Appliances & Kitchen Gadgets

Together, forever.

(Credit: Amazon)

Salt and pepper seem to have a lot of superstition attached to their existence. For example, there's that whole thing about throwing salt over one's shoulder after spilling it. Another one is that apparently, salt and pepper need to be kept together at all times. What happens if your throwing arm goes out, or if you are on a salt-reduced diet, I'll leave for other brave souls to test out, but when it comes to the world's most common spices, there is no end to how we keep them at the ready.

Not only is it important where and how we keep the salt and pepper, but what we do with them, too. The Cuisinart SP-2 Stainless-Steel Rechargeable Salt and Pepper Mills answers all these questions. The pair of mills stand atop of a base station, silently recharging in place as they wait to be put into use. When the time comes, the mills can each be adjusted to a fine or course grind, while equipped LED lights illuminate the target food.

The low-profile recharging station assures the pair are kept together. With the ability to grind out 15-20 minutes of continuous use, the mills offer a long-lasting charge, capable of getting through even the longest of dinners--just be sure to keep them together while passing them around the table.

Wine collecting made easy.

(Credit: Williams-Sonoma)

It can be difficult to collect wine. It's not necessarily the entry price or the learning curve, as there are numerous varietals that are attractively priced, and a plethora of written advice is always only a few clicks away. No, what makes collecting wine difficult as opposed to baseball cards or classic cars is that wine is consumed. However, sometimes a collection need only be a few bottles strong.

The Cuisinart 8-Bottle Wine Cellar is a perfect solution for oenophiles who frequently "update" their collection. Holding either 750 milliliter or 1,500 milliliter bottles, the wine fridge combines aesthetics and practicality. It runs silent, as it uses thermoelectric cooling technology, which makes it an ideal model for countertop use. With eight preprogrammed temperature settings, it offers convenience at the touch of a button. Full manual control is also an option, and the refrigerator can chill wines to 20 degrees below ambient temperature.

An interior light illuminates your collection when the door is opened; the light can also be left on so as to show off your collection. The unit measures 10 inches by 17 inches, with a height of 17.25 inches. While the wine cellar doesn't take up much room, when it's time to grow your collection, a 16-bottle model and a 32-bottle model are also available. Just be careful, as then it would appear you've become a wine collector.

Bright, colorful and handy.

(Credit: Sur La Table)

It is said that we eat with our eyes first. There can be no doubt that when a dish is brought to the table, we drink in its aroma and visual appeal first, but when we dig in, no matter how great it looks, it better taste good. Since texture is key in so many dishes, it's no wonder chefs often use immersion blenders when faced with the need to blend. Other than the fact that they work quickly and efficiently with pots and pans, they also offer precise control in that one can see exactly what they are doing--and when enough blending is enough.

For home use, immersion blenders are not only convenient, but they also offer home cooks the same visual control over their dishes. The Cuisinart SmartStick Immersion Blenders brighten up the home kitchen and expand its practicality. Available in red, green, blue, or yellow, the 200-watt handheld blender features one-touch continuous or pulse control. With a 14-inch height, the blender is perfect for working directly in the pot whenever making soups, stews, gravies or sauces. The removable blending shaft is dishwasher-safe, making this handy kitchen appliance one that you will always want to reach for.

As easy as can be.

(Credit: Chef's Catalog)

Cooking offers something for everyone, at every skill level. From the time we make our first peanut butter and jelly sandwich, we are all on our way to being cooks of one ilk or another. Some of us end up enjoying the process, while some tend to view it as a necessary evil, and find ways to get out of the chore. It was probably a person of this particular mindset that invented the slow cooker, but it certainly turned out to be a brainstorm that benefits us all.

The Cuisinart 4-Quart Round Slow Cooker makes mealtime manageable for anyone and everyone. With a 24-hour programmable timer, preparation requires little more than putting the ingredients in the pot. The easy to use operation is initiated via a simple control panel. Users choose from a high, low, or simmer temperature setting, while the timer is intuitive and easy to set. A warm setting automatically kicks in when the meal is done. The round ceramic cooking pot doubles as a serving dish, making this slow cooker an easy choice for east to make meals.

For those that wish to dive in a little deeper, the slow cooker comes with an additional steaming rack. A recipe book is included which describes how to use the slow cooker and rack to prepare everything from a "baked" potato to cheesecakes and other sweet desserts. One pot, one meal, with dessert included--this slow cooker offers something for all cooks.

One for every kitchen.

(Credit: Sur La Table)

No matter what decor your kitchen is decked out in, chances are it goes with red, blue, green, or yellow. More importantly, no matter how small the meal you are making may be, chances are it would be made easier with a food processor at the ready. While it may be nice to have a large 14-cup capacity always on hand, that may not always be the case. They can be large and bulky, thus often being resigned to cabinet storage when not in use. Some appliances have earned the right for more attention and are deserving of everyday use.

The Cuisinart 3-Cup Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor not only comes in the fun aforementioned colors, but it also can keep your countertops looking snazzy by not cluttering them up. Measuring a minimal 9 inches tall with a footprint of 5 inches by 7 inches, the miniature food processor does everyday prep work in a small space. A simple touch pad control panel offers the choice between coarse chop or fine grind and mirrors the food processor itself by being elegant, uncluttered and easy to use. The machine comes with stainless steel chopping, slicing, and shredding blades, which are dishwasher safe as is the work bowl.

