Ever heard of a Bigmouth Funnel? Hopefully you will soon!
A little more than a year ago I was at a blogging gathering in Noosa, a holiday destination not far from where I live. I’d been invited by a blogging (not food) friend and I thought, “What the heck, I might meet someone and get new ideas.”
Well, that’s just what happened.
There were around a dozen people there… maybe a few more and across the table from me sat a guy named Robin Bristow. When he found out I was a foodie, he wanted to know my favorite recipe for chicken wings.
“Chicken wings aren’t my favourite,” I replied.
Well, that put a damper on things but only for a moment. He went on to tell me I needed to try more recipes because nothing could compare to a great plate of wings.
The person sitting next to me got up and Robin came around and sat next to me and began telling me about himself. He’s an architect by profession and from South Africa (you don’t need to be told this as his accent gives it away in 2 seconds). He’s also very crafty in the kitchen.
One day he was trying to refill his pepper grinder and missed the opening and peppercorns went all over the counter. He looked around for a funnel small enough to allow the peppercorns in but big enough that the job wouldn’t take all day. He began by cutting apart a lid from a plastic ice cream container and fashioned a wrap around funnel.
It worked just fine but that idea sat in the back of his brain and one day he decided that the idea was good enough to enter into the Sydney Design Awards — and he won! Well, that encouraged him to see if his idea had commercial legs.
He showed me samples of his funnels and gave me a couple to try. They work! They store flat and hook together in seconds and I’ve never spilled a peppercorn. The larger size works fine for small jars where the canning funnel is too large. Doesn’t that make you mad when you put the funnel over the jar and it’s close but not close enough and you try to hold it very still so it won’t spill? The BigMouth funnel works for me every time.
Robin and I are friends now and I was so pleased to see that he’s got a Kickstarter campaign going to get commercial production of the Bigmouth Funnels started. I’ve made my contribution and if you’re looking for a project to support, I can vouch for this one.
Here’s a recipe for Chilli Jam using Bigmouth Funnels to fill the jars. Enjoy!
I’ve got a small and a large funnel for one lucky reader. They are as light as can be, so I’m happy to ship to anyone around the world. Just tell me in the comments why you’d like them.
I want me one of those big mouth funnels! Great idea.
Necessity is the mother of invention. Great idea yet so simple, even better that it folds flat for storage. Congratulations to Robin and much success.
One of these would surely save a whole lot of mess in my kitchen.
p.s. Happy New Year, Maureen, have a lovely, splendid and adventurous and altogether marvelous 2014!
That is so handy! I could definitely use those in my kitchen!
Who hasn’t had peppercorns all over the kitchen counter and floor? This is a terrific idea – I can see dozens of uses for this. Wonderful invention.
I absolutely love stories of people coming up with something useful! I’d love a funnel – I actually don’t own one, and want to get into more canning this year and this would make it much neater 🙂
I need these because I always making my own spice mixes, I put EVERYTHING in jars and because I’m always in the kitchen!
That’s a great idea. We probably have peppercorns under our oven.
Pretty cool! I love that they store flat… we have a tiny kitchen and my husband decided to throw out all but my largest funnel; even though they stack inside each other! Now what do I refill my spice jars and glass bottles with?! A sheet of paper rolled into a funnel haha.*Smacks head.*
What a FANTASTIC!!!!! creation. I like….so simple yet so indispensable in the kitchen – especially if you make messes in the kitchen like I do every single day! You simply do not know how many times I needed something just like this. It would catch everything I wanted to pour. It would catch everything I poured…..it is better than a baseball catcher’s glove. It would make clean up so much easier and simpler too.
Searching for the correct sized funnel that doesn’t topple over is a kitchen problem for all cooks. This is a great invention! Best of luck to Robin as this is a superior funnel! And yes I want one too, LOL!
Robin is correct, chicken wings can be totally and utterly delicious… the wide mouthed funnels sound really interesting Maureen, great design!
I can’t find the only funnel I’ve got so I’d love one. Especially for filling my spice jars. 🙂
Pick me! Pick me! Always happy to support a good idea, so I’ve Kickstarted Rob’s funnels. If you sent me a couple, I can have one in all four colours! 🙂 (I know, I’m shameless.. :))
Great idea! And you know I was just saying that the funnel that I have takes up an awkward space in my top drawer too. Clever idea making a collapsible one 🙂
Such a great idea! I love how the funnels lay flat when not in use to save space!
lol…I won a big mouth funnel from big mouth funnels on instagram and when I received it in the post I made a video of my pepper grinder which is the most difficult thing to fill in the world that I just used to grind my pepper in the mortar and pestle. Great product. And great post Maureen. 🙂
Oh yes it drives me nuts when the funnel is just that bit too big. I buy the giant tins of olive oil and pour then into a smaller bottle and the only funnel that fits is tiny. It takes me ages! Would love these but I think my favourite thing about them is that they store flat.
What a neat invention! I wish Robin much success. I can see this might assist me in having a tidier kitchen 🙂
These are very cool, what a simple but brilliant concept. I always make a mess with peppercorns.
Dear Maureen, Sounds very handy indeed. I never replaced the funnels I lost in Hurricane Sandy. I suppose that with everything lost, funnels were not at the top of the list. I have made make-shift funnels by folding things into a cone. Imagination is wonderful!
Sounds like a good invention and I wish Robin all the best. I am glad he followed through with his idea.
