Cookstuff

Green machine

Squeezing tiny Key limes (also called Mexican limes) is a lot of work for a small amount of juice -- if you’re doing it by hand or with a lemon squeezer. The precise tool for the job is the lime press. Slice a lime, put one half in the bowl of the press cut side down, squeeze the handles and the press turns the lime half inside out -- extracting every drop of juice while straining seeds and pulp.

Williams-Sonoma enameled cast-aluminum lime press ($15) at Williams-Sonoma stores. Similar models ($13 to $15) available at Sur La Table, Bed Bath & Beyond and Crate & Barrel stores and at Cook N Stuff in Torrance.

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A real heavyweight

The best pan for frying chicken is the lidded cast iron utensil known as a chicken fryer. Yes, it’s heavy, but that’s why it cooks so evenly; there are no hot spots, and throwing in a new piece of chicken doesn’t cause a drop in temperature. The one pictured here is my vintage 13-incher, well seasoned and often used. You can still buy unseasoned cast iron cookware at full service hardware stores, although you may have to order specific pieces. But pre-seasoned Lodge Logic cast iron chicken fryers are easy to order online.

Lodge Logic pre-seasoned chicken fryers with lids, available at Amazon.com. 3-quart fryer, $17.99 plus shipping; 5-quart fryer (L10CF3), $59.99 plus shipping.

-- Charles Perry