Makes Sense To Me

Once in action, judges gave higher scores to products that were intuitively easy to use. For example, a pizza scale with a touchless zero-out feature that lets you weigh successive ingredients one after the other by continuing to add to the scale drew praise. So did a labeling gun that printed required information onto blank labels. (“It saves on buying all the different labels,” Koetke noted.) Kudos also went to a hinged floor grate that remains attached to its drain so it’s not misplaced during the cleaning process.

And the panel appreciated the silicone tweaks and non-slip enhancements given to common products. Judges felt that whisks with twisted silicone coating over the wires would beat more efficiently, and that silicone-edged tongs would be safe to use on non-stick surfaces. They appreciated a line of disposable pastry bags featuring a non-slip surface, as well as non-slip kitchen mitts.

The pros also suggested ways to tweak several products to make them even better, such as adding clamps to a gasketed pan cover to keep the lids firmly in place during transport, or somehow shielding a hidden sharp component in a food dispenser product so no one gets injured while cleaning it.

The top products, however, earned their spot in the winners’ circle for a variety of qualities: practicality, such as that found in Cambro’s round air-tight lids; improved grip, found in Dexter-Russell V-lo knife handles and San Jamar oven mitts and tri-grip ice totes; durability and comfort, seen in Vollrath’s stainless steel basting spoons; and the combination of practicality and durability in Nemco’s manual food choppers.

Read on for more details, in alpha order, about the seven products that made the winning cut this year.

Meet The Winners

“It’s about time!” exclaimed one judge upon seeing Cambro Mfg.’s new line of Seal Covers, designed to be used with Camwear round food storage containers. The covers feature a spill-proof inner and outer seal. The flexible lids can handle temperatures from -40°F to 160°F, and they’re dishwasher safe. The translucent, NSF-listed lids come in four sizes to match eight different Camwear containers.
www.cambro.com
800/833-3003

Chefs will especially appreciate the next winner: Dexter-Russell’s V-lo Knives, featuring an attractive black-and-gray composite handle. The ergonomically shaped, non-slip grip uses narrow ridges to offer full cutting control. The knife’s high-carbon, stain-free blade retains its cutting edge and is easy to clean. The V-lo line, which includes everything from a 3 1/2” parer to a 12” cook’s knife, is all NSF certified.
www.dexter-russell.com
508/765-0201

Nemco Food Equipment fielded two winning entries this year. First up: the hand-powered Easy Chicken Slicer. Considering the popularity of breaded chicken, tenders and strips at restaurants across the country, little wonder that one judge called this an “awesome product.” The Chicken Slicer turns cooked chicken into strips with speed, safety and consistency—virtually no employee training required. The slicer features rugged cast aluminum and stainless steel construction. The intentionally unsharpened blades easily cut through cooked product.
www.nemcofoodequip.com
800/782-6761

Nemco’s second winner, the Easy Chopper II, impressed judges with its sturdy versatility. The hand-powered chopper is ideal for slicing and dicing large vegetables, thanks to its generously sized 41⁄4” cutting area. Quickly interchangeable blade assemblies let you slice or chop as needed. The unit’s construction features a cast aluminum body, high-tension stainless steel blades and three sizes of chopping and slicing grids. Judges agreed that it’d be great for smaller-volume operators.
www.nemcofoodequip.com
800/782-6761

San Jamar also scored a duo of winners. Employee safety led judges to add San Jamar’s new UltiGrips X-Series mitts to the winner’s list. These water-resistant and waterproof gloves protect hands from hot vapors and temperatures ranging from –134°F to 500°F. There’s even a waterproof version that can be used for boil-in-bag applications or around fryers. X-Series mitts, made of a patented combination of nylon and a closed-cell neoprene rubber, feature a non-slip textured surface for secure handling and better grip; inverted stitching for extra protection and durability; and an easy-clean surface that lets spills rinse off quickly.
www.sanjamar.com
800/248-9826

“Love the functionality, love the hand grips at the bottom,” said judges about San Jamar’s second winning entry, the Tri-Grip Saf-T-Ice Tote. “Tri-Grip” refers to the three levels at which you can handle the tote—below or at the waist, and above the head—thanks to the two unique grips indented into the tote’s bottom surface as well as the carrying handle. Saf-T-Ice includes a tough built-in hook and a new snap-tight lid. Made of hard-wearing polycarbonate construction, the tote is NSF listed.
www.sanjamar.com
800/248-9826

