Tools & Products for Meats, Cooking & Kitchen

Have you ever stopped and asked yourself some questions about the best ways to cook stir-fry? This popular dish has people from all over the world looking for the best possible ways to cook their stir-fry – and that goes beyond the sauces and to the actual cookware.

If you find yourself in the position where you want to know the best way to make stir-fry, you might wonder if an electric wok for stir fry makes sense.

We will take a look at all of this as well as the options that you have for cooking stir-fry to make it as tasty and delicious as possible. 

[Read more…] about 6+ Pros & Cons for Using an Electric Wok for Stir Fry

A BBQ grill mat is an excellent accessory for your barbecue grill, and it provides several benefits despite its simplicity. A barbecue grill mat is a fiberglass, copper, or silicone mat that manufacturers cover with a heat-resistant coating. 

[Read more…] about 5+ Reasons Why BBQ Grill Mats are Necessary

You know that you will begin to think about using a turkey roaster around the Thanksgiving holiday. That is when approximately 46 million turkeys will be consumed, and your family is likely to have one as well.

Therefore, it seems relevant that you might want to know about a turkey roaster, if it is worth your while, what the pros and cons of getting one are, and more.

If that sounds like the path that you are on, then please read on to learn about some of the pros and cons of using a turkey roaster. 

[Read more…] about 6+ Pros & Cons of Using a Turkey Roaster

An electric roaster for meat is a versatile item that can provide us with a number of advantages. Of course, there are also drawbacks that need to be considered as well.

This is especially true for anyone who is thinking about using an electric roaster for cooking meat.

While the prospect of using an electric roaster for meat is simple enough, there are a few different considerations that need to be made.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the most frequently asked questions and how they are going to affect the process of preparing meat in an electric oven roaster:

[Read more…] about 6+ Pros & Cons for Using an Electric Roaster for Meat

Do you struggle with limited counter space in a kitchen? Or would cutting your vegetables over the sink make it easier to dispose of in the garbage disposal?

Either way, having an over-the-sink cutting board is ideal to instantly add counter space to your kitchen while helping you with easy clean-up when cutting food. 

[Read more…] about 5+ Pros & Cons of Over Sink Cutting Boards

Meat dumplings are a wonderful and delicious dish that many people like cooking at home instead of buying them from restaurants.

When you cook them yourself, you not only have the opportunity to control the ingredients that you use so you can keep them as healthy as you’d like, but you can also control the taste, as well.

[Read more…] about Bamboo vs. Metal Steamer for Cooking Perfect Meat Dumplings

If you love eating grilled foods but you hate the cleanup afterwards, then you aren’t alone.

This is why manufacturers are always developing new products to make cleaning a grill easier.

One way to avoid the tedious cleanup process after using a grill is to purchase a disposable charcoal grill, especially if you only grill occasionally.

[Read more…] about Are Disposable Charcoal Grills Any Good? 6+ Pros & Cons

Ask anyone who is interested in cooking amazing food about their opinion on griddles and you are sure to hear some thoughts.

In fact, if you opened that question up to the Internet or any group of people with serious opinions about cooking, you may open a can of worms that you did not intend to open.

That said, you should consider asking these questions anyway because they are so important to the types of purchases that you may consider making in order to enhance your own cooking experience.

[Read more…] about Ceramic vs. Teflon Griddles for Burgers & Meats

Tamales are one of the most popular Latin American foods in the U.S. Tasty meat and/or cheese fillings tucked inside of a soft pillow of corn dough, tamales may not be an everyday delight for most in this country, but they are certainly savored when a few can be had.

It’s interesting that tamales are not more frequently consumed. The dish has a long history that took it from being a diet staple for struggling people to being a specialty dish on restaurant menus along with more popular options like fajitas or enchiladas. Tamales have had a unique journey throughout the world, every delicious step at a time.

[Read more…] about 6+ Best Tamale Pot Steamer Options for At Home Cooks

Unlike other kinds of meat, bacon can be particularly tricky to cook evenly. It likes to curl up, leaving a weird combination of crispiness and chewiness.

