Appliances and Kitchen Gadgets

Cluttered kitchen countertops don't exactly scream out for new gadgetry. Even when the learning curve is small, space may simply be an issue. So when an interesting appliance comes along, sometimes it can fall upon deaf ears. Change it up and make it into a form factor that can be held in the hand and suddenly people might start to listen.

For many, the concept of a vacuum sealer is sound, but the space the large, blocky appliance normally requires makes it a no-go. The Caso Hand Held Vacuum Sealer features a rechargeable battery and cordless operation. Docking into … Read more

When it comes to the grill, procedure and setup are important aspects to consider. Aside from obvious safety concerns when dealing with hotter-than-hot objects, everything from grill placement to grill accessories need to be determined. And of course, when dealing with charcoal or natural wood, a means to light the fire would be necessary. All the better if that can be accomplished with no accelerant.

The Looftlighter Electric Firestarter requires no lighter fluid to get the fire going. Constructed with a 10-foot power cord, the grill gadget plugs into a standard outlet and supplies focused heat at a high temperature. … Read more

Out of all the adult beverages that are available to make, purchase or order, most people have a favorite. Ah, but people also like to try new things. Considering the abundance of beverages that are out there, it can become a never-ending quest to find an alternative to a favorite. Best to leave these things up to the pros.

Like a well-seasoned bartender that understands people and their drinks, the Margaritaville Mixed Drink Maker looks to give drinkers what they want -- whether they know it or not. The automatic drink maker consists of four separate vessels that dispense booze … Read more

If you're in the United States and under 21 years of age, you really need to stop reading right now. In fact, I'm not sure I want anyone under 25 to know about this thing. Seriously, go look at some phone or video game reviews for a few minutes instead.

You're all still here aren't you?

Fine, then -- I tried. No, the headline doesn't lie. A French-American scientist named David Edwards has teamed up with French designer Philippe Starck -- who may or may not be behind some epic Apple product -- to create an aerosol spray that purports to make you "feel drunk" for a few seconds. … Read more

There are seemingly endless varieties of wine. Before one even considers the distinctions between red and white, the maze of choices that are available in just one branch can be dizzying. (In a good way.) But when it comes time to choose what to open, sometimes that can be the easiest part. The answer is yes.

The Vinotemp VT-100WINEDISP4 Dual-Zone Wine Dispenser and Cooler supplies room for up to four bottles to be dispensed at a time. After opening, wine is kept drinkable through the use of argon or nitrogen and a refillable gas system. The stopper and dispenser parts … Read more

Drinking beer requires a certain amount of supervision. Regardless if the experience is self-monitored or kept in check by our peers, keeping a close eye on the proceedings is usually a good idea. While a free-flowing fount of beer may seem like a good idea (because it is), sometimes it's probably best to be kept under lock and key. Or in this case, under an NFC reader.

Google employee and home-brewer Paul Carff designed the KegDroid as a novel way to dispense beer. Users gain access into the system by using their own individual NFC tag or badge. Using … Read more

Working at a restaurant requires doing many repetitious tasks, but perhaps the most tedious and lamented (aside from bathroom cleanup) is wrapping silverware in a napkin.

To solve that age-old annoyance of having to bundle countless utensils, the Capstone Design class at Georgia Tech created an autonomous silverware wrapper capable of perfectly packaging silverware at a respectable speed. … Read more

If you're anything like me, when Friday rolls around you've probably got one eye on the clock and one eye looking forward to a refreshing post-work beverage. Spare a thought then for these office-dwellers toiling hard to finish -- their beer fridge only unlocks when the last bit of work is handed in.

The Drink Time Sheet is a fully stocked fridge of brewskis that's electronically locked to the time sheet system at Brazilian marketing agency Casa. It only unlocks when all of the week's time sheets are turned in, which seems like a heck of an incentive not to put anything off until next week.

Read more of "Cheers! Electronic beer fridge only opens when all work's in" at Crave UK.… Read more

Any barbecue kit worth its salt (or sauce) is going to have a few essentials in it. Topping the list might be a spatula or a food turner of some sort. Additional useful items might include tongs as well as a grill brush to clean the grates before use. And, of course, a light of some kind so as to keep grilling after the sun goes down. Preferably one with magnets.

Not only does the Man Law MAN-F378BBQ Twist Flashlight come with a tripod mount that sticks to the grill magnetically, it also stands by ready for action without the … Read more