One thing our judges always look for is product strength and durability, which is why Vollrath Co. ’s Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Basting Spoons scored so well. The spoon handles easily resisted a determined effort by Chef Koetke to bend the bowls against the table—weak spoons don’t last long in a tough kitchen environment, he said. These spoons, made of 18-8 stainless steel with hollow, tubular handles, also won kudos for their comfortable grip, generous bowl sizes, and the satin finish that hides wear and tear. The line comes in solid, perforated and slot styles and three lengths.
www.vollrathco.com
800/624-2051

To read about the Tabletop winners, please click here.

Smallwares Finalists 

“Smudge, be gone!” is the modus operandi for 3M’s Easy Erasing Pad. The blue and white sponge can erase marks without scouring or scratching. To use, just dampen the white side and gently rub. The pad works on scuffmarks, ink, grease, crayon and soap scum, and is safe to use on stainless steel, Plexiglas, textured wallpaper, ceramic, painted metal and other surfaces.
www.3M.com/foodservice
800/698-4595

Ergonomically produced pastry. That’s what you get with Best Manufacturers’ Pastry Pro Dough Cutter. The tool features a rigid stainless steel frame, clog-free diamond-shaped cutting blades and a flexible, molded rubber grip. And it’s dishwasher safe.
www.bestmfrs.com
800/500-1528

From Bluebird Mfg. comes a durable pair of products. Out front, bartenders will appreciate the Wall-Mounted Glass Racks. Made of heavy-gauge stainless steel, the 1819-series racks can be attached to walls, under shelves or where needed. For the kitchen, there’s the Super Pasta Basket, whose reinforced sides and bottoms protect it from hard use. The baskets come in fine and coarse mesh.
www.bluebird.ca
800/461-2505

Griddle jockeys will love ChefMaster’s smallwares entry: the new two-blades-in-one Griddle Scraper. The improved blade is thicker (1.2 mm) and stronger (made of 420 stainless), the company tells us. Sharp double-beveled edges let you use the scraper on chrome-surfaced griddles. And when the first edge dulls, you just flip it over and use the opposite edge. 
www.mrbarbq.com
800/333-2124

A trio of sharp entries arrived from Chef’s Choice by Edgecraft. The SteelPro Knife Sharpener takes the guesswork out of honing a blade thanks to hardened miniature steels set at precise angles, sharpening from blade tip to handle. The second two entries feature super-hard diamond abrasives bonded to steel sharpening pads. The Serrated Knife Sharpener 430 returns the “teeth” of serrated knives to razor-sharp condition. And the Manual Diamond Hone Model 450 features a two-stage honing process for a sharper, double-bevel edge.
www.chefschoice.com
800/342-3255

Chicago Metallic comes to market with a sleek European-inspired Fantasy Assorted Baking Pan from its Silmax flex bakeware line. The siliconized rubber mould offers you the flexibility of six intricate pastry shapes, and the company says you’ll get 2,500 to 3,000 bake releases from the pan before you’ll see any signs of sticking. Silmax can withstand temperatures up to 500°F. The company also submitted an eye-catching pair of  Non-Stick Cast Aluminum Cake Pans. The heavy-duty pans come in six different shapes.
www.bakingpans.com
800/323-3966

In the hand-held thermometer department, Comark offers the C28. This quick, reliable tool is waterproof and enhanced with BioCote antimicrobial protection. It also comes with a standard K-type detachable thermocouple, a clock and countdown timer, and a battery good for 7,000 hours. The device measures temps from –328°F to 1112°F, says the company.
www.comarkltd.com
800/555-6658

Talk about a four-in-one. Cooper-Atkins’ new TFS4 Multi-Station Timer can monitor four cook stations using four timers and four visual and sound alerts. The timer modes can be used simultaneously or independently, as needed. The splash-resistant case gives you a large four-line LCD, one-touch start/stop and adjustable volume control.
www.cooper-atkins.com
800/835-5011

An unusual pair of kitchen whisks by Cuisipro/Browne-Halco caught the eye of our chef judge. Cuisipro’s Shapes Series Whisks feature a red silicone covering the length of its five stainless steel loops. The whisk is heat-resistant up to 750°F and safe for non-stick cookware. The twist coating increases beating efficiency thanks to its greater surface area. Meanwhile, the Balloon Thermowhisk is perfect for temperature-sensitive recipes. This one has a continuous LCD read-out on the handle end, ideal for the tricky biz of caramelizing sugar or tempering chocolate.
www.cuisipro.com
905/475-6104

