Appliances and Kitchen Gadgets

Breakfast appliance for any time of day

Like sausage and syrup, combining two good flavors often turns into something great.

Skillets and waffle-makers are two kitchen items associated with breakfast for good reasons. They both offer eaters the means to make long-standing favorites in a productive and easy fashion. Skillets are well-suited for frying up bacon and eggs, while making waffles in anything other than a waffle-maker (toasters and frozen discs do not count) can prove to be a challenge.

The aptly named Hamilton Beach 26046 Breakfast Master brings bacon and eggs to the table along with a platter of waffles. The all-in-one countertop appliance features two more

Big fridge thinks 12 ounces at a time

It's not really fair to blame the refrigerator when you forget to chill down canned and bottled beverages. After all, with a little forethought and regular trips to the store, the fridge could be perpetually stocked with a rotating selection of refreshing adult drinks. Knowing that this isn't exactly very likely, this new fridge steps in to take the heat.

The new LG LFX31935ST Super-Capacity 3 Door French Door Refrigerator with Blast Chiller supplies a host of features that would make an impressive addition to most any kitchen. The three-door fridge has a 31-cubic-foot capacity and multiple drawers more

Smartphone charging over an open fire

Finally, a way to put that boiling pot of water to some good use besides making a box of mac and cheese.

The PowerPot is a Kickstarter project that looks to heat things up by adding the ability to charge gadgets while the pot is over a heat source. The heat source can be an open fire, a camping stove, or even a natural hot spring. What is important is that the liquid inside the pot is colder than the heat source. It is this temperature difference that is used to generate the energy necessary to power small gadgets.

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Speedy new Thermador dishwasher sets the pace

Tearing through prep work to create a meal is a natural experience for any cook. Things need to get chopped, sliced, and diced, and hungry people don't like waiting. From the simplest home kitchens to those basking in the glow of Michelin stars, preparation is often the most frenzied part of the meal. But now it looks like the clean-up is catching up.

The new Thermador Star-Sapphire Dishwasher boasts luxury features as well as StarSpeed, the "industry's fastest full-wash residential hot water cycle," according to Thermador. What does this mean in real life? It means a full load more

Soft-serve beer sorbet? Ah, technology

Ah, technology. Thanks to its ever-expanding capabilities, we can chat with monkeys, make Jell-O sing, and even share with the world the site of our latest sexual conquest.

And soon -- O, Lord, yes -- we'll be able to enjoy soft-serve beer sorbet.

Provided, of course, we live in Asia and order up a glass of Kirin that's been subjected to a little "Frozen Agitation."

Blender button makes smoothie operation as easy as can be

Smoothies, much like many breakfast items, can be enjoyed at any time of the day. However, take the item out of the morning and suddenly things change. The knowledge required to prepare anything in the morning is aided by the fact that it is being done so on autopilot; routine makes things easy with eyes still only half open.

Easier than having to do sequences of actions in their correct order is not having to do them at all. Featuring automatic operation, the Hamilton Beach 56205 Smoothie Smart Blender allows the awake and the not-so-awake alike to enjoy easy, one-touch

Deliciousness may have its consequences, but that doesn't mean there aren't any workarounds. For waffle deliciousness in particular, the answer was to put them in stick form. With waffles converted into a shape that could conveniently be dipped, waffles could suddenly be easily enjoyed on the go. The masses rejoiced. However, all was not well in waffle-land.

Waffle sticks may commonplace in the wild, but at home they are rare to be seen. Enter the Hamilton Beach 26041 Mess Free Belgian Waffle Maker. Featuring a deep grid design that encourages waffle stick stability the countertop appliance bakes waffles more

Cold Cover Chiller lid to land on a table near you

Serving cold food is and always has been a bit of a hassle. Thankfully, modern convenience has made the availability of ice as easy as walking into the next room. Out of ice or need more? Run to the store; a nearby cashier will gladly ring you up. But ice has its own set of problems, namely that it melts.

Freezer gel packs are a good option for keeping things cold outside the confines of the freezer, but they can be awkward to manipulate. Combining aesthetics and practicality, the Prodyne CC-12 Cold Cover Chiller Lid has a solution.

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Grill, griddle or both

Appliances don't always cooperate with what's on the menu.

Kitchen countertops have become landscapes populated by quick and easy meal-makers that can provide an almost endless variety of food options. Still, despite the great abundance of options to choose from, that doesn't mean a particular appliance knows how to adjust to the situation. Unless, of course, it is adjustable.

The Hamilton Beach 3-in-1 Grill/Griddle (model number 38546) eliminates either/or choices by being able to be configured into exactly what is required for the meal. Featuring two separately reversible plates, the countertop appliance is capable of more

Pizza joint creates one-push wireless order button

These days, you can order pizza via phone call, Web site, and smartphone app. Add to that list a button on your fridge.

Red Tomato Pizza, located in Dubai, created a tech-infused "very important pizza lovers fridge magnet" for its loyal customers.

This special magnet does not just sit there and look pretty among your other fridge accessories, however.

When pressed, the button's built-in Bluetooth chip connects to your cell phone and transmits a preprogrammed pizza order back to the Red Tomato Pizza restaurant. Once your order's been received, you'll get a confirmation via SMS.