Kuhn Rikon 5-in-1 Can Opener

I remember a time when an electric can opener on the counter was just about required. My mom had one. She opened a lot of cans back in the day.
I used to have one. It just seemed like the thing to do.

But then I realized that a can opener was taking up counter space and was seldom used. Oh, I still open a few cans. But not as many as mom did.

I've owned a few can openers since I ditched the electric version. Let's be honest. Some work much better than others. Some don't grab the lid easily, or they don't cut cleanly, or they somehow don't manage to cut all the way around the can.

So I'm always happy to test a different can opener. An if it has a few extra functions, that's even better. The Kuhn Rikon 5-in-1 can opener does both of those things.

First, it opens cans easily and it grips the can without fiddling around to get it set just right. And besides cans, it works as a church key to open bottles, it has an opener for screw-top bottles, it grabs pull-tabs on cans, and it opens tab-topped pop cans.

Who's it for: Anyone who's looking for a decent can opener.

Pros: Works well.

Cons: This isn't the sort of opener that cuts the outside edge of the can. It cuts the inner edge, so the lid can slip down inside the can. Not really a con, I guess. It just depends on what kind of opener you prefer.

Wishes: None I can think of.

Source: I received this from the manufacturer for the purpose of a review.

Blossom Trivet

Most of my trivets are functional but not really fun. And they're definitely not multi-taskers.

I have a few wooden trivets, and I have some that are crocheted. There's a metal one that's supposed to be used for casserole dishes, but I've put it away safely somewhere because I never use it. And I have a couple metal racks that I use for trivets, but they're not really trivets. In the kitchen, I'm pretty likely to put hot things on a folded towel.

Yup, none of those are very fun. But the Blossom trivets are. They're colorful. They're twisty. They're stretchy.

You can hook two of them together to make a larger trivet. You can pull and twist and fiddle with them. They can be a circle or an oval, or you can wrap them around a bowl or bottle if you like.

They're also more useful than a plain trivet. Since they're made from silicone, they're heat-resistant and waterproof and microwavable. You can put one in the bottom of a pot to use it as a rack. You can use it in your microwave or wrap it around a bowl. You can wash it in the dishwasher.

And they come in a pretty huge variety of colors, so you can match or contrast your kitchen colors, or just pick some fun and random colors. Besides using them to protect surfaces from hot things, you can use them under bowls or vases or whatever just to be colorful. Or you can put them inside a bowl to make sure the contents have good air circulation underneath. Sometimes that's useful, too.

If it sounds like I'm over-enthusiastic about something as simple as a trivet ... well, I like it when a simple item is both functional and pretty. And, yes, I might admit that fiddling around with them is kind of fun.

Who's it for: Hot stuff!

Pros: Useful little multitasker.

Cons: Can't think of any at the moment.

Wishes: See "cons."

Source: I received this from the manufacturer for the purpose of a review.

Kuhn Rikon Stay-Clean Scrubber

If there's something every kitchen needs, it's a selection of things to clean and scrub knives, dishes, and things that can't go into the dishwasher.

I've destroyed plenty of sponges, scrubbers, dishrags and other cleaning tools over the years. Some work better, some worse. Some last longer than others. Some are for gentle cleaning and some are for terrorizing the burnt-on crud in the bottom of a pan.

There's no one perfect scrubber. But I'd sure like to find two or three that work well and last reasonably long.

The Kuhn Rikon Stay-Clean Scrubber is the latest cleaning gadget in my kitchen. It's made from silicone so it doesn't soak up water and resists weird odors. It can be cleaned in the dishwasher. And it's got fairly soft bristles that help hold soap, but rinse clean.

This scrubber isn't one you'd use for muscling stuck-on food off of a cooking pan, but it's perfect for gentle cleaning - great for non-stick surfaces as dishes and silverware.

Speaking of those soft bristles, it feels nice an soft and sort of squishy when you handle it. If you don't use it for dishes, it would also be fine for gently scrubbing hands. Or even your face. Yes, it's that soft.

I've only had the scrubber for a few weeks, so I can't say how long it will last, but so far it looks pretty much the same way it did when I got it.

Who's it for: People who hand-wash at least some dishes

Pros: All the advantages of silicone

Cons: It might be a little toooo soft for some folks.

Wishes: A three-color pack with different hardnesses would be nice. Or maybe a different hardness on each side. I like that this is a nice soft scrubber, but I'd love a tougher one as a mate for it.

Source: I received this from the manufacturer for the purpose of a review.