Stellar is a quality brand of stainless steel kitchenware, from the maritime city of Bristol. Like anything of quality, it costs a little more to buy, but everything carries a lifetime guarantee, so works out more affordable long-term. Loved by home cooks and professionals, the range is extensive, but of course you don’t have to buy everything! Also read of quality bakeware with lifetime guarantees.
Before cooking, read up on food safety for people & pets (many human foods are unsafe around animal friends).
Just choose what you use on a regular basis. Most people can’t afford £80 for a risotto pan, but it’s good to invest a few pounds in quality accessories with lifetime guarantees. Once you switch to a quality grater, masher, garlic press and tin opener, you’ll never go back. And you’ll be enthused to cook fresh food from scratch.
- The heavy-duty garlic press makes swift work of the fattest cloves, and has a comfortable grip to make for easy crushing. Includes a garlic bucket, for easy cleaning.
- The grater is a good investment, as it makes grating carrots, citrus zest and vegan cheese a pleasure, rather than a chore. Also consider the masher for the best vegan mashed potatoes!
- The tin opener is expertly engineered with sturdy construction, and includes a handy bottle opener. Built with a comfortable grip and heavy-duty build for ease of use, can be hung on a rack.
- The pull-through knife sharpener and whetstone are designed for safety (the latter has a non-slip cradle for safe precise sharpening (no tea towel needed). And double-sided design for coarse or fine grit.
stainless steel mixing bowl & colander
This mixing bowl & colander set is made from high quality 18/10 stainless steel (includes recycled materials) and offers a lifetime guarantee against manufacturing defects. Made responsibly in audited factories in China, the nesting design is perfect for compact kitchens. The bowl features clear convenient internal measurements and a wide triangle spout to make pouring easy. The run-off space between the bowl and colander allows for liquid to drain from foods. The set is easy to recycle and clean, rust-resistant and dishwasher-safe. Ways to use this set:
- Use it to run water over vegetables to give a ‘bath’, saving water over running under the tap. The colander’s micro-perforated holes allow edges for particles to dislodge again.
- Aquafaba or ‘vegan meringue’ is made from the leftover brine water of canned chickpeas. You can use this to strain the liquid and use the strained chickpeas to eat in recipes.
- If you make air-fry or oven-roast chips, soaking them in cold water for 20 minutes makes them crispy. Use the colander to quickly bathe them to remove amylose (the starch in mashed potatoes that can produce soggy chips). After a stir and 10 minutes, change the water and dry in a clean tea towel, before cooking.
- Use the colander to collect leftover fruit and vegetable peelings, and chunks of root veggies for composting. Keep fresh compost away from pets, and learn how to make your garden safe for pets.
quality kitchenware designed in Bristol
Judge is a brand of stainless steel kitchenware designed in Bristol, each item carrying a 25-year guarantee. Established over 120 years ago, it was founded in 1896 by William Joseph Horwood who began to sell quality homewares to hardware shops in the local area (back then, made in Birmingham). Some of their earliest pans can be seen in the kitchen of TV’s Downton Abbey. The company bounced back from having 3 of its 4 warehouses bombed during the war, and developed its popular Vista cookware set (with glass draining lids). The range includes:
A stainless steel pasta machine for restaurant-quality food. It has 9 thickness settings and a handy trimmer, and gradually rolls out thin pasta sheets. Includes a worktop clamp, cutting rollers and pasta trimmer. Keep fresh dough away from pets, can expand in the stomach.
The stainless steel saucepans are expensive, but built to last for years. Made from quality 18/10 stainless steel with toughened glass lids, they offer even heat distribution from ‘hot forged’ bases and have riveted cast handles for a solid connection (unlike welded joints). The pans feature time-saving internal capacity guides, vented glass lids (for ever boil prevention) and are dishwasher-safe and suitable for all hobs (including induction). Oven-safe up to 210°C.
fully repairable kitchen staples
Dualit makes a small range of fully-repairable kitchen staples. Although these are expensive, they are designed for life, and ideal for cafes, restaurants and hotels that use these goods constantly. Handbuilt in the UK since 1945, these products are a true testament to British engineering. Designed by a father and son, the items all have parts designed to be disassembled and replaced, with iconic retro designs. And every toaster is stamped with the name of the person who built it!
The Hand Mixer has a 400W motor and four speed settings, and is a multi-tasker for any cook or baker. It features a strong grip handle, beater ejector buton, plus included flat beaters, dough hooks and balloon whisk. Features the assembler’s name on the base plate.
The 700W hand blender is a versatile kitchen staple, to chop and puree and whisk with seamless speed. A high quality ergonomic appliance engineered to perform and last, the anti-suction blending wand that won’t grip the bottom of your pan. It has an ergonomic handle and a 1-year guarantee (made ethically in China). The box includes a power cord, blending wand attachment, chopper bowl with blade and feed tube lid, whisk attachment, gearbox for whisk and chopping bowl, a 1 litre jug and a how-to guide instruction manual.
The toaster is an award-winning classic, first designed in 1946. The extra wide slots accommodate large items, and the energy-efficient slot-selector control lets you toast only what you need. The manually operated ejector lever lets you check bread.
The kettle features a revolutionary patented replaceable element, greatly extending your kettle’s lifetime. Just send it to the Dualit factory to get the element repaired. Features a patented Whisper Boil™ function (awarded the Quiet Mark by the Noise Abatement Society). There are two BPA-free measuring windows. One side in cups and the other in litres, to avoid water waste. Also has an ergonomic, high quality stainless steel handle with a silicone grip for comfort. The precision engineered Pure Pour™ non-drip spout prevents water dripping onto your kettle or work surface. The durable hinged lid offers longevity and reliability, with heatproof ring and finger guard.
