I am endlessly fascinated by the way home cooks set up their kitchens. From the condiments that line fridge doors, to the spices arranged in drawers or (gasp!) buried rows deep in cabinets, our kitchens reflect the way we cook. If you invite me over for dinner and find me poking around in your freezer, just know that I am not judging, just curious!
But cooking tools are where my empathy runs out. Nothing releases my inner Paul Hollywood more than a tool jar overflowing with flimsy spatulas, bulbous tree-trunk-handled spoons, and spring-loaded 18” tongs (too long) My hair turns a shade whiter as I stalk around looking incredulous and asking loaded questions that I already know the answer to, like, “Are you actually going to cook with that?”
Having a small kitchen and limited counterspace means I ruthlessly edit whatever I keep in a tool crock next to the stove. I stick to one pair of 8” tongs, short-handled cooking spoons, small and medium-sized rubber spatulas, a fish spatula, chopsticks, and cake testers. My favorite tool of all, though, is my Gestura Stando tweezers.
Gestura
Stando Silver Plating Tongs
Oh jeez! you must be thinking. Tweezers are either for eyebrows, or the kind of chef who garnishes salads with foraged flowers and leek ash. I promise they are not. Think of these as very compact tongs, with the dexterity of chopsticks, a firm grip, and the footprint of a spoon. Unlike many tongs whose pincers only make contact at their very tips, Standos have a gripping area much larger since they close nearly flush. They are just the thing for moving spaghetti around in a skillet, fishing pickles from jars, toasting tortillas over an open burner, and flipping seared meats.
Their flared midpoint is thoughtfully placed to allow them to rest on a counter without their tips touching the surface, or perch along the rim of a pint container without sliding off. Standos do most anything that much larger tongs can do better, yet don’t take up nearly so much real estate on your counter or in your dishwasher. I like them so much that I gave everyone in the Test Kitchen a pair for the holidays.
I hope everyone else grabs a pair for themselves as well, and likes them well enough to keep them within easy reach of their stoves. And if I happen to be poking around in your kitchen one day (not likely, but you never know!) seeing a pair of Standos will merit a guaranteed Hollywood handshake.
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