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Don't stir the pot.
(Credit: Breville)There is very little that is more comforting that having a warm pot of food slowly simmering away on the stovetop. The smell permeates the house, while the heat given off in the cooking process warms our bodies straight to the bone. During the cold winter months that lay ahead, this axiom will be put to the test over and over again. There can be little doubt as that this will be an enjoyable test to all. However, there is one additional ingredient that takes all warmth and comfort of a home cooked meal, but somehow makes it more comfortable: the slow cooker.
Having a slow cooker slowly bubbling forth the promise of a hearty meal throughout the day trumps stovetop cooking (at least in the comfort department) in both time and ease. Just put all the ingredients in the pot and let it cook away. The lack of a need to stir the pot makes cooking in a slow cooker as easy as can be. For all its ease and simplicity, however, the slow cooker usually needs some extra attention in the form of browning meat on the stove and then transferring it into the pot. This extra step may produce a depth of flavor that cannot be achieved in any other way, but the added preparation requires dirtying another pot or pan--a thought nobody finds comforting.
The Breville Slow Cooker with Easy Sear eliminates the need to transfer ingredients from stove to slow cooker. The die-cast aluminum cooking insert is stovetop-safe, and easily transports to the slow cooker without fear of scalding thanks to the removable silicone grips. When set in place, the slow cooker extends its usefulness, by not only supplying the usual choice between High and Low settings, but it also offers a third choice. The Dual setting begins cooking on High, and then after two hours automatically switches to Low. With such ease of use and versatility, it would be easy to sink into the sofa for about 8 hours (or all winter) with no concern about the frost outside.
Grill, griddle, and press your way to an uncluttered kitchen.
(Credit: Williams-Sonoma)Convenience in the kitchen is never farther away than the nearest appliance. Specialized contraptions of all shapes and sizes rest on our countertops waiting to be called upon for specific purposes. What can come as no surprise to anyone is that these countertops can become quite cluttered--and quite quickly, as we add to our arsenal of cookery. However, this maze of gadgetry doesn't have to be inescapable; one or two overachieving appliances with multitasking capabilities are all that is needed to create a sense of order into the kitchen.
If you find that you cannot live without an indoor grill, panini press, or electric griddle, Breville has the Smart Grill & Griddle, which combines these popular appliances into one convenient unit. Featuring removable plates and a design that opens a full 180 degrees, the countertop appliance can either be used as a press or as an electric grill or griddle. Additionally, the unit features the ability to lock into place, effectively turning it into a broiler. Most clamshell-style grills or griddles simply press down on the food, making it impossible, for example, to brown the top of an open-faced sandwich.
Just because this combination grill/griddle/press can accommodate a variety of cooking tasks doesn't mean that more familiar functions get left behind. The machine features an adjustable center angle, meaning that fat and grease can be channeled away from foods, and collected into a drip tray. For additional efficiency, the heating elements are embedded directly into the plates, and automatically adjust when new food is introduced. As a final measure of convenience, the removable plates are dishwasher safe, allowing for easy cleanup, no matter what you decide to cook.
It's okay to peek.
(Credit: Crate and Barrel)It can be hard to trust a toaster. Even the sleekest modern models still tend to use a toasting mechanism that hides the toasting progress from hungry stare of antsy eaters. While brushed stainless steel may be a handsome shade for a kitchen appliance, toast aficionados are more concerned with the doneness of their toast. With nine browning settings and a stylish brushed stainless steel exterior, the Breville Ikon Toasters offer precision toasting while looking good doing it. However, there is one more feature that should appeal to toast lovers who want their toast "just so."
With a patented "lift and look" feature, these toasters--available as either a two-slice or four-slice model--allow for impatient users to sneak a peek at the toasting progress. Settings can be readjusted midcycle without interrupting the toasting process. Good news for when only a properly toasted slice of bread will do.
But the ability to simply toast a slice of bread does not a modern toaster make; it must be at least capable of handling a bagel too. These toasters oblige, and come equipped with extrawide slots for pastries and bagels. A specialized setting for bagels even toasts faster on the inside element, allowing for bagel-eaters to properly toast the cut side. An LCD control panel with a circular count down display rounds out the features on this modern toaster. With stylish design and smart features, even the pickiest of toast eaters should be able to find their perfect slice.
Just the way you like it.
(Credit: Sur La Table)It's not always easy getting what you want when you want it. Especially if it's something where more often than not, good enough will do. Water may boil at 212 degrees Fahrenheit, but that doesn't always mean it's the preferred temperature for making tea. Factors such as tea type, length of time to steep, and how hot you want the tea to be when ready to drink come into play. For precision tea drinkers who know what they want, an alternative to the old-fashioned stovetop kettle is needed.
The Breville Variable-Temperature Electric Kettle gives tea lovers the opportunity to select preferred water temperature according to the tea they are brewing. Choose from six settings: green tea, white tea, oolong tea, French press, black tea, or boil. The electric kettle has a large 60-ounce capacity, and keeps water at the desired temperature for 20 minutes. As a safety feature, an auto shut off is incorporated so the water won't boil dry.