Instead of dealing with the guesswork of trying to cook the perfect bacon, let’s take a look at a tool that can solve the problem. That tool is the bacon grill press.

[Read more…] about What’s The Point of a Bacon Grill Press?

Have you ever had meat so tender, flavorful, and juicy that you wondered how it was cooked? Chances are they used a brining bag. This is a tried-and-true way to keep the moisture in the meat.

[Read more…] about What Is A Brining Bag Used For?

Cooking on a grill is a favorite activity for many. Nobody likes their grilled delicacies to be over or undercooked, though.

For this article, we’ll discuss how to calibrate the Traeger meat probe to make sure you get the best performance out of your Traeger grill. 

[Read more…] about How To Calibrate Traeger Meat Probe

One knife is not like the others. Besides being the only knife with a hole in the blade, a cleaver knife has quite a few other quirks that make it the odd one out.

Discover the practical and handy reason for that hole and why cleavers are perhaps the most useful yet woefully under-utilized tool in the kitchen. 

[Read more…] about Why Do Cleavers Have Holes?

If you’ve ever heard of thawing trays, you may have asked yourself a few questions. How do thawing trays work? Are thawing trays actually effective? If it’s worth it, should you invest in a thawing tray or two?

[Read more…] about How Do Thawing Trays Work? 4 Tips To Use Effectively

Serrated knives were originally invented to cut bread easily and without destroying the loaf.

So why are steak knives serrated? Well, they really aren’t. Steak knives are smooth bladed while utility bread knives are often serrated and used to cut through tough steaks.

[Read more…] about Why Are Steak Knives Serrated?

Conventionally, smoking was mainly used as a way of preserving food. However, there has been a significant paradigm shift since smoking has become a timeless art form that has developed due to technological advancements and extended periods of culinary trial and error.  

[Read more…] about 16 Must Haves for Smoking Meat at Home

This guide will help narrow down the best grill for an apartment balcony within your budget that fits your needs.

Based on our own staff’s experience, in-depth research in premium trade subscriptions, and crunching publicly available user reviews, we’ve curated the thousands of options on the market for a few that fit each typical use.

Whether you are looking for an electric grill that can be used on a small balcony or a portable charcoal grill or disposable grill for burgers, a grill is a great way to increase your cooking options.

[Read more…] about Best Grill For An Apartment Balcony [Electric, Portable, Tabletop & Gas]

This guide will help narrow down the best kitchen cleaver knife options within your budget that fits your needs.

Based on our own staff’s experience, in-depth research in premium trade subscriptions, and crunching publicly available user reviews, we’ve curated the thousands of options on the market for a few that fit each typical use.

Whether you are looking for slicing brisket or dicing ham or prepping neck bones, or going after marrow, a good kitchen cleaver knife is must-have kitchen appliance.

[Read more…] about 4+ Best Kitchen Cleaver Knife Options for Slicing Meat

This guide will help narrow down the best tofu press within your budget that fits your needs.

Based on our own staff’s experience, in-depth research in premium trade subscriptions, and crunching publicly available user reviews, we’ve curated the thousands of tofu press options on the market for a few that fit each typical use.

Whether you are looking to simplify your tofu prep or trying to get into eating more tofu, a good tofu press can make a big difference. Ditch the paper towel or plate and let’s dive in.

[Read more…] about 4+ Best Tofu Press Options for Better Tofu

This guide will help narrow down the best fish steamer (i.e., “fish poacher”) within your budget that fits your needs.

Based on our own staff’s experience, in-depth research in premium trade subscriptions, and crunching publicly available user reviews, we’ve curated the thousands of options on the market for a few that fit each typical use.

Whether you are looking for poaching a fresh trout, steaming pollock, or steaming some clams & oysters (instead of shucking), the fish steamer / fish poacher is a must-have seafood tool.

