Awesome kitchen gadgets

After my post about what not to buy a cook, here are some really cool kitchen gadgets from the folks at Real Simple magazine.

Jamie Oliver Flavour Shaker

Call it a modern day mortar and pestle: This sleek canister holds a ceramic ball that grinds spices, crushes garlic, and mixes marinades and vinaigrettes with just a few quick shakes.
To buy: $21, amazon.com.

Kuhn Rikon Juli Peeler

Forget the fancy knife work. Even kitchen novices can turn out pretty matchstick strips of vegetables for salads and stir-fries with this compact julienne peeler.
To buy: $6, factorydirect2you.com.

Wilton Cake Lifter

Tired of cakes with cracks and breaks? Moving and stacking freshly baked layers is a breeze with this featherweight, ultra-wide spatula. Great for transferring rolled-out pie dough, tarts, and mini-pizzas, too.
To buy: $10, wilton.com.

OXO Good Grips Potato Ricer

Create light, fluffy mashed potatoes in minutes with this sturdy, easy-to-clean tool. Just fill it with cooked potatoes—or parsnips, celery root, or carrots—and squeeze. The smooth-gliding, stainless steel mechanism does the rest.
To buy: $20, surlatable.com.

Joseph Joseph Scoop Colander

Scoop and drain vegetables, shrimp, ravioli, and dumplings straight from the pot with this supersized ladle available in 4 cheery colors.
To buy: $8 for a large scoop colander, josephjoseph.com.

Chef’n SleekStor Pinch and Pour Measuring Beakers

Short on space? These flexible silicone 1-, 2-, and 4-cup containers nest neatly inside one another for a minimal footprint. Just squeeze one in the center to create a drip-free pour spout.
To buy: $30 for a set of three, chefsresource.com.

Zyliss Pizza Slicer With Crust Cutter

Not your everyday pie cutter, this essential utensil has an extra blade set into the handle that cuts through tough crusts and fits into tight corners.
To buy: $15, zylissusa.com.

Cuisipro Food Decorating Pen

Fill this kid-friendly silicone syringe with icing and decorate cookies and cakes like a pro. The removable tip lets you create fine lines or thick.
To buy: $13, kingarthurflour.com.

Escali Primo Digital Scale

Dedicated bakers—and those who use foreign cookbooks—know that weighing ingredients gives you the greatest precision for the tastiest results. This Real Simple test kitchen favorite measures pounds, ounces, and grams and comes in 9 snappy colors to go with any kitchen décor.
To buy: $40, escali.com.