Out with the old, in the with the new!
alternately titled, I Finally Spent Some Of My Birthday Money.
I've never had a nice soup ladle.
I got a beautiful and sturdy small ladle with the silverware set we received when we got married, but it's much more suited to gravy and such than soup. You'd need about 25 scoops of soup to get a decent bowl with that ladle.
So for the past decade and a half, I've been using Mr. FG's bachelor ladle, which is of the cheap plastic variety.
It was working fine for a while, but now it's cracked and it has just seen better days.
I've been keeping an eye out for a stainless steel ladle at a thrift store ever since Katy found hers, but alas, there are none to be found.
So, I decided it was time to just buy a new one.
Since I'm trying to buy heirloom-quality items when possible, I knew I didn't want to buy just another cheap plastic ladle. Plus, I'm make an effort to avoid buying new plastic items if I can help it.
Fortunately, I remembered that I had some unspent birthday money sitting around, which meant I could splurge a bit.
I checked Cook's Illustrated to see if they had recommendations, and they did indeed!
(You gotta love being able to find reviews on simple things like ladles.)
Apparently a lot of stainless steel ladles are poorly designed, because they only recommended one model, made by Rosle.
Isn't it purty?
It's all one piece, which bodes well on the durability front, and the handle is hefty enough to resist bending.
The lip around the edge there is supposed to help prevent spills. I haven't gotten to try that out yet, so I'll get back to you with my opinion about how well that works.
It makes me so, so happy to buy things that promise to last a lifetime.
I shouldn't ever need to spend any money on a ladle, and no one will ever have to manufacture one for me again either. It's good for my wallet and good for the earth.
And it's lovely to look at too.
I was going to throw the old ladle into the recycling bin, but the girls reminded me that ladles are a very fun to play with in the water. So for the moment, it will find new life as a toy.
Now I just need to think of a reason to make soup in August. Maybe I'll make a pot of clam chowder...this is so popular with my family, they probably won't mind eating it even in the dog days of summer.
In case you need a ladle too, here are the details:
I chose the 5.4 ounce Rosle ladle, which is $30.93 on Amazon (that's where I ordered mine, as I couldn't find it locally.)
It also comes in an an 8-ounce size
for $35.95 and a 3.7 ounce size
for $29.95. The price difference between the sizes is negligible, so pick what fits your needs.
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Have you purchased any heirloom, last-a-lifetime things lately?
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Today's 365 post: In August, our mugs are filled with...
Joshua's 365 post: "Eat Me."
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Never would have occured to me to research a ladle. I wonder why they sell a ladle that size? I'd think 4 oz to be more useful - 4 oz being a convenient portioning size, 5.4 oz being a mystery.
Nonetheless, nice ladle for the win. I think $1 a year is a reasonable price to pay for a utencil.
PS: Ymmm, chowda. Looks good and not just because I haven't had breakfast.
It is odd how the sizes work out. Rosle is a German company, so perhaps that has something to do with it...they don't use ounces over there, right?
It 160 grams, which makes no sense. If it were sensible gram units coverted to ounces I'd expect 3.5 oz (100g) or 8.45 oz (250g). I don't think the 8 oz is meant to be 25og, given the significant decimal place used for the ladle you got.
I like the lip on the ladle. Let us know if it works.
I will! I should probably make a messier sort of soup, like Chicken Noodle, to really test it out. Clam Chowder isn't that prone to spilling because it's so thick.
I have a gravy ladle that I use for making pancakes and waffle. One ladle-full is perfect for portioning both those items. I have a stainless steel soup ladle that I have had for three decades, I no longer remember where I bought it. Mine is not shiny like yours and does not have the lip, but it works fine. It looks like it will be a joy to use your new ladle.
I saw a ladle very similar to that at Sur La Table. I was tempted to pick it up but we do have a couple of plastic ladles that are still working. I have a hard time replacing something that works until it's time has come.
I don't know that I've purchased any heirloom items recently but during tax free weekend my wife and I picked up a few items:
I got a corded drill to replace the broken cordless one my father-in-law gave my wife when she lived in an apartment. I went corded because that way I won't have to deal with Nickel-Cadmium - (a.k.a. highly toxic) batteries and the inevitable replacement that comes with them after they die in a year or two.
We replaced a couple of old plastic, non microwave safe measuring cups with Pyrex ones. Thankfully the old style have shown up again at Bed Bath and Beyond so we got a 1 qt and a 2 cup. I have never in all my years of going to tag sales, Salvation Army, Goodwill and flea markets ever seen one of these used. They are more than worth the cost, though.