[Read more…] about 4+ Best Fish Steamer Options for Soft, Tender Fish

This guide will help narrow down the best oyster opener for shucking within your budget that fits your skills. Because let’s face it – oysters are a pain to eat. The standard “opener” is a oyster knife that looks more like a finger slicer than a seafood tool.

Based on our own staff’s experience, in-depth research in premium trade subscriptions, and crunching publicly available user reviews, we’ve curated the thousands of oyster openers on the market for a few that fit each typical use.

Whether you are looking for a full-on machine or just a safe, ergonomic knife, the a good oyster opener is must-have for enjoying fresh oyster.

[Read more…] about 4+ Best Oyster Opener Options for Shucking & Enjoying

This guide will help narrow down the best grill spatula (aka “grill turner”) for your home use within your budget that fits your needs.

Based on our own staff’s experience, in-depth research in premium trade subscriptions, and crunching publicly available user reviews, we’ve curated the thousands of options on the market for a few that fit each typical use.

Whether you are looking to flip burgers or carefully turn fish, the best grill spatula is a must-have grilling tool along with grilling tongs.

[Read more…] about 5+ Best Grill Spatulas for Everyday Outdoor Use

This guide will help narrow down the best grill tongs for your home use within your budget that fits your needs.

Based on our own staff’s experience, in-depth research in premium trade subscriptions, and crunching publicly available user reviews, we’ve curated the thousands of options on the market for a few that fit each typical use.

Whether you are looking for dependable, easy-to-use grilling or to handle large cuts of brisket (and the burnt ends!) and Denver steak, grill tongs are a must-have grilling tool.

[Read more…] about 5+ Best Grill Tongs for Everyday Outdoor Use

This guide will help narrow down the best dumpling steamer for your kitchen within your budget that fits your needs.

Based on our own staff’s experience, in-depth research in premium trade subscriptions, and crunching publicly available user reviews, we’ve curated the thousands of options on the market for a few that fit each typical use.

Whether you are looking for fun experimentation or just have a craving for lots of not-frozen dumplings, a good dumpling steamer is a fun & creative kitchen appliance (though not super-necessary).

[Read more…] about 4+ Best Dumpling Steamer Options for Classic Asian Cuisine

This guide will help narrow down the best countertop hot plates within your budget that fits your needs so you can make quick, great meals without a stove.

Based on our own staff’s experience, in-depth research in premium trade subscriptions, and crunching publicly available user reviews, we’ve curated the thousands of countertop hot plate options on the market for a few that fit each typical use.

Whether you are looking for a quick breakfast & lunch electric cooktop or need to replace an electric stove, the right countertop hot plate is a must-have kitchen appliance for many kitchens.

[Read more…] about 3+ Best Countertop Hot Plates for Cooking Meals

This guide will help narrow down the best carving sets for meat within your budget that fits your needs.

Based on our own staff’s experience, in-depth research in premium trade subscriptions, and crunching publicly available user reviews, we’ve curated the thousands of carving set options on the market for a few that fit each typical use.

Whether you are looking to carve the Thanksgiving turkey or roll the Sunday roast beef, the right carving set is a must-have kitchen tool.

[Read more…] about 4+ Best Carving Sets for Meat & Everyday Kitchens

This guide will help narrow down the best carving forks within your budget that fits your needs.

Based on our own staff’s experience, in-depth research in premium trade subscriptions, and crunching publicly available user reviews, we’ve curated the thousands of options on the market for a few that fit each typical use.

Whether you are doing the Thanksgiving turkey carving or just turning the Sunday beef roast, the right carving fork is must-have kitchen tool.

[Read more…] about 4+ Best Carving Forks for Meats & More

This guide will help narrow down the best mini charcoal grill options within your budget that fits your needs.

Based on our own staff’s experience, in-depth research in premium trade subscriptions, and crunching publicly available user reviews, we’ve curated the thousands of mini charcoal grills on the market for a few that fit each typical use.

Whether you are looking for grilling in a small space (like a balcony or table) or lightweight camping grill, a good mini charcoal grill is great addition to your cooking collection.

