{"id":2724,"date":"2018-11-17T10:11:08","date_gmt":"2018-11-17T16:11:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.fanagrams.com\/blog\/?p=2724"},"modified":"2018-11-17T10:11:08","modified_gmt":"2018-11-17T16:11:08","slug":"in-praise-of-kitchen-gadgets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fanagrams.com\/blog\/2018\/11\/in-praise-of-kitchen-gadgets\/","title":{"rendered":"In Praise of Kitchen Gadgets"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

There is nothing like a visit to Bed, Bath and Beyond to restore one\u2019s confidence in American ingenuity.\u00a0 I\u2019m not talking about the whiz bang intelligence required to send a man to Mars, invent the Internet, or thwart Russian hackers.\u00a0 I\u2019m talking about the everyday can-do spirit of ordinary Americans who tinker in their kitchens and garages to devise a better way to make it through the day<\/p>\n

These humble inventors live in obscurity.\u00a0 I imagine them fiddling with a spatula or whisk, muttering their mantra, \u201cSome\u00a0men see things as they are, and\u00a0ask why. I dream of things that never were, and\u00a0ask why\u00a0not?\u201d<\/p>\n

The fruits of their labor are on display at Bed, Bath and Beyond, a dizzying collection of specialty spoons, spatulas, scoopers, slicers and dicers, each exquisitely designed to fill a sliver of a niche.<\/p>\n

The 1950s saw an explosion of kitchen appliances, all intended to improve the life of the homemaker.\u00a0 These innovations represented low-hanging fruit.\u00a0 The demand for a clothes dryer was obvious.\u00a0 This was an era when it wasn\u2019t yet a clich\u00e9 for a husband to give his wife an appliance as an anniversary present, perhaps a new-fangled toaster that toasted both sides simultaneously, or a garbage can with a foot pedal to open the lid, leaving both hands free to scrape a plate.<\/p>\n

Lillian Moller Gilbreth, born in 1878, is known as the \u201cFirst Lady of Engineering,\u201d an industrial psychologist and efficiency expert, who studied housewives to identify the most efficient approach to kitchen chores.[1]\u00a0 It was Lillian who invented the garbage can with a foot pedal in 1920.\u00a0 Her other standouts included shelves on the fridge doors, such as a butter tray and egg keeper.\u00a0 Yes, \u201cwhy not\u201d indeed.<\/p>\n

The current generation of gadgeteers face a crowded landscape, and only the most enterprising can identify and exploit an empty niche.\u00a0 The recent movie Joy profiled the entrepreneur Joy Mangano who made a fortune with a self-wringing Miracle Mop, designed so you don\u2019t have to touch that wet dirty thing.\u00a0 The movie closes with Joy interviewing a young couple who are seeking their fortune with their ergonomically designed lint roller.<\/p>\n

If you want to see where dreams can still come true, go to Bed Bath and Beyond.<\/p>\n

The following are the most intriguing items I harvested on a recent stroll through the store.<\/p>\n

But I warn you.\u00a0 You will also confront the silly excesses of our culture.\u00a0 I think of the millions who make do with a single dinged up bowl and a combination knife\/machete.\u00a0 They must be astonished Americans are so pressed for time that they need a special device to crush garlic cloves, that they are so consumed with presentation they need a special serrated knife to keep the cut edge of lettuce from turning brown, that they have no concept of portions given the plethora of storage containers and that they have unlimited storage space for all this inventive crap.<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0 Measuring cups marked on the inside<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

My existing Pyrex measuring cups, which have served me well for over 30 years, require me to either bend over to see the volume markers or lift the cup to eye level. \u00a0I have meekly accepted this annoyance, but an enterprising housewife banged her fist on the counter and said, “NO MORE!!\u00a0 Let\u2019s Keep America Great and spare ourselves the agony of Making America Great Again!”<\/p>\n

These angled measuring cups allow me to look\u00a0down into the cup.\u00a0 No bending or lifting required.<\/p>\n

