Eating

The inside of the refrigerator is no place for fast food. Aside from the fridge gnome who turns the light on and off when the door is opened and closed, it is pretty slow in there. Of course, this is exactly how we want it; it's nice to be able to look inside and find the dairy and the lunch meat where you left it (not counting housemate intervention). Zoku, of quick-pop-maker fame, understands that sometimes it's OK to slow down.

The Zoku Mini Pop Molds ($16.99) are part of Zoku's "Slow Pops" line. (… Read more

The search for pizza never ends. But unlike other quests, hunting for the perfect slice is not fraught with peril and possible despair; instead the path is lined with deliciousness. Occasionally, a truly unremarkable specimen may foil us, but the possibility for the restoration of hope is always only but a bite away. With so many trials and tribulations along the way, a clear picture of common pitfalls starts to emerge. No, it's not what is in clear view on top of the pizza, but rather, what lurks underneath. Pizza is all about the crust.

If the crust fails … Read more

Isn't it tedious to crack open your morning eggs, beat them, and then scramble them? It's messy and taxing enough to make your life look like a bad infomercial GIF.

Fortunately you can now scramble eggs in their shell, and it doesn't involve spinning them in a shirt or plastic tubes like those tricks on YouTube.

A company called Hikari Tec Hong Kong recently showed off an egg-spinning machine that helps scramble the whites and yolks without breaking the shell. Once spun enough, and after some boiling, the contents of the egg come out of the shell as a semisolid, creamy pudding. Check out the demo below. … Read more

Sous vide cooking is a relatively new phenomenon and even newer for the home market. While professional restaurants have been cooking food in a water bath for quite some time (say, pulling out a steak and giving it a quick sear before plating), the home kitchen has not until recently joined in on the party. Recent advancements are making the method of cooking food in a precisely controlled heated water bath an easy reality for home consumers.

The Viante Home Products CUC-09SV Sous Vide Cooker is a countertop appliance that will further the prospects of this exciting cooking method becoming … Read more

There is no denying that fresh herbs and spices make a difference while cooking. There is, however, always the lingering possibility that they do not get used in time; freshly cut herbs don't last long. Of course, the optimal solution is to have them fresh, alive, and always at the ready.

Having a stock of growing herbs doesn't have to mean digging around in the garden. In fact, it doesn't have to even mean having a garden to dig around in (at least in the traditional sense). The Click & Grow Smart Herb Garden moves the outdoors … Read more

Food comes in all shapes and sizes. However, despite the cornucopia of options that populate supermarket shelves, there is always room for more variety. Sometimes a change does a food product good; just think about how many ways there are to eat something seemingly simple as eggs. Not only can they can be scrambled, fried, or poached, but they also happen to be a vital ingredient in millions of recipes. But when it comes right down to it, all of that pales in comparison to their one true, previously unknown purpose: being served on a stick.

Since the invention of … Read more

Breakfast is more than the sum of its parts. Sure, bacon, egg, cheese, ham, sausage and the like are all delicious enough on their own, but when put together something magical happens. The transformation of breakfast ingredients into a breakfast meal is one that can happen in so many ways. Yet time and time again, people gravitate towards a classic: the breakfast sandwich. Often prepared with an English muffin or a bagel, the mingling of ingredients creates an easy to carry meal that is packed with flavor. And now, one kitchen gadget wants to make it even easier to construct … Read more

January is a time of renewal. It also happens to be when appliance makers show off their visions of what is to come. The event is CES 2013 and this year, according to those that make kitchen gadgets and appliances, everything is going to be very, very smart. While we have been promised automated kitchens in one form or another since the time of the Jetsons, there is one important factor in the modern world that may see the smart kitchen finally grow up: mobility.

The year 2013 is going to be one marked by plenty of smartphone and tablet sales. … Read more

The annual changing of the calendar brings with it a multitude of promises that nobody intends to actually keep. That's OK; it's just all part of tradition. Things get said, feelings get hurt, but in the end, what really matters more: a couple of extra pounds or never seeing a frozen pizza again? Better to err on the side of caution, apologize to all those fatty and greasy foods -- but keep a little room for healthy steam cooking hidden in plain sight.

Never say never again with the Cuisinart Combo Steam and Convection Oven ($299.95). The … Read more