Quell the Smell: Store your onion in this BPA-free little container to optimize freshness, cuteness and to keep the vegetable’s wonderfully strong odors away from other foods (like milk and yogurt) that aren’t exactly enhanced by onion scent. Available in purple or “yellow” so you can get all matchy with your food. $4.98, Hardisty’s Homewares, 1513 Farmers Ln, Santa Rosa, 707-867-0827, hardistys.com
Smart Storage: Having frozen homemade broth or sauce on hand is an important part of a cook’s tool kit. But often the size of storage containers don’t match the need. Enter this fabulous freezer mold that stores food in ½ cup amounts! $14.99, Sign of the Bear Kitchenware, 435 1st St W, Sonoma, 707-996-3722, signofthebear.com
Toaster Oven Upgrade: Once they invented sliced bread, and now this: an oven with a built-in air fryer! (Wahoo!) What’s next? Cake without calories? $199, Hardisty’s Homewares, 1513 Farmers Ln, Santa Rosa, 707-867-0827, hardistys.com
Power to the Person: In the man-against-jar-lid struggle, the lid often wins. Break the air seal, and open the jar easily with this "Jarkey." Great for kids and people with arthritis. $5.98, Hardisty’s Homewares, 1513 Farmers Ln, Santa Rosa, 707-867-0827, hardistys.com
Instant Love: Okay, you’ll be slow to warm up to this appliance when you’re up to your eyeballs in YouTube-torials, but once you learn a few basics you’re good to go...on a walk, with your dog, while your Instant Pot cooks dinner. This one? Worth the hype. If only it did grocery shopping… $99 (and up), Cultivate Home, 186 N Main St Suite 120, Sebastopol, 707-824-1400, cultivatehome.com
Dishwasher Durable?: Clashing kitchen ideals reach a beautiful compromise in these pressed wood fiber cutting boards. You want the knife-friendly softness of wood, but can’t stand handwashing your board—especially after cutting meat or chicken? The formula of these cutting boards is...(drumroll)...dishwasher safe. Believe! Sonoma Cutlery, 130 Kentucky St, Petaluma, 707-766-6433, sonomacutlery.com
Avocado Keeper: All ripened up and nowhere to go? Because there’s often that extra half of perfectly wonderful avocado, here’s a place to store it and keep it fresh longer. $6.99, Hardisty’s Homewares, 1513 Farmers Ln, Santa Rosa, 707-867-0827, hardistys.com
Glass-at-a-time Pourer: This unique bottle "opener" doesn't actually pull the cork but dispenses it through a needle-thin opening, one glass at a time while keeping the remaining wine fresh. Dare to not indulge and pour a single glass from a great bottle without fear of waste. $199 (and up), Muscardini Cellars, 9380 Sonoma Hwy, Kenwood, 707-933-9305, muscardinicellars.com
Our kitchens seem to evoke a love/hate response. Most of us love to cook except when we have to, which is most days. But some of the right equipment can make cooking easier, more efficient and more fun. Sonoma stores are full of great buys to enhance your cooking experience. Click through the above gallery for details.
