Kitchen Gadgets – Unique Kitchen Appliances On Any Budget

One rarely uses the words “cool” and “kitchen appliance” in the same sentence. But as any food-fanatic knows, there are plenty of kitchen gadgets out there that are as fun as they are useful. We’ve tracked down our six favorites – judged by aesthetics, usefulness, and the ever popular cool factor. Enjoy.

Paco Jet Sorbet Machine – $3450

The most expensive sorbet machine on earth, this uber-blender aerates frozen canisters into a mousse-like consistency with medical-precision.  Made by those cheeky Swiss technicians, a Paco Jet uses a titanium blade spinning at 2000rpm to shave a frozen block of anything your heart desires into layers just two microns thick for an incredibly smooth and creamy result.
Just how frighteningly powerful is this gadget?  So much so that the company recommends freezing each canister below zero, because the friction of the blade instantly raises the temperature by ten degrees every twenty seconds.
Available at PacoJet

Granite Mortar & Pestle – $50

It might be the only prehistoric “gadget” to make it on our list, but as men know, sometimes the best solution is to smash something with a rock.  Pulverizing food often brings out more flavor than just slicing or chopping it, especially when it comes to herbs and spices.  Mash up some fresh pesto, crush together dried chilies and spices for a custom meat rub, or smash avocado into guacamole.  You can even make caveman-style peanut butter!  When you buy, look for something made of a hard stone like granite and stay away from breakable materials like porcelain or clay.
Available at Amazon

Thermomix – $1000

Our friends in Europe say this German-engineered contraption is the best thing since sliced bread and just as popular.  A Frankenstein of the kitchen, this gadget can do just about anything you need to prepare a meal; it weighs, chops, cooks, steams, kneads, and blends.  So why hasn`t anyone ever heard of it this side of the pond?
Apparently, the only thing the Thermomix doesn`t do is sit on store shelves.  Just like Tupperware in the days of old, the only way to actually buy the thing to contact a sales agent to come over for a home demonstration.  Sounds like a pain to us, but could half a billion Europeans be wrong?
More Info At Vorwek

Gene Cafe Home Coffee Roaster – $500

Home roasting used to be a smoky, messy affair but these days it`s as easy as flipping a switch.  We know what you`re thinking – when there`s a Starbucks on every corner, why go to the trouble?  The answer is simple – freshness, flavor, and savings.  Once beans are roasted, coffee has an extremely short shelf life before it starts to lose flavor; as little as 24 hours for ground beans and a week for whole beans.  Unroasted or green beans however, keep at least 6 months and up to two years with little to no effect on flavor. Not only that, but even the most premium coffees can be bought green for a fraction of their cost when roasted, usually less than $5 a pound.
Available at Amazon or check out this $90 model by Freshroast

Reveo MariVac – $150

Marinating always brings extra flavor to the table. The Reveo MariVac uses a vacuum canister to depressurize meat, so it soaks up flavor in minutes instead of hours – it`s quick enough to use on a whim.
Available at Amazon

HomeHero Fire Extinguisher – $25

Okay, it might seem like a stretch for a gadget, but HomeHero`s new ergonomic design makes not burning your house down both practical and cool.  The sleek white and grey nicely updates the traditional red model, and the new shape helps disguise its true purpose from houseguests already concerned about the idea of you near fire.  Now you can grill, flame-broil, and deep-fry away, knowing if things get out of hand, you can always hit the panic button – with style and comfort we might add.
Available at HomeHero

You might also want to check out these cool cocktail shakers on any budget.