With a 3-cup capacity, the food processor is up to many common kitchen tasks. Having it always on hand means that you will be able chop, slice, and shred without having to sacrifice counter space. Considering the bright, fun colors available (at $39.95 each), you can keep your counters looking good too.

Watch it or not.

(Credit: Bed Bath & Beyond)

One great kitchen mystery is how a watched pot never manages to boil, but there is another, similar puzzle: When will the toast be ready? However, unlike simply not watching, there is no easy remedy to (seemingly) speed along the cooking process. It will be ready when it pops up, and that is that. We are left to wonder on our own, only to be surprised by the toast popping up when we least expect it. Until now.

The Cuisinart Countdown Metal 4-Slice Toaster features two separate control panels for precision toasting. The six-shade selector dial and the reheat and defrost settings offer further control. The extra-wide slots accommodate bagels and other large items, while an extra-lift carriage lever makes grabbing smaller items a breeze. While these features may be nice, it's the countdown timer that makes this toaster unique. Each control panel features its own LCD panel that ticks away the seconds until your toast will be ready.

Like a jack-in-the-box that unleashes its inner clown with no prior notice, most toasters keep us on edge, waiting. Now the only question that remains is just how Cuisinart has solved this age-old question of when the toast will be done. I guess some things should always remain a mystery.

If you've read anything I've ever posted, you know that I have four children who seem to believe they are entitled to several meals daily, and I am cheap. A favorite breakfast in my house is waffles. Think two per child, per day. Plus sometimes I eat one--or two. So figure that we eat about 50 waffles per week.

Sometimes, basic is all you need.

(Credit: Cuisinart)

I've tried store brands, national brands purchased on sale with coupons, and bulk-size boxes. However, the lowest price I can find is about $1 for 10 waffles, so I'm paying at least $5 per week--often quite a bit more. And it makes me nuts.

I started researching waffle makers, but I quickly determined that I wanted a regular waffle maker, not a Belgian waffle iron. As cute as it is, I also did not want this Texas-shaped waffle maker.

I settled on the Cuisinart WMR-CA Round Classic Waffle Maker, currently priced at $27 at Amazon.

It has ready indicator lights, a five-setting control so that you can meet waffle browning preferences for picky children, an accurate thermostat, an easy-to-clean nonstick surface that doesn't flake off, an easy-to-clean stainless steel exterior, a small footprint, a cool touch exterior, so your children won't burn themselves when they inevitably stick their hands on the thing. And it has a three-year warranty.

However, it doesn't have removable plates you can pop in the dishwasher, an audible ready indicator chime, and someone who will actually stand in your kitchen and make the waffles according to the directions. Most of the negative reviews at Amazon seem to be written by people who didn't bother to read the instruction manual or think the laws of physics work differently in their kitchens, so instructions don't apply to them. You know, people like my husband, who is not allowed to use the waffle maker.

Overall, this machine is standing up to the heavy use we expect from it. I mix up batter and make about 100 waffles, the majority of which are frozen and toasted for breakfast over the next two weeks. I'd estimate my batter costs at less than $3 a batch, so I'm saving a pretty penny. And that's even more delicious than fresh waffles.

Everybody's happy.

(Credit: Cuisinart)

Ice cream is a selfish treat. After all, when it comes down to it, other than dogs, babies, and very significant others, nobody wants to share that cone with you anyway. Even if one were so inclined, the issue of flavor would most certainly come up. This is why we have stores dedicated to giving us picky consumers dozens of flavor options. But what of homemade ice cream? If you enjoy making ice cream at home, somebody has to decide what flavor to make. Most ice cream machines can only handle one flavor at a time, so somebody has to lose out. That is unless you have a double-duty machine.

The Cuisinart ICE-40 Flavor Duo Frozen Yogurt - Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker allows for peace to return to ice cream loving households. Able to make two flavors at a time, the brushed metal housing holds two one-quart bowls. The dual-bowl ice cream maker uses double insulated freezer bowls, while ingredients are added through easy-pour spouts.

With the capability to create frozen treats in as little as 20 minutes, the ice cream maker not only offers aficionados the choice of flavor, but also a quick freezing time. Considering how enjoyable it can be to have exactly the flavor of ice cream you want, this ice cream maker is an easy way to please the whole family in a short amount of time.

(Via Appliancist.)

Prep work made easy.

(Credit: Williams-Sonoma)

A food processor is a fun kitchen tool to own. Once you dive into creating a meal with one, you never want to go back. They chop, slice, shred, and mix easily and at the touch of a button. As a kitchen task time-saver, food processors offer top-notch execution. It seems that with many tools designed to cut down on tedious tasks, overall quality often suffers. Not so with food processors. In fact, they keep improving.

The Cuisinart Elite Die-Cast Food Processor is constructed to last for years of use, while providing quality and convenience. With three nesting work bowls (16-cup, 13-cup and 4.5-cup), you can keep the prep work going without missing a beat. Redesigned adjustable slicing discs and a reversible shredding disc allow for more control than ever. Constructed with a seal-tight gasket for improved liquid handling, the work bowls provide an easy-to-work-with environment. Additionally, when pouring out ingredients, the blades lock into place, eliminating the common problem of dangerous blades splattering into foods. A storage box is provided for all the blades and accessories, while the power cord retracts into the base.

Handy time-saving and space-saving features abound on this food processor. With rugged construction and an elegant touch-pad button interface, this food processor strives to make your kitchen tasks easy for years to come. Includes a 1,000W motor, measures 8.75 inches by 11 inches, and stands 17.5 inches tall.