Q: Can you give me some ideas for kitchen utensils that I could purchase for holiday gifts?

A: The utensils in everyone’s kitchen are really different – but here are some ideas that may be useful to you.

Universal lid: These lids typically have several rings of ridges that let the lid fit over different sizes of pans. Some brands may cover pans from about 8 inches to 12 inches in diameter (as measured across the top of the pan). Other brands may offer both a smaller and larger size of universal pan lid. Buy a universal lid with a see-through dome for when you want to watch what’s cooking. When comparing features, also check to see whether it’s dishwasher-safe and oven-safe. You may also want to look for one that has a stay-cool knob.

Colanders: If you tend to wash and/or drain a lot of foods for meals, an extra colander or two may save time and help prevent cross-contamination. You might buy them in a variety of sizes.

Cutting boards: Avoid cross-contamination when cutting different types of foods for the same meal by owning several cutting boards. This is especially important if you’re cutting raw meats, poultry or seafood and then need to cut ready-to-eat foods. With more than one cutting board, you can avoid spending extra time washing your board before cutting the next item.

Whisks: Some whisks are longer and narrower – others are like big balloons. Use the “ballooningest” ones when you want to beat a lot of air into a mix, such as whipped cream or meringue. Choose whisks with thin and flexible wires for whipping air into batters, and thicker, more rigid wires for thicker mixtures such as brownies. Choose whisks that have the area sealed where the wires go into the handle. This helps assure your whisk stays clean. Look for “dishwasher safe” whisks to save time and to help assure your whisks are thoroughly and safely washed.

Kitchen timer: Help keep your kitchen tasks under control with this battery-operated device. Time the seconds, minutes or hours needed for a cooking process. Many come with a flip-out stand and a magnetic backing, so you always can keep them handy. Some can be clipped to your belt if you need to leave the kitchen. Others come with a string to hang around your neck.

Scoops: For items such as sugar, flour, oatmeal, rice, etc., a scoop lets you quickly spoon out the amount you need.

Measuring cups: It’s nice to own at least two sets to save cleanup time between different uses.

Salad spinner: If you’re washing lettuce, spinach, fresh herbs, etc., this tool is a must. Simply toss in your washed greens and “spin” them dry. These products work in various ways. Some have knobs you turn. Others operate through a push-down mechanism. Check around to find one with the features you like.

Heat resistant spoon-shaped spatulas: Mix, scrape and then, stir again at the stove with this one utensil. Once you try these, you may want them in several sizes.

Small, narrow, long-handled rubber spatula: Use this kitchen utensil to scrape out the last bit of food from the nooks and crannies of jars.

Rice cooker: If cooking rice seems like too much fuss and an uncertain outcome, consider trying a rice cooker. A rice cooker features a inner pan that rests above a heating element. Specific ratios of water and rice are added to the cooker. Rice cookers determine when the rice is done by sensing the temperature of the inner pan. Helpful features include a glass lid, a hole in the lid to allow steam to escape, and a nonstick pan.

Food thermometers: These help you save guessing time trying to decide when food is safely done. It is convenient to have both an “instant-read thermometer” that can be inserted at the end of cooking for foods like steaks and casseroles, plus an “ovenproof thermometer” that can be left in during cooking for foods like as roasts and turkeys.

Refrigerator/freezer thermometers: Buy one for both the refrigerator and the freezer. Your freezer temperature should be at 0 degrees F or lower; 40 degrees F or lower is the recommended refrigerator temperature to slow bacterial growth and maintain quality. Freezing occurs at 32 F; adjust refrigerator temperature accordingly between 32 F and 40 F to prevent unwanted freezing, such as freezing milk.