While some people revamp their kitchens with modern fixtures and a fresh coat of paint, others prefer to clean out the contents of their cabinets and drawers instead. If this applies to you and you're always on the hunt for the latest cookware and gadgets, we've got good news for you: There are some standout products to look out for in 2024 (and you can buy them right now).
Mashed recently got a look at the latest gadgets at Chicago's Inspired Home Show, where a myriad of vendors came together to show off the coolest inventions in their collections. From a portable lunch box that can actually heat up food to a handy waffle bowl maker that perfectly plates aptly named foods (like taco salad), it's clear that manufacturers are turning their attention to technology and creativity in the kitchen. One brand that particularly stood out was Salton, which offered up two of the best kitchen gadgets in the entire show.
Salton waffle bowl maker
Waffle bowls were once a elusive treat only available at ice cream shops. Now, not only can you make them at home, but you can create even more treats with sweet and savory edible bowls. With Salton's Waffle Bowl Maker, you can customize your bowls to your liking. Pour in a traditional waffle mix into the warm finished product for a standard ice cream sundae or use a chocolate chip cookie dough batter for an even sweeter treat. You can even mix up a cornbread batter for a particularly edible soup or chili bowl. In under 2 minutes, you'll have them ready to pack into your hot, freshly cooked container (easy release from the non-stick cooking surface).
A Salton rep at the show also highlighted to Mashed how compact and portable this small, handled device is, noting that the gadget can be taken anywhere, including to a “waffle party at a friend's house.” The rep went on to say that the inspiration for the product was to “make waffles exciting,” and ultimately to create a “transformed waffle.” Having repeatedly evolved their waffle maker to be more versatile, it looks like Salton has really done something great here. The Salton Waffle Bowl Maker sells for $19.99.
Salton Portable Electric Lunch Box
Sick of cold sandwiches but don't have time to heat up leftovers in the microwave during the day? Pack your food in Salton's Portable Electric Lunchbox and have a hot meal on hand anyway. What's great about this design is that you can plug it into the wall as soon as you arrive at your destination and have a hot lunch ready in just a few minutes. There's even a car adapter if you're in a special hurry and need to heat up a packed meal on the go. That's right, Salton's Portable Electric Lunchbox says “goodbye to cold lunches” by letting you “enjoy a hot lunch on the go anywhere.” Or rather, that's how a Salton representative put it.
This container holds 1.5 liters of food and has dividers to separate your foods if you don't want different foods to come into contact with each other. You can also take everything apart and easily clean all the parts when you get home. The lunchbox also holds 350 milliliters of water, so you can have a hearty bowl of soup for your hot lunch. It also has a divider with a stainless steel spoon and fork for easy eating. You can buy the Salton Portable Electric Lunchbox for $29.99.
