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If you look at all the so-called innovative kitchen gadgets and gizmos, you might be tempted to think they’re designed for idiots, or at least for the incredibly lazy. Which sometimes rings true. Other times… it’s just a matter of addressing common problems.

Who needs a Carton Holder? Is it that difficult to lift a carton of milk from the fridge, pour, put back? Uh… yes it is, if you’re clumsy. Slippery carton, overfilled carton, shaky hands - they can all spell “milk all over your kitchen”. Being among the clumsier segment of the population, I’ve spilt my share of liquids on the floor, so yes please, give me a holder. They’re extremely simple and cheap: a plastic square “cup” with a handle in which you place the carton.

You’d have to be a real klutz to drop something with a handle however, so be careful, there’s no excuse from now on.

How much under $29.99?
A lot: $7.99 on Amazon.com.

Via bookofjoe

If your pizza making involves tradition and/or secret family recipes, you’re likely to be horrified by the next implement. If pizza is just food for you, just might appreciate a tool that makes eating easier.

The Pizza Pro is… weird. It’s what happens when a spatula and a scissors have a baby. It’s also supposed to make cutting a pizza easier. Knives and wheels tend to damage pans if they’re good, or not cut all the way through if they’re bad, so in theory a scissors is a valid idea. The spatula makes it easy to place the slice on a plate without it breaking down the middle and spreading the ingredients all over the table - good point, again. But I don’t understand something: look at the picture; how do you make the first cut in order to insert the spatula and cut the other side?

It’s just it looks so… non-kitcheny. Scissors are for cutting fabric or paper, not food. I don’t know. Too much innovation for me.

How much under $29.99?
Some: $19.99 on SkyMall.com.

Via Gizmodo

I played a warrior for so long I could forget mana existed… and then I rolled a caster and it became my new best friend. But, in order to afford playing with my warrior or my mage, I need money, which comes from working. Which requires getting up in the morning…

And what better way to drink your coffee than from a Mana Mug? Coffee basically does the same as mana: gives you energy to work your magic, be it crunching figures or late-night gaming. The mug features the familiar mana vial we all know and love, all in the customary blue color.

However, if you problem is not you mana but your HP, you can always go for the Health Mug for the same price.

How much under $29.99?
Some: $10.95 on SplitReason.com.

My kitchen usually looks like some sort of tornado just had a trip through it, so I’m constantly on the lookout for gizmos to make organizing it an easier task. But I’m not sure if the Scoop Clip can be one of them.

The good: it does two jobs - holds a sugar/coffee/etc bag closed and has a scoop for dispensing said product. The bad: since it’s on the bag at all times, it’s going to get dusty. Maybe I’m a bit OCD, but I’d have to wash it every time… and in that case, I could just use a normal spoon. The upside of the scoops I have right now is that they stay inside the jars, so I know there’s no way they can get dirty.

All in all, I think the bad outweighs the good. Spoon and regular clips it shall be… But if you’re confident your sugar’s in a clean dust-free place (or you don’t have issues with that), go for it, by all means. 2-in-1 rocks my world.

How much under $29.99?
A lot: $5 on PamperedChef.com.

Via BoingBoing

Some (most?) of the new kitchen gadgets we see online are actually for lazy people in the kitchen. Which sounds kind of bad, but if you can make it easier for yourself, why not?

The Individual Pie Slice Pan lets you get the traditional wedge-shaped slices without the trouble and potential mess. I’m a bit torn on this one, since on one hand it’s absolutely ridiculous, but on the other hand looks like something I might use…

Since you have to layer your cake in each of the pans individually, it looks like more work than a regular round pan; but, if looks are important (i.e. the boyfriend’s mother is coming to dinner), one set of these might be useful to have, at least for the occasional cooking emergency.

How much under $29.99?
Some: $10.95 on KingArthurFlour.com.

Via cribcandy

Some people have a strange handicap: they are unable to pour something from a bottle into a glass without spilling it on the table or floor. I have to admit I am occasionally one of them, but enough to justify buying a Pour Thing? Don’t think so.

The 2-Liter Pour Thing is a plastic cradle meant to hold a two liter bottle and eliminate the chance of spillage, and I hope no grown man or woman without physical disabilities is so clumsy to need one. However, for disabled, elderly people or children it might be a welcome help. You only have to place the glass under it, tilt it and pour - no water or juice on the counter! Of course, you still need to put the glass in the right place, but that shouldn’t be so complicated, should it?

How much under $29.99?
Some: $19.99 on Solutions.com.

Via Coolest Gadgets

I shouldn’t be posting about food when I’m so hungry, but it’s too late now. (Damn, that bacon looks so good…)

The interesting part in the image is not the bacon, though. The clever device they’re hanging onto is called a Bacon Genie, and it does look like a genius idea.

What do all those yummy greasy foods have in common? A lot of mess left behind. Not fun. The Bacon Genie offers a simple solution: a bacon stand with a reservoir underneath that collects all the dripping fat, ready to pop in the microwave without worrying about what comes later.

From the point of view of someone very lazy and quite messy, this seems like a life (and time) saver.

How much under $29.99?
A lot: $7.98 on Amazon.com.

Via bookofjoe

If you spend your day in front of a computer, reading blogs like this, odds are you’re not a kitchen wizz. And if you’re dealing with more intricate things, then a simple dilemma can turn into a mystery.

I, for one, had no idea you had to do anything special to melt chocolate… But the Chocolate Spatula Thermometer has to have some reason to exist, right?

Proper melted chocolate apparently needs a certain temperature that needs to be carefully monitored, and a thermometer right on the spatula does just that. You can just stir and know if you’re doing it right… in theory.

Then again, don’t imagine this will make you a French chef in no time. No, sorry, you need to learn that on your own.

How much under $29.99?
Some: $19.95 on Amazon.com.

Via ubergizmo

Does anyone remember the game Pipe Dream? It was one of my favorites back in the day when we got our first computer, and the Constructible Drinking Straw reminds me of it so much I’m nostalgic.

The best thing: this is for real, not just on a computer. You can use the pieces to create all sorts of straws, even ones that allow you to drink simultaneously from two (or more) glasses. Although it’s probably made for children, I’m sure that many adults would love to have some fun with the set. Imagine the possibilities…

How much under $29.99?
Some: $14 on MoMAStore.org.

Via
BoingBoing

Diamonds are a girl’s best friends? Too materialistic for me, sorry. One’s lover should be their best friends, not some rocks. I think throwing money away on expensive diamond rings is pointless, so, if she’s still bugging you for a diamond or two… try an alternate approach.

Ice diamonds. The Glamour Jewels Ice Cube Tray gets you 6 large polished “stones”, perfect for any drinks - but not any women. If your girl wants a diamond it’s unlikely she’ll appreciate this very much, unless she has a great sense of humor, so be careful there.

It’s a cool shape for ice cubes, anyway, ever if the tray is a bit pricier than I’d like.

How much under $29.99?
A lot: $7 on Amazon.com.

Via Coolest Gadgets