Hot new hues

By KIM COOK

Kitchen tools go color wild

Tangerine, cherry, blueberry, lime and lemon — deliciously tasty fruits, to be sure, but they’re also the hot new hues in kitchenware this spring.

With big leaps in silicone technology, we’re seeing a host of new products crafted from the flexible material. Silicone travels easily from freezer to microwave or oven, then safely into the dishwasher.

Color is finding a home in durable plastics and steel kitchen gear, too. Crate and Barrel has Mario Batali’s ingenious flexible grips, which slip neatly over hot pot handles, and a cheery orange juicer.

At Conrans, Joseph Joseph’s handy measuring spoons are magnetized for easy storage on the fridge.

Williams-Sonoma stocks a compact yet sturdy stepladder in fiery red, apple green or electric blue, as well as an eye-catching set of versatile silicone mini prep bowls. The retailer also sells a set of multicolored steel paring knives.

But color is only one part of the story: Quirky, kid-friendly gadgets are the other. Today’s parents want their kids to be kitchen savvy; supplying them with fun yet functional tools makes the learning easy.

Boston Warehouse’s Animal House collection includes a toucan can opener, porcupine scrubber, woodpecker scissors and mouse cheese grater, among a menagerie of other clever tools.

Gaylon Emerzian is co-producer of the Web site spatulatta.com, winner of an award from the James Beard Foundation. On the site, two sisters age 11 and 8, often with kid helpers, teach young viewers how to cook.

When Emerzian first saw the animal-shaped tools, she thought they were witty and cute.

“But to my surprise, they were more than that. The kids found them very ergonomically correct. The bird vegetable peeler, though seemingly big for little hands, turned out to have just the right heft and balance for an 8- or 9-year-old. The kids loved the whole set.”

Look for the animal house line on kitchenware Web sites and in stores.

Sur La Table has a rainbow-hued whisk and a family of stand-up implements, including a spatula, spoon, pastry brush and measuring cup, all featuring a brightly colored silicone body with the business end on top. The line is aptly named “Head Chefs”.

Look for creative toasters, tools and timers from the French design house Pylones. Robots, pirates and maidens join elephants, puppies and a host of bold graphic patterns in fanciful “outils de cuisine” — tools for the kitchen.