Toss the old rotation charts; don’t bother doing the math— Daydots’ new dual-color Duo-Dots Labels tell your employees when to use your food items safely and reliably. Duo-Dots not only show the day the food is made, but also the use-by day, all on one two-color label. Choose from 3-, 5- and 7-day rotation labels in a variety of configurations, shapes, sizes and dispensing options.
www.daydots.com
800/321-3687

DayMark’s Timestrips, new to the market this spring, end confusion about the “use-by” date by changing color when food’s about to expire. To activate, peel off the backing, squeeze the bubble on the back and apply to a removable label; a red dye will gradually start to fill the white horizontal bar. When the entire bar is red, it’s time to discard the food. Comes in 2-, 3- and 5-day progressions for 40°F holding temperatures. Also from DayMark are Grip2Go Disposable Pastry Bags, whose non-slip surface has the feel of canvas and the “tossability” of plastic. Comes in three sizes to fit all tips and couplers.
www.daymark.biz
800/847-0101

This product is so new that the company had to send the prototype for the judging. Detecto’s PZ Series Pizza Ingredient Scale, which debuted at The NAFEM Show last month, stands out for its unique touchless zeroing feature. Touchless  zeroing means faster prepping, since you can continue to add and weigh each successive ingredient without removing any ’til you’re done. To zero out, all you do is wave your hand in front of the motion sensor; a beep provides audible confirmation. The unit uses batteries or an AC adapter. Optional foot switch available.
www.detectoscale.com
800/641-2008

If knives came with a sense of humor, it’d be the Sani-Sation line from Dexter-Russell. The handles are the fun part: The sturdy, molded plastic comes in six patterns, printed with denim, camouflage, U.S. flags, fish, limes or stamp patterns. The blades, of course, are all business. Sizes range from parer up to the 10” cook’s knife. Just think of them as… cut ups.
www.dexter-russell.com
508/765-0201

When you need a high-security knife vault, look no further. Edlund Co. debuts its heavy-duty Locking Knife Cabinet, featuring a keyed locking handle and three built-in padlock holes for extra insurance. The stainless steel piano hinges are held on with tamperproof screws, while the top edge design eliminates any chance of access while closed. Ideal for prison, school or hospital kitchens—anywhere secure storage is needed. Just don’t lose the key.
www.edlundco.com
800/772-2126

Fetco now offers an easy, inexpensive way for you to brew tea in your thermal coffee airpot or Luxus L3D. All you do is place loose tea in the stainless steel mesh infuser, insert it into the brewer, add hot water, and voila! You’re making tea. Fetco says its Extractor Brewer consistently brews at a higher, more accurate temperature than most other brewers, making it a natural at extracting full tea flavor.
www.fetco.com
800/338-2699

“Floor drains and grates—together forever.” That’s the idea behind FMP/Franklin Machine Products’ newest creation, the Hinged Floor Drain Grate. The device ensures that drains always remain safely covered, even when being cleaned. One side of the grate is securely mounted to the floor while the other side flips up for drain cleaning. Tamperproof screws hold the grate in place. The reinforced 1/4” nickel-bronze grate measures 7 3/8” square.
www.fmponline.com
800/257-7737

From Italian company Mepra comes a heavy-duty copper-clad deep casserole pan from its Toscana line of professional cookware. Toscana pots and pans feature a high-tech, multi-layer construction that puts stainless steel on the inside surface, copper on the outside for beauty, and an aluminum core for optimum heat distribution. The Toscana line comes in six sizes, from single-handled pot to double-handled casserole pans to one- and two-handled fry pans.
www.mepra.com
843/767-1994

An unusual knife, a sturdy knife sharpener and silicone tongs arrived from Messermeister. The San Moritz Scalloped Edge 8” Offset Knife, with the handle set higher than the blade, lets you slice on a horizontal plan while keeping your knuckles above the cutting surface. Next is the Modern Chantry Knife Sharpener, ideal for flat or serrated edges. The Chantry features durable all-metal construction and a long handle for a better grip. Finally, Silicone Tongs, enhanced with silicone tips that can handle temperatures up to 500°F. Perfect for non-stick surfaces.
www.messermeister.com
800/426-5134

