Hasta La Ideas

Roasting Laurel and Trivet

Launched in 2007, Prepara is a relatively new entrant in the kitchenware world but their products have garnered industry awards and a dedicated following of home chefs including Oprah!

Prepara is the brainchild of Dean Chapman and Ed Kilduff of Pollen Design; their industrial design firm has worked on everything from treadmills to cleaning tools. When discussing the development of some kitchen tool ideas and concepts, “We initially thought to license them, however we were also aware that licensing was fraught with risk and the payout could be very limited.” explained Chapman. “So that, and the fact we were looking to challenge ourselves—became the guiding factors to launch our own brand.” An interesting lesson for design firms, Pollen took on the challenge and launched their first product, a one-handed kitchen tool for crushing multiple cloves of garlic. The design of the garlic crusher drew inspiration from the high transfer force mechanisms seen in plastic pipe cutting tools. Prepara’s Herb Savor was selected as one of Oprah’s “Ultimate Favorite Things” in 2010 catapulting the brand into the national spotlight.

Herb Savor

Today, Prepara continues to innovate in the category—as we saw at the International Home + Housewares Show—with functional and beautiful kitchen tools that encourage home cooks to say goodbye to preservatives and hello to fresh food prepared with local ingredients.

The truth about salad dressings is that they’re actually pretty easy to make with a little bit of know-how. Prepara introduced their Dressing Whiz, a “prep-serve-and-store” tool that functions like a tableside saucier with an aerating propeller that emulsifies vinaigrettes and dressings with the push of a button. I especially like the clear measurement markings and the compact size and shape of the bottle design. Their signature drip-free spout makes everything clean and easy to serve, and the air-tight cap keeps the dressings fresher for longer.

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