Appliances & Kitchen Gadgets

(Credit: Appliancist)

For those of us who pay per load to do the laundry, the simplest way to save money is to scour the neighborhood for the cheapest machines. But those who have washers and dryers in their homes have to find creative ways to save on spending, whether it means stretching a pair of jeans for an extra day or two, air drying towels and sheets, or investing in a green washing machine. The Zanussi washing machine will not only wash your clothes and look stylish, but it will also save you money.

If you're wondering how it saves money, its secret is in the water, which it adjusts depending on the amount of clothing being washed. In Which? magazine, the washer was awarded the "Greener Best Buy" status because of its unique Jetsystem technology that saves money by adjusting the amount of water and energy used per load.

The Zanussi also has a Night Wash program that runs the machine at a noise level that's appropriate for midnight washing, when energy costs are lower than during the day.

The Zanussi holds a comfortable 15 pound load, has an inverter motor that runs at 1,600rpm, and an LED display. It's also available in graphite finish. You can learn more about it on Zanussi's Web site.

(Credit: Coolest Gadgets)

The automated flapjack maker is able to produce a pancake every 30 seconds, stacking them in a neat little pile on the side while you spend your time frying eggs and sausage. And you needn't worry about preparing the batter either, as the machine is designed to use ready-made batter pouches.

Understandably, this type of machine lends itself well to larger crowds, as in cafeterias and convenience stores. Taking up about as much real estate as a microwave, it provides a more economical and space-efficient solution to providing pancakes for larger venues than a full-sized griddle. That being said, it's most likely a bit too specialized for you to rationalize keeping one on your kitchen countertop. In any case, the machine is technically designed for use in commercial applications anyway.

The Chefstack is shipping at the end of September of this year. You can preorder one and read more about its features on ChefStack's Web site.

Now only if there were an oven attachment...

(Credit: Kalorik)

Someday, in the probably-too-distant future, our kitchens will be completely automated above and beyond anything we can now imagine. Our meals will be prepared at the press of a button, and instead of passable microwaveable food, the meals will actually be nutritious and delicious. While whatever magical all-in-one unit that would create these meals out of thin air might not yet exist, appliance makers are doing all they can, now, to cram every conceivable appliance into one unit.

The Kalorik All In One Mixer takes the lowly hand mixer and elevates it into an appliance practically capable of making dinner all by itself. The overachieving appliance combines a mixer, a fruit juicer, a chopper, and an immersion blender into one unit. An innocuous-looking base stores the main unit, while included attachments are a chopper (which acts like a mini food processor), a stick blender, and a juice reamer that mounts on top. Just for good measure, the mixer also comes with dough hooks in addition to the standard beaters.

Set up on the counter, it wouldn't appear as if the appliance had so many uses. The elegant design integrates nicely with whatever attachment you may have on at the moment. While we may not be at the point where we have "Star Trek"-style food replicators, there can be little doubt that we live in a golden age of combination appliances. This multiuse mixer is just another small step to a future where we only need one appliance. All of this for only $49.99. The future truly is a magical place.

New meaning to nuked food.

(Credit: Everything Kitchens)

Microwave ovens are overrated. Oh, sure, they can do some things really well, but for other tasks, they fall quite short. Personally, I like an appliance that is capable of doing more than softening butter and popping popcorn. (OK, I know that's an understatement, but bear with me.) Considering how manufacturers love to integrate several appliances into one (usually with toasters, it would seem), it should come as no surprise that the ubiquitous microwave oven is finally starting to diversify.

The Kalorik Steam Microwave Oven w/Real Convection certainly isn't the first combination appliance based upon quick-and-easy cooking, but it sure does add some nice features. Combining a steamer, convection oven and microwave into one handy device, Kalorik may have hit the combination jackpot. No longer must microwaved veggies turn out bland, soggy, and lifeless. The integrated water tray allows for no-hassle healthy steaming. Additionally, a powerful 1,500W convection feature is set in motion via a mounted rear fan, which allows for heat circulation beyond what a normal microwave is capable of.

The microwave is now capable of much more than its predecessors. For somebody who has become weary of nuked food ruining meals, this is certainly a welcome trend. The addition of a steamer function is especially nice, and should help to change people's perceptions about healthy food coming out of a microwave. Oh, and for us popcorn people out there--I'm sure it will still make a bag of popcorn just fine.

It really is as black and shiny as my piano.

(Credit: Haier)

You can always count on an exhibition to inspire companies to create and display some pretty cool stuff, and the International Housewares Show in Chicago is no exception. Among Haier's showings this year is the new Piano Black line of small appliances.

The blue LED illumination looks good, but it's the features, like cool-to-the-touch handles, that will really win you over. This is a full line of appliances, including a cordless electric water kettle in standard and dome shapes, digital toasters in a variety of configurations, a food processor and blender combination, a citrus juicer, and more.

I've always resisted the pull of electric kettles, but these look so good I might have to make an exception. My favorite feature from the line is on the digital toaster: a countdown display. If you've ever stood in your kitchen, coffee in hand, waiting to grab your toast and go, you will know exactly what I'm feeling.

These appliances don't need to hide out in cabinets or behind doors; they're right at home out on the counter for everyone to see. The line was just unveiled at the show in late March, so look for it to hit stores shortly.