[Read more…] about 4+ Best Mini Charcoal Grill Options for Small Spaces & Portability

This guide will help narrow down the best George Foreman type grill within your budget that fits your needs.

Based on our own staff’s experience, in-depth research in premium trade subscriptions, and crunching publicly available user reviews, we’ve curated the thousands of George Foreman style grills on the market for a few that fit each typical use.

Whether you are looking for regular indoor grilling or quick lunch burgers or paninis on the balcony, the right electric indoor grill is must-have kitchen appliance.

[Read more…] about 4+ Best George Foreman Type Grill Options for Indoor Grilling

This guide will help narrow down the best air fryers for your kitchen – whether you are cooking for one, two, or a large family – so within your budget that fits your needs.

Based on our own staff’s experience, in-depth research in premium trade subscriptions, and crunching publicly available user reviews, we’ve curated the thousands of air fryer options on the market for a few that fit each typical use. Read about Air Fryers, Explained here.

Whether you are looking to reduce cooking time for a family meal, or a more fried food enjoyment without the grease, or a versatile, space-saving appliance, here are the best air fryers for every family and budget.

[Read more…] about 4+ Best Air Fryers for Every Size Family & Budget

This guide will help narrow down the best vacuum sealer bags for your kitchen within your budget that fits your needs & your vacuum sealer.

Based on our own staff’s experience, in-depth research in premium trade subscriptions, and crunching publicly available user reviews, we’ve curated the thousands of vacuum sealer bag options on the market for a few that fit each typical use.

Whether you are looking for food preservation, marinating and slow cooking, or sous-vide cooking, the right vacuum sealer bag is a must-have for even the best vacuum sealer.

[Read more…] about 3+ Best Vacuum Sealer Bags for Every Kitchen

This guide will help narrow down the best home meat slicer for your home use within your budget that fits your needs.

Based on our own staff’s experience, in-depth research in premium trade subscriptions, and crunching publicly available user reviews, we’ve curated the thousands of electric food & meat slicers on the market for a few that fit each typical use.

Whether you are looking for meat slicing, fresh lunch meat, bulk vegetable preparation, or just reducing knife use, the right electric meat slicer is a must-have kitchen appliance – they beat manual meat slicers any day.

[Read more…] about 4+ Best Home Meat Slicer Options for Every Kitchen

This guide will help narrow down the best vacuum sealer for your home use within your budget that fits your needs.

Based on our own staff’s experience, in-depth research in premium trade subscriptions, and crunching publicly available user vacuum sealer reviews, we’ve curated the thousands of options on the market for a few that fit each typical use.

[Read more…] about 3+ Best Vacuum Sealer Options for Meat & Home Use

Whether you are warm weather baseball tailgater, a crisp cold weather football tailgater, or a year-round car camper, it’s never a bad time to dust off your camping gear and head out into the great outdoors. But what if you don’t have an quick & easy grill ready to go?

That’s where these best portable gas grills come in! They’re perfect for tailgating or times when you want fresh grilled food (no disposable or electric grill here!) without having to deal with carrying heavy cookware around, managing a live fire, or dealing with a pellet grill.

So take a look below at our top three (and one bonus) picks for this summer season!

[Read more…] about 4+ Best Portable Gas Grill Options for Tailgating & Camping

When a man or woman prepares to carve up a roast, they often reach for the sharpest kitchen knife in their block. But when it comes to slicing meat at home, not all knives are created equal. In fact, there are specific knives that have been designed specifically for carving meats and cutting bone with ease.

[Read more…] about 3+ Best Meat Carving Knife Choices for a Home Kitchen

When it comes to sausage, some people just know how to do it best. If you’re looking for the best sausage stuffer for your home kitchen, you’re in luck. We have compiled a list of some of the best choices that are available on the market today.

This post will talk about three of our favorite products and why we think they’ll be a great fit for your home cooking needs!

