Appliances and Kitchen Gadgets

Halloween is a time for make-believe. Apparently, that goes for kitchen appliances, too. While it could be said that some multitasking appliances are just overachievers (that may or may not perform all of their functions satisfactorily), the make-believe in question here is solely regarding appearances. And in this case, that means a lot of bling.

Halloween is sure to bring an assortment of questionable costume choices; why shouldn't the kitchen want to get in on the act, too? The Limited Edition Cuisinart SCC-1000 Swarovski Crystal 14-Cup Coffeemaker (about $200) offers a shinier alternative to the morning routine. Decked out … Read more

Design always has, and always will, play a big part in our purchasing decisions. Kitchen gadgets are, of course, not immune to our personal preferences. Perhaps they are even subject to a more stringent set of deliberations, seeing as additional kitchen appliances require the reduction of a valued commodity: counter space. However a device that may be frivolous or unnecessary dressed in one design sense may look the part of high fashion in another.

Depending upon personal tastes, the Nostalgia Electrics Retro Stir Popcorn Popper ($39.99) may or may not be the perfect accessory for your kitchen countertop. Those … Read more

A man walks into a bar. He goes up to the counter and says his last name, followed by his first name and then his last name yet again. The barkeep immediately knows who the man is and what he wants. And more importantly, the bartender knows how the man wants it. Bond...James Bond is his name and he wants his martini shaken, not stirred. Can you be like this man? Probably not; after all he is a fictional character. But you can have your drink made his way -- or yours.

The Metrokane Rabbit Electric Cocktail Shaker or Mixer (about $25) … Read more

More so than any other time of day, every action in the morning is associated with a certain amount of time spent doing said action. After the coffee-making and breakfast-eating have been checked off the list, then the rest of the day can proceed at its own pace with responsibilities being accomplished and reshuffled (or ignored) depending upon the degree of importance. Luckily, the simplified routine of morning gives us all the foundation that we need for the complex actions of the day, now in as few as 45 precious seconds.

If it takes longer than a minute to brew … Read more

Specialty countertop kitchen appliances have evolved at a spectacular rate. These clamshell contrivances that populate countertops everywhere have become common enough that they can produce everything from cupcakes to empanadas at a moment's notice. That's all fine and well for the humans in the family, but our four-legged friends want to get in on the action, too.

Fido can finally join in the fun with the Nostalgia Electrics DBM200 Dog Biscuit Treat Maker Kit ($29.99). The familiar shape of this appliance doesn't hide people food this time around, instead housing doggie delights sure to make our … Read more

Toasters often get overlooked in the kitchen. Counter space, being the limited creature that it is, has room for only so many appliances. While this may bode well for strong multitaskers like toaster ovens, regular toasters often get left out in the cold. (Or at least left in the back of the cupboard.)

The KitchenAid Pro Line Toaster ($299) aims to elevate the once-grand appliance back out from under the counter. Sensing that there is only one direction to go but up, the toaster rises to new heights by incorporating a motorized lifting mechanism. Not afraid to dunk below the … Read more

Cookware can be deceptively simple. Deceptive, because it usually is simple. But then something comes along and adds another piece to the puzzle. Then another. Eventually, a set of interlocking pieces comes together, promising to do anything and everything. The problem is, sometimes when things get too complicated, their original utility gets lost in the fold.

Not so with the Twiztt by Joan Lunden Cut, Cook & Serve Set ($79.99). Like a puzzle, the set of kitchenware comes together to form something greater than the sum of its parts. As the name implies, the multitasking set goes from prepping … Read more

Fondue is fun. Relaxing with family and friends over a warm pot of bubbling deliciousness is something meant to be enjoyed at its own pace (assuming the participants can agree on what to put in the pot). The shape of a fondue party, being one that can be either sweet or savory, can take on its own structure, yet the jostling for ingredients always remains the same. Unless, of course, the ingredients come to you.

The Cuisinart CF0-1000 Lazy Susan Electric Fondue ($79.99) is a fun, countertop device orbited by moveable ingredient trays. Featuring a built-in electric heating element … Read more

Way back in October 2009, I wrote about the Kenwood Cooking Chef. The device has finally made it to the U.S. What sort of gadget is this machine that has taken so long to grace our shores? Well, the answer appears to be more of what it isn't as opposed to what it is.

Combining a stand mixer with an induction plate, the multitasking appliance carves out a new niche on the countertop. By allowing chefs to cook directly in the work bowl, the Kenwood Cooking Chef offers a new way to operate in the kitchen.

The highly … Read more