Housewares That Inspire

Disclosure: I received some of these products for free in order to facilitate my review for this post. All opinions are true, and my own.

Few things bring me as much pleasure as cooking. Innovative brands have taken notice of consumers’ passion for flexing our kitchen muscle, offering housewares designed to inspire our inner chefs. While attending the International Home + Housewares show, as well as it’s New York City preview, I’ve listed below some products I think will elevate our cooking game this year:

West Blade Graters

Talk about tools of the trade! State-of-the-art microblade technology makes West Blade graters precision tools well-suited to any level of home chef!

The citrus zester turns peels into fragrant, flavorful zest—without the bitter pith—or finely-grates ginger, garlic, or other ingredients. The coarse flake hand grater proves a precision tool for shaving hard cheese, creating decorative chocolate curls, and slicing firm produce for recipes. The rotary grater’s easy turning motion shreds and flakes all kinds of ingredients, thanks to its two interchangeable drums. The crank is geared for smooth action, and the soft-touch, nonslip handle provides a comfortable, controlled grip.

The West Blade Graters’ cutting surfaces feature ultra-sharp stainless-steel etched blades and cutting surfaces that make quick work of prep tasks. The soft-touch, nonslip handles really set this line apart, providing a comfortable grip and the protective covers offer safe storage. I’m thrilled to have these as part of my arsenal.

Ceramic Soup Pot From Emile Henry

Specialists in culinary ceramic for more than 167 years, Emile Henry recently debuted a new ceramic, stove-to-table soup pot made in France, and in stores this month. Safe on all heat sources, the high sides of this 9-inch tall, 4-quart capacity pot stop the contents from boiling over while cooking, and the lid fits snugly to keep the heat in at the table. Easily hand-washed or cleaned in the dishwasher, this soup tureen  features elegant curves in bold colors, a stylish serving dish for any table. It certainly looks good on mine!

Zyliss/Cole & Mason – Hampstead Electric Salt and Pepper Mills

Talk about convenience. Ideal for quick use when cooking or on the table, Cole & Mason Hampstead Electronic Salt & Pepper Mills feature a hardened carbon steel mechanism for pepper and diamond sharp ceramic mechanism for salt, not to mention their LED lights and single button operation. And this home chef loves the fact that The Cole & Mason Precision mechanism doesn’t crush peppercorns but rather strips them to release the maximum amount of flavor with each turn. I love having this handsome set on my dinner table when I entertain.

Zyliss also makes truly innovative knives. After first falling in love with their paring knife, I immediately remarked about the comfortable grip on those in their Zyliss Control Knives line. Indeed, much research and development was put into this line, for both safety, and in order to support more detailed prep work (like mincing herbs). Crafted from high grade German stainless steel, these dishwasher-safe tools are guaranteed for 25 years, and their handles offer anti-bacterial agents. If you love this range as much as I think you will, you’ll pick up the complementing acacia wood block and start building your set.

Stanley Adventure Vacuum Quenchers

The patent-pending 3-position lid on these convenient travel cups truly set them apart – my kids use them with straws, I sip from the spout. My husband uses the extra-large 40-ouncer (they come in 20- and 30-ounce sizes too), which proves perfect for an icy cold beer on the deck that he practically never has to refill – I’ll be packing these for our next all-inclusive vacation so my frozen drinks stay that way all day!

This durable stainless steel go-everywhere tumbler easily fits into car cupholders, offers a lifetime warranty and proves dishwasher safe. Ideal for long road trips or for watching games on the sidelines, the Stanley Adventure Vacuum Quencher keeps drinks cold for 40 hours on ice, 9 hours when not, and hot beverages stay that way for 5.5 hours!

Chicago Cutlery Multi-Purpose Sandwich Knife

Everyone in my family loves sandwiches, and as the kids have grown, we’ve all upped our sandwich game trying to outdo each other in pursuit of the “best” sandwich! This multipurpose knife acts as a hero in our kitchen, the high-carbon stainless steel blade wide enough for spreading, and easily cutting through all kinds of cheeses. The Chicago Cutlery Multi-Purpose Sandwich Knife also features a serrated tip at the end of its 6.5″ blade, ideal for slicing everything from tomatoes to crusty breads. Best part? Its non-slip, soft, patented pinch grip allows for awesome control while its clever end fits into those hard-to-reach areas in most jars – no more wasted mayo!

 Featured image photo credit: Ryan McVay/Thinkstock

Stacy DeBroff

Stacy DeBroff, founder and CEO of Mom Central.com and social and digital consultancy, Influence Central, is a social media strategist, attorney, and best-selling parenting author. A sought-after expert for national media, she trend-spots regularly with national brands and speaks frequently to national and international audiences on a wide range of subjects, including influencer marketing, social media, entrepreneurship, and consumer trends. A passionate cook, gardener, reader, and tennis player, she adores this new chapter of post-college-age parenting.