There are various wines out there, red, white, Chablis, Riesling, etc. but no matter what kind of wine you desire there are those out there that like their wine served at room temperature  and some who prefer it chilled.    However, keeping wine in one’s refrigerator can make the wine too cold and not properly chilled.  Sure, you can still refrigerate the wine and let it sit out for a while to reach adequate chill temperature. But that can be tricky and can make the wine lose its chill.  Introducing the Ravi Wine Chiller.  The Ravi is a device that attaches to the bottle and as the wine flows through the Ravi it chills the wine.

The Ravi has a valve that helps regulate the temperature of the wine. It is basically an opening on the device where you place your thumb to control the flow of wine. It uses air flow to control the speed of the pour. Less air restricts the speed of the pour allowing the wine to be more chilled and a faster pour lessens the chill factor. So the amount of time you place your thumb over the opening will determine the temperature you receive.

The Ravi has three parts to it. It consists of the stainless steel chamber that you place in the freezer for at least six hours for maximum cooling efficiency (so make sure you have it frozen and ready to go if you plan on running out with it), a clear plastic sleeve that houses the chamber and a base that attaches the Ravi to the wine bottle. I wasn’t so impressed with the plastic sleeve that housed the chamber. I’m sure it has its purpose but it looks cheap. Remember to fully dry the chamber of any liquid before putting it back in the freezer, or it will freeze inside the chamber.

The Ravi is perfect for those wine drinkers who add ice cubes to keep their wine chilled.  When you eliminate the ice cube you eliminate the possibility of diluting the wine.

The Ravi can also be used for liquors such as vodka, scotch or other similar spirits. However, champagnes, beer and non-alcoholic drinks are not recommended.

As well as the Ravi works, it does seem a little strange to see this bulky device attached to the wine bottle. It may seem a little out-of-place due to its size. It reminds me of a cocktail shaker or water filter sitting on top of a wine bottle. It’s not something you see everyday on a wine bottle but you get used to it.

The Ravi kept the wine chilled for around one and half to two hours but keep in mind that I did use it indoors. The time factor may be shorter if you use it outdoors on a picnic or at the beach on those warmer days.

Clean up was easy. Just disassemble the Ravi and run warm water through the chamber and let dry. The Ravi comes with a little hand pump that you insert into the openings to assist in air drying and a glass thermometer to check the temperature. Remember, you can’t freeze the Ravi with any water in the chamber or it will freeze the water droplets in the tube, which will restrict the flow of the wine and eventually clog the Ravi.

So, if you are looking for a portable wine chiller to take with you on a picnic or for serving wine for the holidays or hosting any party where people want a little chill in their wine, then the Ravi is an adequate device that helps achieve this. Cheers.

Filed in categories: Kitchen Gadgets, Reviews

Tagged: Beverage, Kitchen Gadgets, Wine accessory

Ravi Wine Chiller Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 24, 2011 at 2:00 pm.

If you like homemade ice cream, but don’t like the large quantities that most ice cream makers produce, check out the Sassafras Ice Cream Maker from Sassafras Enterprises.  This little ice cream maker produces about 1 pint total, and you can even make two flavors at once.  You don’t need salt, and you don’t have to hand crank the maker for hours.  You just load in the raw ingredients, then put the maker into the freezer for four hours.  It’s a great size for a couple of kids or for people who don’t want to keep larger quantities of ice cream around.  The Sassafras Ice Cream Maker requires 4AA batteries, not included.  It’s $29.99 at Sassafras or about $21 at Amazon.  Suitable for ages 5 and up.

Filed in categories: Kitchen Gadgets, News

Tagged: Food, Kitchen Gadgets

We All Scream for Homemade Ice Cream! originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 17, 2011 at 10:00 am.

Oh, the references abound.  Ice world of Hoth.  There isn’t enough life on this ice cube to fill a space cruiser.  Frozen in carbonite.  My joints are almost frozen.  Now you can have just the right addition to your cantina cocktails for that Jabba the Hutt party you’ve been planning with the Han Solo in Carbonite Silicone Tray or the  R2-D2 Silicone Tray from Entertainment Earth.  $9.99 each and expected to be available in July (which is like…now).  Laugh it up, fuzzball.  You know you want some.

