countertop

Forget about the future where we all walk around in silver unitards. How about a future where we dump a bunch of groceries on the counter and the counter tells us what we can make? That's the future kitchen user experience of Oasis, according to Intel Labs, which showed it off at the ninth annual Intel Research Day.

Oasis uses projected displays on everyday household surfaces, like kitchen countertops, to create interactive "islands." The technology lets you interact with an ordinary kitchen counter in a way that feels completely natural and intuitive. It's done by retrofitting … Read more

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

I'm always in need of just a few more feet of countertop. Whether I need to put down a cutting board or just have somewhere to put a mixing bowl, even another foot would make my life a bit easier. The Instant Counter provides a way to turn your stovetop or sink into a little more counter space. The tempered glass makes for an ideal cutting surface, which can eliminate the need to devote part of your counter to a cutting board. Its legs will hold it two inches over burners or a sink. If you choose to use … Read more

Countertop appliances are convenient, plentiful, and seemingly available for any particular need. From toaster ovens to rice cookers, the small devices have found a way into our kitchens, offering us easy usability and specialized functions all without taking up too much room. Having an army of small appliances ready to do our culinary bidding may be handy and useful, but sometimes it's just about storage. In the case of this particular countertop device, it's about wine storage.

The Wine Enthusiast Silent 12 Bottle Countertop Wine Refrigerator keeps your favorite wines at the correct temperature and ready to drink. … Read more

It's easy to find convenience in the kitchen. Everywhere you look, gadgets and appliances are designed with ease of use in mind. This is a good thing, as cooking should not be intimidating to anyone; it is communal, fun, and something we all have in common. Having a device that has preset modes for easy operation makes kitchen chores accessible to anyone, including children. Having a device that offers preset cooking modes, and advanced options makes sure that particular appliance offers something for everyone.

The Black & Decker Digital Rotisserie Convection Oven is one such device. Sure, you could … Read more

There are plenty of options out there when it comes to installing new counters in your kitchen. But green options are few and far between--even if you're doing your best to make your kitchen sustainable, it's hard to find a good options. And if you want your kitchen to look good, it's even harder. ECO by Cosentino provides an alternative that is both green and attractive, however. The counter tops are made from materials that have reached the end of their life cycle, meaning that they would otherwise wind up in a landfill. Those materials include mirrors, … Read more

If you're going green in your kitchen, it's hard to find countertops that don't cause concern but still look good. Teragren has combined style and sustainability in its Bamboo Countertops. They're available as an alternative to hardwoods for counters, kitchen islands and even tabletops--and bamboo offers the same durability as traditional hardwood counters. Each countertop is finished with food-safe mineral oil and beeswax, for a surface that can be used for food preparation and even cutting. It has a caramelized face because of the stain used.

The Bamboo Countertops are available in panels of 30 inches … Read more

Convenience and kitchen gadgets go hand in hand. Certainly, that is true in the case of this Stainless Steel Kenmore Countertop Microwave & Pizza Oven. With the inclusion of a pizza oven into the base of the microwave, it's quite possible any college student will never need another appliance as long as they are in school.

The microwave and pizza oven work independently of each other. The microwave has six automatic One-Touch buttons, for most common microwave usages: Reheat, Cook, Defrost, Express Defrost, Popcorn, and Potato. Additionally, an "Add 30 seconds" button allows for personalized preferences for … Read more

I love clean dishes, but in many of the apartments where I live, dishwashers are a rare commodity. I'm one of the nutcases who finds dishwashing therapeutic, but I realize that mine is a sentiment not shared by most other people I know. In any case, a gigantic rack full of drying dishes makes a kitchen look cluttered and unkempt, and washing dishes primarily by hand, though a more conservative method of cleaning, takes a lot of time.

This Danby countertop dishwasher fits conservation and convenience into one cute little package, accomplishing what a normal dishwasher can do, but … Read more