[Read more…] about 3+ Best Sausage Stuffer Choices for Each Home Kitchen

Sandwich presses are a great way to make sandwiches at home. They’re even better for making grilled cheese, panini, and other types of pressed sandwich! But not all sandwich presses are created equal.

There are many different choices in the market and it’s important to know what you’re looking for before you buy one.

That’s why we’ve compiled this list of 3 of the best sandwich press / best panini press choices on the market today so that you can find the perfect one for your kitchen needs.

[Read more…] about 4+ Best Sandwich Press Choices for Each Home Cook

Do you love the taste of beef jerky but don’t have time (or money) to pick it up at the store? The best thing about making your own is that you can control what goes into it, plus there are many benefits over store-bought. Choosing the best dehydrator for jerky can open a whole new world.

[Read more…] about Best Dehydrator for Jerky: 3+ Options for Every Use Case

Do you cook meat at home? If so, then the best boning knife for your needs is a question worth asking. Of course, there are many things to consider when choosing a boning knife- the size of the blade and handle, the type of steel used in its construction, whether it’s a flexible boning knife, whether or not it has a finger guard- but there’s one thing that should always come first: budget.

[Read more…] about 4+ Best Boning Knife Options for Meat Cutting at Home

This guide will help narrow down the best jerky slicer for your home use that fits your needs.

Based on our own staff’s experience, in-depth research in premium trade subscriptions, and crunching publicly available user reviews, we’ve curated the thousands of options on the market for a few that fit each typical use.

Whether you are looking for a better way to slice tried and true cuts or are trying your own exotic jerky meat brand, the jerky slicer is must-have for pro level jerky.

[Read more…] about 3+ Best Jerky Slicer Options for Home Processing

Start with a quality chef’s knife and a durable cutting board, and you’re well on your way to a fully equipped kitchen.

But did you know that, when it comes to preparing raw meat, there are cutting boards that you should never use?

In my decade of professional kitchen experience, I’ve had the opportunity to use every type of cutting board imaginable.

And I’ve narrowed those choices down to three stellar options, and three runners up for special situations.

In this article, I’ll guide you through my decision making process for choosing a cutting board for meat. By the time you’re finished reading, you should have a clear idea of what makes each cutting board suited to your specific kitchen & food prep needs.

[Read more…] about 6+ Best Cutting Boards for Meat for Every Home Chef

Have you ever thought about the cost of ground beef and sausage while you’re at the grocery store? Pound for pound, there’s a big markup on ground meats compared to the whole cuts they’re taken from.

Or maybe you’ve been unimpressed by the quality of the ground meat and sausage you get from the store. How fresh are those meats, anyway? Unless you have a personal relationship with your butcher, you can never know.

[Read more…] about 4+ Best Meat Grinders for Home Use & More

Have you ever marveled at a restaurant’s ability to nail the temperature of dozens of steaks, seemingly as if by magic? That’s not just because the chefs are experienced craftspeople — it’s also because they have the right tools for the job.

And when it comes to getting every one of your meats perfectly cooked (or at least not undercooked meat), there’s no better tool than the trusty meat thermometer.

I’ve been using these specially designed temp-taking tools for over a decade now, and swear by having one in every home kitchen.

They’re one of the easiest ways to take your cooking game to another level — and I’m happy to share my experience to help you find the right one for your skill level, budget, and general needs.

[Read more…] about 4+ Best Meat Thermometers For Every Home Chef

This guide will help you find the best meat tenderizer for your kitchen based on our staff’s experience, and deep research into reviews of all the different meat tenderizers on the market.

When grocery prices are going up, the clever chef knows where they can save a few bucks without giving up their favorite foods. By choosing traditionally less desirable cuts of meat, and putting a little more work into making the meat tender, you can keep your food bill low and still have delicious, flavorful meats any night of the week.

[Read more…] about 4+ Best Meat Tenderizers for Home Chefs

The fine arts of curing and smoking meat have shown up in nearly every culinary tradition. From the refined charcuterie of France to the simple beef jerky of early Americans to low and slow barbecue smoked pork butts, your options for curing meat are close to limitless.

