Jun 10, 2009 7:14 pm US/Eastern
Consumer Report: Hottest Houseware Gadgets
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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The recession has some Americans opting to stay home for dinner (file)
CBS
Most New Yorkers tend to leave their holiday shopping until the last minute, choosing to brave the large crowds and chaos at checkout registers in hopes of finding a final-day sale or two.
But a select few choose to finish up way ahead of schedule, allowing them to sit back and relax as relatives scramble to their local Macy's, Sak's or Lord and Taylor.
Despite summer not even being in full swing yet, this latter group may have already begun to slowly start shopping for the holidays; and as Americans are spending more time in the kitchen and less time eating out thanks to the current recession, early shoppers would be wise to consider one of the new kitchen gadgets unveiled Wednesday at the International Home and Housewares Show.
We all know bacon is a popular food. After all, Harlan Kerson, spokesman for the WowBacon cooker, said Americans eat approximately 5 million pounds of the meat each year. But preparing it at home can often be a messy process.
The WowBacon makes a great gift for bacon-lovers on holiday shopping lists everywhere, and costs a mere $20. It cooks bacon without the traditional grease and splatter.
The Vitamix, like the WowBacon, is a new product, though it sells for a much-pricier $550.
The Vitamix blender can puree a variety of ingredients at up to 240 miles per hour. It makes ice creams, sorbets, nut butters and hot soups, and claims to produce them all in less than five minutes.
Finally, Fissler USA's biodegradable scrubbers, made from apricot pits, can be helpful in cleaning up the kitchen after a hearty breakfast.
Others gizmos unveiled at the show included a rotisserie chicken cooker, a press that prepares garlic without the hassle of peeling and an herb-keeper that fits in a common refrigerator.
Some are currently available for purchase, while others are being held back for the holiday season.
When shopping for friends and family members who might not be aspiring chefs, wireless iPod speakers can make a handy gift. The speakers come in different models, with the shower set costing $20 and the pair that can be placed on tables and shelves costing $30.
Other gift ideas could include one of many safe, wickless candle lamps, which sell anywhere from $25 to $60, or a Vinturi wine aerator for people over 21. The Vinturi aerator was designed exclusively for white wine.
Here's a list of the products we featured:
VINTURI WHITE WINE AERATOR
$39.95
WWW.VINTURI.COM
HEAD CHEFS COLORFUL KITCHEN GADGETS
VAROIUS PRICES
WWW.FIESTAPRODUCTS.COM
BIODEGRADABLE KITCHEN SCRUBS BY FISLLER USA
$8.99
WWW.FISSLERUSA.COM
RIPENING FRUIT BOWL BY LIIVIA
$79.99
WWW.LIIVIA.COM
GARLIC CRUSHER BY PREPARA
PRICE TBA
WWW.PREPARA.COM
WOWBACON MICROWAVE COOKER BY VALCOR INVENTIONS
$20
AMAZON.COM
CANDLE WARMERS
$30-$60
WWW.CANDLEWARMERS.COM
POINT TO POINT WIRELESS SPEAKERS
STARTING AT $19.99
WWW.SPIINC-TX.COM
VITA-MIX PROFESSIONAL SERIES 500 BLENDER
$549
WWW.THEPROFESSIONALSERIES.COM
HERB SAVOR BY PREPARER
PRICE TBA
WWW.PREPARER.COM
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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