Essential Tools

The Affordable Kitchen Tool That Makes Mealtime Prep a Cinch

November 13, 2017

My jar collection verges on hysterical. I scrub empty peanut butter jars clear of any tarry trace and soak them in overnight vinegar baths; the bottom shelf of my pantry is aggressively cramped with mismatched tops and containers. I prize my ragamuffin collection—it is romantic and vaguely utilitarian. But every once in a while, an upgrade is in order.

When the Shop asked me to give our Kitchen Tool & Storage Jar Set a whirl, I figured it was time to momentarily set aside my clunky assemblage. The set is three-fold—it comes with two squat jars and one tall one. Each jar has its own unique top: One is a spiralizer, another a juicer, and the third a grater. The catch is that the tops fit right onto the jar so as you grate, juice or spiralize, the contents fall directly into the jar. And for easy transport, each jar also comes with its own tightly sealed top. My jar Shangri-la come to life!

I realize I sound like some obsessive collector, but in reality, jars (particularly these ones) can really come in handy. I used the juicer to collect lemon juice for a dressing that I brought with me to work. With a splash of olive oil and a drizzle of maple syrup, I worried I would arrive to find the dressing dripping down the sides of my backpack. Alas, I’m happy to report they are spillproof. The grater I used for cheese, obviously. I collected shaved Parmesan and set it out on my table, a no-mess solution for a weeknight table cheese. At night I just slip on the top and store it in the fridge. Admittedly, the spiralizer threw me for a loop at first. I’m no zoodle aficionado. But I threw myself into my newest asset wholeheartedly. Soon enough, I had a jar teeming with spiralized vegetables. I experimented with beets, zucchini, and squash.

I can’t quite fault my trusty, messy jar collection (they’ve served me well for so long after all), but updates never hurt. And so I welcome into my kitchen—and my cooking routine—this trio of jars that have made my meal preparations all the more easy.

Food52's Automagic Holiday Menu Maker
View Maker
Food52's Automagic Holiday Menu Maker

Choose your holiday adventure! Our Automagic Menu Maker is here to help.

View Maker

See what other Food52 readers are saying.

Valerio is a freelance food writer, editor, researcher and cook. He grew up in his parent's Italian restaurants covered in pizza flour and drinking a Shirley Temple a day. Since, he's worked as a cheesemonger in New York City and a paella instructor in Barcelona. He now lives in Berlin, Germany where he's most likely to be found eating shawarma.

1 Comment

Mary-Elizabeth T. November 14, 2017
A little over 6 years ago, we moved across the Province of Ontario from the Ottawa Valley to the Kitchener-Waterloo area. As we were packing up the house, the following exchange ensued:
Husband: Do you want me to just take all of these empty jars to the reuse center
Me (horrified): NO! Absolutely not!
Him (looking at the boxes of inherited Gem jars and blue Ball jars and random and sundry other glass jars: Why, what are you going to do with them?
Me: Fill them with things.
Him: You'll never fill that many jars in a year
Me: Challenge accepted. Game on.

The next growing season, I would stand in the farmer's market and survey things that I could put into jars. I bought things and then worried about how to preserve them, but I won. And I will not be challenged on my jar collection again.
Romantic and utilitarian, indeed.
In semi-related news, my letter to Santa will include this set :)