Gadget Gourmet Reviews

Tested: Excalibur Camo Dehydrator

A kitchen tool for hunters and vegans alike

Jan 23, 2013 11:02 am

Dehydrators save produce that’s about to spoil, makes hella good jerky, and— if you're into disaster preparedness— spares you from potential melees at Costco just before a hurricane. The problem is that most dehydrators are cheap pieces of crap. Enter the new Excalibur Camouflage Deluxe Dehydrator.

Gadget Gourmet Reviews

Tested: Bodum Bistro Electric Stand Mixer

Can a rival stand mixer knock KitchenAid off block?

Jan 8, 2013 12:01 pm

During my six years as a professional pastry chef, I never saw a restaurant kitchen that wasn’t equipped with at least one KitchenAid stand mixer. But is it truly the gold standard, or is its popularity due to brand recognition? Bodum believes it can deliver a product that’s just as good—and better looking to boot. I recently put it through the wringer to see how it compared to the mixer I’ve owned for almost a decade.

Gadget Gourmet Reviews

Tested: PolyScience Sous Vide Professional Creative Series

Can a $500 gadget turn you into Ferran Adrià?

Nov 12, 2012 12:01 pm

At this point in the game, sous vide cooking is nothing new. But until recently, two obstacles have stood in the way of laymen interested in this cooking technique: limited access to information and cost-prohibitive equipment. PolyScience has given us a relatively affordable tool. At $500, its Creative Series immersion circulator is “specifically designed for the casual user.” But should any so-called casual cook spend half a grand on a single gadget?

Gadget Gourmet Reviews

Tested: Bodum Fyrkat Mini Picnic Charcoal Grill

Can a mini grill convince us to grill in December?

Nov 5, 2012 1:01 pm

Whoever said that grilling season ended on Memorial Day probably never lived in Las Vegas. Temperatures here are still in the 90s, and snow is our equivalent of a natural disaster. So when Bodum — yup, the coffee people — released its latest barbecue grill, I wasn’t going to wait until next summer to give it a test run.

Gadget Gourmet Reviews

Tested: LEM Clamp-On Meat Tenderizer

Thrifty meat gadget or Medieval torture device?

Oct 11, 2012 12:01 pm

When it comes to eating meat, filet is passé. There’s a reason that butchers consider the cheaper cuts a special secret. When handled properly, they provide far more flavor for half the cost. LEM’s new clamp-on tenderizer promises to prep these cuts so that you’re not digging tough chunks of meat out of your teeth after dinner.

Gadget Gourmet Reviews

Tested: Zevro Perfetto Pasta Cooker

Can you seriously cook good pasta on a countertop?

Sep 26, 2012 11:01 am

Once upon a time, I sat down to a meal with two very well known fine dining figures. Dinner was simple: spaghetti with marinara sauce and a side salad. “How is it?” the chef/owner asked us. His friend, an Italian chef with a reputation for being a perfectionist, praised the meal. “Wait until you hear how I made it,” said the owner. Read on.

Gadget Gourmet Reviews

Tested: Victorio 4-Tray Seed Sprouter

Plastic transforms a city kitchen into a mini farm

Aug 30, 2012 10:01 am

Carbon footprints and food miles are common concerns for the ethical eater. But what more can you do besides patronizing farmer’s markets and eating farm-to-fork dinners? Try growing your own food. Or, sprouts.

Gadget Gourmet Reviews

Tested: Demeyere Proline 11" Frying Pan

Can this fancy skillet turn you into a master?

Aug 23, 2012 10:01 am

Are you happy with your $40 go-to frying pan, or would you like to consider upgrading to a European luxury frying pan that will set you back two (big) bills? We weigh the pros and cons...