Thanks to the media, I’m familiar with food-borne bacteria such as E.coli, salmonella and rota. I haven’t looked at a fast food hamburger or a bag of spinach the same way since. There are several techniques you can use to help prevent accidental ingestion of these bacteria. Using different cutting boards for meats and vegetables helps, as does washing the board frequently as you prepare your food. Safety measures like these will greatly reduce the risk of contracting E.coli, but are they 100% effective?

Grovac Systems has just released the first home kitchen appliance that removes bacteria and spoilage from meats and produce by up to 99.5%. Developed by retired pharmacist Bill Groves, the CulinaryPrep machine alternately exposes food to a vacuum environment and a specially formulated, all-natural solution. After reading the press release on the website, I moved to the How to Use section. I liked what I saw and read until I came upon the price, a whopping $400 for this machine.

For now, I’ll have to rely on my common sense. I am curious to see how well the CulinaryPrep will do, however. If it becomes a hot seller, other companies will follow suit. Then we’ll see a dramatic price drop.

I’ve tried to follow recipes that called for freshly ground spices, but could never get them ground to the thickness that was called for. That left me little choice but to buy the pre-ground spices, which can cost a small fortune.

Grinding spices into powder consistency is no problem for the Kuhn Rikon Vase Grinder. Its ceramic mechanism is sharper and stronger than steel, allowing you to grind a variety of spices that include:

Salt and pepper
Coffee
Flax seeds
Peppercorns
Rosemary
Chiles, and more

Set the adjustment wheel from extremely fine to coarse. Since there is no central spindle, like you would find in other grinders, there is plenty of room for larger ingredients. Its vase shape makes this grinder very ergonomical. Perfect for the serious cook who loves fresh spices.

If you’ve ever used a garlic press to chop garlic, then you know how cumbersome this gadget is. With the Garlic Pro E-ZEE-DICE, all you have to do is set the cloves inside the container, cover, and twist until you achieve the desired consistency. Watch the video to see how it works.