Before joining the Yahoo buying team, I made my living as a professional baker – and can I tell you which task I looked forward to the least every day? No, not lifting 50-pound bags of flour or breaking dozens of eggs at once. He fought with the plastic wrap every time a tray of dough needed to go in the fridge. Even as a home cook, I dread pulling out the roll of plastic wrap, knowing it’s likely to stick better than the bowl I’m trying to place it on. Which is why I might need to take a tip from my culinary queen, Ina Garten, who found a way around all this nonsense (because of course she did). Her solution? O Stretch-Tite Wrap’N Snap 7500 Dispenser/Cutter, which always gives you a clean piece of cellophane. Oh yes, she’s heading to my cart as we speak…
Amazon
Sometimes the worst part of cooking has nothing to do with preparing the food and everything to do with wrapping up leftovers. This cool invention changes all that.
At the Barefoot Contessa website, Ina says, “I’ve been using a Stretch-Tite 7500 plastic wrap dispenser for years and I love it.” And in a video about her favorite kitchen items for the New York Timesshe adds, “Instead of fighting with that box, all you do is pull [the plastic wrap] out… just cut it and you have a very simple piece of plastic wrap. I use it all the time. Just great.”
What makes it so much better over the plastic case? For starters, it couldn’t be easier to use. Just place the roll in the dispenser (it’s compatible with Stretch-Tite 250, 500, and 750 rolls, although reviewers say it works with other brands too) and do as Ina says: Pull some of the plastic out and press down. the lever to cut a piece of the size you need. It will cut through the plastic in one fell swoop, creating a clean, straight edge rather than the jagged, twisted mess that results when it gets stuck in those little box teeth.
Speaking of which, this device is also safer to use than what you buy at the supermarket, as it keeps your hands well away from any blades (how many of us have cut ourselves on these teeth?). And because it has more weight than a flimsy cardboard box, it’s more stable, allowing you to pull the plastic with both hands to place it over whatever you need to cover with control. It will now be less likely to bend, creating fewer problems for you. Oh, and the Stretch-Tite has non-slip feet to keep it in place on the countertop.
Ina is in good company – more than 1,300 Amazon customers have also given this device a perfect five-star rating.
“I bought this over a decade ago and [I]m]amazed [by] How could this kitchen have lasted so long with a lot of use… including packing it up to move to another house!” exclaimed one buyer. “I was tired of dealing with the original packaging box, which deteriorates with time and use. This gem has made food packaging perfect, clean and fast. This is one of the devices I constantly reach for.”
“I love the safety of not getting your fingers too close to the blade, the ease of cutting to the right size and not getting all tangled up while working!” he said other. “Great gift for newlyweds or new homeowners.”
“It was a little pricey, but after having it for over a year, I can’t imagine not having it ready in the kitchen,” shared one to convert. “The appliance is sturdy and well built and works as described. It can be wall mounted or used on a countertop. The non-slip ‘feet’ keep it firmly in place when used on a countertop. A nice luxury in the kitchen if you use packaging of food frequently.”
Several users said it took up more counter space than they wanted because it was too big to fit in their drawers. “The only downside is that it’s a little big,” he wrote one“but we absolutely love it.”
“One piece of information I can pass on… is to be careful when using this dispenser as it could tip over… if it’s not secured correctly,” noted one ultimate fanwho added: “[I] I saw Ina using this plastic wrap dispenser and immediately looked it up. … Works perfectly and should last indefinitely! And even though I only used the roll from one of my store-bought wraps, it passed the test with flying colors!
Amazon
Now you can wrap up your entire 4th of July party without a headache.
Another Ina must-have? A robust Lodge Cast Iron Pan (it’s essential in my kitchen too).
Amazon
This durable frying pan is made from super-tough cast iron that will last for decades. It has excellent heat retention to achieve a perfect seal and, as it comes pre-seasoned, you can use it immediately. It’s compatible with all stovetops, can be used for campfire cooking, and at just $20, it’s an affordable kitchen workhorse you’ll use again and again.
Check out my full Lodge cast iron skillet review for more information.
If you have Amazon Prime, you will get free shipping of course. Not a member yet? No problem. You can sign up for a 30-day free trial here. (And by the way, those without Better Plus get free shipping on orders of $25 or more.)
The revisions cited above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
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