Other than that, there's really not much I need. I am trying to figure out the best way to store bulk flour as BJ's has 10lb sacks of King Arthur Flour. I'm thinking along the lines of those large round glass jars from Ikea.
I usually make soup in my enameled cast iron dutch oven and I don't use steel untensils in that for fear of scratching it, so personally I can't see much use for a steel ladle. Your new one does look very sturdy though.
I was actually going to make the same comment - I would love to own a stainless steel ladle but it wouldn't get much use because I generally also use an enameled dutch oven. I've been thinking of switching to silicone instead of plastic, but I think there still hasn't been a clear yes or no if silicone is completely safe either...
Well nothing is truly safe. If you're really concerned and must go with something natural, why not a wooden ladle?
http://www.amazon.com/Wood-Sauce-Ladle-8-5-Inch/dp/B004IPC3RQ/
Ooh, that's a good idea if you're trying not to scratch a pan/pot.
I think the risk depends on the quality of the enameled cast iron. All my pots are Le Creuset, my ladle is metal, I've never had a problem. There are cosmetic scratches but no damage to the enamel.
Le Creuset has a 101 year warranty (talk about heirloom quality!) so they'll replace your pot or give you equivalent credit if your pot is no longer available. And be very nice to you in the process.
I love my 100% stainless steel thrifted ladle as well. I also like that I'm not dipping a plastic item into very hot liquid, plus it's a single piece so I expect to own it forever.
Hooray for longevity! 😀
Katy
My husband loves CI and we have a lot of their recommendations, including this ladle. It works wonderfully! Also the Creamless Creamy Tomato Soup from CI is fantastic if you are still looking for a soup to try out. The secret is bread instead of cream - sounds crazy but the soup really is creamy!
yes, that soup is the awesome.
Glad to know I'm not the only one who likes practical gifts for myself, especially ones which will last (almost) forever.
Yep, it's taken Mr. FG a while to wrap his head around the fact that I really DO love practical gifts. I'm not depriving myself of something happy when I ask for them...they're what I truly want! 🙂
I think a lot of it comes from society and pop culture telling us men that you should never buy women practical gifts for birthdays or Christmas. A new ladle should be a "Tuesday gift" and Christmas is all about jewelry, fashionable clothes and electronic gizmos.
That's right! If someone gave me a blender for Christmas, I'd be thrilled.
In fact, my sister's birthday was 2 weeks ago. I asked her what is a better birthday gift - earrings or an immersion blender. She choose the blender.
t's a beauty. I can see why you were attracted to it.
I love that other people get excited over the so important simple things in life!! As small and insignificant as it seems it makes a difference!! I love your blog....keep up the great work!
Off-topic for today, but Quinn Cummings over at QC Report has written a book about homeschooling her daughter and is currently doing a virtual book tour: http://qcreport.blogspot.com/. The tour started on July 31, so you can scroll down.
Such a lovely ladle!! lol! I have the Paula Dean cookware. I really do like it, I've had it for 3 years now and it is still in great condition......that said I don't use metal utensils with it. Hmmm.......I do have a set of stainless steel pans too, other than the fry pans, maybe I should switch back to them and consider the health effects of plastic utensils. All mine are very cheap and pretty flimsy. Good Christmas wish suggestion for my kids!
I have never given much thought into purchasing "heirloom" items. It does make some sense. I've switched to all glass Pyrex type containers for storage containers/ leftovers. Picking them up at great sale prices with rebates. I seldom find these at resale places especially w/lids! I can't stand the pastic once it gets stained and melt marks on them!
Yeah for you! Ditching the plastic was the best thing you could of done 🙂 I replaced plastic years ago and am so thankful I did. Forget the fact that they all had BPA in them or melted so easily. I was excited they were metal, easy to clean up and would last forever. I have slowly replaced everything plastic with "life time" products. All were bought 2nd hand or bought new locally. I will not accept plastic in my kitchen anymore and will wait forever till I find a repacement.
Good Job!
Make Gazpacho! Yummy and cool. Or, another warm weather favorite -- Fruit Soup with strawberries, pineapple, mango, citrus peel, ginger and blueberries.
I have my mother's ladle that was a wedding gift in 1957. It still works great. But I do admit, your all stainless one is so shiny and pretty!
