When thinking of Ina Garten's iconic East Hampton kitchen, a host of chef-approved appliances will also likely come to mind. The Barefoot Contessa has established herself as one of the most beloved cooks in America and, consequently, the owner of many professional appliances that come with sizeable price tags. However, not everything needs to be a big investment.
Take Garten's go-to measuring cup, for example. We recently spotted the Pyrex 4-Cup Glass Measuring Cup (available at Amazon) on the cook's countertops, and it currently retails for under $10. Professional chefs like Garten often count measuring cups among their lists of kitchen items you need to upgrade, but with this Pyrex cup, we dare say you're set for life.
This strong but humble cup dates back to 1915 when pioneering couple Bessie and Jessie Littleton (who often smashed their glass cups) decided to use a highly resistant material from industry, NONEX glass, to cook their dishes. According to Pyrex, this glass, developed by Corning, was so sturdy that it was initially used to protect the bulbs of railroad signal lanterns. Prior to this, the bad weather would leave them shattered. It's this same strength that Garten swears by in her kitchen (and why it's labeled as an 'icon of cuisine' by Pyrex). We're also sure it'll be just as reliable in your home.
This measuring cup is perfect for baking, cooking, mixing, and cocktail-making (in the case of Garten, at least). This ultra-strong nonporous glass is BPA-free, non-toxic, and won’t absorb food odors, flavors, or stains – meaning it's durable enough to stand as an heirloom piece. This measuring cup has already been loved for generations, and we're sure you and your family will feel the same way.
Alongside its industry-approved strength, this cup is designed to make measuring easier and clearer. It features bold and large measurements in both ounces and milliliters, meaning it's effortless to read, no matter which system you use to measure.
In both videos, Garten uses her Pyrex cup to measure cocktail ingredients perfectly, but it has uses beyond happy hour. If you need to melt a cup of butter for a batch of chocolate cookies or cake batter, you can pop the cup in the microwave. The tempered glass is dishwasher, freezer, microwave, and pre-heated oven-safe – meaning there's no recipe where this won't come in handy at some point.
Plus, this measuring cup isn't the only ultra-accessible essential from Garten's kitchen. You can shop more of her favorites below, all of which are under $20.
Described as 'the ultimate all-purpose peeler,' the Kuhn Rikon is ideal for a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, and approval from Garten makes them even better. It features a razor-sharp straight carbon steel blade that maximizes smoothness and minimizes wastage, and is suitable for right and left-handed use.
There's a lot to like about this simple yet powerful product, but above all, we love its simplicity. Designed to deliver exactly what we need from a thermometer, it has a colorful 2-1/2-inch dial that's refreshingly easy to read.
These fluffy, compressible sponges are some of the most absorbent on the market, easy to store, and all-natural. When it comes to a choice of sponges, it really can't get any better than this.
