Appliances and Kitchen Gadgets

Go ahead, pour yourself a cold frosty glass full of Twitter. Mmm, that's good stuff. Scottish craft brewery BrewDog turned over the reins of its latest creation to fans on Twitter and Facebook. The resulting brew, #MashTag, came about after several rounds of voting on the various elements that make it up, from the type of brew to the label design.

Over the course of several days, BrewDog offered up three options at a time to a vote. For example, the "#MashTag" name won out over its competition of "CrewDog" and "Crowd Control." Fans also chose to make it an American Brown Ale, rather than an Imperial or Session Brown Ale.… Read more

The trilogy that is the Panasonic Breakfast Collection is now complete. Joining the electric kettle and the coffeemaker is the Panasonic NT-ZP1V Stainless Steel and Glass Toaster. Initially back-ordered while the other two countertop appliances enjoyed their moments to shine, the toaster is now available at a price of $199.95 and ships in one to three business days.

This brings the curtain down on Panasonic's Breakfast Collection for the moment. The three matching appliances are available in violet or in a cool smoke finish. Decking out the kitchen with distinctive design does not come cheap, however; the three … Read more

There exists a balance in the kitchen. Actually, there exist many balances in the kitchen. Not only are food and cooking so often about finding the right balance of spices and ingredients, but there is also a necessary balance going on behind the scenes. Kitchen appliances come in all shapes and sizes, but that doesn't mean the kitchen has to spend any amount of time out of balance.

The GE Artistry Series is a new kitchen appliance line designed to combine style and affordability. The kitchen suite consists of a bottom-freezer refrigerator ($1,099), a top-control dishwasher ($499), an … Read more

Once upon a time, microwave ovens were only a concept. Now, freezers everywhere can be stocked with frozen food as easily as taking a trip to the local market. But it still requires a trip to the store. Sure, frozen foods can be ordered and delivered, but since frozen foods are frozen there lacks a certain urgency of need; they can be stockpiled for months on end. But what about freshly-made convenience food?

There exists a gap between microwaveable meals and restaurant delivery. While some might say, "yes, that is called 'cooking,'" others might ask "how many … Read more

Of all the kitchen appliances that make their home in the busiest room of the house, there is one that refuses to budge during mealtime. Sure, the refrigerator and the dishwasher aren't going anywhere anytime soon, but the big meal-maker is the oven, and it historically hasn't been very mobile. Unless, of course, you have a mobile phone.

Expanding the capabilities of its wall oven line, GE has introduced True European Convection with Direct Air. Available for 30-inch models, the addition of a top interior vent allows for better circulation of heated air in the oven cavity. The … Read more

Hot water has a way of transforming things; coffee, tea, and soup would all be very different without it. Like any transformative technology, it all has to start somewhere. Sitting on the kitchen countertop, electric teakettles are convenient devices that heat water quickly and efficiently. No matter what they look like on the outside.

The Panasonic NC-ZK1V Kettle with High Quality Stainless Steel and Violet Finish ($179.95; also available in a cool smoke finish) can become part of a kitchen's routine without blending in. The distinctive appliance, Panasonic's Breakfast Collection, is one way to deck out your … Read more

They say we eat with our eyes first, yet that is only half the story. Clearly, whoever this "they" is either has a terrible sense of smell or a very bad cold. Eyes are great for getting a sneak peek of what's to come, but it is the nose that knows before all. Naturally, some edibles have more odiferous enticements than others with breakfast having a pretty big hold on olfactory actions. However, bacon and the scent of toasting bread are not the beginning of the story.

Wafting into the bedroom first thing in the morning, the … Read more

Leftovers. There are always leftovers. Obviously, dealing with leftovers is a nice problem to have. With a quick peek into the fridge, yesterday's meal can quickly become today's snack. But it's getting them into the fridge that's the hard part. There are storage containers in every shape and size, yet somehow that never seems to fully save all the leftovers. Enter plastic wrap. That is, enter plastic wrap everywhere: shredded pieces on the counter, balled-up rejects in the trash, and misshapen mistakes trying to cover food.

Wrestling with plastic wrap is one of those first-world problems … Read more

Waffle evolution has had a long and twisty course. First, there was the waffle iron; somebody poured batter in it and all was well. Eventually somebody took a freshly cooked waffle and rolled it up, inventing the ice cream cone. After that, not much happened until one enterprising fellow ruined his wife's waffle maker and changed athletic footwear forever. Now, there is a new course set for the home kitchen with upside-down, inside-out waffles.

The CucinaPro Bubble Waffler (around $45) offers a fun take on traditional breakfast waffles. Modeled after the street food, eggettes, or even their cousin, ebleskivers, … Read more