On Mon, 7 Apr 2014 19:29:57 -0700 (PDT), Michael OConnor
> wrote:

>
> > Microplane zesters started out as woodcarvers' rasps until one woodworker
> >
> > took his into the kitchen.
>
> You can spend a lot of money on a fancy zester/grater at a gourmet foodie store or you can go to Lowe's or Home Depot and find the same thing for half the cost and it's twice as sturdy.
>
> One non-kitchen item that I have found is handy for kitchen use is one of those plastic cat litter box scoops from the dollar store. I never used it for what it was intended for, but it's very handy for scooping hard boiled eggs or cooked pasta out of a hot pot.

Considering how they are shaped and how short the handle is, I'd say
that's a rather inefficient tool. If you're interested, you can find
an all metal (including the handle) kitchen spider for $4 in an Asian
food store's kitchenware section. I use mine a lot.

--
I take life with a grain of salt, a slice of lemon and a shot of tequila