POTS AND PANS CITY BLOG

This is a handy kitchen calculator gadget that helps with such things as enabling you to accurately scale recipe ingredient portions for more or fewer servings.  Other features include metric and U.S. weights and measures conversion and a timer with alarm.

Calculated Industries makes two different kitchen calculators.  The KitchenCalc 8300 runs around $20.00 and the 8305 Pro model is larger and comes with two alarms.  The 8305 costs just under $30.00.  Both calculators come with soft plastic covers to protect from spills and splashes.  Both models can also perform normal calculator functions.

For most of us,  twisting a jar lid off is not much of a trial.  It usually involves a mere twist of the hands.  So at first glance,  the Black & Decker Lids Off® Deluxe Jar Opener may just seem to be another luxury gadget that takes up precious kitchen space.

For those with arthritis or other disabilities however, jar lids can be pretty scary things.  Some may even have to avoid buying something that they would like to because they may fear having too much difficulty with the container’s lid.  Black & Decker’s jar opening gadget is more than just a luxury or convenience in such cases.  

The Lids Off adjusts to the size of your jar automatically and twists the lid right off quickly and effortlessly.  At less than $25 it won’t break the bank either.

I was able to spend some time at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this weekend.  While most of the hype at this year’s show revolved around 3D television, ereaders and tablet computers,  I did find this interesting kitchen gadget.

The Demy Touchscreen Recipe Reader by Key Ingredient Corp. is an attractive device with lots of useful features. 

The Demy has a bright and colorful 7-inch LCD touch screen housed in a tough splash   resistant housing.  The Demy seemed to me to be very solidly constructed. There is a built-in stand on the back that allows you to position it at a couple of different angles.  The font size is adjustable to make your recipes easy to read, and you can also adjust the brightness level.

250 recipes are pre-loaded,  but you can add more via your computer’s USB connection.  Both PC and Mac are supported.  The Demy can hold up to 2500 recipes.  The device lets you organize your recipes and search through them.

In addition the Demy has three separate timers and a weights and measures conversion tool.  There is also an ingredient substitution list in case you are out of something.

Demy Kitchen Safe Touchscreen Recipe Reader is available from Amazon for $299.