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Magnets in Your Measuring Spoon

Stick it where you need it.

magnetmeasuringspoon

A clever-looking gadget, this double-duty spoon attempts to measure up.

Gadget name: Joseph Joseph Magnetic Measuring Spoon

Price: $3

It looks like: Six inches long, it’s made of sturdy, lightweight, dishwasher-safe polypropylene; it’s available in six colors.

How it’s supposed to work: The gadget has a teaspoon at one end, a tablespoon at the other, and a pair of magnets embedded in the handle that lets you stick it to metal surfaces.

How it actually works: A line inside the bowl of each spoon marks half-teaspoons—and, less usefully, half-tablespoons.

Drawbacks: The magnets are just a bit weak, so the spoon slides down some surfaces instead of gripping firmly.

My favorite part: It can’t replace a full regular set of measuring spoons, but I’ve found myself grabbing it to portion out a teaspoon of sugar or salt here and there (it’s currently stuck to a metal canister).

Overall: After a few weeks, I’ve concluded that it’s handy to have it hanging around.

What other kitchen tools do you think would benefit the most from built-in magnets?

About the Author: Lisa McManus

Lisa McManus is senior editor in charge of all equipment testing and ingredient tasting stories at Cook’s Illustrated and Cook’s Country magazines, and writes testing and tasting features for Cook’s Illustrated. She joined America’s Test Kitchen in 2006, after working as a newspaper food editor, and magazine and newspaper journalist for many years in Boston, New York, and California. She is a graduate of Brown University and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Her husband, Hugh, is a rocket scientist, and they have two sons.

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