Gifts For Modernist Cooks

According to Myhrvold, modernist cooks need to stock up on a good thermometer as well as two types of scales. This Sper Scientific Thermocouple Probe Thermometer ($82) is particularly useful in monitoring the temperature of food cooked sous vide. Rather than using measuring cups, opt for this Escali Digital Multifunctional Food Scale ($40). Some molecular recipes, however, call for even more minute measurements of thickening or coagulating agents like agar agar and sodium citrate, which cannot be measured on an Escali scale. The American Weigh Signature Series Digital Pocket Scale ($30) weighs up to 100 grams in 0.01 gram increments. We're talking granules here.