Cooking

Meals on wheels (but without the gasoline bill)

We at the CNET appliance blog network are no strangers to portable appliances; we've already shown you the perks of portable grills and portable ride-on freezers. But in our busy-bee age, where almost everything has been resized and reshaped to be more conveniently transportable, single portable appliances just don't seem to be enough anymore. So how do we satisfy our appetite for portability? By combining all of the appliances that we'd ever need into one all-inclusive, gloriously compact package.

Enter the Transportable Kitchenette. Powered by only a wall socket plug, the unit includes a stowaway cubby for … Read more

A small kitchen that's big on style

A few years ago, I downsized from an apartment with a huge, light-filled kitchen to one that was (to put it gently) more compact. Though the change was jarring at first, I've really come to appreciate the forced efficiency of a smaller kitchen.

Still, even this convert is amazed at the compact Instant Kitchen from Hansen Living, which was on display at the recent International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York. The credenza-like unit contains everything you'd need in a kitchen, including an oven, gas jets, electric power, refrigerator, and water. You just hook up the water and … Read more

Mixed review for TurboChef Speedcook

TurboChef's Speedcook oven has grabbed some serious attention over the past year, nabbing Sex and the City co-star Kim Cattrall as its spokes-actress and the support of top chef/kitchen stuff endorsers like Charlie Trotter. Fawning articles in Forbes, the New York Times, and Business Week are piling up faster than the oven can roast a chicken.

And boy, can this oven cook fast--up to 15 times faster than any other conventional oven, finishing a rack of lamb in about the time it takes me to shower. It looks pretty spiffy, too, while dusting the competition. (Take that, slow … Read more

Nintendo offers taste of 'Major League Eating'

Who says huge global companies don't have a sense of humor? In the same week that Nintendo releases the highly anticipated Wii Fit, they tip the scales in the other direction with the promotion of Major League Eating: The Game. As an officially licensed title by the top league (hopefully the only league) in speed eating, well-recognized stars such as Joey Chestnut or Takeru Kobayashi will be playable characters. The WiiWare title is touted as a fighting game that "requires players to master a smorgasbord of offensive and defensive weapons including bites, burps, belches, mustard gas, and jalapeno … Read more

Beer makes for a better roast bird

Just in time for last Thanksgiving, my grandmother slipped me her secret for the perfect ham: a can of Sprite slipped into the pan. She's not the only one, either; lots of recipes call for a can of beer or soda in order to keep a little more moisture in the mix. The real problem has been poultry, though--it would benefit from the added moisture, but a bird can just be awkward to work with.

Camp Chef has come out with the Keg Roaster to provide your roast chicken with that added kick. The design is fairly simple: Inside … Read more

Fold up that barbecue and get grilling on the go

Summertime is almost here. Soon the parks, beaches, and baseball stadiums across the land will be filled with throngs of slow-moving fun-seekers. Those people are gonna be hungry. A baseball game without a hot dog is like a bowl of ice cream with no cherry on top; sure it's good, but it could be better. We all know a day at the park is made just that much better if we have some sort of grilled goodness, slabbed between two sides of a bun.

So there you are on the beach and craving some grilled fish. If only you … Read more

Portable induction cooking

Ah, summer vacation. That glorious time of year when we pack up the kids and get out to experience nature. And nature decides to give us the full experience by providing nonstop rain. Just picture yourself, trying to heat up a can of beans on your portable gas grill. Brings a tear to the eye--or in my case, outright sobbing.

But it doesn't have to be that way. Fagor's new portable induction cooktop offers a convenient solution for family vacations, dorms, guesthouses, or simply additional cook space for holiday meals. Induction cooking uses less energy than other methods … Read more

Microwaves and pizza, together at last?

Ever since the microwave was introduced, humans have tried to improve upon it. We were promised quick and easy cooking with excellent results. Well, we got the quick and easy part, but deliciousness has certainly lagged behind. As such, a multitude of devices and contraptions has paraded through the microwaves of the world trying to help bring truth to the term microwaveable. All of those revolving trays and browning plates have some new competition as Advanced Composite Materials introduces the Silar Microwave Grill and Flatstone.

According to the manufacturer: "Silar's new microwave-conduction cooking allows food to cook both … Read more

Vegetables that look good enough to eat

Are those cooked carrots as bright as they could be? And if you're going to eat your vegetables, don't you want full vitamin credit? The Gaggenau combination steam and convection oven helps you set a beautiful table with food that's full of health benefits.

The steam generator is connected directly to a removable water tank that doesn't require any plumbing or drainage lines, so you won't need to call your contractor for a pricey installation. The tank uses just one-third of a gallon to supply enough water to fill the oven with 100 percent humidity … Read more