Find the perfect gift for everyone
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.
Set it, but don't forget it.
(Credit: Rüegg)Backyard parties are always a lot of fun. Friends and family get together to eat and drink and share talltales and gossip. But, mostly eat. Plans have to be made for the grill, what to put on it, how to marinate it, and finally how to cook it. Which means, somebody has to be in charge of the grill. While it may be rewarding to oversee a landscape of cooking meats and vegetables, the reality is with responsibility, sacrifices must be made. While all your friends are over there laughing and having fun, you're stuck making sure their food doesn't burn.
What could end up being a bitter tasting barbecue can be avoided if the meats and vegetables would just cook themselves. At least when it comes to shish kabobs, the Valigrill by Ruegg lets that happen. The electrically operated grill features a set of automatically rotating skewers to keep meat slowly spinning over the fire without burning. A combustion bar feeds oxygen to the charcoal grill, ensuring even and continual burning. The grill is mounted on wheels for easy portability. For good old-fashioned grilling, a standard grill grate is included, that is if you want to stand over a hot fire while all your friends are having fun.
(Via Appliancist)
Too tempting to stay inside.
(Credit: Amazon)Grilling season is never officially over. Unlike team sports or the weather, the grill doesn't cycle through calendar months, ticking off days, perpetually preparing for next season. While the use of the grill may be directly linked to sports and weather patterns, the fact remains that grilling trumps all. Two degrees above freezing in hockey season is still cause enough to bust out the grill, especially when there are new toys to play with.
For those who can stand the cold and wish for the fire, here is the Grilling Basket and Tray With Lidded Shaker Set available on Amazon. Grilling utensils fashioned into mesh baskets are always a popular item; one can grill small veggies or delicate foods such as fish without worry of losing contents to the fire. Complete with a nonstick coating, the grill baskets form a trifecta of easy-to-handle, easy-to-clean, and tempting-to-use cookware for the grill.
The variety of the three grill baskets brings diversity to the grill, but the standout is the Lidded Shaker (which can be purchased separately). Grilled hot potatoes or home fries can have seasoning added to them throughout the cooking process; a quick flip with the wrist and salt and spices become incorporated with no threat of any delicious morsels falling into the fire. Cold weather grillers should appreciate the affinity of this cookware for potatoes. The classic comfort food should supply enough energy to get through any weather.
Can't decide? Have both.
(Credit: Sanyo)Indecision can be a wonderful thing. When choices present themselves, there are times when it seems impossible to make a decision. In the kitchen, sometimes this waffling creates inspiration. Craving for more than one type of food can lead to experimentation when the answer is simply to have both. Spectacular combinations can be formed out of this alliance, from peanut butter and chocolate to fried chicken and waffles.
The Sanyo Indoor Barbecue Grill and Griddle combines two great cooking appliances and merges them into one. With 200 square inches of cooktop real estate, the combination appliance has ample room to cook up new creations from your imagination. The 1,300-watt device has an adjustable temperature range from 200 degrees F to 425 degrees F. The grill features a grease channel, for fat and grease to drain away, while the griddle has a convenient integrated lid.
Perfect for all-in-one cooking, the cooktop makes it easy to plan complete meals with just one appliance. Classic combinations such as steak with eggs and burgers covered in melted cheese are easily made using the features of this gadget. And of course, the design encourages experimentation. It may not be capable of cooking fried chicken and waffles, but that doesn't mean you can't give steak and pancakes a try. Let your imagination run wild.
What's for dinner?
(Credit: Sanyo)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 revolutionary features, but as a new way of looking at an old friend, perhaps some inspiration can be found. Basically a box with upper-and-lower heating elements, the roaster is as familiar as a toaster oven, and as versatile as an indoor grill. Made for grilling everything from veggies and fish to beef, poultry and pork, the capable countertop box features individual element control for easy cooking with no need to flip foods. A 30-minute timer keeps track of the action and a built-in ceramic filter helps tame smoke and odors.
When finished, the lid, grill, and drip pan are removable for easy cleanup, so no mess need get in the way of exploring new food and having fun in the kitchen.
Looks good in any era.
(Credit: Zappos)I have come to really like panini grills. They suffer a strange fate, however, due simply to their name. Panini grills. I mean, paninis are nice and all, but really do we need a grill just for them? The answer, of course, is no, but the good news is they do so much more. This one, however, even looks good doing it.
Whether or not you enjoy the occasional panini is beside the point, because this DeLonghi Retro Panini Grill is handsome enough to always leave out on the kitchen counter. Capable of cooking more than pressed sandwiches, the grill can be used to cook everything from chicken to beef and even veggies or fish.
