roaster

Countertop appliance cooks it all

The kitchen countertop has become a landscape where anything can happen. Populated with appliances of all shapes and sizes, the one central area has become a place where potential gets turned into delicious meals every day. However, all that deliciousness comes at a cost that extends beyond the checkout line at the supermarket; as every home chef knows, space is always an issue.

Convenience on the countertop comes in many forms. But that doesn't mean it cannot come in one form. The Cuisinart CBO-1000 Oven Central is an all-in-one countertop appliance that can cook up a variety of meals … Read more

Black Gold, Brooklyn's newest record store

Times are tough, and even tougher for the music business, but that didn't stop Jeff Ogiba and Sommer Foster-Santoro from opening a new record store, Black Gold.

It's in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, and I dropped by on Thursday to see how they were doing. Black Gold also sells freshly brewed coffee from Rook Coffee Roasters and baked goods from Scratchbread, so the shop has great ambiance. The vinyl selection covers rock, punk, hard-core, blues, jazz, hip-hop, and everything in between. Prices seem very fair, and I spotted one of my favorite Rolling Stones LPs, "Love You Live,&… Read more

Roast two chickens at once

Roast chicken is one of those meals that isn't just traditional -- it's also very tasty. It's even better when you can roast two chickens at once. The Two-in-One Vertical Chicken Roaster holds two chickens upright at once, typically over a grill. It has a vented center cone for each chicken, which can be filled with beer, wine or other savory liquids so that your chicken stays moist throughout the entire roasting process. It also infuses each chicken with flavors that a traditional roasting pan just can't provide. The cones are designed to minimize leaks, while … Read more

Step away from the stovetop

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

Thinking inside the box

For as long as there have been kitchen counters, there have been manufactures eager to make stuff to put on top of them. Kitchens would just not be complete without a fair showing of gadgetry. Those gadgets can range from the useless to the sublime, but at their core they are designed to do one thing: inspire a person to cook. How well any particular appliance does this task is open to debate, but when it comes down to it, having a new toy to play with generally inspires.

The Sanyo HR-T3 Electric Roaster may not be endowed with any … Read more

Countertop roaster suffers identity crisis

Some appliances just can't make up their mind. This ingrained multitasking ability is good news for kitchens everywhere. Combination appliances often look funny (or do disparate tasks), but sometimes they just do several things at once without making a big fuss about it. Call it an oven, a steamer, a roaster, or a slow cooker, some appliances simply benefit from this exact lack of identity.

The Nesco Convection Roaster offers versatility that complements your traditional oven. With a temperature range from 200 degrees Fahrenheit to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, the appliance has the capability to perform a variety of tasks. … Read more

Stuff your own jalapeños

Stuffed jalapeño peppers used to one of those dishes I left to the experts. The stuffing process wasn't so much the problem as the fact that the peppers tended to turn into a mess when I went to roast them. But the Jalapeño Pepper Roaster actually keeps roasting peppers upright, ensuring that the stuffing stays inside and cleanup is minimal. The roaster is essentially a base that you can place up to 18 peppers in. The whole thing goes straight on top of your grill, where the peppers can pick up that smoky flavor that … Read more

Move over bacon, here comes beer-can chicken

I'm going to make a bold prediction: bacon may well have been the favorite food obsession of the Internet during 2008, but beer can chicken is going to wrestle the mantle away this year. Of course, we won't know the results of this delicious statement well until mid-summer, but all the signs are there. We have seen a recent explosion of interest in the cooking method, and now we are seeing more products designed to deliver the classic meal. From ceramic cookers looking to mimic the process to simple devices resembling colanders or mesh steamers, the fact is … Read more

Countertop garlic roaster

All right, so with Valentine's Day approaching, you're probably not thinking of garlic, but it's definitely the way to this girl's heart. I love roasted garlic, but who wants to fire up the whole oven for a few measly cloves? Plus, the wait time is excruciating--when I want garlic, I don't want to wait an hour.

The Todco GR300 Roasted Garlic Express might not be a traditional gift, but it's one that would make me happy. It's an electronic garlic roaster that sits on your counter and roasts up to three cloves of … Read more

Stove-top nut roaster cranks out holiday treats

I have always been of the mind that the fastest way to ruin a good nut is to coat it in some sort of flavoring. Obviously--as evidenced by the massive selection of candied and spiced nuts on the market--I am in the minority. However, I am sure there are some chocolate lovers out there who feel the same way, albeit about chocolate. Luckily, there are plenty of nonchocolated nuts out there, while there also happen to be plenty of non-nutted chocolates. You see? We can all get along.

With the holiday spirit in mind, I took it upon myself to … Read more