Pro-Level Gadgets for the Science Kitchen
We've mentioned a few of the devices in Popular Science's "Kitchen Gadgets Bonanza," but not nearly all twenty-five showcased. These aren't your regular KitchenAids and food processors; instead they've taken a look at the tools being used by cutting edge chefs in pursuit of the latest "molecular gastromny" creations.
Not all of them are entirely new, however. The "Whipper", a steel canister used to create foams by mixing them with nitrous oxide, has been known many pro-am party goers for years. (Minus the coffee-chocolate foam, of course.)
Pictured above, the "Gastrovac." PopSci explains:
hink of the Gastrovac as a crock pot, vacuum pump and heating plate in one. Suspend your food--pear slices, for example--in a basket above a flavorful liquid, such as wine broth. Seal the machine, and hit a button to turn the cooking chamber into a vacuum. The low-pressure environment pulls all the air out of the food, compressing it like a squished sponge. Near the end of their cooking, drop the pears into the broth and restore the pressure. The liquid rushes into the cells, infusing the fruit with an intense wine flavor. And no oxygen means no oxidation--so instead of turning brown, fruit comes out as brightly colored as it was when first sliced.
Kitchen Gadgets Bonanza [PopSci.com]
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omg just thinking about this is making me drool. I can't even begin to imagine the various tasty liquids I could infuse into stuff...nummers.
My brother has the thermal circulator and antigriddle. The antigriddle is totally awesome!
This is the anti-pressure cooker.
Gastrovac: $3,800
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FoodSaver Pro III Vacuum Sealing Kit, $218.53
FoodSaver 3-Piece Canister Set $22.55
Does a decent job vaccum marinating. It's hard to believe the Fooderackicycle--I mean, the "Gastrovac"--does a job that's so much better it's worth north of $3,500 more.
Alton Brown frowns on kitchen single-taskers, and rightly so...