This is making me really anxious for soup weather again. 🙂 Well-made, stainless ladles are the best. I did get a nice one-piece one at Ikea for I think 5 dollars. It came in a set with a spoon, pasta server and ladle. They are all one piece of metal like yours except without the hook at the end. Mine have holes for hanging on a hook.
Kristen,
You crack me up! You are so happy to get something so small. Your cheerfulness helps start my day out right. What you need now is a good soup recipe. I always love a good chicken soup...
I'm a fan of Rosle and soup (smile)! Both are great. However, I don't have a Rosle ladle and realize I have hung onto a plastic one because it pours well. Time to correct that and off to Amazon I will go.
Just today while grocery shopping, I realized how much more I like the glass storage containers vs. plastic. So, a few of those hopped into my cart and I will donate (more) some plastic ones that they'll replace.
Your blog is a welcome reminder that things of value are worth the splurge. And also to be more mindful about what we spend, how we spend and why we spend.
When we visited the submarine, the U.S.S. Becuna, in Philly, they had a soup ladle on display. A big soup ladle. My ds6 made a comment about taking one scoop with it, and voila, you have dinner. I think the ladle probably held 3 or 4 cups.
Whoa. 3-4 cups is several dinners!
I have bought myself a handbag made of excess seatbelt material. It will most likely last forever--seems indestructible--so the fact that it cost a lot-- for me, not by many people's standards--does not bother me. It is environmentally sound, the perfect size, and has started some conversations when I carry it, which is all the time, as I cannot be bothered with having more than one purse at a time!It may not b an heirloom, but apparenty they do last and last.It is a switch from the plastic ones I normally bought.
It is indeed a purty ladle!
I haven't bought much of anything lately, but I do have sitting next to me a lovely wooden pepper mill that we picked up at Goodwill several years ago. I think it will last quite a long time. And now this makes me wonder how old it was when we purchased it.
I love all my stainless steel kitchen utensils I got a few for my wedding, and then much like you I took some Christmas money one year early in my marriage and bought a ladle and a few others.
Your ladel is very pretty! I have stanless spoons and ladles I got at restaurant supply store. Many of these stores are open to the public and the merchandise is ment for heavy use so it lasts. Mine were not expensive and they last forever! I have had mine 25 years now and they still look the same.
I got a great, heavy duty ladle from Ikea for about $3. It's really solid and I'm sure it will outlast me. And it has a nice brushed stainless steel finish. If you shop carefully at Ikea, there are some real bargains there--especially in their kitchenware. Not to mention a day of fun, exploring all the nooks and crannies of their demonstration rooms.
For years I've made do with a plastic dollar store ladle after I melted it's equally cheap predecessor by leaving it in a pot of soup I forgot to take off the heat (ruined the soup AND the ladle!). It was white and stained from all the various things, it looked horrible and was probably leaching plastic into my food. Good riddance, and yes, it went in the trash!
We recently bought a Wesley Allen metal bed. Wanted to replace our Mexican pine bed and I wanted a sturdy bed that bed was made in the USA that would last a lifetime. I researched and found the bed for a good price locally( no tax). I love it, it looks vintage, but its new and will last forever. Oh and I freecyled the old bed.
I love reading your blog and seeing how some of the simplest things bring you joy. You are an inspiration. I need to do more to curb my consumerism and reading your blog is so helpful.
I was telling my mom about your blog just the other day.
I'm slowly replacing things in the kitchen that are worn and not working very well, including my two plastic soup ladles, one of which was working on a crack. I did the same thing - bought two upper end, stainless steel ladles to replace them. I got my money's worth out of the other two, but they were so worn and stained, I threw them away instead of putting in the Goodwill bag.
We also have been replacing kitchen appliances and instead of the middle grade ones, we've gone for upper end ones. They're easier for my husband to use with his bad hands and the motors are stronger for the type of kitchen work we do, especially our smoothies. Since the old ones still worked, we put them in the Goodwill bag. We got our money's worth on them too, but they didn't meet our needs anymore after 20 years.
I love the nicer things in my kitchen - makes it so much easier to do stuff. But we're not replacing things until something breaks (like my 35 year old pots that started warping) or we have a different need (stronger blender).
Nancy
Don't forget looking for vintage kitchenwares online, too. There are so, so many nice quality vintage ladles available--while some have bakelite or wood handles, if they've held up 50 years already, they'll probably last another fifty!
My (old) cheap plastic ladle broke last night and I remembered you raving about yours so I looked at Amazon to see it. Apparently it is made in China now--is yours?