Learning how to make cured meat products on your own can be tricky, though — unless you have access to some of the best books on curing and smoking meat, that is!

[Read more…] about 10+ Best Books on Curing & Smoking Meat

With their origins in the pellet stoves popularized during the 1973 oil crisis, pellet grills have come a long way towards their inclusion as a barbecuing staple. Also known as a pellet smoker, their continual design evolution has led to significant technological advancements that make professional-quality smoking and grilling available in the comfort of your own backyard.

[Read more…] about A Complete Guide to the Pellet Grill: Types, Considerations, and Best Options

Everybody loves the feel of being around a campfire on a weekend evening — but if you’re tired of washing the smell of smoke out of your clothes and hair, you should look into a smokeless fire pit. A relatively recent invention, the smokeless fire pit is a compact and convenient alternative to building a full fire, and a great way to get your time around a fire without any of the downsides.

[Read more…] about Best Smokeless Fire Pits: Types, Considerations, and Where to Buy

Buying meat in bulk is the best way to save money while eating well — but if you don’t have a meat storage container solution, chances are those savings will go to waste.

[Read more…] about Meat Storage Containers Explained: Types, Considerations, and Where to Buy

Meat tenderizers might just be the most important tool for a thrifty chef to get the most out of their grocery money. While expensive cuts of meat are renowned for their natural tenderness and ability to sear into succulent perfection, humbler cuts are often just as flavorful — but less prized because of their tougher texture. The solution? Meat tenderizers, of course.

[Read more…] about Meat Tenderizers Explained: Types, Considerations, Where to Buy

The popularization of cheap, simple, and effective vacuum sealers for home use has been a huge boon for preserving, storing, and preparing food in the comfort of your kitchen. But as with any kitchen gadget, there are plenty of imitators on the market that can’t deliver the results you’re looking for. How can you know that you’re getting the best vacuum sealer for meat?

[Read more…] about Vacuum Sealers for Meat Explained: Types, Considerations, Where to Buy

If you’ve been salivating over the possibilities of fresh bison burgers, elk sausage, or perfectly processed bavette steak, an electric meat grinder should be on your to-buy list. For anyone intending to get serious about only consuming the highest-quality, ethically sourced meats, an electric meat grinder will open up a world of culinary possibilities.

[Read more…] about Electric Meat Grinders Explained: Types, Considerations, and Where to Buy

An adaptation of a commercial kitchen appliance, air fryers are the hottest new item for home cooks. And with good reason: They’re an exceptionally versatile tool that can give a crisp almost as good as deep frying, but without the added calories and waste of frying in oil.

[Read more…] about Air Fryers for Meat Explained: Types, Considerations, and Where to Buy

Anyone who has worked in a kitchen likely knows that meat is a fickle thing. Different types of meat can require vastly different cooking methods to coax out their best flavors and textures — and some meats are just downright tough, no matter how you cook them.

So what is an at-home cook to do when faced with a cut of meat that’s closer to shoe leather than dinner? You’ll have to break out the culinary big guns, and get yourself a meat mallet (aka “meat tenderizer hammer”).

Ideal for use with tough cuts of pork and beef, meat mallets are also used to make ridiculously tender preparations of chicken.

Even if you’re not regularly cooking with chuck roast or bottom round, a meat mallet is a wise investment in your kitchen preparedness.

[Read more…] about Meat Mallets Explained: Types, Considerations, and Where to Buy

The knives available to a Japanese chef are enviable not only for their incredible craftsmanship, but for their specific utility in the kitchen.

For every job, there is a knife that’s designed to handle the task in the most efficient and effective way possible.

So when it comes to finding the right Japanese meat cleaver for your home kitchen, you’ll need to get a little bit more specific about what exactly you intend to use the cleaver for.

[Read more…] about Japanese Meat Cleavers Explained: Types, Considerations, and Where to Buy