The elimination of bending is a general theme in kitchen gadgets, starting with the aforementioned step-pedal garbage can, followed by the bendable straw patented by Joseph Friedman in 1937.\u00a0 I grew up with the humble dust pan, but now I have a long-handled one.\u00a0 I don\u2019t need to bend over anymore.\u00a0 I gratefully stand on the shoulders of those who came before me.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0 Angry Mama Microwave Cleaner<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

My pet peeve is not the grease-spattered microwave, it’s dishes left in the sink, particularly when encrusted with old egg yolks, but I do appreciate the strategy of targeting frustrated housewives.\u00a0 The steaming mad character captures the mood, but Angry Mama execution does present conceptual problems.\u00a0 First you have to rip off the Mama\u2019s hair and then her head in order to fill the body with vinegar and water, which comes across as an act of vengeance.\u00a0 Then you twirl Mama\u00a0 in the microwave until a vinegar steam bath erupts from the vents in her head.\u00a0 The package notes that after the steam bath, you have to wipe down the microwave, then clean the woman, so Angry Mama is not a time saver.<\/p>\n

I bought the woman to celebrate its creativity, however misguided, but returned it the next day.\u00a0 In my disorganized hands, the parts would certainly become separated.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t want a decapitated head rolling around my \u201cthings accumulate\u201d drawer.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0 Scissors-cutting board combination<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Chopping carrots has always been a two-step process \u2013 first the cutting and then the nano-second time-suck of transferring the carrots from the cutting board to the bowl. \u00a0The obvious solution \u2013 combine the two by attaching a miniature cutting board to the lower blade of the scissors.<\/p>\n

I bought one but always forget to use it.\u00a0 It takes me more time to find the scissors than use a standard-issue cutting board.\u00a0 Scissors come in many styles, including one with multiple blades that can mince herbs with one cut.\u00a0 Over a course of a year, a nano-second here and there might add up to a full second of saved time.<\/p>\n

\u00a04.\u00a0 Collapsible whisk<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Oh, the clutter of bulky whisks!\u00a0 Such an annoyance, particularly when the bulbous whisk jams the drawer that resists all jiggling and jimmying.\u00a0 I applaud the inventive mind who realized this is no way to live and then did something about it!<\/em>\u00a0 I hold the nifty flat whisk in my hand, twist the base and marvel as\u00a0the\u00a0head elegantly blossoms and clicks into its full-bodied splendor.<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0 Egglettes<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Egglettes address the nightmare of hardboiled eggs that refuse to peal.\u00a0 Just crack the eggs in the little plastic containers then boil them.\u00a0\u00a0 Genius.<\/p>\n

However, the bigger question is why some eggs peal like a dream, while others leave you with a flea-bitten egg that is hardly worth eating.<\/p>\n

The answer is related to the anatomy and chemistry of the egg.\u00a0 I’m sure you’ve noticed the membrane that separates the egg white from the shell.\u00a0 This keeps the\u00a0sticky\u00a0and acidic proteins in the egg white from glomming onto the shell and making it impossible to peel.\u00a0 You can guess where I’m going here.\u00a0 It’s all about the membrane, the difference between success and failure.\u00a0 Is that flimsy membrane stalwart enough for the job?<\/p>\n

Here’s the kicker – the\u00a0fresher<\/em>\u00a0the egg, the lower the pH of the egg white and the stickier it becomes.\u00a0 The membrane is overwhelmed.\u00a0 \u00a0Old eggs don’t have this problem<\/p>\n

Egglettes are the clever work-around.\u00a0 Hard boil the egg outside the shell.<\/p>\n

I love this product.\u00a0 It provides an ingenious and time-saving solution to a truly annoying problem.\u00a0 I hope the inventor makes a fortune, but I didn\u2019t buy any Egglettes.\u00a0 They would take up too much room.\u00a0 I\u2019m waiting for the \u00a0next-gen, collapsible Egglette.\u00a0 Besides, there\u2019s and easy work-around.\u00a0 Problem solved if you let your eggs languish in the fridge for a few days.<\/p>\n

