Cooking

Once upon a time, somebody somewhere discovered that jabbing a hot dog with a skewer, coating it with batter, and then deep-frying it would be a delicious alternative to a bun. As history has shown, that genius individual was certainly correct.

Corn dogs just paved the way for what lay ahead in the future. Now, at every fair across the country, it is possible to get food items of every shape and variety clinging to an easy-to-carry stick. However, no longer must we wait for summer to enjoy all that food-on-a-stick can goodness. Now, all that deliciousness can be no … 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

The enjoyment that one gets from grilling food over an open fire is one that can be traced back to the caveman days. While that primal satisfaction may be reason enough to occasionally fire up the grill, there are plenty of reasons why it would be impractical to solely rely on the cooking methods of our distant ancestors. For one, they didn't have pancakes.

Looking to redraw the lines of cooking evolution, the Cuisinart CGG-080 Griddlin' Portable Gas Grill makes it easy to grill and griddle in the great outdoors. Incorporating a griddle directly into the lid, the propane-powered … Read more

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 … Read more

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.

The … Read more

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 … Read more

Rice doesn't lack for vitamins and minerals. Or smartphone apps.

There is little left that smartphones cannot do. Or rather, to be more precise, there is little left that smartphones are not capable of controlling. The distinction is an important one. Ultimately, we are the controller. But sometimes it is just more fun to press a button on the phone rather than on the target device.

The new SR-SX102 rice cookers from Panasonic are controllable via FeliCa-enabled smartphones. (FeliCa is a contactless RFID technology developed by Sony Corporation.) Hover the phone over the designated area on the rice cooker (that would be the blue mark) and suddenly the smartphone becomes a sort of remote control for the rice cooker.… Read more

Weather may dictate many activities in everyday life, but it doesn't have to its say over culinary options.

Hovering over a grill, monitoring steaks and burgers is a tradition that is enjoyed any time of the year. Except, of course, when the weather wants to rain on the parade of burgers, dogs, and steaks. Every cloud has a silver lining (probably made from a mixture of condiments); just because the outdoors isn't cooperating doesn't mean the grilling has to stop.

The Cuisinart GR-100 Indoor Outdoor Griddler keeps the good times sizzling wherever the action happens to be … Read more

Getting back to nature doesn't have to mean getting away from it all.

You know how it is. When camping with family and/or friends, everybody finds themselves enjoying getting back to nature. It's not hard to do: the rustle of the wind through the trees, a nearby babbling brook, stars you can actually see. Then it hits. The need for a frozen pizza.

Modern convenience is never far away when camping with the Coleman Signature Outdoor Gear Portable Propane Stove/Oven. Capable of producing full meals just like the big oven back home, the propane-powered (it uses … Read more