Appliances

A toaster oven is one of those devices in the kitchen that are seemingly useful for everything. In fact, it gets pressed into service so often that we can practically use them blindfolded. (Do not use your kitchen appliances blindfolded.) It may be easy to forget how versatile a toaster oven can be, so that means a cheat sheet can help.

With icons to guide users through common tasks, the Panasonic NB-G110P Flash Xpress Toaster Oven ($127) makes the countertop appliance even easier to use. The preset functions are divided into two intuitive sections, one labeled "bread" and … Read more

The oven has long been a fixture in the kitchen. It stands guard over our food, supplying delicious cooked results on demand. However, as dominant in the kitchen as the oven may be, its very ubiquity sometimes makes it easy to take for granted. Unless, of course, the oven is functional, stylish, and packed with features.

Thermador has just officially announced new features for its 2012 lineup of built-in wall ovens. The luxury appliance maker has unveiled new technical and engineering upgrades for both the Professional Series as well as the Masterpiece Series of ovens. People looking for a 12-pound-capacity … Read more

Deep frying is serious business. Just look at all the attention that deep frying anything and putting it on a stick gets in the food world. This of course, is not a bad thing; deep fried anything on a stick is usually quite delicious. However, there happens to be another way of achieving deliciousness by the spearing of meat: the rotisserie.

The Waring Pro TF200 Rotisserie Turkey Fryer/Steamer offers a bit of something for everyone -- and more than enough to go around. The integrated rotisserie mechanism rotates a turkey through hot oil creating an intriguing method of cooking … Read more

Last year, Dyson released a very high-tech -- and pricey -- hand vacuum, the Digital Slim DC35. That model started out at $350 but has since come down to $300.

Now Dyson is serving up a new hand vac, the Digital Slim DC44 Animal, which improves upon the earlier model, offering better battery life (20 minutes of "fade-free" power instead of 15 minutes), increased suction, and an upgraded attachment for sucking up pet hair (there's an Animal version of the DC35 that costs $329). While those are certainly welcome upgrades, I'm not sure they merit a … Read more

The kitchen countertop has become a landscape where anything can happen. Populated with appliances of all shapes and sizes, the one central area has become a place where potential gets turned into delicious meals every day. However, all that deliciousness comes at a cost that extends beyond the checkout line at the supermarket; as every home chef knows, space is always an issue.

Convenience on the countertop comes in many forms. But that doesn't mean it cannot come in one form. The Cuisinart CBO-1000 Oven Central is an all-in-one countertop appliance that can cook up a variety of meals … Read more

The more versatile a kitchen appliance is, the more highly regarded it may be. And rightly so: space-saving devices are not only convenient, but they also have the capability to increase efficiency. The age of being able to get more cooking done with only a press of a button was heralded in by the microwave. Usually however (except for the clock), the microwave doesn't do much else.

The Viking VCSO210SS Combi-Steam/Convect Oven combines an oven with a microwave and throws in the capability to steam cook for good measure. Featuring a slick, non-cluttered control panel, the oven can … Read more

Doors are like portals, where they can transport us to another place. Cooking, too, can take us to faraway lands and exotic locations all without leaving the kitchen. By that reasoning, it only seems fitting that big, rectangular food storage unit that dominates the kitchen should have as many doors on it as possible.

The LG LFX31945ST Super-Capacity 3 Door French Door Refrigerator with Door-in-Door only comes with one extra door, but it's a start. Made to allow for easy access to commonly used items such as drinks, the door-in-door design offers an interesting new take in a spot … Read more

The microwave has become one of the most easily identified appliances in the kitchen. Which is pretty impressive considering that its most recognizable feature is that it is a rectangular box with buttons on it. Updates across the years have given the ubiquitous appliance a series of not-always-so-distinctive design enhancements, but as we all know, appeal goes beyond skin deep.

Microwave technology has come a long way since those one-trick ponies of the past. While the popcorn button is in little danger of becoming outdated anytime soon, additional convenient features make the microwaves of today more efficient at creating meals … Read more

For some, there is always room for dessert. Meanwhile, for the more savory-inclined, hamburgers and hot dogs may be the more eternally available option. The two meat-in-a-bun products may have always gotten along splendidly, but that doesn't mean there has always been enough room for the two.

The Cuisinart GC-15 Griddler Compact Grill Centro is the smaller version of the previously covered Cuisinart GC-17 Grill Centro grilling behemoth. The diminutive device measures 15.7 inches across and is 10 inches deep. With a height of only 5.6 inches, the little indoor-grill-that-could is well suited for any countertop where … Read more