!
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I love that. Great idea.
This one did break on me once but the company sent me a replacement right away. Pretty good customer service.
Manual: my chef’s knife, garlic press, vintage vegetable peeler, mandoline.
Electric: coffee maker, stick blender, mini-food processor.
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I like listing manual and electric and listing several of each. Today my manual choices include my biggest chef knife, a wide Due Buoi spatula, the Atlas Star peeler, and an old Mouli. In the electric category the ancient (1960s) Elektra espresso maker and the toaster (not the toaster oven) win. Tomorrow it may all change, but the espresso maker is hands down my favorite electric item.
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This is the potato ricer I own, have given as gifts, rec by Food 52 and Serious Eats:
My previous one came from Williams-Sonoma; I like this one much better so I gave my old one away. I just wish it were a little bigger … I’ve seen some bigger ones on Amazon.
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good to know!
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Are the handles plastic? I’ve had bad experiences with plastic-handled ricers. One of these worked like a champ, then broke. Never saw a DW.
Ima gonna go with that weird-colored German spaetzle one…