Filed in categories: Kitchen Gadgets, News

Tagged: Kitchen Gadgets, Star Wars

Forget carbonite. Encase your favorite smuggler (or droid) in ice with these. originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 25, 2011 at 3:00 pm.

This popsicle kit from ThinkGeek will be a hit with Star Wars Fans.  The kit includes 4 lightsaber hilts (2 Luke, 2 Vader), a molding tray, and recipes so you can freeze your own “lightsabers” from most any beverage.  The hilts have LEDs inside to illuminate the blade; each hilt uses 3 button cell batteries, which are included.  The hilts are 5″ long X 1″ in diameter; the popsicle blades are about 6.5″ long.  Recipes include flavors like “Chewbapple,” “Ponda Berry,” “C-3POrange,” and Admiral Ackbar’s favorite: “It’s a Grap(e)!”  The Star Wars Lightsaber Popsicle Kit is $34.99.

Note:  I apparently got fooled by ThinkGeek’s April Fool’s joke this year.  I’m very sorry.  I don’t do April Fool’s jokes, and I guess I’m just gullible.  I apologize – I just thought it looked really cool.

Filed in categories: Geek Toys, Kitchen Gadgets, News

Tagged: Kitchen Gadgets, Popsicles, Star Wars Lightsaber

Star Wars Popsicles – Saber-Lickin’ Good! originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 4, 2011 at 8:30 am.

Who can forget Han Solo’s famous line, delivered with such matter-of-fact serenity in the face of imminent doom?  With this official Space Slug Oven Mitt from Star Wars Shop, you can re-enact that famous scene every time you grab your cookie sheet from the oven or kabob from the grill.  About 12 in long and made of fire-retardant nomex cotton blend, it bears a striking resemblance to everyone’s favorite asteroid-dwelling annelid.  $19.99.

Filed in categories: Kitchen Gadgets, News

Tagged: Kitchen Gadgets, Star Wars

This is no cave. It’s a Space Slug Oven Mitt. originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 13, 2011 at 2:00 pm.

Here’s a great gift for the cooking enthusiast on your gift list.  The Sharper Image is offering a set of four polypropylene boards – for fish, meat, fruits, and vegetables – that are stored in a stand that disinfects the boards with UV light.  Since UV light is said to kill 99.9% of microbiological creatures, this system should help reduce your chance of spreading food-borne illness.  The UV sanitizer can be wall-mounted or stand on a counter.  The Germ Killing Ultra Violet Cutting Board System sells for $149.99.

Filed in categories: Home Tech, News

Tagged: Kitchen Gadgets, Spotlight Gadgets, UV sanitizer

Cutting Boards with Ultraviolet Sanitizer System originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 5, 2010 at 1:00 pm.

A lot of sleek and functional gadgets come through here.  But every once in a while you see something that just makes sense on many levels.  The Ooma Bowl is one of those.  Created by designer Thomas Booth, it features two chambers that allow you to keep two foods separate while you enjoy a meal without the need for a table.  Think soup and crackers, milk and cookies, chips and dip…you get the idea.  Its ergo-friendly design allows you to hold it comfortably in one hand while eating with the other.  Made of ceramic, it is microwave and dishwasher safe.  Available at Uncommon Goods for $25.

Filed in categories: Miscellaneous, News

Tagged: Food related, Kitchen Gadgets

Ooma Bowl keeps cookies & milk separate originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 7, 2010 at 9:00 am.

At my house, we’re always looking for a wooden spring clothespin, or binder clip to keep a newly opened bag of chips fresh. A couple of years ago I reviewed QuickSeals, which worked great, but were a bit of a hassle to install. I never did see them in our local grocery stores, so after I used the initial samples, I forgot about them. Today I was surfing around for interesting products and happened upon the Banana Seal. These ‘clips’ look like they might keep bagged food fresher than my binder clip solution and they look like they are easy to install. They even make longer ones for potting soil and pet food bags.

