Cooking Tools and Supplies - Articles - Zimbio

Ceramic Tea Kettles

Mon, 19 Aug 2008 14:39:02 GMT

posted by eltonjohn24

Ceramic tea kettles are one of the more ancient types of kettles used for boiling water to make tea. At the height of the tea’s popularity as a drink, ceramic tea kettles were already there in the background, contributing to the wonderful experience of tea drinking.

While some ceramic tea kettles are mainly used to add that decorative touch to the kitchen or dining table, modifications made on ceramics gives this material benefits beyond the aesthetic aspect.

For one, ceramic tea kettles are as durable as stainless steel kettles but are relatively more inexpensive and lightweight. They are also resistant to corrosion, which makes them preferable to cast iron kettles.

Indeed, there are so many advantages to using ceramic tea kettles that we’ll run out of space if we list them all here. Just remember to consider all factors necessary to purchase just the right ceramic tea kettle for you.

Joyce Chen Stove Top Ceramic Tea Kettle

One of the primary concerns of the tea drinkers is the purity of the tea. Based on experience, purity of tea may be affected not only by the quality of the water but also by the quality of the tea kettle. Some tea kettles are made of materials that are so chemically reactive that heat or high temperature results in the “breakage” of some of these chemicals, which eventually migrate towards the water you are boiling. Not so with the Joyce Chen Stove Top Ceramic Tea Kettle.

A non-reactive glazed vessel, this stove top ceramic tea kettle allows fast heating without introducing chemical agents into your boiling water. Even if fired at the maximum temperature of 2700, this ceramic tea kettle won’t react with water. Neither does it give off a metallic taste, affecting the flavor of the tea.

The Joyce Chen ceramic tea kettle comes with a bamboo handle that complements its matte ebony color. At two quart capacity, this elegant tea kettle is large enough to serve three or four thirsty people and yet small enough for you to enjoy just one cup.

6-Cup White Ceramic Tea Kettle with Infuser

If you like brewing tea first thing in the morning, then you are going to like the white ceramic tea kettle by Ashbys. With its traditional design and dainty white color, this ceramic tea kettle is a wonderful sight as you enter your kitchen. It has a 32 ounce capacity, making 6 cups of tea, perfect for voracious tea drinkers.

There is also a smaller capacity version of this ceramic tea kettle, producing four cups for those who are intimidated by 6 cups. With this white ceramic tea kettle, brewing tea has never been a more wonderful experience.

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Ceramic Tea Kettle

Mon, 12 Aug 2008 14:55:36 GMT

posted by gregmulac

Tea kettles are one of the oldest pieces of kitchenware. In fact, recent archaeological finds suggest that tea kettles might even date back to the time when tea was first discovered in Ancient China.

The earliest form of tea kettles were stone earthenware pots. Later on, stone teapots were replaced by porcelain. Porcelain tea kettles were widely popular among tea drinkers but because they are too often expensive for the common man, porcelain was slowly replaced by ceramic tea kettles.

Today, ceramic tea kettles are used by many tea drinkers all over the world. Not only are they relatively inexpensive but there are advantages found in kitchenware made of ceramics not otherwise found in other types of kitchenware.

First, ceramic tea kettles are lightweight. Unlike stainless steel, cast iron, and porcelain, ceramics are uniformly lighter in terms of weight. Hence, they are easy to carry around the house. For instance, if you are receiving guests in the living room, you will have little trouble carrying your ceramic tea kettle filled with boiling water and the rest of your tea set from the kitchen to your guests.

Second, ceramic tea kettles are chemically inert. This means that they do not introduce any chemicals or agents into the water even at high temperatures (as in boiling) so that its taste remains “pure.” This is a definite advantage of other types of kettles that often produce odors or chemicals that can affect the taste of your tea.

Third, ceramic tea kettles have a smooth surface. This makes them relatively easy to maintain. If the surface of ceramic tea kettles remains without cracks or crevices, germs and other bacteria will not have any place to hide in. In addition, ceramic tea kettles often need little more than a good wipe with a soft, wet cotton cloth to maintain and keep their appearance clean.

In terms of handling, ceramic tea kettles are more desirable than glass. They are a lot less fragile and some ceramics are actually structurally modified in such a way that they are stronger than regular ceramic. So strong, in fact, that these modified types of ceramics are even manufactured into kitchen knives.

If handled properly, ceramic tea kettles could last for years. Ceramics do not rust. They are resistant to corrosion, unlike cast iron tea kettles and other metal-based kitchenware. Moreover, they do not form scale deposits, a situation that often happens with steel, aluminum or iron tea kettles.

And lastly, ceramic tea kettles come in various designs to delight your eyes and brighten up your kitchen. Some come with floral designs. Others come in funky shapes. You can even find ceramic tea kettles fashioned in such a way that they mimic the shape of animals.

What better way to improve your tea drinking experience than using ceramic tea kettle that is not only practical but also aesthetically pleasing as well?

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Hot Chocolate Pots

Fri, 9 Aug 2008 18:32:23 GMT

posted by thehungrymouse

A few days ago, I posted my version of Mayan Hot Chocolate. It occurred to me that there are all sorts of fabulous hot chocolate-y accessories out there—specifically, hot chocolate pots.

Most hot chocolate pots tend to look like long, tall teapots. Many sit on three or four little feet. Lots include some kind of device to froth your chocolate. If you want to see some excellent vintage and antique versions, take a look at what’s for sale at Ruby Lane.

Here’s the one that I have, as well as a few others you’ll find on the market today.

I picked up my hot chocolate pot, at Williams-Sonoma a few years ago. It was one of those things that I stalked in the store for a month or two, then broke down and bought it. I’ve scoured the Internet, but it looks like they don’t sell it anymore.

