Some things just go together. Fish and chips. Chicken and fries. Deep-fried Twinkie and battered zucchini. (Okay, I made up that last one, but it probably should be mandatory to have at least some sort of vegetable when eating one of those monstrosities.) Short of having two deep-fryers handling this double-duty frying, this has always meant working in batches to accommodate for different cooking times.
Toasters tend to be rather stationary devices: you find a place for one on the counter, and then just let it be. Features that are more often seen in the more mobile of appliances rarely make it to the toaster. Appliances like food processors and blenders are the appliances that generally benefit from space-saving features like retractable power cords; when stored in the cupboard the power cords don’t get in the way. Toasters however, this doesn’t come into play as much. But that doesn’t mean that the retractable cord toaster doesn’t exist.
Continue reading Two New Retractable Cord Toasters Unfurled
It was a particularly cruel day in marketing hell when they decided to convince the masses that ‘mini’ was a desirable quality in products. It was probably the backlash against super-sizing that caused the word ‘mini’ to be applied to all things food-related, so considering those fast-food origins it’s not a total loss. Paying the same price (or sometimes more) for less is not desirable, yet somehow the evil genius horde has convinced us otherwise. As in all marketing coups, there is a (chicken) nugget of truth; a little restraint can be a good thing–not so much when attached to kitchen appliances however.
The Super Mini Toaster Oven may at first look appealing, but judging by the inclusion of a 6.25-inch sq. cooking pan, the kitchen appliance would be annoying more than anything else. It’s more Easy-Bake oven than toaster oven. While it features the “capabilities of a regular toaster oven with a 150°-450°F range in temperature, variable toasting function, 15 minute timer and “stay on†warming functionâ€, I just can’t get over the fact that only one slice of bread at a time will fit in the thing. Even a regular slice of bread measures about 4 or 5 inches, and yes, I checked—and then made a Dagwood Sandwich
***UPDATE 9/6/13***
Looks like the mini toaster oven link above no longer goes to that product — I wonder how many one-slice toasting sessions it took…
Also, I updated the Dagwood Sandwich link to a swell Blondie cookie jar; the previous link went to a now defunct blog. Happy sandwiching!
It has been hot in California this week… ice cream weather! Time to break out the ice cream machines. It seems as if it were only yesterday that every day was a rainy day. (Not that there’s anything wrong with ice cream in the rain.) Taking a bright and colorful approach, like the weekend outlook ahead, the Cuisinart Classic Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream & Sorbet Makers offer easy accessibility to homemade frozen treats.
The automatic maker requires no chemicals, salt or ice while the double-insulated removable freezer bowl helps to whip up a 1.5-quart batch of your favorite flavor within minutes — good news for those caught off guard by the warm weather. As for areas with weather still stuck in the ice age? Best to plan ahead, as spring has sprung. (Or is at least in the process of springing!)
On sale right now for $49.95.
As far as kitchen appliances go, the toaster is pretty much the party animal of the bunch. Either that or the class clown. But no matter which way you look at it, there’s no denying that the ubiquitous little countertop appliance sees its share of gimmicks. Gadgets and gizmos routinely get attached to the machine, from egg cooker contraptions to integrated coffee makers. Usually however, the toaster is rather quiet about it.
Continue reading Tunes From The Toaster
A kitchen appliance that plays tricks with your eyes isn’t necessarily the first thing you want to see in the morning. However, stunning design is always appreciated. With these two appliances you get both.
