One of the things that makes cooking easy is having the
right cooking utensils. Imagine trying to measure out ingredients without measuring cups or spoons. Thanks to cookbooks, TV cooking shows and online recipes, more people can now try out extraordinary dishes from any part of the world in their homes. No doubt, the ability to pull this off frequently will turn you into your family’s culinary hero. Who doesn’t what to be a hero, even if only in the kitchen?
So you have your cookbooks, tablet or other electronic devices that contain the different recipes you want to wow your family with. Today, you want to try one particular recipe you found online and saved on your tablet so you grab your tablet and find the recipe. You read through the list of ingredients and pick them out one after the other.
It’s time to get started. It gives you the measurement of flour to put through your
flour sifter before using it. Next, it’s time to mix the flour with other ingredients, so you get your
hand mixer and add one ingredient after the other. With your floury hands, you add one teaspoon of that, one cup of the other, all the while taking a quick peek at your now flour-covered tablet to confirm the quantity of the ingredients needed before adding them.
Now, your hands are covered in a mixture of flour and other ingredients, as is your tablet, and you have one more ingredient to confirm. You need to wipe your tablet’s screen so you can see what you need to add. You don’t have the time to go wash your hands, so you try to blow the screen clear, but to no avail. You try using a paper towel but other ingredients have now mixed with the flour, making the screen even messier.
What the heck? This is a time sensitive recipe and you’re cutting it really close! Left with no choice, you quickly rush over to wash your hands and then rush back to properly clean the screen. In all the rush, you drop the tablet, breaking the screen. Now, not only can you not finish your recipe in time, you’ve broken your tablet!
Without going any further in this tale of woes, we can only state that all this could have been avoided with the right cookbook holder. A cookbook holder will not just help you hold the cookbook or tablet, many will keep it safe from splatter, keeping the pages or screen clear always. We’re sure the situation described above is not one you want to find yourself in, so we’ll help you find the best cookbook holder for your needs. We’ll show you factors to consider and features that can make your use of a cookbook holder easier.
Price
Buying a cookbook holder will not exhaust your life savings. They are generally affordable accessories, usually costing less than $100. In fact, we found you can get a good one with a budget of between $20 and $30. Certainly the cost of any model you choose will be determined by certain factors. Some of these include material used, design, adjustability and more. Some offer more by way of functionality than others and this will surely affect their prices.
It is important that you get a product that will really serve you well. Be sure to avoid cheap cookbook holders as these may not be able to deliver the quality you expect.
Features
When choosing a cookbook holder, there are a few factors that need to be properly considered to ensure the one you eventually settle for is the best for you. Some of these factors include:
- Type – Adjustable or fixed
- Capacity
- Viewing angle
- Material
- Splash guard
- Base
- Aesthetics
Let’s now discuss these some more.
Construction and Design
All cookbook holders can be divided into two broad groups. There is the adjustable type and the fixed type. The adjustable type is more versatile, offering different viewing angles, height adjustments and more. Since all users are not the same height and all usage conditions are different, getting an adjustable type will offer more options.
A fixed type on the other hand cannot be adjusted at all. You have to use it as is. This will make it unsuitable for some users as they may find the viewing angle not right for them. These fixed type cookbook holders usually cost less. If cost is a very important factor, you can go for this, understanding its limitations.
All cookbooks and devices are not the same size and weight, so be sure to choose a cookbook holder with the capacity to hold yours. Much more than just supporting them, it should securely hold them.
Above, we mentioned viewing angle in relation to the adjustability of a cookbook holder. A tall user will not be able to comfortably read from a cookbook placed at a convenient viewing angle for a short user. A tall user will need a wider angle to be able to read from the cookbook or device conveniently. Your best option is to get a cookbook holder that offers different viewing angles so each user can choose the angle that suits him/her best.
The material used in making a cookbook holder can add to its stability, durability or ease of use. You want to ensure you have a stable holder and the material it’s made of will play a major role in this. Some examples of materials commonly used include wood, metal and plastic. Choose any material you prefer, either for ornamental or durability reasons. Aside from the material used, another factor that will also contribute to its balance and stability is the base. The base must be balanced enough to carry books or devices of various weights. You do not want your cookbook or device flipping over because of a base that is not balanced. These two – the base and the material – must work together to provide a holder that is solid, balanced and durable.
Performance and Ease of Use
Cooking can often get messy. You don’t want food splatter getting to your cookbook or device. It’s for this reason some cookbook holders have splash guards to prevent any food splatter getting to your book or device. This is a very important feature to look out for. Some others try to achieve this by providing holes so the holders can be hung on the wall away from the cooking food. Depending on how much you’re willing to spend, choose whichever works best for you.
Everyone loves nice looking things. Your cookbook holder can be more than just a book holder. Depending on its design and the material it’s made of, it can also add aesthetic value to your kitchen space. If this is an important feature for you, look out for it and choose a design that will complement your kitchen décor.
The type of cookbook holder ideal for you will depend on certain factors specific to you and how you intend to use the holder. Having read the guide, it’s now up to you to decide which features are important to you so you can look out for products that possess those features as we review our selected products.
Armed with the knowledge you now possess, it is important you don’t let it go to waste. Place your order now for that cookbook holder that offers the features you need.
