No-Oil Cooking From a Space Age Tool Borrowed From the Stone Age

Looking for a novel entertaining idea for the holidays? Go back to the Stone Age with the new Swiss Hot Rock ($159) from Swissmar Imports Ltd. Cooking on a preheated rock slab isn’t entirely new. Revived several years ago, a stone product sparked instant appeal but interest died quickly.

Launched this year, the new rock is still hot, more so in Europe, according to Daniel Oehy, president of Swissmar. Restaurants are adapting the concept and targeting health conscious diners who want the benefit of no-oil cooking. Surprised at the sales pick up of his new product in the United States and Canada, he said, “The new version caught on with the addition of the attractive stainless steel stand to support the hot stone and the paste burners to keep it hot.”

The rectangular stone, which is two-centimeters thick, is preheated in a 500-degree oven for 20 minutes then carefully placed onto the stand with the lighted paste burners, which will maintain high heat for about 1 1/2 hours. Without the burners the high heat lasts about half an hour.

John Duncan, a local Swissmar representative, likes to use it with strips of beef splashed with a little beer, followed by mushrooms and other vegetables or seafood. “Even chuck steak gets a great taste and becomes quite tender,” he said. “There’s no burning, no spattering because there’s no oil; the food cooks in its own juice. The heat is even and rapid so that the food keeps its natural nutritional values.”

The grill stand can also be used for fondues and flambes according to Oehy. “The hot stone is also wonderful for French toast, fresh fruits like caramelized bananas or strawberries.”

The Swiss Hot Rock is available at Cooking Stuff. For more information contact Swissmar Imports, Ltd., c/o Gra-Mic 8300 Quarry Road, Niagara Falls, N.Y. 14304; (800) 387-5707.

Looking for a solution to burned cookie bottoms? How about a double aluminum pan with a cushion of air in between the layers? Called Insulated Baking Sheets, the first batch (CushionAire) was introduced by Rema Bakeware several years ago. Product appeal has remained high according to cook shop dealers but there is one consumer complaint. The pan is not allowed to go into the dishwasher, or get soaked, because water tends to get inside the insulating layer. Consequently it required heating of the pan in the oven after washing for the water to evaporate.

Finding a niche in this market, two companies have come up with a dish-washer safe insulated cookie sheet: Chicago Metallic and Wilton Enterprises Inc. The latter just introduced the latest called Even-Bake ($14.99). Sealed at the perimeter, the 13x17-inch insulated cookie sheet from Wilton also differs from the original product by having a convenient lip along its side instead of the end. This way the sheet, which is usually placed with its length going across the oven, may be easily picked up.

When using these insulated sheets, we find that most cookies need to be baked three to four minutes longer for better browning. Those who are used to those instant browned edges when baking with their old, darkened cookie sheets will notice quite a difference, so be prepared.

Even-Bake will be available in the near future in department and specialty stores. To order by mail send $14.99 plus $3.50 and state sales tax to: Wilton Enterprises, Inc., 2240 W. 75th St., Woodbridge, Ill. 60517.

No need to grow frustrated by jabbing on a hard nut. And for safety’s sake, don’t even attempt stabbing the hard nutshell with ice pick, nail file, hammer or chisel to crack it open. Precisely engineered, the Victor Cast-Iron Nutcracker from Chantry ($28) will get through that tough shell (even macadamia) and preserve the shape of the meat.

Functional as well as an interesting conversation piece, this black cast-iron beauty was designed by British master craftsman Robert Welch. By giving a couple of twists to the screw, the sturdy nut-saver will crack open almost every nut particularly walnuts, filberts and pecans. Makes a nice holiday surprise gift--small and heavyweight, the content will always be hard to guess.

The Chantry Nutcracker is available at Erewhon Natural Foods, Los Angeles. For more information contact P. O. Box 3039, Clearwater, Fla. 34360; (800) 242-6879.