This Is The Best Cookie Press For Making Cheese Straws, Says Our Food Editor

Cheese straws are a labor of love. My grandmother first made them using an aluminum Wear-Ever cookie press, then eventually graduated to an electric version. According to my mother, my grandmother burned up her electric cookie presses every few years, until she finally passed the cheese straw making on to younger, stronger hands.

We went through several shoddy cookie presses until we found the perfect one—the OXO Good Grips 12-Piece Cookie Press Set.

Why I Love My OXO Cookie Press

For starters, let me assure you I am not getting paid to write this. I sincerely adore and respect this press because it takes a formerly hard task and makes it easier. Other cookie presses use a trigger mechanism, much like a caulk gun, to expel the contents. This OXO model is different—it features a hinged “crank” mechanism at the back of the press, so instead of tiresome, repetitive squeezing motions, you just grip the handle and use your arm strength to crank. It’s SO much easier.

Of course you can use this press to make cookies, too. But it’s by far the best press I’ve ever used to make cheese straws. And at under $20, it’s a steal.

OK now I’m going to go buy three more just in case they change the model design and it disappears forever! And by the way, if you happen to need a recipe, here's my recipe for Spicy Cheese Straws, adapted from my grandmother's recipe. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.