Filed in categories: Home Tech, News

Tagged: Food, Kitchen Gadgets, Spotlight Gadgets

How do you keep your chips fresh? originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 27, 2010 at 3:01 pm.

If you’re a fan of the breakfast sandwich, the multi-tasking Egg & Muffin toaster by Back-to-Basics may be your new favorite kitchen gadget.  First, it can (of course) toast an English muffin, a bagel or two slices of toast.  Second, it can warm a slice of Canadian bacon or a sausage patty.  Third, it can either poach an egg or hard-boil four of them.  All functions can be done simultaneously or independently.  Back-to-Basics does not appear to have a website, but this item is available through many online sellers and of course at Amazon.  Prices vary, but typically around $35.  Note that there is also a 4-slice, 2-egg version for a few more $.  Bon appétit!

Filed in categories: Home Tech, News

Tagged: Kitchen Gadgets, toaster

Multi-tasking Egg & Muffin Toaster originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 2, 2010 at 12:16 pm.

The mypressi TWIST espresso machine puts the hand-held gadgetry in coffee making.  This little 10.5 X 3.5 X 3.5 inch device looks a little like one of those mesh tea infusers on steroids.  It makes a single or double espresso shot, with crema, in about 20-30 seconds.  You don’t need electricity, so you can use this unit anywhere you have access to hot water.  You use your own ground coffee or those ESE pods used by many home espresso units.  The TWIST has a “pneumatic engine”.  This means that it’s powered with those little cans of nitrous oxide that are used in whipped cream machines.  You can find them at most kitchen stores, or you can buy the canisters directly from mypressi for $15.99 for 24 8-gm canisters.  Each canister allows you to make about 8 shots or 4 double shots of espresso.

You do have to pay for all this coolness.  The TWIST is $169.00, directly from mypressi.

Filed in categories: Home Tech, News

Tagged: Appliance, Coffee, Kitchen Gadgets, Spotlight Gadgets

mypressi TWIST Espresso Machine originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 16, 2009 at 7:52 pm.

Do you like those frozen fruit-flavored popsicles but wish you could find different flavors or a healthier version with some actual fruit juice in them?    Now you can make your own frozen pop treats using Williams-Sonoma’s Zoku Quick Pop Maker.  According to a video on the retailer’s website, you can make pops from fruit juice, from flavored yogurts, or from sugar-sweetened drink mixes.  The only constraint is that the liquid must be sugar-sweetened, using table sugar, honey, maple syrup,  molasses, or the sugar found naturally in fruit.  Apparently you are out of luck if you want pops with artificial sweeteners.

Like with those small countertop ice cream makers, you keep the base unit stored in your freezer until you want to use it.  The base is filled with a “proprietary liquid” that quickly cools three pops in about seven minutes. You can make up to nine pops in a session.  The Zoku unit doesn’t require electricity and it doesn’t have moving parts, so your kids can safely make their own frozen pops.

The Zoku Quick Pop Maker comes with six pop sticks with leak-guards.  It also comes with a tool to help remove the pops from the non-stick aluminum mold – that’s the orange handle in the picture.  It’s exclusive to Williams-Sonoma and sells for $49.95, or you can buy two units for $79.95.

Filed in categories: Home Tech, News

Tagged: Food, Kitchen Gadgets, Spotlight Gadgets

Zoku Quick Pop Maker originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 12, 2009 at 10:34 am.

A few weeks ago, I was all set to buy a brand new set of knives for my kitchen. The ones I’ve had for years and years were so dull that they weren’t very useful any longer. Every so often I’d think about taking them to a knife shop to get them sharpened, but never did. I’d also thought about buying a sharpening stone to try sharpen them myself. Again, I never followed through. Let’s face it, I’m basically lazy and need the easiest solution possible for any task at hand. Luckily, I think I’ve found a super easy and fast solution for sharpening knifes… It’s the Chef’sChoice EdgeSelect 120 Electric Knife Sharpener.

Package Contents

EdgeSelect 120 electric sharpener
Manual

The EdgeSelect 120 is a counter top appliance with a footprint of 9-1/2″ x 4″ x 4″ inches. If you tend to shy away from devices that have too many switches, buttons, dials and gauges, you won’t have that fear with this sharpener. It has just one switch (for power) on the front.

