A fantastic, high-quality kitchen tool set
Calphalon's Edge 6-Piece Stainless Steel Kitchen Tool set is exactly the quality I've come to expect from Calphalon. The materials feel and look premium, and all the tools work nicely, though with varying usability that will keep them from becoming the sole set in my kitchen. For many people, however, this may be the only set they'll need.My set came with a Balloon Whisk, Tongs, a Long Grater, a Can Opener, an All-Purpose Scoop, and Two Straight Peelers, though the bonus peeler that turned this into a 7-piece set isn’t something I’d expect in every set. All pieces are made exceptionally well, have the same well-placed and comfortable silicone, and high-quality stainless steel. They all also work reliably and are easy to clean, despite being “hand wash recommended,” and the blue color I ordered is rich and beautiful. I’ve provided the rest of my thoughts and individual ratings on each tool below:1. Balloon Whisk - 5 stars - This is one of my favorite tools in the set. It looks similar to every other higher-quality balloon whisk I’ve used, but the spacing between the bends is ideal, allowing for efficient mixing without batter becoming trapped as it often does with my previous top-used whisk (pictured).2. Tongs - 4 stars - There’s a lot to like about these tongs. They’re some of the most comfortable I’ve used, thanks to their rounded edges and finger indents. Their ends are fully covered in silicone rather than semi-covered as is typical for tongs I’ve used in the past, and the scalloped ends are deeper than my other, similar tongs, which makes gripping slippery foods like spaghetti much easier. The pull lock stays in place solidly and doesn’t leave a gap that could snag on other tools in a drawer or canister, which has been my biggest pet peeve for the majority of other tongs I’ve used.Unfortunately, the one negative I found makes them less than ideal for use as my primary tongs. Their maximum opening is 3.75”, half the 7” gap of typical tongs. If it weren’t for that, I’d consider them perfect.3. Long Grater - 4 stars - This tool works well and has medium gaps that will suit most people for items like cheese, but for my household, a finer grater is preferred as it's more universal. For comfort, this is a fantastic grater, though. The narrower profile also makes it easier to store, and the cap that slides on and off is perfect for keeping fingers from getting cut when reaching into a storage drawer or bin.The silicone on the sides of this grater is the only area of concern regarding quality that I have with the set. After only a few uses, it’s already showing wear marks. I don’t think it will cause the grater to become unusable, but it’s still disappointing.4. Can Opener - 5 stars - The turning mechanism is easy and comfortable to operate and the opener works smoothly. It’s comparable to every other good quality can opener I’ve had, though it feels sturdier, and unlike most openers, this one rests flat on its handle rather than at an angle. For those of us with limited storage space, that’s incredibly helpful. Also unlike most can openers I’ve used, the built-in bottle opener is deep enough and positioned well enough to be genuinely useful.5. All-Purpose Scoop - 4 stars - This scoop works extremely well for batters, which is why I wanted it, but I wouldn’t consider it all purpose. It doesn’t cut through ice cream as well as my other scoop, and the cold tends to freeze the release mechanism, causing the handles to be difficult to squeeze for adults and impossible for my kids. It’s also a larger scoop size than I’d use for cookies, but as a baking tool, it’s comfortable, extremely simple to operate, and effective. It will get a lot of use, just not as an everyday scoop.6. Straight Peeler - 5 stars - This was a surprising favorite for me. The first thing I noticed about it was that it’s significantly heavier and longer than I’m used to with peelers, weighing 5.59 and 5.51 ounces and measuring 8.25 inches for each of the peelers I received versus 1.75, 1.90, and 2.26 ounces and 6.25, 7.5, and 7.75 inches for each of my other three brands of peelers. I worried the increased size would make this peeler difficult and tiresome to operate, but it had the opposite effect. The peeler is impeccably balanced and a breeze to control, making it far more efficient than every other peeler I’ve used to date. I absolutely love how easy it is to peel vegetables with this, and like the grater, these come with small blade guards that are easy to snap on and off, which makes them great for storage.Overall, this set has a few flaws, but if I could only buy one set, this would be it. It’s quality and mostly universal application makes it perfect for small kitchens, new house setups, or for those who want to keep things simple. It will make the average cook quite happy and should last a long time, even with daily cooking.Average rating for all tools: 4.5 stars, rounded up.