Tools for Tippling

These Japanese Nambu Tekki Tool Bottle Openers are crafted out of cast iron in the shapes of a wrench, hammer, and pliers. $20 each at YLiving.

The Holiest of Tongs

These ingenious Perforated Tongs created by Japanese designer Sori Yanagi have tiny holes so that as you pluck your food, the liquids drain right away. Imagine grabbing some spaghetti out of a pot of boiling water (click here to see what I mean)? You might never need to wash a colander again.

$24 at the Tortoise General Store.

Squisk: Whisk 2.0

With its long-legged shape and large surface area, the üutensil Squisk is designed to incorporate more air and reduce whisking time -- from whipping egg whites to cream -- by a purported 40 percent.

$10 at Chef's Planet.

Ice Pops in (Almost) an Instant

Exclusive to Williams-Sonoma, the Zoku Quick Pop Maker promises (almost) instant gratification in the form of a frozen pop.

The device purports to freeze an ice pop in as little as seven minutes (as long as you remember to pre-chill the base in your freezer). Not unlike an ice cream machine, the Zoku's base is filled with a "proprietary solution" that can freeze up to nine pops at a time (in batches of three) before needing a return to cold storage for more chilling.

$49.95 at Williams-Sonoma.

Two's a Trend: Matryoshka Measuring Cups

Worldwide Fred has updated the iconic matryoshka doll as a useful kitchen gadget. At right, Fred's M-Cups ($12.50 at perpetual kid) are a set of six plastic measuring cups that nest like the real Russian tchochkes. Anthropologie's version (left) -- a set of three Matryoshka Measuring Cups ($28) -- aim for a more traditional look, though they are dishwasher and microwave safe.

A Fork Fit for Noodles

It might look like one of those Japanese "unuseless" inventions, but the Calamete noodle fork is for real. Engineered specifically to enhance the journal of noodles from bowl to mouth, the design takes a standard fork and adds an extra short, stubby tine -- intended to simulate the thumb -- to help grab a forkful of noodles (or pasta).

$44 for a pair at Japan Trend Shop.

Building a Better Cake Server

Finnish designer Maria Kivijärvi's Magisso Cake Server takes an innovative approach to the art of cake-slicing. Press the server down vertically on the cake to make a clean cut, and then -- while squeezing the handle -- remove the slice to a plate, where it may be released by relaxing your grip. Made from stainless steel. $59.95 at Urban Butik.

[via Apartment Therapy]

Take Your Salad for a Swing

The Eva Solo salad spinner takes an unusual approach to the task of washing and drying lettuce. Start by filling the rubber bucket with greens and water and then rinse by hand. Next, squeeze the sides the top to form a spout to pour off most of the liquid. Then, swing the bucket around and around in the air until the lettuce is dried. The concept is that any remaining water will collect in the bottom of bucket, below a drainage plate.

Presumably, if you don't knock anything over or cause any injuries to yourself or your loved ones, your salad-spinning will then be complete.

For a demonstration, see the video below.

Stirr Stirs So You Don't Have To

Risotto alla robot, anyone?

Stirr is a battery-operated stirrer that struts around your saucepan, keeping your sauce moving so you have more time to sit on the couch and read that massive Michael Pollan article on the downfall of cooking. The device is made of stainless steel with heat-resistant silicone legs.

£14.79 (approx $24.94) at UK-based Lakeland (overseas shipping is available).

Via Oh Gizmo!

The Puzzle That Seasons

The Rubik's Cruet Salt and Pepper Mills take their inspiration from the iconic '80s puzzle. Behind the plastic exterior -- which has the look and feel of a Rubik's Cube -- lies a ceramic mill. Fill them with sea salt and peppercorns and twist the top row to season your food. They would be perfect if only you could twist all the sides like the original, but then they'd lose their functionality (and you'd never be able to figure out which was the salt and which was the pepper). $18 each, sold separately, at Unica Home.