High-Tech Kitchen Gear for the Holidays and Beyond

I thought I'd compile a list of a bunch of  high-tech kitchen gadgets in time for Thanksgiving and the upcoming holidays. Since I'm not much of a cook, I haven't had a chance to give many kitchen gadgets a decent test-drive in my own home, so my list has turned out to be more of a roundup of newish, gee-whiz products for the kitchen, based primarily on demos I've seen. I can't promise that everything here will change your life, but it will at least get your dinner guests talking. (For a more real-world, hands-on roundup, read Chris's High-Tech Turkey Day post.)

Beyond Smart Microwave Oven

Perfect for anyone who can't quite get the particular alchemy of cooking food with a microwave, this device deals with cooking on its own. How? Just scan the bar code on your food (say, popcorn or frozen pizza), and the oven automatically takes care of the rest. Right now, about 4,000 food items are in the database, but updates are available. (Unfortunately, to get these updates you need to buy the $2,000 Icebox kitchen computer.)

Cooper Cooler

It's like a microwave but for making stuff cold! Just stick any can or bottle into the Cooler, and within minutes you'll have a nicely chilled beverage. Cans take just one minute to cool from 77 degrees to 43 degrees Fahrenheit, while wine bottles take about six minutes.    

LG LSC27990 Refrigerator with 15-inch LCD TV

Why anyone would want one of these is still a mystery to me, particularly since the TV itself will become obsolete within a few years (already, an HD version has been announced for next spring), but it certainly gives your kitchen a futuristic look. Extras include a database of recipes you can access on the LCD and a built-in weather station that gives you the latest updates.    

Philips LED Aurelle Candles

Simple yet impressive, these flickering LED lights look just like real flames when viewed through their frosted glass containers. These last about ten hours on a single charge. Perfect for windy outdoor settings or anyone who forgets to blow out the candles after a long dinner.  I have a set of these and find them to be attractive and useful, even off the dinner table (since I can fall asleep without worrying about burning down the house).

TMIO Connect Io Intelligent Oven

An Internet-connected oven you can control remotely might sound kind of gimmicky, but this one has some unique features—namely, it's also a refrigerator! Why do all the work on Thanksgiving morning when you can prepare the turkey early, put it in this oven, and refrigerate it. Then, when you're ready to start cooking (usually while stuck in traffic or about to board a flight), you just instruct the oven to cook the turkey from any cell phone- or web-connected computer. You probably won't be away from home on Thanksgiving (and you certainly won't have time to have this installed before Turkey Day), but this comes in handy for any commuter or frequent traveler with unpredictable home-arrival times.      

Toshiba 20HLK86 Real Steel TV  

Watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade doesn't mean you have to mess up your kitchen with a boring little LCD TV. Toshiba's widescreen HD LCD-TV is made of stainless steel, which makes it the ideal neighbor of many a slick-looking kitchen appliance. It's also got a easy-to-wipe-clean, water-resistant remote control, should you get your messy cook's hands all over it.  

WinePod

Okay, so this wine-making device is definitely not available for Thanksgiving, as all the 2006 models are sold out. But you can get on the list for the 2007 WinePod. It works like this: You buy grapes from WinePod or use your own, then stick them in the WinePod, which automatically controls temperature and other variables and transmits information wirelessly to your desktop. The included desktop program lets you see exactly how your wine is progressing, letting you make notes and post information online. There are still places left on the waiting list.

Related links:

Holiday Meal Prep Help on the Web

Yahoo! Tech Celebrity Wish List: Chef Art Smith

High-Tech Turkey Day