Prep, Strain & Brew

Seven tools for the bench and the kettle: strainer bowls that wash and drain rice in one vessel, a cloth Thai tea strainer, a permanent 600-mesh pour over coffee filter, an aluminium tray that thaws frozen meat with nothing plugged in, a pyramid baking mat that lifts food out of its own fat, and a sealed heart ice tray.

The strainers come in two sizes — 1.7 L in plastic with a handle, 5 quarts in stainless with a no-tip ring base. Prices run from about 6 to 20 dollars.