Joyce Chen Brass Steel Strainer: A perfect companion for frying foods.
Written: Mar 05 '05
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Easy to use, great for frying, inexpensive.
Cons: The strainer will bend with an abusive user, handle not ergonomically molded.
The Bottom Line: A great tool for frying and boiling foods.
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| yakkowarner's Full Review: Joyce Chen 5" Brass Mesh Skimmer |
This is a mesh basket that is connected to a bamboo handle. It is designed for Southeast Asian style food but I use it for moving and taking out fried foods. I prefer to use this tool over any other tool for this purpose. It is light weight and easy to use.
How have I used it?
I have used it for tempura, fries, fried mushrooms, fried zucchini, pasta. I also use this to take the chicken bones out of my stockpot when I am making chicken stock. It is perfect for this and it will also scoop out the sea foam with out taking the liquid out. More useful than a ladle because it leaves the liquid in the pot.
What it does not work with
It is metal so I cannot use it with my Teflon coated pans.
It also is a strainer so it will not pick up any liquid.
The mesh is at a slight angle so it cannot be used like a spatula.
Brass or stainless steel?
There are two versions of this product. I just bought the brass because it was the only one at the store I bought it from. Both brass and stainless steel have the advantages of being corrosive resistant and fairly strong. They can also deal with high heat well. You will not go wrong with choosing either but my preference is for stainless steel.
My take
I prefer to use this tool for fried foods instead of using the basket. It gives me greater control of the individual pieces. When you use a basket you cannot choose individual pieces but are relegated to taking out everything at once. So if your food is in different sizes then it will be unevenly cooked if you use a basket. This tool solves that problem.
The bamboo handle is a nice feature because it is nonconductive and fairly durable.
The ergonomics
This is the only bad part of the product. It is a simple bamboo handle that is not contoured to the human hand. It is not hard to hold but it also does not feel like an extension of your hand like other kitchen tools do. A contoured rubber grip would be a welcome addition but this would certainly raise the price of the product so I am very happy with the cheap bamboo handle.
The angle of the handle is perfect. I have never felt that the handle should be raised higher or lower.
Durability
So far the only issue I have had is that the brass strainer has bent slightly on one side from my continued abuse. But it is such a slight bend that it is hardly noticeably. The bamboo handle has not cracked nor shown any damage. This is a very well made tool that I have had for about 3 years and will probably have for another 5.
Ease of cleaning it.
This is incredibly easy to clean. For me I just put it in the dishwasher and it comes out clean. So far the bamboo handle has not cracked nor shown any wear due to being put in the dishwasher.
You can hand wash the tool with any cleaning tool/sponge and it will come clean very easily. If there is something sticky in side the wire mesh then you may have to use a wire scrub pad to remove it.
Dimensions and weight
Weight: 3 ounces
Handle length: 11 3/8 inches
Basket diameter: 5.25 inches
Basket depth: 1.2 inches
Summary
This strainer is a simple and useful kitchen tool. Its primary purpose is for taking food out of a deep frying environment but it is equally at home in a pot of boiling water. It is a strainer, not a ladle, so it is not useful for taking out liquid. The strainer is very durable and so far I have not had any part of it break on me. A wonderful product that I highly recommend.
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Recommended:
Yes
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