Gift Giving Guy

Food Network’s Kitchen Gadgets of the Future has waited patiently for me on the DVR. The show originally aired on September 6, 2008, showcasing gizmos from 108th Annual Home and Housewares Show in Chicago. From the “13 miles of kitchen gadgets” at the trade show, 13 items stood out. Follow the links below to give these “future” kitchen gadgets today.

1. Tribest Personal Blender ($60 to $90)
   This mini-blender serves up smoothies, and the blending container doubles as the drinking cup.
2. Füri Ozitech Knife Sharpener ($20 to $25)
   Take the guesswork out of knife sharpening. Simply pull your knives through the metal fingers of this device four to six times to keep them sharp.
3. Tassimo Hot Beverage System ($170)
   The coffee/tea/espresso maker scans the beverage bar code on its “T-Discs” to know what exactly it’s brewing.
4. Reveo MariVac Food Tumbler ($150 to $200)
   Vacuum sealed, this tumbler rotates meat to fully marinade within minutes instead of hours, absorbing 20 percent of the meat’s weight in marinade.
5. BonJour Culinary Laser Thermometer ($90 to $100)
   The point-and-shoot laser thermometer gives surface temperature readings from 0 to 932 degrees Fahrenheit.
6. iTouchless Smart Trash Can ($73 to $100)
   This stainless steel trash can senses nearby motion, opens to accept throw-aways, then closes three seconds later.
7. Zyliss All Cheese Grater ($15 to $20)
   Shred hard or soft cheeses (without jamming up the grater) for fine or coarse gratings.
8. Basketball-shaped or Football-shaped Pro Pots Crock Pots ($25 to $30)
   Ideal for cooking and serving hot food for game-watching parties.
9. Bamix Hand Blender ($130)
   Whip non-fat milk into a frothy cream with 15,000 RPMs of spinning power.
10. Cooper Cooler Rapid Beverage Chiller ($60 to $80)
    Chills a can of beer or soda in one minute or a wine bottle in two to six minutes.
11. Black & Decker Lids Off Jar Opener ($22 to $50)
    Take the muscle strain out of opening vacuum-sealed lids with this automated jar opener.
12. Fresh Life Automatic Sprouter ($70 to $90)
    The counter-top gardening system automatically waters alfalfa sprouts, radishes and broccoli, growing them without soil.
13. StirChef Saucepan Stirrer ($20 to $30)
    Span this gadget over your saucepan and let it continuously or occasionally stir your sauces, gravy, soups, chili and pasta.