Eating

Cooking no longer has to solely involve the stovetop. In fact, it is completely possible to survive by exclusively using the microwave oven. (Please don't try this at home every day.) Luckily, there are plenty of other quality appliances vying for your attention, so meal management can expand to all areas of the kitchen--namely, the countertop.

The Wolfgang Puck Electric Combination Skillet, Roaster, and Fryer marries the familiarity of a small countertop appliance with the versatility of the stovetop. Perfect as an alternative to using the stove, the appliance is convenient for everything from cooking meals for a large … Read more

For years, we who partake in fast food have been stuck with a dilemma when it comes to dunking our fries in ketchup: We'd have to empty the packet onto the paper on the tray. Or put it on a napkin that may have already been touched by lord knows who. Tasty, tasty way to catch H1N1 perhaps!?

Thankfully, the good people at Heinz have--after 30 years--heard our plea. They have redesigned the ketchup packet, and there shall be much rejoicing in the streets.

The new packet can be opened in not one, but two ways. The end can … Read more

We as a society have become so accustomed to foods looking a certain way that we rarely give many of them a second thought. Take, for example, the waffle. Delicious in all of its deep-pocketed glory, yes, but as far as originality goes they are pretty much all the same. Oh, sure, every waffle iron produces different waffles, as they all vary in size and shape, but when it comes right down to it, they are basically two-sided butter and syrup holders. Since any waffle known to man can only actually hold butter and syrup on one side at a … Read more

Homemade salad dressing is where it's at. The simple combination of oil and vinegar is easy to manage and the resulting dressing is completely customizable from the ground up. Just add some herbs, garlic, and a little citrus, and suddenly you have a fresh, high-quality salad dressing that is tuned to your appetite. No matter how delicious your dressing may be, the final product still needs to find its way actually on to your greenery.

The Cuisipro Stainless Steel Spray Pump lets you control exactly how much dressing you put on your salad, or on just about anything else. … Read more

Steaming food is an excellent way to not only retain vitamins and minerals, but also to bring out its natural flavor. However, as basic as bathing a food item in a wash of steam may be, sometimes it can be rather hit and miss. Like all other cooking methods, everything has a different cooking time, but when it comes to steaming, overcooked food is limp, lifeless and neither healthy nor delicious. While checking on the progress of steaming foods doesn't necessarily guarantee disastrous results, the process can be time-consuming, and at best, inefficient.

The Morphy Richards Intellisteam steamer offers … Read more

Shopping for a new waffle maker raises a few questions that one must be prepared to address. Familiarity with one's preferences must be determined before diving in, because once decided, there is no going back. (Unless, of course, dealing with returns and restocking fees aren't a concern.) Any decision has to factor in a wealth of variables, from how deep the pockets are to how powerful the waffle maker is (and hence, how crisp the exterior of the resulting waffles are). No matter what your preference, perhaps the biggest choice to make is how many waffles you want.… Read more

I'm kind of a klutz. I can set a beautiful table, and then drip salsa on it the first time I dip a chip into the bowl I've so carefully set out. Even if you personally are more graceful than I, you probably have friends or occasional guests who share my clumsiness. The CaliBowl from SimpleWave will keep your table looking lovely by preventing drips and spills.

The simple, patent-pending design features an inward-curving lip--the company compares it to the tide of a wave--that scoops food and dips onto your chip, utensil, or food, or back into the … Read more

Ever wondered what would happen if a dentist invented a popcorn bowl? Well, wonder no more, and behold the Kernel Katcher, which neatly collects your unpopped kernels and excess hulls so that you can enjoy a net popcorn experience, with no worries of chipping a tooth on an unpopped kernel.

Pop your corn any way you like, then dump it into the Kernel Katcher. Snap on the lid, shake the bowl in a circular motion, and your popcorn waste falls into the catcher compartment at the bottom. You can fit about 13 cups of popped corn in there and still … Read more

Fondue is fun. Sitting around with family and friends, jostling for position over a bowl of melted cheese or chocolate can be quite entertaining. Add some good wine and better conversation and you got yourself a complete evening. However, as enjoyable as this communal experience may be, there are at least two things involved with fondue parties that nobody enjoys: setting up and cleaning up.

When people think of fondue, generally cheese and chocolate come to mind, but also a small flickering flame. The Swissmar AlpenGlow 11-Piece Electric Fondue Set bypasses the convention of utilizing fire, and instead relies on … Read more