December 30, 2011
The Margaritaville Mixed Drink Maker might be right out of a bar in Blade Runner, but you can now use it to be the bartender at your next party. Featuring 48 recipe options created by margaritaville bartenders, at the press of a button, watch drink recipes come to life as this, first-of-its-kind kitchen contraption dispenses perfectly proportioned cocktails fast. You can even press the "I feel lucky button", and watch the digital display spin, and then land on a random drink.
Set up is a breeze, just add your choice of liquor (rum, vodka or tequila) and select mixers into the four containers, the machine knows what to do from there to serve up delicious mixed drinks.
December 29, 2011
What's a kitchen machine to do? Make soup. The revolutionary soup mixer will weigh, chop, mix, stir, cut, crush, grind, pulverise, knead and emulsify. And it even cooks the food to perfection too. The innovative Vorwerk Thermomix combines the function of more than 12 kitchen machines and has over 20 patent applications. Thermomix TM 31 is the combination of counter clock and clockwise rotations - the former stirs or cuts tender food, such as fish, noodles or asparagus without destroying it, while the latter chops fresh or frozen ingredients. The multifunctional kitchen machine is also equipped with the slow stirring level which gently stirs the food.
We've never heard of a machine that also cooks the food too, but we want one. See if it's available in your country here, and we know in the US you can only get service or parts but not purchase the TM 31.
Via Appliancist
December 28, 2011
The UNOLD automatic pasta machine makes noodles and pastries of all shapes and sizes. The electric pasta maker can accommodate up to 500 grams of flour, and with its 8 attachments the pasta machine mixes and kneads the ingredients automatically. The machine can be completely taken apart for convenient and fast cleaning, and you can also put all the parts into your dishwasher. Only available in Europe for now is a bummer, but look for the same features on machines you might buy here in the US.
Via Appliancist
December 27, 2011
The Lock & Lock HPL20BS 20-Piece BPA FREE Food-Storage Container Set set comes with food-storage containers in 1-3/4-, 2-, 2-4/5-, 3-2/5-, 3-2/3-, 5-1/2-, 6-3/4-, 11-, and 16-2/7-cup sizes. The durable polypropylene construction (bpa free) has clear bases which allow for better visibility of inside contents. THe lids feature a 4-hinge locking system that create air- and water-tight seals. The containers stack and nest to ensure space-saving storage in cupboards and drawers, and they are safe to use in refrigerator, freezer, microwave, and dishwasher.
December 23, 2011
We want to wish all of our readers a Happy Holiday, and we'll be back next week. The upcoming 2012 year is a big one for us - 8 years on the web writing about Kitchen Contraptions, and we are just as excited as the day we started. Thanks again to all of our loyal readers for visiting us each day, and you can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
See you in the New Year.
- Jay & Maya
December 22, 2011
Modern Mechanix found from the February, 1930 issue of Modern Mechanics. According to 1930's scientists, the human body produces enough heat to cook potatoes as long as you put this kitchen contraption on your head.
Scientists have learned that our bodies are living machines of the combustion type in which the burning of fuel (food) is accompanied by the consumption of oxygen, liberation of heat energy and production of carbon dioxide as is the case in all combustion engines. Scientists find that the heat from a single person, if properly focussed, would be sufficient to cook potatoes.
Maybe they'll call you Mr. or Mrs. Potato head but we expect the yummy mashed results will be worth the burn.
Via Gizmodo
December 21, 2011
Jell-O's Temptations dessert is being marketed to adults and this vending machine has built-in face recognition to check the age of anyone who approaches so if you're a kid - it says, "NO PUDDING FOR YOU!" We're not sure what is says but first developed by Intel, the dispenser uses facial data, like the size of your eyes and their distance apart, to figure out how old you are.The device does not take or store photos, but of course does give out pudding.
Via Gizmodo and more at USA Today
December 20, 2011
It's time to make the waffle cakes! This innovative stovetop griddle from Nordic Ware makes it simple to prepare delectable little waffled pancakes in a flash. The cast-aluminum nonstick griddle heats evenly, yielding crispy golden cakes with deep pockets for toppings.
- Cast aluminum heats evenly for crispy, golden waffle imprints.
- Premium nonstick finish ensures easy release and quick cleanup.
- Riveted cast-stainless-steel stay-cool handle.
- Makes seven 3" diam. waffled pancakes.
- Made in USA.
At Nordic Ware Waffled Pancake Pan
December 19, 2011
This Atomic Digital Wall Clock with Indoor Temperature features self-setting time and date. The clock automatically updates for seasonal time changes where applicable, and the clock with alarm and snooze features time with seconds. It also displays time, date, day, temp on one screen, and the clock can be wall hanging or free standing. We love a good kitchen clock, and we think having the temperature in the kitchen is also key - too hot or too cold can make for a great or bad baking day.
December 16, 2011
If you're looking to save on cooking time, and you think you're turkey cooking efforts could be easier then this Inflatable Turkey looks so delicious you can almost smell the stuffing when you blow it up and impress your guests. Keep the carving knives away, because this bird is strictly for show and made of hot air (so you'll need to serve something else). It will fit right on the table carving plate as well while you cook a real bird.