With a sturdy stainless-steel construction, the kettle has a classic feel merged with a modern sensibility. Complete with a removable scale filter and water level indicators on either side, the convenience offered by this kettle is apparent. For the tea lovers that know what they want, the precision offered by this electric kettle brings consistent results to the table every time.
No waiting in line.
(Credit: Chef's Catalog)Freshly squeezed juice is a treat, but all too often we compromise. We may have shelves and shelves of all kinds of juice blends staring at us from our supermarket's shelf, but nothing quite beats the real thing. In fact, the mere existence of all those juice varieties is testament to the pure deliciousness of fruit and vegetable juice. While many store-bought juices are quite good, having juice at the press of a button is the best.
If speed and convenience are what you are looking for, bypass the juice aisle and consider a juicer. The Breville Juice Fountain Compact BJE200XL marries power and speed into one handy appliance. Literally at the touch of a button you could be enjoying a glass of your favorite juice in as little as 5 seconds. With specs that claim 10 times faster juice extraction along with an increase of 30 percent efficiency, this juicer aims to challenge packaged juices for convenience.
The 700-watt motor spins at a rate of 13,000rpm, delivering juice not only quickly, but also with little prep work. The 3-inch circular feed tube allows for uncut fruits and vegetables to be juiced with ease. The powerful cutter and filter system could even juice a pineapple with the rind on. The juicer is capable of producing 1.5 quarts of juice before the internal pulp collector would need to be emptied. The removable parts are all dishwasher safe while the whole unit measures a compact 9.5 inches by 8.75 inches and stands 16 inches tall.
Kitchen scale and probe thermometer in one.
(Credit: Bed Bath & Beyond)It's always nice to find an appliance that merges one necessity with the other. It saves time, effort, and money when you can use one thing to do multiple tasks. Learning how to cook can be a daunting challenge, but with the proper tools and accessories, anyone can cook. Having the capability to properly weigh foods and monitor temperatures goes a long way in the kitchen. As cooks experiment with kitchen tools, eventually they find some items that are indispensable. Many would be lost without the aid of a kitchen scale and a thermometer.
The Breville ikon Kitchen Scale combines these two items into one sleek design. The scale has a 7.5-inch hygienic stainless-steel weighing platform and displays results on an LCD screen accurate to 0.1 ounce or 1 gram. The included probe thermometer is used for measuring temperature ranges from 32 degrees Fahrenheit to 302 degrees. When the probe is not plugged into the unit, ambient temperature is displayed. Other features include a timer, automatic shut-off, and programmable alarm.
The scale has a maximum capacity of 11 pounds (or 5 kilograms) and measures 9.5 inches by 7.5 inches, with a height of just over an inch. Available for $49.99 at Bed Bath & Beyond, the combination device is an easy and friendly way to dive deeper into the kitchen.
(Credit:
Sur la Table)
When it comes to baking, you're limited to what your oven can handle. If you want to bake more than one thing, you often have to wait to get your baking done. But the Breville Stainless Steel Smart Oven provides the ability to bake in a small space--even while you've got your oven going. The Smart Oven cooks food perfectly with 1,800 watts of power, more than enough to handle even the high temperature needed to turn out a great pizza.
The Breville Stainless Steel Smart Oven can easily be preset: included in its controls are nine customizable presets, as well as a digital display. The Smart Oven is 18-1/2 inches by 12-1/2 inches by 10-3/4 inches, fitting easily on your countertop.
It comes with a 13-inch pizza pan and a 12-inch square baking tray, so you don't have to worry about buying smaller pans that will fit the Smart Oven. It has a retractable crumb tray for easy cleanup and the rack even auto-ejects halfway when you open the oven door, making it easy for you to remove your hot items. The Smart Oven does make cooking much simpler. The Breville Stainless Steel Smart Oven is priced at $249.95.
I have a secret defense when it comes to toast: I like mine just a little less crunchy than my husband does. There's no way to toast it just "a bit more," which means that, if I've walked away from the toaster, my breakfast will still be there when I get back.
But Breville has made a toaster that makes every aspect of toasting bread just a little bit easier. The Die-Cast 4-Slice Smart Toaster even has "a bit more" function that allows a user to pop a slice back in for just a little more toasting rather than a full cycle. I fear for my breakfast's safety.
There are some real benefits to the Smart Toaster, though. It has a bagel button. If you choose to push the bagel button, the toaster heats only the cut side of the bagel, eliminating the weird texture a sliced bagel gets when both sides are toasted.
The Smart Toaster has also approved on the traditional fork-in-toaster removal process for finished toast. It has a motorized lift that actually brings the toast up to a level that I can retrieve it without risking electrocution. Always a plus in my book.
The designers of the Breville Smart Toaster set out to make a machine that reduced the risk of burnt slices or underdone toast. The many features of the Smart Toaster practically guarantee that it will toast your bread to the perfect level of doneness.
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