It comes in a few pieces, and is for serving only (can’t go on the stove). The long wooden dowel is for frothing. When the pot’s full of hot chocolate, you put the handle between your hands and rub back and forth quickly to whip in more air.

If you look for a hot chocolate pot at Williams-Sonoma today, this is what you’ll find:

The Mauviel Hot Chocolate Pot is shaped to maximize heat and minimize any evaporation. It’s only available online, and as of today was marked down from $199.95 to $79.99. And like a lot of Mauviel’s cookware, it’s lined in tin, which means that you’re going to have to get the inside re-tinned every once in a while, depending on how often you use it.

For a modernized version of the pot I have, you can also find many that have an electric frother. These seem more convenient, though less charming than the old-fashioned ones.

The Bonjour Pink Hot Chocolate Pot goes for about $40 on Amazon. If pink’s not your thing, there’s also a white, oval-shaped one that sells for about $25.

Bodum makes a nice glass version, which means you can see just what’s happening to your hot chocolate. I’ve always liked their teapots, because you can watch your tea brew. This one is about $40 and has a manual frother.

If you have something else you serve your hot chocolate in, but like the idea of a frother, you can get one of those on its own. You can find this one (also by Bonjour, of pink chocolate pot fame above), at Cooking.com for about $20.

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Bento This!

Tue, 6 Aug 2008 18:13:05 GMT

posted by thehungrymouse

Lately, there’s been great interest in bento boxes in my (admittedly small but super fantastic) social circle. My dear friend the Lady Otter has put together some positively breathtaking lunches for herself.

Here’s a quick bento primer.

So, what’s a bento and why do you want one?
A bento box is a traditional Japanese lunchbox. It usually has a few little compartments to separate different parts of your meal. Most are between one and three stacks high.

Bentos are compact. You can stuff them with all manners of different things. They’re nicer to eat out of than a regular old tupperware. They make making your lunch fun.

What goes into one?
If you’re making a bento by the book, you pack it with a protein (meat, chicken, or fish), a starch (usually rice), and some kind of veggie matter. Great care and consideration is usually taken with the shapes of the food—and how they’re arranged. (There are rice molds, different shaped veggie cutters…more on all that some other time. There’s a whole Bento World out there.)

Honestly, though? Fill it with things you like.

This is one of my favorite topics, but I’ll keep it simple for today. Here are some of the neatest bento boxes I’ve seen online. (After all, if you’re going to pack yourself a bento every day, you need to have a proper bento box.)

Note
Most bento boxes will come with a belly band to keep them closed. Many are not microwave safe, or only partially so (as in, you can only nuke the little containers inside the box, not the box itself), so check the details before you order.

The Floral Bento Box is available from the Asian Art Mall for $24.95 and comes with a belly band to keep your bento safely closed while you travel. It’s 2-tier and measures 5.25″x3.25″.

This is a 2-tier Sushi Box, for those of you who want a bento with a handle. Get yours from the Pearl River Mart in New York for $12.50.

Think of it as a bento for two. (Picnic, anyone?) The Pearl Butterfly Three Layer Lacquer Box is much larger than a normal bento, measuring 7 5/8″ long x 7 5/8″ wide x 6 3/4″ high.

It’s beautiful, but doesn’t include a band, so you’ll want to be careful if you’re toting it around. Available from Mrs. Lin’s Kitchen for $28.95, it also comes in the red and black Crane, Fan, and Blossom design. There’s also a very similar Black Fan design available from Buy 4 Asian Life for $13.99.

This is the Hakoya Black & Red Bento from VeryAsia.com for $19.95.

The Jyubako Lunch/Hors d’oeuvres 2-Tiered box is slightly larger than most bento at 8 1/2″ long x 8 1/2″ wide x 4 1/2″ high. Buy yours from Ichiban Kan for $20.

VeryAsia.com also sells this rather manly Hakoya Grey Silver Zen Bento Box for $13.95.

For a different shape, try the 2-tier Plum Blossom bento sold by From Japan with Love. It’s 7.9″ long x 3″ wide x 3″ high and costs $39.50.

Bentos for kids (whether you’re actually 8-years-old, or just like to pretend sometimes)

This 2-tier Totoro bento is available online from JBox for $24.95. It measures 6.5″ long x 3″ wide x 3.25″ high. (Warning: JBox has a lot of great Japanese goods, including some more adult stuff.) If you’re not sure what Totoro is, he’s a giant Japanese forest spirit and star of Hayao Miyazaki’s wonderful movie My Neighbor Totoro.

The 2-tier Shinzi Katoh Happy Good Luck Onigiri Bento Lunch Box says “Happy” on one side and “Good Luck” on the other. It’s 4.5″ long x 3.5″W wide x 4″ high and is available from Heliotrope Home for $18. Like this bento? Heliotrope Home sells a bunch of boxes with Shinzi Katoh’s designs.

The Animals in the Forest bento also comes from the happy folks at With Love from Japan. It’s only $5.95. I can’t find dimensions for this one, but wanted to list it because I liked it so much. I’m guessing it’s on the small size, since it’s so inexpensive.

Happy munching!
That’s it for now. Much more on bentos and all the strange and wonderful things you can do with your food soon.

Green Wednesday: Energy Efficient Kitchen Appliances

Tue, 16 Jul 2008 17:21:15 GMT

posted by deand

According to an article posted in Popular Mechanics, today’s Energy Star approved refrigerators use up to 50% less energy than those made before 1993, a 13-year-old dishwasher will cost at least $30 extra per year, and a mid-nineties washer will cost you about $110 more per year. These are just a few examples that show how much you can save by switching to more energy efficient appliances. (more…)