Mundial sent in a pair of sharp—and sharp-looking—entries for the judges’ perusal. First up: The sleek, metal-handled Future Collection Knives, forged of high-carbon stainless steel. The smoothly formed handles provide a convenient, comfortable grip. Next, the popular Red Handled 8” Chef’s Knife with the scalloped Granton edge. “All of them well-balanced knives,” noted our chef judge.
www.mundialusa.com
800/487-2224

Buns away! Warm buns, that is, thanks to Nemco’s latest product intro. New as of May is the Stainless Steel Bun Box, a durable, stackable storage unit designed to keep hot dog buns warm and fresh. A Plexiglas hinged lid lets you keep track of inventory. Choose from six sizes, holding 36 to 96 rolls.
www.nemcofoodequip.com
800/782-6761

Paxar helps you track expiration dates and food safety with the  Monarch 1152 FreshMarx Labeler. Using a simple “click-and-stick” system, the labeler prints the date, day and 12-character messages for each label. Monarch labelers can withstand the tough kitchen environment, while the enclosed housing case keeps labels dry and away from food. Choose from various adhesives, including residue-free and dissolvable. Preprint label customization available; 1-yr. warranty.
877/774-6829
www.freshmarx.com

Spring USA’s smallwares submission arrived in the form of its new Vulcano Fry Pans. What sets Vulcano cookware apart is its combination of sturdy non-stick finish with the company’s signature “Spring edge,” in which the sealed rim protects the aluminum core from caustic cleaners or food acids. Those with non-stick coatings can handle temperatures up to 500°F and are backed a 1-yr. guarantee. The frying pan comes in four diameters, ranging from 7 7/8” to 12”. Vulcano woks and deep-frying pans also available.
www.springusa.com
800/535-8974

“Unique dual function here” was one judge’s comment about Taylor Precision Products’ Salter Aquatronic Digital Scale. The scale is among the first with the ability to measure either wet or dry ingredients. It features “bilingual” read-outs that display in ounces/pounds or grams/milliliters. The scale can handle up to 5 lbs. or 175 fl. oz. Taylor also submitted a Digital Refrigerator/Freezer Thermometer, accurate from -4°F to 158°F.  A suction cup attaches it securely to the inside cooler wall.
www.taylorusa.com
630/954-1250

The new Bar Keep II line from Traex/Libbey offers rectangular containers that maximize space on the rail while still holding the capacity you need. Made of break-resistant polypropylene, the durable containers come with six colored spouts for easy identification. Choose from various sizes, including a new 48-oz. container. Also from Traex: the Wide Mouth Converter Cap, which lets you adapt a wide-mouth plastic dispenser bottle to a standard opening that’ll fit Traex dispenser caps such as the Twin tip or Flow Cut.
www.libbey.com
419/325-2100

Perfect pancakes, every time. That’s what you get with the Update Int’l. Pancake Batter Dispenser. Push down on the metal plunger to distribute consistently sized rounds of pancake batter onto the cook surface, over and over again. Judges liked the portion control dial on the handle—the dial gives eight sizes of pancakes, ranging from 1/2 oz. to 3 oz. The aluminum dispenser holds 5 1/2 lbs. of batter and is dishwasher safe.
www.update-international.com
800/747-7124

Just when you thought there was nothing new in the world of spoons, along come Spoodles by Vollrath. Spoodles, with their unusual pointed oval bowls, are designed to reach into the corners of food pans to extract every last bit—less waste, more efficiency. Available in six colors and capacities; styles are solid and perforated. Also from Vollrath are Gasketed Transport Covers for Super Pan 3 Steam Table Pans, in which a silicone gasket goes a long way toward reducing spills when transporting foods. The gasket lids also allow for secure stacking of pans.
www.vollrathco.com
800/624-2051

More “cutting edge” entries here, from Zwilling J.A. Henckels. The Twin Cuisine Knife Series feature an unusual horizontal tang set into a smoothly molded handle. The high-carbon blades undergo the company’s signature Friodur ice-hardening process for better edge retention and corrosion resistance. Also from Zwilling: several entries from the Twin Cuisine Gadgets and Tools line. The tools include German-designed ergonomic soft rubber handles and 18-10 stainless steel.
www.jahenckels.com
800/777-4308