Cookstuff

A saucy little pan

This sturdy 2-cup stainless steel butter warmer is great for keeping barbecue sauces warm while giving those ribs a final brush and char. It’s heavy (five-ply construction) and has a handy pouring lip.

KitchenAid butter warmer, $29.99, at Sur la Table stores, from Amazon.com, or call KitchenAid at (888) 801-1707.

-- Donna Deane

Handy for a picnic

Inexpensive but beautifully designed, this picnic knife has a molded plastic handle and a sheath that locks into place to cover the 3 1/2-inch stainless steel blade when not in use. Tuck it into a picnic basket or backpack. Comes in red, blue, green or purple.

Messermeister picnic knife, $5, from Rains of Ojai, (805) 646-1441, www.rains ofojai.com; or Chef’s Toys in Irvine, (800) 755-8634.

-- Donna Deane

Cut and run

The “Ap-peel” fruit bowl is an amusing abstract apple-inspired shape with a paring knife built into the stem so you can select and slice your fruit on the fly.

Propaganda plastic fruit bowl, $45, from Room Service in Los Angeles, (323) 653-4242.

-- David A. Keeps

Form and function

Even everyday tools can be updated to good effect, as with these nifty new silicone and stainless spatulas. Shaped to follow the curve of a bowl, and small enough to fit into jars, they can be used in temperatures up to 650 degrees, are dishwasher safe and have a little ring for hanging.

Cuisipro silicone spatula, $9, from Campus Cookstore at the California School of Culinary Arts in Pasadena, (626) 683-1354; or at www.kitchenshop.com.

-- Donna Deane