Appliances

There are plenty of those awkward moments in the kitchen when your hands are covered in raw chicken bits or eye-searing chile and you're trying not to touch anything. There's only so much you can do with your elbows.

This is why it makes sense to bring touchless technology into the kitchen. Restaurant and gas station bathrooms have been using touchless paper towel dispensers for years. Now there's a fancy version for the home.… Read more

Refrigerators are big. That is the way it is supposed to be. Otherwise stocking up after a trip to the grocery store can get kind of dicey. Or gamey if there isn't enough room to store all of the sundries. Luckily, these behemoths of the kitchen are big and ready to accommodate. Of course, bigger being better is only valid up to a point. But for refrigerators, bigger on the inside is always better.

The new LG Electronics LFX31925 Super-Capacity French-Door Refrigerator boasts 31 cubic feet of storage space. All this roomy interior is put to use in real … Read more

The ability to throw ingredients into a pot and walk away is a convenient reality of modern living. Some time later (usually announced by an appropriate beep), those ingredients have become a meal, requiring only a transfer from pot to plate. Setting aside the prep stage, one-pot meals are about as easy as it gets in the kitchen.

Useful for cooking a variety of meals, the Zojirushi Umami Micom Rice Cooker & Warmer is well-suited for leaving out on the countertop. A slow-cooker function gives added versatility. Expanded menu options include settings for brown rice and porridge, while a special &… Read more

In addition to products with the basic Energy Star rating, consumers can now choose to buy even more efficient products with the help of a new rating.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy introduced last week an additional rating it calls Energy Star Most Efficient.

Consumer electronics and appliances with the Energy Star Most Efficient seal will signify those products that have exceptional efficiency within their product category. The seal will only be awarded to the top 5 percent of models. It will initially be introduced in five categories: clothes washers, heating and cooling … Read more

Doing laundry is one of life's little chores that usually isn't much fun. However, since the benefits outweigh the negatives, we usually carry on and get the job done. While washing clothes is somewhat akin to watching paint dry, washing clothes well is at least a bit more exciting. When advanced features are combined with a large capacity drum, doing the laundry can be downright fun. (Well, not really, it is still laundry after all.)

The Samsung WF431 Washer might not win any awards for being the life of the party, but it will help you get to … Read more

Kitchen appliances that have the ability to hide away will always find a place in the home. Sometimes they even hide away so well that they become part of the home. Unlike some compact countertop appliances that can find their way into the back of the cupboard--unintentionally fading into the woodwork--some low-profile appliances actually do their intended job while hidden from view.

Disappearing behind the cupboard over the stove, the Airone Aida range hood is designed to operate on the down-low. Offering a choice of motors with a wide range of power (800-m3/h to 1,780-m3/h), the range … Read more

Modern times necessitate an occasional escape back to nature. However, one nice part about being able to get away from it all is the ability to bring some of it with you. While the blaring TV is always a good thing to leave behind, other modern appliances have evolved past the point of convenience to honest-to-goodness can't-live-without-them items.

The Coleman Portable Propane Coffeemaker looks and operates just like the familiar elixir-maker that lives on the kitchen countertop--except for one important difference. Powered by propane rather than an electrical outlet, the portable coffeemaker is designed for outdoor living.

Drip coffee … Read more

There are a few obvious obstacles to overcome when considering starting a wine collection. First off, of course, is price. But that entry point has been obliterated as good wines can now be bought at almost any price. However, having a collection implies keeping a collection, which would thereby necessitate a place to keep the collection. Luckily, wine fridges are abundant and attainable. That leaves what is perhaps the biggest barrier, and one that is not so easily explained away: space limitations. If you have nowhere to store a collection, you have nowhere to store one. Simple as that, end … Read more

Kitchens are noisy places. Meal preparation being what it is, the sounds of pots and pans clanging together mixed with the sear and sizzle of cooking foods are comfortable noises. It means real, hopefully delicious, food is on the way. Given the anticipation of a meal, a few noises can be easily viewed as a good thing. However, there is a flip side to the process where some might not find the associated clatter all that appetizing: the cleaning.

The KitchenAid KUDE70FXSS Superba Series EQ Dishwasher--part of an upgraded line--operates at forty decibels. According to KitchenAid, the noise level … Read more