Hang 'em high - What's New? - pot racks

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), Sept, 2003

* Once upon a time, many households had a pot and a pan that took Care of most of their cooking needs. After a while, more-specialized utensils began to fill specific needs, and kitchen cabinets started to fill up with stock pots, saute pans, etc. Then, high-end manufacturers added copper bottoms, Teflon coating, anodized metals, and a host of other features, so these items became even more task-oriented--sauteing different dishes, say, required different saute pans, depending on the amount of heat necessary, whether the ingredients tended to stick under certain conditions, what have you. Now, those households have lots of pots and pans. Where, though, can they be stored, yet remain accessible?

The solution, it turns out, is to look upwards. If there is insufficient room at ground level, send them overhead. Accordingly, let us suggest the 40" x 20" oval Circulon pot rack ($149.99) from the Meyer Corporation, Vallejo, Calif., suspended from the ceiling by a pair of sturdy chains. There are four front-facing Safety-Lock Hanging Hooks and a quartet of side-facing ones, allowing you to place eight pots and/or pans above you, within easy reach, but without banging your head against them. (Of course, if you're National Basketball Association material, you might want to consider shortening the chain!) The rack comes complete with mounting screws, cap nuts and bolts, and even a wrench to put it all together.

Adding on the Rectangular Wire Module ($24.99), which clamps horizontally to the top of the rack, allows you to put additional utensils, collanders, steamer baskets, etc., on the resultant shelf for even more storage. By adding additional hooks (side- or front-facing, two for $9.99; or double-facing, permitting you to hang two items from each, two for $12.99), you cart hang still more from the rack. Serious cooks will be ecstatic at all the culinary toys they'll have close at hand.

Circulon ceiling pot racks and all the accessories can be found in department, houseware and specially stores where better kitchen goods are sold. For the one nearest you, go online at www.circulon.com.

This symbol * indicates USA Today has tested a product for operating in full compliance with the manufacturer's specifications and to determine its performance as applicable to our readers' needs. Disadvantages, if any, also are reported. Although we cannot guarantee a product, we offer the starred designation as a guide to readers.