And special stage 3 disk dressing switch on the back that you might use once a year at most to reshape and clean the disks.

This sharpener will allow you to sharpen both straight and serrated knives. The three stage sharpener uses two precision conical sharpening/honing stages with fine 100% diamond-coated disks and one final polishing/stropping stage to give your knives an incredibly sharp edge. The EdgeSelect 120 is a three stage knife sharpener. Each stage has a Left and Right slot that positions the blade of your knife in the perfect sharpening angle.

The only way to review a knife sharpener is to… sharpen some knives! So, I grabbed a selection of my knives with dull straight and serrated blades.

Using the EdgeSelect is extremely easy to use, but you really need to read the manual before you use it. If you don’t, you’ll probably use it wrong and be disappointed with the results. The manual explains when you use each stage.

Stage 1 – Used for excessively dull or damaged knives or for maximum edge “bite.” Diamond abrasives create first facet. You won’t use this stage very often. That’s why there is a removable cover over it.

Stage 2 – Used for routine sharpening / re-sharpening. Finer-grit diamonds create a second bevel.

Stage 3 – Patented material creates third micro bevel, and polished micro-flute cutters along the super-sharp edge. This stage is the only stage that you’ll use for serrated knives.

You just plug it in, flip the power switch, grab a knife and place it in the appropriate stage left slot with the handle as close to the front of the slot as possible. Then pull the blade towards you smoothly and evenly. It should only take about four seconds to pull an 8 inch blade through the slot. As you do, the built-in springs hold the knife blade securely against the angle guides, eliminating the guesswork and guaranteeing a properly sharpened knife. Then pull the blade through the right slot of the same stage to sharpen the other side of the blade. You always want to pull the blade through the left and then the right slot of the stage.

You’ll definitely know that you’re sharpening the blade, because you can hear it grinding in the slot. Sometimes you’ll even see tiny metal shavings fall out of the slots as you pull the blade through.

By the way, no honing oils or water are required for sharpening.

Every so often, you can clean the metal shavings out of the sharpener, by removing the magnet out of the bottom.

Here are the shavings from the 4 knives I sharpened.

The Chef’sChoice EdgeSelect 120 is so fast and easy to use that you don’t even have to think about it. I was very impressed that it quickly turned my dull knives into super sharp kitchen tools. Even the serrated knives were noticeably sharper. We make a home made bread in my house, so a good serrated knife that can saw through crust is a must. I didn’t even realize how dull my knifes were till I used the EdgeSelect sharpen them.

This appliance is expensive, but it seems like it is a perfect gift for your favorite chef or cook that will always need a sharp knife. And with the holidays just around the corner, it’s time to get those ham and turkey carving knives in tip top shape!

Filed in categories: Home Tech

Tagged: Kitchen Gadgets

Chef’sChoice EdgeSelect 120 Knife Sharpener Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 13, 2009 at 8:00 am.

Fixing the perfect cup of tea requires not only the right tea leaves, but also the correct water temperature to steep them in. Sure, you can boil water and pour it over a tea bag and make a cup of tea that tastes ok. But to bring out the real flavor, the water has to be the correct temperature for the type of tea leaves that you are using. Sound complicated? Don’t worry, the Chef’sChoice SmartKettle will take care of it for you. It heats water faster than your stove top or microwave to the ideal and precise temperature you select with an accuracy of 2ºF. Its convenient “KeepWarm” feature maintains the desired temperature until you are ready to pour. Thirsty for a nice cup of White Tea? Then get your own SmartKettle for $99.99.

Filed in categories: Home Tech

Tagged: Beverage, Kitchen Gadgets, Spotlight Gadgets

Fix the perfect cup of tea with a Chef’sChoice SmartKettle originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 21, 2009 at 7:51 pm.

