Utensil crocks keep our most-used tools conveniently accessible and organized while we’re cooking. We’ve all tried to pull out a utensil only to have a few others come tumbling out in a tangled mess, or we’ve had a utensil crock, top-heavy from all its contents, wobble as we added or retrieved utensils. We wondered if there were utensil crocks on the market that could solve these problems.
We purchased both round or oval utensil crocks, including models in a variety of sizes and materials, including stoneware, stainless steel, plastic, and bamboo. In addition to varying in size and material, the models in our lineup sported a variety of special features. Some had rotating bases (similar to a lazy Susan) intended to help us locate utensils quickly. Another had a special section for storing knives. A few had silicone mats that provided a soft spot for utensils to land. Other crocks had dividers, and one had small grooves in the bottom meant to hold each utensil as it is added. We also included an expandable crock. With so many options in shape, price, material, and features, we were excited to see what combination of factors would make for the best utensil crock.