Gizmos for Cooks

I don’t know about you, but mincing garlic is one of the most challenging cooking chores for me. The size of a single clove versus the size of my knife blade (I typically use a Santoku knife for chopping) does not make for a good match, and I often find that I can’t get a nice small dice on the oh-so-important ingredient. And that can be a problem when it comes to certain recipes. But that dilemma is now a thing of the past for me. I have the Mini Vegetable Chopper from Williams-Sonoma.

This delightful gadget is made of sturdy plastic and features sharp stainless-steel cutting grids. After you peel the clove of garlic, place it in the chopper — with one press, you get a perfect, uniform mince. A clear plastic compartment on the bottom of the chopper catches the garlic and allows you to transfer it easily to the bowl or pot with which you’re working. And because you’ve left the hard part up to the gizmo itself, letting it do the cutting for you, the tips of your fingers won’t reek of garlic for the next 24 hours.

The Mini Vegetable Chopper can also be used for shallots and other small items, while a larger version of the chopper (which doubles as a measuring gadget) is great for onions, mushrooms and other vegetables.

Price: $18.99 from Williams-Sonoma