I admit it– I have a recipe problem.  There are rows and rows of cookbooks lining my bookshelves, binders filled with recipe print outs, and piles of Gourmet and Martha Stewart back issues splattered with ingredients from the meals I have concocted.  The Demy purports to change the lives of the unorganized like myself.  Demy is a digital recipe organizer, holding up to 2500 recipes, which syncs via USB to the user’s own recipe database on keyingredient.com.  The 7″ display  features a color touch screen with graphic interface and is splash resistant, for when one is whisking a little too enthusiastically.  In addition to recipe storage, Demy also acts as a kitchen timer, conversion tool, and maintains an ingredient substitution database–all in a package the size of a 5×7 index card.  The Demy is available for the extremely pricey $299.95 through the manufacturer or Amazon.

Filed in categories: Home Tech

Tagged: Kitchen Gadgets, recipe, Spotlight Gadgets

Kindle of the Kitchen? The Demy originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 15, 2009 at 7:19 am.

Brighten your kitchen counter with one of these 900 watt Bodum Bistro toasters. I think it’s kinda funny to call them retro / modern. But I guess toasters will be considered retro appliances until someone invents a laser toaster or something. The Bistro does all the obvious toaster tasks such as um… toasting. But the cool factor is the heat-resistant rubber exterior which stays cool to the touch and looks cool to the eye. They are available in several colors including Yellow, Black, Brown, Green, Grey, Magenta, Purple and White. The only issue for me is that they only have 2 slots and they cost $79.95. You can get one now from Sur La Table.

Filed in categories: Home Tech

Tagged: Food, Kitchen Gadgets, Spotlight Gadgets

Retro modern bread browning gadget – Bodum Bistro Toaster originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 29, 2009 at 5:20 pm.

The alarm is going off again—it’s 6:30am and you’ve already hit the snooze button twice.  As you begrudgingly exit the bed and stumble around your bedroom you realize that, once again, you forgot to program the coffee maker the night before—and you need to be dressed and out the door in the next thirty minutes.  This is the start of my typical day and where the Bialetti Mukka Express cappuccino maker should come in.

I first saw the Bialetti Mukka Express around the holiday season of last year and kept it on my radar.  A quick cappuccino without having to clog my countertop or deal with the upkeep of a full size machine appealed to me.  About a week ago I found a model on clearance at TJ Maxx and decided to give it a try.

The Mukka Express comes in two flavors:  cow and brushed aluminum.   The model I purchased, Cow, also came with a nifty little Biscotti aluminum container.  I saw no mention of this on the manufacturer’s website, so I assume this was a packaging variant for a specific retailer.

The lid of the biscotti container has small perforations in the underside and what sounds like a silica-type substance inside the lid itself.  I assume this is to keep the biscotti (conveniently not included) fresh and dry.

As for the Mukka Express itself, all of the parts have a nice, sturdy feel—aluminum body and base and a heat-free handle.  Nothing feels particularly fragile or breakable.  There were complaints I read online that water leaks through the threaded connection of the base and top when it boils, but I only experienced that once and it wasn’t particularly severe.  On subsequent uses, I just made sure the threads were clean and were connected as tight as possible.

After a several-minutes struggle with the not quite clear directions and vague pictures, I had a pot of cappuccino ready in about fifteen minutes from box to stove.   I will admit the little device definitely has that going for it—brewing is a quick and simple process.

For use, the upper half (cow) unscrews from the base.  The base is filled with one cup of water, espresso is added to the grounds chamber, then the top gets screwed back onto the base.  Once the two pieces are connected the top is filled with milk and an interior pressure valve is set.  The Mukka is now ready to be put on a medium high heat (gas, electric, or ceramic).  From here, the gadget is pretty much a glorified percolator.  The water in the base boils, pushes through the grounds, and travels up the center core of the base.  Once the espresso reaches the top of this core, the pressure valve raises (emitting a “pop”) to allow the espresso out, and the espresso and milk mix and begin the froth.  Strangely enough, it actually sounds like a frother on a full-size espresso machine.

So how is the coffee?  Unfortunately, it left a lot to be desired.  Although it does provide the froth and the look of a cappuccino, the final product has a taste of used coffee grounds or wet cardboard.  To add insult to injury, it also left behind an unpleasant aftertaste of burnt coffee.  The manual states a user should make and discard several pots in order to “season” the maker prior to normal use.   Ten  cups later, I still fail to see any pleasant difference between the first cup and the last.  Additionally, since there are no temperature controls, I more often than not ended up accidentally boiling the milk—giving me a sticky film on top of my coffee.