Blessings dear. Catherine xo
What a great idea. Manservant always complains that I don’t have one. He finds reasons to use them but I have managed without them. However, that doesn’t mean I couldn’t get used to having one!
What a great idea! My near vision is getting so bad, so a little guiding help funneling salt into my shaker would be wonderful!
I love the idea of them storing flat. I hate finding ways to store the conventional ones I have.
What a great idea sometimes the best innovations comes out of necessity and not big companies trying to flog us something we already have but in a different colour! And to boot you gained a new friend out of this and a fancy new funnel. Great post and a very useful kitchen gadget 🙂
Whoa! These are great! I definitely have some funnel needs in my life!
That’s a hilarious story Maureen! I think it’s a great idea because I have been messing around big time with my spices. Question for the creator: I suppose the plastic would not get affected by a highly humid environment. I am not a plastic expert but some of my tupparwares have changed colors or got those eternal monsoon dots so I wonder how long those funnels would keep in my case. Do wet turmeric stains get easily washed out too? I would love such a useful kitchen funnel and I believe many more people would enjoy this in India because many don’t have the space to store conventional funnels. Nice one Maureen!
Dear Helene
Many thanks for your question.
The funnels are made from polypropylene and there is a whole page on the website http://www.bigmouthfunnels.com under the “more” button that gives further info.
Regards Robin
What a great idea!
Fabulous! How is it that nobody thought of a big mouth funnel before? So simple yet so useful!
What an incredible idea! You do not know how many times I’ve made temporary funnels from paper to avoid exactly the problem that Robin experienced! I love it! And it’s absolutely incredible that they store away flat! I have so many things in my drawers they catch on opening and closing so this is a perfect solution. I wonder if it will also work for liquids? I’m going to check them out on-line. I really hope I can win one of these!
Great find Maureen!
These are pretty cool Maureen and an awesome giveaway for someone, but am not sure what I might use these for – I have 2 dogs and whenever I drop anything while cooking, they are quick to “clean” it up – no matter what it may be!
That is a wonderful idea! Now, believe it or not I would love one for home but several to the lab! I improvise with a type of waxed weighing paper to make a funnel, but these would be amazing for that, and re-usable! Awesome!
Maureen, I have to say your article on the Food Writer Friday has my family in Brazil in complete awe… my niece translated it to Portuguese so that my 90 year old Mom could read it… I cannot thank you enough. I left a comment there, I hope you got it… 🙂
It’s been a hellish week with old people around here. One is grumpy the other one has sore knees, one wants to escape, the other falls asleep while eating. LOL I’m SO glad you’re pleased. I would have written it in Portuguese but well, I don’t speak Portuguese. 🙂
Oh, I can teach you Portuguese anytime! 😉
Maureen, my Mom is in the hospital tonight, battling an infection – I got the news a few minutes ago, and I am hoping it is going to be controlled soon. I am SOOO happy my niece was able to translate it for her the day before she got sick… this is too special, and I am hugging you.. virtually…
Promise?
I’m so sorry to hear about your mother in the hospital! I’m sending my best healing thoughts and love.
Sorry to hear about your mom’s recent illness. Will include her in my nightly prayers.
Dear Sally
Please have a look at the website http://www.bigmouthfunnels.com where you can order them online 🙂
They have many uses outside the kitchen. The local pharmacy uses them to mix their powdered medication and an artist uses them to mix her powdered paints.
Regards Robin
LOL! Why cant’ I ever think of ideas like this! I want one.
What you great opportunity it must have been to meet a guy like him! I love meeting new people, especially people that are so unique and come from different ethnic backgrounds! on a side note, I love the funnel idea!!
A great idea Maureen. I am sure he loves your support and probably the chilli jam too. I will look out for his donation page
What a clever tool… I could use it a lot. 🙂
I have more funnels than you can shake a stick at. Most don’t work because the opening at the bottom is too small for things to go through. I’m not sure why I keep buying more, perhaps the hope that one day they will work.
What a clever idea…Canadian cooks really could use these.
I would LOVE to have that funnel. The amount of transfers that I do with spices in my kitchen, it’s a pain to try the transfers without spilling a substantial amount on the counters, or horrors! on the floor. Great post and great idea!
I love the idea of these funnels. Evertime I want to tranfer a little olive oil into my daily container, I have to pull out the big funnel. Then have to wash it. This funnel would be a great item for that.
No seriously I just had this same issue yesterday afternoon. I had a large jar of crushed red peppers and I wanted to transfer some of them into my small spice canisters. With no funnel, I had crushed red peppers going everywhere and then I tried to use my hand to compile it together and then I rubbed my eye by mistake…and you no how the rest of that story goes. His little funnels sound like a great little invention. Take Care, BAM
G’day! Happy New Year Maureen to you and your family, true!
What a great idea…am happy to spread the word too!
Cheers! Joanne
I’d love to try one of these. I make such a mess filling my pepper mill. I also make my own stock and can see these being useful pouring stock into canning jars.
I use mine a lot!
I’d love these funnels! For a long time I refused to buy a funnel and made so many mess. My husband came home one day with this collapsible fennel. It’s great, but it’s made of silicone and some dry stuff sticks to it. I don’t mind having another funnel… 😀
I love people who has simple ideas which can solve common, everyday problems. Great post, Maureen!
Now that’s a big funnel! Love it!