At Inflatable Turkey
December 15, 2011
Oh mulled wine - we often serve you in cups around the holiday but not this holiday. This designer glassware set comprises a mulled wine jug and four thermal glass mugs. Simply place a tealight candle in the elegant jug's metal base to keep your mulled wine warm.
The stylish glass mugs feature frosted designs and are dual walled to keep wine warm without burning your hands.
At Mulled Wine Warmer
December 14, 2011
The Fresh Traveler by Arian Brekveld allows you to keep your cereal separate from your liquids like milk or yogurt. We love the design, and also think this would work great for coffee and a little snack in the bottom - some chocolate kibble?
At Royal VKB Fresh Traveler Stainless steel and Plastic Thermos
December 13, 2011
The Breville One-Touch Tea Maker makes tea the same way every time, and features at tea basket cycle that Auto Lowers and Lifts tea during brewing. It also has an auto start feature so you can have fresh tea when you wake up, and has a 60 minute Keep Warm feature. The variable temperature control will allow you to make oolong teas to minty teas at the right temperature, and the LCD timer can be used to monitor freshness after brewing.
December 12, 2011
The Big Boss Rapid wave oven looks a lot like the Nuwave Oven but it's a bit different. It features triple cooking power: halogen, convection and infrared heat, and roasts, broils, bakes, air frie, grills, boils and steams all of your food to perfection. It features dishwasher safe parts, and cooks and fries without added oil. We like this all in one countertop ovens because they save you time and energy to cook your meals. We'll see if we can drum one of these up for review soon.
At Big Boss Rapid Wave Halogen Infrared Convection Countertop Oven
December 9, 2011
One of the best gifts you can give during the holiday season is hope. Hope for a better world, and yet hope for an upgraded kitchen. Easy Upgrades helps readers solve their most frequent complaints about the spaces in their homes. From chapters on All-in-the-Family Kitchen, The Colorful Kitchen, to The Right Kitchen for You and The Budget Kitchen, Easy Upgrades: Kitchens shows readers the smartest and most cost effective improvements they can make to increase the value and livability of their homes. We think this will make a great gift for someone wanting some change in the New Year and especially in the most important room in the house - the kitchen.
At This Old House Easy Upgrades for Kitchens
December 8, 2011
Emson was sent us their Emson Electric 5Qt Indoor Pressure Smoker, and we have to say right up front we're impressed. The indoor pressure cooker smoker can cook up to 4-pounds of food at once, and even cold smoke cheeses. For us in the Northeast outdoor smoking ends in October, and indoor smoking? Well we would have never thought such a thing existed until now. And now with the Emson indoor smoker we think our long winter ahead looks smoky and bright.
You see the Emson Electric 5Qt Indoor Pressure Smoker is safe for indoor use, and cooking times are reduced by 50-percent. Pressure cooking also is a perfect match for smoking as the results are moist, juicy, and smoky. We used apple chips for the 12 pieces of chicken - 6 thighs and 6 legs in 35 minutes. Also people have asked - is this going to produce a ton of smoke in our house. Our answer - no. We didn't have any noticeable amount of smoke except smoky cooking smell which we love.
Continue reading: "Review: Emson Electric 5Qt Smoker- The Only Indoor Pressure Smoker"
December 7, 2011
Pancakes with syrup and butter are our favorites, but sometimes, pouring syrup on top of your pancakes just isn't enough. Why? You want to be able to dip them in the syrup. This plate created by designer Jon Wye has a slope and bank to store the syrup right on your plate. The syrup pools together because of the slight slope and stays in a spot for maximum dipping. Set of two costs $45, and given a long term investment in syrup technology you're belly will thank you for it.
Via Gizmodo at Uncommon Goods
December 6, 2011
You know - we never think to get a fun corkscrew - just one that works and is touted to do the job. In our experience hiring a Captain like Captain Banana should probably do the job just fine after a few glasses of wine. Designed by Stefano Giovannoni in 2009, the parrot sitting on top of the "captain" turns as you place it over your wine bottle.
At A di Alessi Captain Banana Corkscrew
December 5, 2011
We for one are tired of simple square or round waffles with no interactivity. This design concept of a waffle maker that makes maze filled waffles is pretty interesting. The only problem - once you solve the maze you'll be pretty bored with these waffles.
Via Gizmodiva.com
December 2, 2011
You can make the same sized cookie every time with this sturdy metal scoop which makes uniformly sized cookies. The OXO soft grip handles absorb pressure when squeezed to release dough, and the 1-1/2 tablespoon scoop of dough yields a 2-3/4-inch cookie. It's also useful for making small ice cream balls, and is dishwasher-safe to boot.
At OXO Good Grips Medium Cookie Scoop
December 1, 2011
November 2011 was another amazing month of Kitchen Contraptions - filled with kitchen gadgets, small appliances, and other kitchen wonders. We covered the Mr. Coffee Cafe Latte Maker and also the Bodum Bean Ice French Press fueling our coffee maker obsession.
Thanks again to all of our loyal readers for visiting us each day, and you can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
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