Everyday Knife from Ikea - Make your food look professional!

When I saw the Vegetarian Fried Rice recipe on Raks blog, I knew I had to get the details of the knife she used to cut the vegetables so beautifully. The answer was even better, its cheap, its from Ikea and its a great every-day knife.

IKEA 365+ GNISTRA

"Molybdenum/vanadium stainless steel blades with a full tang - the metal goes all the way though the handle - for better balance and durability. 

Specialty functions : Raks uses this for all her clhopping, mincing, slicing, julienning, etc. The handle is plastic and synthetic rubber, offers a great grip.

This knife proves that good quality knifes don't have to cost a fortune! With affordable prices of these professional quality knifes you will have more money for groceries"

What: Ikea 365+ Gnistra Everyday Knife

Where? Ikea

Price: SGD 12

Microwave Steamer / Cooker

Cooking in the microwave has become quite normal now. What started off as a luxury kitchen item (atleast in India) has now become a necessity, especially for the working men and women. Although I still cook my rice in the pressure cooker, I do use the microwave occasionally for boiling potatoes and other vegetables or to boil some eggs (a cute little microwave egg cooker coming up soon!). 

Thanks to Raks for sharing this nifty little microwave steamer with us. In her words, "This is a three piece steamer - bottom to pour in the water, middle container to place the item that has to be steamed, and a lid with a steam vent."

"Its excellent for steaming corn, vegetables and also other things such as rice noodles, dumplings. We can save time compared to the electric or stove top steamer (cooking time for corn- 4 minutes, rice noodles - 2 minutes)"

Wow! That is quick! Thanks Raks :)

What? Microwave Steamer

Where? Mustafa Center, Serangoon Plaza, Singapore

Price? Between 10 and 20 SGD

Microwave Potato Steamer / Cooker

Raise your hands if you love potatoes. Yep, that's what I thought. This has got to be the most popular tuber out there and I'd guess that there are as many ways to boil them as there are types of potatoes in the world. 

Here's the simplest and most mess-free way I have seen so far.

What?  Microwave potato steamer

Where? Mustafa Centre, microwave gadgets section

Price? 10 SGD or 330 INR

Contributed by Raks, here's the description in her own words: 

"Want to cook potato in hurry? You might have seen potatoes kept as such in the microwave bursts and moves here and there sometimes. 

This cool gadget allows you to microwave and cook the potatoes (8 numbers maximum) in a jiffy. Takes only 4 minutes (+1 Minute standing time) to get cooked!! (Time may vary from one microwave to other but no huge differences. Only 1 or 2 minutes difference)

Just nail the potatoes in the sharp edges provided in the stand and microwave. The stand never gets hot!

What's more? The handle can be removed for easy cleaning and for storing purposes."

So,  how do you cook your potatoes?