The automatically adjusting hinge accommodates foods of varying thickness, while the adjustable thermostat makes it easy to properly cook food. A grease cup is provided, and the grill channels away grease and fat, while the nonstick grill plates are easy to clean. The smooth styling and go-to convenience of this grill makes it easy for users to appreciate the variety that this machine can offer. With such versatility in one countertop appliance it might be easy to get carried away, so just don't forget that this grill makes panini, too.
(Credit:
Appliancist)
If you've been a reader for a while, you may remember the Cook-N-Dine teppanyaki-style cooking table, whose patented design allowed you to sear and saute meats and veggies on the same surface from which your guests eat. The trick to the Cook-N-Dine was in its reaction to being heated: the center of the table turns slightly concave when it's heated, trapping all of the juices in the center as the food cooks.
CDS, inventors of the Cook-N-Dine, have redesigned its patented line in this new family of indoor cook tops. The features that made hoards of customers fall in love with the Cook-N-Dine are still there, but one has received a significant upgrade: the heating element has been redesigned to double the effective heating area.
The table, made of 304-grade stainless steel, reaches temperatures from 120 up to 430 degrees Fahrenheit. Foods are seared quickly, retaining their juices and staying moist. The surface reverts back to its even shape after it cools, making it easy to clean, and because it operates using electricity instead of gas, there are no open flames.
If you need a reminder of how the patented system works, or if you're just interested in learning more, you can visit the Cook-N-Dine Web site here.
Ready to grill, anytime of the year.
(Credit: Brookstone)Sadly, grill season doesn't last forever. If you live in many parts of the country, you know well enough that at some point it's time to pack up the grilling accessories and call it a day (or season). Before the grill can get cold and lonely, jealous of the hot dogs and hamburgers nice and warm on the kitchen stove, consider that with a little preparation, grill season never has to end. If you're willing to brave some inclement weather for the reward of grilled meats and vegetables, you are already halfway there.
The Grillzebo is a canopy that gives your grill a place to live year-round. No need to say goodbye to your fancy grill for the winter, just don some heavy clothes and get to grilling. The sturdy metal roof provided by this ultimate grill accessory supplies protection from all types of weather. However, you don't have to wait for the rain or snow to find use for this canopy. Two side tables are built directly into the structure, while two rechargeable LED lights provide illumination no matter what the season is.
Whether you are protecting your gas grill, your smoker, or your good old-fashioned charcoal grill, parking it safely under a canopy a few feet from your back door can serve up some serious winter inspiration. Before you know it, the sun will set on grilling season, but don't let that stop you from grilling up a good time.
Hot dogs keep on rolling.
(Credit: Brookstone)There is a certain way to eat hot dogs. Or rather, there is a preferred combination of ingredients that make for the perfect hot dog. What that particular combination may be, nobody can tell you. Sure, they can offer you suggestions; but it all comes down to enjoying hot dogs based on individual preferences. When that magical combination is found, then hot dog eaters tend to go back to it time and time again. No matter if you like them classic-style with onions, mustard, and maybe sauerkraut, or if you prefer a more pile-it-on approach and use all the condiments in the house, you are going to need a way to cook those dogs.
There are seemingly as many way to prepare a hot dog as there are things to put on it. They can be grilled, boiled, fried, held over an open fire, and, of course, nuked. There is one popular method that hot dog eaters everywhere enjoy, yet it is rarely seen in the home: the eternally rolling grilled hot dog.
The Motorized Hot Dog Griller is an automatic rotisserie that attaches to your grill. Featuring an adjustable raised surface, the 8.5 inch by 12.5 inch cooking area supplies endlessly turning hot dogs right from the grill. More often found in convenience stores and sporting stadiums, the motorized grill accessory brings home that special flavor that only a rotisserie can provide. Luckily, with this home version you have complete control over your hot dogs, and can safely dig in without wondering just how long has that hot dog been there.
It's not too late. Grilling season is still in effect. Perhaps you've been putting it off, too intimidated by last year's grit and grime. The residue left over from a season of hot dogs and hamburgers can certainly be off-putting, but it shouldn't stand in the way of a good time. There are only so many days left in grilling season; it's time you dusted off your favorite grilling utensils and joined in on the ritual searing of meat.
Ready to grill.
(Credit: Brookstone)The Motorized Grill Cleaning Brush just might give you the needed encouragement to fire up the grill.
When set in motion, two rotating brass bristle brushes spin in opposite directions, knocking off grease grime from your grill grates. An integrated stainless-steel scraper allows for manual control when it comes to cleaning the extra tough buildup. Using four C batteries, the brush helps you to clean the grill without scrubbing or the use of chemicals--and all at the push of a button.
Of course, letting the heat of the grill loosen up baked-on grime usually works well enough, but that buildup can be a daunting foe to overcome. Grills sit unused, caked in grime all across the country. I'm sure you know a few would-be grillers who always seem to wiggle out of hosting the grill party. Come to think of it, this might be the best use for this gadget: a not-so-subtle gift to your grill-phobic friends.
