Kitchen Gadgets Blog – Page 194 – Beyond The Kitchen Sink

No dessert until you finish your rocks

I’m not quite sure why this Laminate Rocks Placemat appeals to me. I guess it could be some sort of primeval instinct that makes me imagine that these river rocks could be a place setting for a delicious grilled salmon or other similar catch. Maybe it’s just the changing of the seasons, and like so many others, I start looking forward to future weekend getaways.

If you’re hunkering to get back to nature, but the daily grind is keeping you city-bound, the next best thing might just be to bring nature to you. This ~~sweet~~ vaguely 70’s looking placemat might not completely satisfy that craving, but it sure would look nice holding up a salmon bagel.

Also available in Grass and Palm.

Under-the-cabinet food-processing and coffee-grinding

Some appliances get put to use every day, and as such, are usually just left out on the counter. Itâ€™s nice to always have your most often used tools easily at your disposal, but when not in use, these popular appliances have a tendency to get in the way.

The Black and Decker Spacemaker Stainless Steel Chopper/Grinder solves this problem by mounting under a cabinet. With interchangeable blades and containers, the device can be used as mini-food processor or coffee grinder. There is pulse control for chopping, along with a grind selection button for choosing between fine, medium and coarse. Measuring less than ten inches across, with a height of about 5.5 inches, the Spacemaker not only frees up valuable counter space, but also allows for the ability to accomplish everyday tasks with one convenient unit.

Shake up this mortar and pestle

The Jamie Oliver Flavour Shaker may look like a squat bowling pin, but it works like a mortar and pestle. The ‘pin’ separates into two halves, and you simply add your ingredients in the lower half. Top with the included ceramic ball, seal and shake. The ball crushes, grinds and mixes whatever include in the shaker.

Perfect for creating your own spice blends, dressings and marinades, the shaker is surprisingly versatile. Even a couple of cloves of whole garlic can be minced with a few solid shakes.

Available in several colors, this UK gizmo is available domestically at Kitchen Kapers for $29.99.

***UPDATE: Brutal takedown of this now-unavailable gadget over at kierenmccarthy.co.uk

Loopa Spill-Resistant Bowl

Some kids never learn. Or at least it seems like they never learn. Either way, if you are a young parent sick of holding back the tears over spilled milk, check out the Spill-Resistant Bowl. Working like a gyroscope, the brightly colored bowl steadies itself whenever handled. Now when your young one picks up the bowl, the food stays on the inside and not over everything else.

Of course the handles encourage your child to actually grab at the bowl, so there may be some (even greater) awkward dining moments in their teen years. By then of course, you’ll be actively condemning their choice of dates, so really it’s a win-win.

Produce Savers look the part

Produce Savers: Apple Saver by Evriholder Products

Produce doesn’t always come in convenient sizes. Sometimes, we just need a bite. Whether you just need a few slices of tomato for a sandwich or want half of an apple as a snack, the unused portion needs to be stored for later use.

Produce Savers by Evriholder Products are a set of specifically (very specific) designed gadgets for saving and storing common produce. Available in five distinct styles, the produce savers work by protecting the produce from surrounding air. Place your fruit or vegetable cut side down, and clip to hold in place. The lack of contact to air helps to prevent browning and keep the produce clean.

The produce savers are certainly fanciful creations, and at ~~$3.99 each~~ (looks like they were pretty popular at that price!), they are definitely affordable. And fun too. The Cucumber Saver looks like a cucumber, and the Lemon Saver perfectly imitates the shape of a lemon. Click on through for pictures of the whole set, including the Onion Saver as well as a Tomato Saver. And of course, don’t forget the Apple Saver.

Better Butterer for better buttering

No longer do you have to wrestle with a quickly melting pat of butter when trying to season corn. Butter falling off of the knife or not melting properly can now be a thing of the past. Bypass the butter knife completely with the Better Butterer by Progressive.

Simply place one stick of butter in the device and you’re ready to enjoy hot buttered corn. The contoured shape fits over the surface of any ear of corn, and the butter melts as it comes in contact with the hot corn. With no knife for the butter to fall off of, the butter stays on the corn, and not on the plate. Better buttering is a breeze with the Better Butterer.