Get your gear on

HOUSEWARES SHOW | Affordable gadgets and smart designs brighten industry

It is all too easy to get seduced by the $300 fire engine-red panini press. The pull of that sleek espresso/cappuccino/macchiato machine can overwhelm.

That's why we set out to the International Home and Housewares Show at McCormick Place on Sunday determined to stay focused on kitchen tools that make sense. We wanted to find smartly designed ones we would actually use that also wouldn't break the bank.

The trade-only show, which ended Tuesday, was a chance for companies to strut their latest and greatest housewares stuff.

Goodness knows they needed to. There were about 2,000 fewer attendees this year, said show spokeswoman Debbie Teschke.

And though people say they are cooking more at home, sales of housewares took a hit in 2008, with cookware and bakeware down 4 percent and other categories registering double-digit losses, according to the NPD Group, a market research firm.

All is not bleak. Cast iron -- practical, affordable, an all-around kitchen workhouse -- saw a 27 percent spike in sales last year.

And based on what we saw at the show, manufacturers seem to be designing with our budget-mindedness in mind, with an emphasis on reusability and multi-functionality (and, we should add, a healthy dose of bright, happy colors).

Here's what caught our eye.

Kiss wasteful plastic baggies goodbye. The whimsical Lunchbox by Oots! holds four BPA-free containers that configure like Legos. Stack all four or pack three on one side and a bottle (not included) on the other. All pieces are dishwasher- and microwave-safe.

$35 to $45. At the Kids' Table, 2337 W. North, Elevenzees, 1901 W. Division, and madebyoots.com.

We'll never part with our trusty swivel peeler. But we'd be happy to add these Swissmar peelers to the family. The scalpel blade is for regular peeling; serrated for softer fruits like tomatoes, and julienne for thin strips of carrots, zucchini and more.

$15 for the set of three. At Williams-Sonoma, Amazon.com and independent retailers.

Epicurean Recycled Cardboard Gripper Series cutting boards put others to shame. The earth-friendly boards stay in place while you chop thanks to removable silicone grippers on each corner. They come out of dishwashers unscathed. And, they're very kind to your knives.

$24.99 to $34.99. At independent retailers in May.

What's the scoop

The PrepTaxi measuring scoop is essentially a dustpan for your chopping board, but we like it all the same. Especially useful for when you're up to your apron strings in diced veggies.

$10. At Sur La Table, Williams-Sonoma, Target, Bed Bath & Beyond.

The Sili Scrubber by Silicone Zone isn't so silly. It does the dirty work on pans without scratching surfaces. You can toss it in the dishwasher. And unlike scour pads, which wear thin quickly, you can use this again, and again, and again.

$10. At siliconezonusa.com.

The Bakers Sto 'N Go keeps dents and dings out of your flawless baked and frosted goodies. The removable trays can hold up to 40 cookies, 32 mini cupcakes or an entire 9-by-13-inch pan of brownies.

$16.95 to $24.95. At Target, Amazon.com, Hobby Lobby and bakersstongo.com.

The 14-ounce Tea Thermal by Copco is a tea-drinking commuter's must-have. Place tea leaves in the built-in steeper, pour in hot water and close. When ready, unscrew the steeper, put the lid back on and go.

$19.99. At Meijer and Target in June.

No more fidgeting in your drawers for the right size measuring spoons. These stackable versions from Pyrex stick together with a magnetic base, not a pesky ring. Measurements are easy to read on the staggered handles.

$7.99 ($9.99 for 4-piece measuring cup set). At Amazon.com in May and Wal-Mart and Kohl's in July.

The hefty Lodge Reversible Griddle is a griddle on side and a grill on the other, good for feeding a crowd. Lay the piece across two burners or on your grill grate and get cooking.

$46. In stores in May.

The OXO Digital Leave-In Thermometer can be programmed by desired temperature, type of meat or -- the cool part -- by either chef- or U.S. Department of Agriculture-recommended temperatures. When not in use, the probe tucks neatly inside the base.

$39.99. In stores in August.

Easy bake

Pyrex's new line of metal bakeware is designed to prevent baking nightmares. Subtle lines indicate how high to fill so cake batter doesn't overflow. Cookie sheets have circular guides so cookies don't melt into each other. Snap-on lids (for the 9-by-13-inch pan and muffin tins) make transporting a snap.

$12.99 to $25.99 (sets from $39.99). At Meijer, Amazon.com, pyrexware.com.

Isi's Get-It Finger Guards are modeled after those paper fortune tellers of our youth -- but way more functional. Made of heatproof silicone, they're good for gripping pot lids, oven racks, even strays hunks of hot veggies or meat.

$7. At Bed Bath & Beyond, Amazon.com, isinorthamerica.com.