When you hear the term refrigerator magnets, what comes to mind? All those touristy magnets from turnpike gift shops? Crocheted "fridgies" from a Christmas bazaar? Cross stitched plastic canvas abstract art magnets?

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There are magnets of teensy gold nuggets in a miniature gold pan celebrating the Gold Rush, lots of state magnets and landmark fridgies, pithy sayings with cheap magnetic strips on the back, a fake oil painting complete with easel, and the list goes on. These types of artsy magnets are what most people associate with the term refrigerator magnets.

But there's a new kid on the block. And it’s as if this kid is on steroids, or I should say these magnets are on steroids, because they are so powerful.

What makes the difference? Neodymium-iron-boron. In a word (make that three) rare earth elements. In another four: really strong refrigerator magnets.

Long story short: rare earth elements are so named because at the time of their discovery it was believed they were, indeed, rare. On the contrary they are nearly all in abundance in the earth's crust, but they are difficult, and therefore relatively expensive, to extract.

With the use of rare earth magnets, heavier objects can now be mounted on a refrigerator and not only stay up but also support at least 5 pounds without sliding down to the bottom of the refrigerator.

Nowadays it is common to see the following items attached to the front or side of a refrigerator: an office supplies holder, a magnet spice rack, magnetic knife holders, kitchen utensils, even household tools in one of the many tool caddies.

Magnetic kitchen accessories not only come in varied shapes and sizes and configurations. They also come in various materials. Some manufacturers favor fine metal mesh or light weight wood, while others produce low grade plastic. Still others distribute high grade, top quality plastic and the ultra light weight, but elegant, bamboo.

Bamboo is actually a grass and between 1200 and 1600 varieties of it exist, growing as much as four feet every 24 hours or 2 inches every hour. If you're into "green," this vigorous growth is a good thing.

To turn bamboo into "wood" it is split apart to remove the inner membrane. Soaking or steaming separates out all the sugars in the strips and the strips are laminated into boards which can be sanded, stained and used just as wood is.

The bamboo refrigerator storage items look, feel and wear like real wood. The warmth of wood is there as well. Plastic is enduring, but the mellowness of wood has a strong appeal

One magnetic spice rack, regardless of what materials it is made from, is a smart idea. But why stop there? Why not create a pantry on the outside of your refrigerator? Depending on the position of your refrigerator in relation to the rest of the kitchen, you may be able to have magnetic shelving on both the front and one side. The smaller your kitchen, the more important that you utilize the space saving properties of these free handing racks.

Such practical and useful magnetic products elevate the meaning of refrigerator magnets from the somewhat trivial to the very useful.