Appliances and Kitchen Gadgets

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

The Princess Compact4All kitchen appliances (available this month) come together to form a "breakfast cube." Designed by Jan des Bouvrie for the Dutch firm Princess Household Appliances, the four countertop appliances each measures 20 centimeters cubed. (To American countertops, that would be 7.87 inches all around.) Composed of a juicer, a kettle, a toaster, and a coffeemaker, the modular set can be stacked together or moved about the kitchen just like any other appliance.

Sometimes finding the unexpected in a collection of appliances only involves putting them all together. In this case, the juicer hides a secret. … Read more

For many, kitchen decor is a work in progress. Nothing wrong with that; in fact, it makes sense considering the room in question. Tastes change, recipes evolve, and something that tasted amazing the first time is not going to hold the same impact the next time. That being said, what goes around comes around, and sometimes an old classic compares to nothing -- especially when it comes in an updated version.

Once upon a time, wood-grain finish was popular with everything. Heavy earth tones and splashes of orange, yellow, and brown adorned every room including the kitchen and everything in … Read more

Breakfast may be the most important meal of the day, but that doesn't mean you have to know how to make it. For many, a bowl of cereal or some type of food in bar form does the trick. Others opt for a short wait in a fast-food line. Somewhere, between the chaos of wrestling with ingredients and the order of ordering from a drive-through, there must be a happy medium.

The Nostalgia Electrics FTW200 2-in-1 Breakfast Treats Maker is a no-nonsense, easy-to-use morning machine. The countertop clamshell-type gadget consists of two sets of cooking plates; one set is … Read more

The turning of the seasons signifies a time of change. Yet just because the weather will soon start to turn cool, doesn't mean it's time to toast adieu to chilled wine.

The Cork Pops VinOice Wine Chiller uses a gel-filled stainless steel chilling rod to cool down open bottles. It doesn't need to be removed to pour a glass since a gravity-hinged lid covers a pour spout that is attached to the chill rod, so wine can be served without the need to mess around with any wet accessories.

To use, the chilling rod should be placed … Read more

Combining one thing with another is a time-honored kitchen tradition. In fact, it's hard to imagine how any cooking would get done without such an activity. But beyond the food, there lies another realm of alchemy and it can be found on the shelf or in the drawer where all the kitchen gadgets lay in waiting.

Haunting any kitchen worth its salt will be a set of measuring spoons as well as a measuring cup. They may reside in different areas, but that doesn't mean that the utensil drawer and kitchen cupboard haven't been mixing it up. … Read more

The chocolate, marshmallow, and graham cracker treat that is known as a s'more is one that usually requires a great deal of preparation. No, not the normal food preparation one normally partakes of in the kitchen; rather instead of chopping boards and knives, s'more prep requires kindling and tree branches. Unless of course there happens to be a handy s'more-making machine nearby.

The Indoor Flameless Marshmallow Roaster brings the camping to the kitchen counter and leaves the campfire behind. The countertop device plugs into a standard AC outlet and measures about 14 inches by 14 inches with … Read more

Anyone who has ever used a measuring cup knows that they like to lie. Well, maybe not lie so much as distort the truth. That is, unless one lifts it up to eye level, the reading might not be so accurate. Attempts have been made to rectify this issue and include enhancements such as angled measuring cups (Oxo) or measuring cups with a scale built in. Those are all steps in the right direction, but we now have given the measuring cup itself a voice.

The Talking Measuring Cup ($59.95) chimes into the conversation by offering voice-assisted operation. Capable … Read more

Certain descriptive words tend to get overused. Do an eBay search for vintage or retro and that becomes all too clear. Another label that gets applied all over the place is steampunk. Sometimes one can even see it applied to things that plug into the wall. For those who fancy technology from the Victorian or Edwardian eras, that is probably not what they have in mind.

Ancient tech comes at a price, and in this case that price is $699.95. Inspired by a coffee-brewing process invented by Loeff of Berlin in the 1830s, the Genuine Balancing Siphon Coffee Maker … Read more