combination appliance

Cuisinart stirs up a blender and a food processor

Overachieving kitchen appliances can be good for consumers. Having one appliance that can handle only one task at a time can waste time, space and money. Add another feature however, and suddenly you have a combination appliance, quite often with enough multitasking abilities to prevent us from purchasing a second, similar appliance.

With one 500-watt motor, the Cuisinart PowerBlend Duet Blender/Food Processor supplies the power and usability of two popular kitchen appliances. Featuring interchangeable work vessels, the machine is capable of a variety of tasks. In food processor mode, the appliance allows users the ability to slice, shred or … Read more

Toast-coffee combo just enough to get out the door

There are two things that matter most during busy mornings: coffee and food. And the second one is a bit of a stretch. However, as they say, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so it is usually a good idea to have something along with the morning cup of joe. For many of us, this means something that requires little or no thought to make. Something like toast.

The Toastmaster Cool Touch Toaster Coffee Maker Combo simplifies the morning routine by boiling it down to where just the essentials are taken care of. Combining a toaster and … Read more

Avanti CK30B-1: Turducken of ranges

The endless customization options available for kitchens assures you that no matter the preference, there is an option available--sometimes you just have to look a little harder for it. Design choices do not have to be all about shiny chrome and stainless steel when it comes to looking for ways to outfit the hearth. Sometimes, it's not a matter of elegance at all; it could be all about convenience. And sometimes that means stuffing as many major appliances into one space as possible.

Combining a sink, a refrigerator, and a stovetop into one unit, the Avanti CK30B-1 Compact Kitchen … Read more

Slow cooking with a griddle

Griddles are extremely convenient to have set up and ready to go. Just turn it on, crack an egg or whip up some pancake batter, and off you go. The flat, evenly heated cooking surface will do the rest. Another convenient appliance is the slow cooker. Again, minimal amount of work is required: place protein, veggies, spices, and liquid in the pot and wait (after turning it on, that is). If only the two appliances were combined.

This isn't the first griddle/slow cooker we've seen, but West Bend seems to be stepping it up a notch. The … Read more

Combination mixer makes everything

Someday, in the probably-too-distant future, our kitchens will be completely automated above and beyond anything we can now imagine. Our meals will be prepared at the press of a button, and instead of passable microwaveable food, the meals will actually be nutritious and delicious. While whatever magical all-in-one unit that would create these meals out of thin air might not yet exist, appliance makers are doing all they can, now, to cram every conceivable appliance into one unit.

The Kalorik All In One Mixer takes the lowly hand mixer and elevates it into an appliance practically capable of making dinner … Read more

This microwave oven will also brown, bake, broil, crisp, and steam

Microwave ovens are overrated. Oh, sure, they can do some things really well, but for other tasks, they fall quite short. Personally, I like an appliance that is capable of doing more than softening butter and popping popcorn. (OK, I know that's an understatement, but bear with me.) Considering how manufacturers love to integrate several appliances into one (usually with toasters, it would seem), it should come as no surprise that the ubiquitous microwave oven is finally starting to diversify.

The Kalorik Steam Microwave Oven w/Real Convection certainly isn't the first combination appliance based upon quick-and-easy cooking, … Read more

Toaster combines modern and classic styling--and that's it

There are a lot of toasters out there. For every personal aesthetic, there seems to be a corresponding toaster. Toasters range from the bright and shiny to gimmicky multitaskers made out of plastic. Machines are available for those that prefer design, and there are toasters out there that tout convenience. Combination appliances are great fun, and at times actually do save time and money (consider the toaster oven, for example). But sometimes you just want a toaster that toasts.

That is, toasts and looks cool too. The Bodum Bistro Toaster combines classic and modern design into one impressive design. All … Read more