Abstract: To improve the safety and efficiency of conventional zesters, the present inventor devised, among other things, a child-friendly bidirectional twist-action zester. One exemplary zester includes a housing and at least two grating elements. The housing defines an interior volume configured to receive at least a portion of a whole citrus fruit, and the first and second grating elements are mounted to the housing such that with their grating teeth face the interior and contact the whole citrus fruit, thereby preventing bloody fingers and knuckles during zesting. Moreover, each grating element includes at least some teeth that are opposite to some teeth in the other grating elements, enabling the zester to produce zest with each back and forth movement of the zester relative the fruit. Some other embodiments add a reamer to the housing, enabling the zester to serve as both as zester and a juicer.

Abstract: Conventional herb strippers can be tedious, time consuming, and awkward to use. Accordingly, the present inventors devised new tools and methods that allow faster and easier herb stripping. One tool includes an herb stripping notch configured to engage the plant stem of an herb at an intermediate point between its two ends, with the edges of the notch stripping leaves as the notch is moved over the stem or the stem is pulled through the notch. In some embodiments, one or more of these notches, for example six, are included in a blade structure, with the notches arranged in a smallest-to-largest sequence. The blade structure may also includes a knife edge, enabling it to serve the added function of a knife.

Abstract: One of the most common cooking activities is browning of ground beef, turkey, lamb, or chicken for use in various dishes from sloppy Joe's, to tacos, to spaghetti sauces, and countless others. The present inventor recognized that browning using conventional techniques and devices requires use of multiple tools that increase preparation and clean up time. In response, they devised, among other things, a single tool that allows not only effective separation and turning of the ground meat during cooking, but also serving of the ground meat. In one embodiment, the tool includes a handle with a flat spatula head having a ridged fin structure on its topside. The fin structure extends from the front edge of the spatula back toward the handle, allowing the front edge of the spatula in combination with a front most edge of the fin structure to function as chopper-separator and allowing the spatula portion to facilitate serving.

Abstract: To address one or more of these and/or other needs or problems related to forming circular pastry crusts, the present inventor devised, among other things, an exemplary pastry guide including a pivot point and a guide arm having two sets of pastry cutting guides. One set has includes one or more cutting or marking guides configured to guide a knife edge in cutting circular dough shapes of approximately 4-7 inches in diameter and the other set having one or more knife guides configured to guide a knife edge in cutting circular dough shapes of approximately 11-14 in diameter. The exemplary guide is made of a transparent material to further facilitate its use in cutting pastry dough into approximately circular disks.

Abstract: To address one or more of these and/or other needs or problems related to forming circular pastry crusts, the present inventor devised, among other things, an exemplary pastry guide including a pivot point and a guide arm having two sets of pastry cutting guides. One set has includes one or more cutting or marking guides configured to guide a knife edge in cutting circular dough shapes of approximately 4-7 inches in diameter and the other set having one or more knife guides configured to guide a knife edge in cutting circular dough shapes of approximately 11-14 in diameter. The exemplary guide is made of a transparent material to further facilitate its use in cutting pastry dough into approximately circular disks.

Abstract: One of the most common cooking activities is browning of ground beef, turkey, lamb, or chicken for use in various dishes from sloppy Joe's, to tacos, to spaghetti sauces, and countless others. The present inventor recognized that browning using conventional techniques and devices requires use of multiple tools that increase preparation and clean up time. In response, they devised, among other things, a single tool that allows not only effective separation and turning of the ground meat during cooking, but also serving of the ground meat. In one embodiment, the tool includes a handle with a flat spatula head having a ridged fin structure on its topside. The fin structure extends from the front edge of the spatula back toward the handle, allowing the front edge of the spatula in combination with a front most edge of the fin structure to function as chopper-separator and allowing the spatula portion to facilitate serving.

Abstract: Conventional herb strippers can be tedious, time consuming, and awkward to use. Accordingly, the present inventors devised new tools and methods that allow faster and easier herb stripping. One tool includes an herb stripping notch configured to engage the plant stem of an herb at an intermediate point between its two ends, with the edges of the notch stripping leaves as the notch is moved over the stem or the stem is pulled through the notch. In some embodiments, one or more of these notches, for example six, are included in a blade structure, with the notches arranged in a smallest-to-largest sequence. The blade structure may also includes a knife edge, enabling it to serve the added function of a knife.

Abstract: A safe and convenient cherry pitting device that includes a freestanding detachable base, a fruit support and pitter passthrough unit and a pitter containment cone. The unit is adapted for vertical mounting on the base. Further, the unit defines axially aligned top and bottom openings and one or more side openings. The pitter containment cone generally has a cone shaped outer surface including one or more walls defining a central cavity with a top closed end and a bottom open end for placement over the unit. The cone also includes a pitter bit that projects vertically downward within the top closed end of the cone in axial alignment with the top and bottom openings of the unit.

Abstract: A safe and convenient cherry pitting device that includes a freestanding detachable base, a fruit support and pitter passthrough unit and a pitter containment cone. The unit is adapted for vertical mounting on the base. Further, the unit defines axially aligned top and bottom openings and one or more side openings. The pitter containment cone generally has a cone shaped outer surface including one or more walls defining a central cavity with a top closed end and a bottom open end for placement over the unit. The cone also includes a pitter bit that projects vertically downward within the top closed end of the cone in axial alignment with the top and bottom openings of the unit.

Abstract: An adornment that comprises a helical segment that snaps onto the stem of a wine glass, some other stemware, or receives and releasably retains a napkin therein. In a preferred embodiment, the helical segment is comprised of wire having a composition and thickness that retains its shape memory upon being preformed such that it will repeatedly snap on and off a stem or receive and release a napkin. The wire can be German-type jewelry wire having a thickness of eighteen gauge or greater and can carry a plurality of indicias. In one preferred embodiment, the segment has a head at each end that engages or bears against the stem or napkin when the adornment is attached to the stem or napkin. A preferred method of making includes forming the segment around a generally cylindrical mandrel that preferably is grooved, and gluing each head adjacent or at an end using a low blooming adhesive.