I really, really wanted to like this thing.  So, just to make sure it was truly the coffee maker I was tasting and not my beans, I conducted a side by side comparison and taste test:  the Mukka Express versus a full size countertop espresso machine.  I used Peet’s Coffee French Roast, freshly ground (espresso grind) from whole beans.

The  Express is on the left, the full size maker’s cup is on the right.  The only real visual difference was that due to the brewing method, the Express had a muddied look—with the foam and espresso mixed.  Once sipped though, it was clear that the Express was going to lose the battle big time.  The full size maker retained all of the flavor and richness of the espresso beans in its cup, making a delicious creamy and foamy cappuccino.

Would I recommend the Mukka Express?  Probably not–at least not at the full retail price point, and not unless you take your cappuccino with a pile of sugar in it.  It could be something neat for a college dorm room since it is compatible with hot plates (in addition to gas and electric stoves).

In the end, I was looking for a quick and easy cappuccino, but that convenience is overshadowed, for me at least, by the taste.

Filed in categories: Home Tech

Tagged: Beverage, Coffee, espresso, Kitchen Gadgets

Bialetti Mukka Express Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 15, 2009 at 9:00 am.

I like to cook, but I don’t really enjoy all the clean up tasks afterwards. The Trudeau Utensil Pot Clip from ChefTools puts an end to one messy source – your stove top. This little stainless steel clip attaches to the edge of your pot, so that it can hold the stirring spoon while it’s not stirring. I think it’s a much more elegant solution than just leaving it on your stove dribbling a puddle of sauce all over it.

Filed in categories: Home Tech

Tagged: Cooking, Kitchen Gadgets

No more mess on your stove top while cooking originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 11, 2009 at 10:03 am.

I keep discovering all kinds of cool things at unicahome.com. The latest item that I stumbled on is a stainless steel food tasting utensil. On one end it’s a spoon and on the other end, it’s a fork. But the clever part of this kitchen ‘tool’ is that the fork side has a little hook that can grab a pasta noodle. I need one of these! Whenever I need to test if the pasta is done, it takes me several tries before I am able to grab a noodle.

Filed in categories: Home Tech

Tagged: Kitchen Gadgets, Spotlight Gadgets

Clever kitchen tool that is better than a spork originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 2, 2009 at 11:37 am.

Ok boys and girls, Saturday is typically a slow news day in the tech world. Not so at your friendly neighborhood Gadgeteer! It’s early and no one else is stirring, so I thought I’d share one of my favorite gadgets with you. Aside from my gaming, mobile, and music interests, I also love to cook. For my birthday, my wife treated me to a culinary vacation in Asheville, NC with Chef John Smith. I noticed Chef John was using some really interesting salt and pepper mills. When I inquired about them, he informed me they were made by Vic Firth.  Who’s Vic Firth? A blurb from his website:

“For a half-century, Vic Firth personified precision and professionalism as the timpanist for the Boston Symphony Orchestra. It was his drive for perfection that lead him to begin manufacturing his own drumsticks 40 years ago—and today, Vic Firth drumsticks are widely recognized as the best drumsticks in the world.”

The look, functionality, and  associated name made it necessary for an immediate acquisition, and man do I love these things! You operate them by pushing down the plunger located on the top with your thumb. They work perfectly in the kitchen as a precise shot of salt or pepper when you need it. I’ve found the dose with each plunge to be quite consistent, and nothing I’ve found works better for a one-handed quick grab when you need it. They’re extremely convenient, very unique, well made, look very gadgety, and are always a conversation piece when friends drop by. Therefore, they meet most all requirements for gadget goodness. The set will cost you $39.90 sans shipping, but they’re well worth it. You can find them here.

Filed in categories: Uncategorized

Tagged: Kitchen Gadgets, Spotlight Gadgets

Vic Firth Gourmet Pump and Grind Mills originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 4, 2009 at 6:05 am.