6.\u00a0 Hydralight Flashlight\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong> \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\"\"<\/a>The Hydralight makes the list as a cautionary tale illustrating the hyperbolic advertising that accompanies gadgets.<\/p>\n

I responded to the claim that the flashlight \u201cruns on water,\u201d and \u201cno batteries needed.\u201d\u00a0 Here, midst the maze of Bed Bath and Beyond, I was privy to the fruits of another inventive tinkerer who had tapped into the energy potential of good old H2O.\u00a0 I looked around to make sure that I hadn\u2019t stumbled into the thermodynamic or cold fusion aisle of the store, but no, the aisle was devoted to other \u201cAs Seen on TV\u201d items.<\/p>\n

I bought a Hydralight, excited about the prospect of living in a world without the crushing disappointment of a flashlight with dead batteries.<\/p>\n

On closer inspection, which required a magnifying glass, I saw the \u201cRuns on Water\u201d claim came with an asterisk.\u00a0 The faint print on the back of the package noted that water was not the energy source, but merely activates the \u201cfuel cell.\u201d\u00a0 I was in the presence of champion dissembling!\u00a0 In smaller, fainter print the package made a clever distinction between a battery and a fuel cell.\u00a0 Specifically, \u201ca battery makes energy stored exclusively inside the battery.\u00a0 A fuel cell requires external elements, such as water.\u201d\u00a0 Rocket scientists may embrace this distinction, but for the pedestrian flashlight, the subtleties of a battery vs. fuel cell are irrelevant.<\/p>\n

Chastened, I returned the Hydralight the next day.<\/p>\n

The missing words in the following poem are a collection of anagrams, i.e. words that share the same letters like spot, post, stop, etc.\u00a0 The number of asterisks indicates the number of letters in the word.\u00a0 One missing word will rhyme with either the previous or following line, giving you a big hint.\u00a0 Your job is to solve the missing words based on the above rules and the context of the poem.\u00a0 Scroll down for the answers.<\/em><\/h4>\n

In the American kitchen, not one convenience should be ******,<\/p>\n

Time saving gadgets are a particular point of pride.<\/p>\n

******, time spent bending over is time that is lost,<\/p>\n

So my purchase of a special measuring cup is well worth the cost.<\/p>\n

However, gadgets have accumulated and without even knowing.<\/p>\n

* ***** ended up with drawers and shelves, cluttered and overflowing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[1] Lillian Gilbreth (1878-1972) is a trail blazer on many fronts, one of the first women to get a PhD in engineering and psychology.\u00a0 She was a full partner with her husband Frank in their engineering and consulting firm.\u00a0 The two had twelve children together, and the children participated in many of their efficiency studies.\u00a0 The novel Cheaper by the Dozen, written by two of their children, is based on their well-organized home life.<\/p>\nFollow Liza Blue on: \"Facebook\"<\/a>\"twitter\"<\/a>Share: \"Facebook\"<\/a>\"twitter\"<\/a>\"reddit\"<\/a>\"pinterest\"<\/a>\"linkedin\"<\/a>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  There is nothing like a visit to Bed, Bath and Beyond to restore one\u2019s confidence in American ingenuity.\u00a0 I\u2019m not talking about the whiz bang intelligence required to send a man to Mars, invent the Internet, or thwart Russian … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[40,24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2724","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-lists","category-pot-pouri"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7iVc8-HW","post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fanagrams.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2724","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fanagrams.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fanagrams.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fanagrams.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fanagrams.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2724"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.fanagrams.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2724\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2732,"href":"https:\/\/www.fanagrams.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2724\/revisions\/2732"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fanagrams.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2724"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fanagrams.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2724"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fanagrams.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2724"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}