Toast for toast's sake.

(Credit: Crate & Barrel)

There are a lot of toasters out there. For every personal aesthetic, there seems to be a corresponding toaster. Toasters range from the bright and shiny to gimmicky multitaskers made out of plastic. Machines are available for those that prefer design, and there are toasters out there that tout convenience. Combination appliances are great fun, and at times actually do save time and money (consider the toaster oven, for example). But sometimes you just want a toaster that toasts.

That is, toasts and looks cool too. The Bodum Bistro Toaster combines classic and modern design into one impressive design. All the features one would expect out of any toaster are present and accounted for. You can change the heat setting, browning level, and a cancel button and defrost option is also incorporated. A nice touch is the inclusion of a footed base that allows for convenient cord storage.

This is a toaster for toast purists. It is not a combination appliance beyond the fact that it uses retro-modern design, but that's the charm in this particular appliance. In the end, it proves that you don't have to combine things to be successful. After all, sometimes when you want toast, all you really want is toast.

A pressure cooker is your friend.

(Credit: Cuisinart)

When I was first venturing into the kitchen, one appliance in particular scared me: the pressure cooker. Even the name--while being an accurate descriptor--conjured up images of tortured carrots and screaming potatoes. I was afraid to go near the thing, let alone use it for some innocent task like boiling water. Eventually however, I recovered from my appliance paranoia and now can operate all manner of kitchen appliance and gadget with no hesitation. Still, I get the occasional shiver when pulling out the trusty pressure cooker. While the older pressure cookers resemble medieval torture devices, this shiny new Electric Pressure Cooker from Cuisinart looks positively harmless.

Operating on the same principal as its ancient cousins, the electric version offers precision control and timing features. Besides low- and high-pressure options, settings include browning, simmer, and sauté. An LED timer counts down remaining cooking time. When done, the lock will not open until the pressure is released and the unit switches over to an automatic warming mode. The cooking pot is dishwasher safe and has a 6-quart capacity.

Pressure cookers a classic way to speed up cooking time and produce healthier results. They are simple to operate, as expanding steam does all of the work. Just put your raw veggies and meat inside, add water, and fire it up. However, it's not the type of thing you can set and forget; it is best to keep one eye always on those sneaky pressure cookers, even if the modern ones aren't as menacing as past versions.

Cool features, hot fridge.

(Credit: Samsung)

There are some places an LCD screen makes no sense, like on a vent hood. But there are other places where the inclusion of an LCD screen is so natural that it practically seems obvious once you see it. Like on the fridge.

Samsung isn't the only one to come up with this idea, but it is a nice addition to the company's new French door fridge, announced on November 3. The RFG299 has a 7-inch LCD screen just above the ice and water dispenser. The screen offers one-touch access to calendars, schedules, showcase photos, nutrition facts, and unit conversions, as well as controlling the fridge temperature and monitoring the water filter status.

In other words, you can clear off all the artwork, invitations, photos, and sticky notes all over your fridge and enjoy the sleek look of, well, a clean fridge front. (Hint: Take snapshots of your to-dos and kids' artwork and incorporate them into the photo slide show.)

Although the fridge fits in a standard footprint, it offers 28.5 cubic feet of internal storage; that's the industry's largest. By using high-rate urethane insulation technology, the company was able to reduce the refrigerator walls from 2.04 inches to 1.38 inches, leaving you with an extra 3.5 cubic feet for your favorite foods.

Interior LED lighting lets you see clearly, and the fridge and freezer sections are cooled separately to prevent odors from spreading. The fridge comes in stainless steel and retails for about $3,100.

(Credit: General Electric via CNN)

Our struggling economy has put just about everyone in the country back in touch with the part of their judgment that decides when it's a good time to splurge and a good time to save. In the wake of rising oil prices, a planet that's heating up, and falling stocks, the emphasis on energy-efficient home technology is higher than ever.

GE has responded by planning a release of a line of green appliances in early 2009. The line is part of GE's "ecomagination" initiative, and will include an array of ''smart" refrigerators, ranges, washers and dryers, dishwashers, and microwaves that will be equipped to receive a signal from local utility companies. Based on the incoming signal, the appliance will respond accordingly. What is the benefit of allowing your refrigerator to communicate with your utility company? The proof is, shall we say, in the pattern.

Since energy rates are higher during hours of peak usage, the line of smart appliances will put off using energy until later, when peak hours are over and rates are lower. According to the press release, "the automatic defrost feature on GE refrigerators is initiated by the internal electronics based on the number of refrigerator door openings and other input signals. If the refrigerator can delay the defrost cycle from occurring during peak energy usage hours, consumers will save money by paying for the same amount of energy later in the day when the rates are lower."

The new line offers consumers the best of both worlds in terms of consumer control, either functioning without the need for any user input or allowing the consumer to override the energy-saving program. Then again, when saving energy and money is as easy as some internal programming, why override it?

The line of Energy Management Enabled Appliances will be released in the pilot area in Louisville in the first quarter of 2009 to a group of employees. At the beginning of the program, GE plans to test out the line in a group of 15 to 20 homes. To read more about the new line of smart appliances, check out the company's press release.