OXO SteeL Ladle
With its 4-inch-diameter bowl and gently curving handle, this sturdy ladle eases the task of portioning out soups, broths, chili, beans, and stews. Measuring 13 inches long, it reaches to the bottom of nearly any pot. Oxo's Steel line is an all-stainless-steel variant of the company's familiar fat-handled Good Grips line. Rather than being straight-sided, this tool's handle is tapered from heel to finger grip and has satin-finish, stainless-steel panels top and bottom. The handle's sides feature the same design as those in the Good Grips line--they're made of soft processed rubber for comfort, with  "fins," or grooves, that flex under pressure, conforming to individual finger grips and providing control when handles are wet or slippery. Like all Oxo tools, this ladle is dishwasher-safe; a hole in its handle facilitates hanging on a hook or peg.--Fred Brack