microwave

When you run the microwave, it's common to hear a pop or two--and when you do, you know that you're going to need to wipe out the microwave again. As food heats up, it splatters as a matter of course. The Microwave Splatter Covers can provide a way to limit the mess without taking longer to cook your food. The thin plastic covers can be set directly on top of any container you put in the microwave, offering a reusable alternative to paper towels or plastic wrap. They're dishwasher-safe, which makes cleaning up the microwave a moment'… Read more

You know how, during the two minutes or so that you're waiting for your microwave popcorn to pop, you find yourself thinking, "If only I could be watching a video on YouTube right now"? No? Oh. Well, if you ever do find yourself wanting to take advatage of those few moments of forced waiting, you'll love the idea behind the CastOven.

From the developers' Web site: "Watching movies, playing video games, and browsing Web pages are fun, but all of them require a certain amount of time of us to spare." To solve this … Read more

The microwave oven is no doubt one of the most popular kitchen appliances available. But before its ubiquity, people had to get used to the idea that a few button presses (or physical dial turn as the case may have been) could produce a hot meal with seemingly little work. Then reality sunk in as this common phrase started to hit home: "Cooking time in your microwave oven may vary." While microwave ovens did not prove to be the easy answer to a properly cooked meal, the promise was certainly still there.

Fast-forward to now, and the promise … Read more

A cookbook doesn't seem a likely choice to feature here at the blog, but I'll make an exception for 101 Recipes for Microwave Mug Cakes by Stacey J. Miller because it's got a slightly tech-y angle to it.

Although Miller didn't invent the microwave mug cake (MMC), she really likes them--enough that she spent time creating and testing all the recipes featured in the book. The beauty of the MMC, she says, is that it lets you make a single serving of a snack in under 10 minutes. No leftovers to tempt you, one mixing bowl … Read more

Fridges and microwaves are pretty much required for a college dorm room, just as they're necessary in an office environment or anywhere else that you need to eat but don't have space for a full kitchen. The MicroFridge Combination Appliance puts a small refrigerator--complete with a separate freezer space--together with a microwave in one appliance that will fit just about anywhere. The appliance even incorporates a charging station that will allow you to recharge electronic devices. The charging station actually helps the unit to be more energy efficient by making better use of the energy that any fridge … Read more

No matter where you go when you hit the road, chances are your road trip is going to include road food. Since road food by definition means eating food out of the ordinary, it can be a bit difficult to guess how much to order. Your control panel may have a gas gauge, but you don't. The result can be a collection of dashboard sandwiches, some more tasty than others. Experience has taught me that an In-N-Out burger, while delicious in fresh form, doesn't hold up quite as well 80 miles down the road. (However, many breakfast sandwiches … Read more

It may seem as if there isn't a lot of potential for innovation when it comes to microwaves. For years, microwave ovens have been essentially the same, only offering us choices between different types of buttons. But the Panasonic Prestige Microwave Oven incorporates the Inverter technology pioneered by Panasonic, offering a definite upgrade from the typical microwave. The Inverter system offers the opportunity to cook entire meals in the microwave, with gourmet flavors and textures you wouldn't normally expect from a microwave. I've even poached an egg in the Prestige Microwave Oven--a technique that is rarely possible … Read more

These days, it always seems to come back around to food, and analyzing each other's food issues is pretty enlightening. Here are some tools to appease the inner food critic.

Flint woman invents Corner Cap to keep boxes of food from spilling

World’s smallest microwave also has world’s worst name

Aero Blue Robot prepares to dish out unemployment to Japanese waiters

Chocolate scented calculator is torture for dieters

Hot Dogs to Go (thanks, engnr_chik!)… Read more

In what appears to be another case of "good idea, poor execution," Heinz has partnered with Frazer Designers to invent the world's smallest USB-powered microwave. The little device aims to satisfy the appetites of office workers who have so much work on their plate they can't find the time to step outside for a bite to eat. Stranger still, the microwave is called...the Beanzawave (what?!).

The small turquoise device is officially the smallest microwave ever invented, measuring a tiny 7.4 inches tall, 6.2 inches wide, and 5.9 inches deep. Much like today'… Read more