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Sabina Mihailescu,

Editor (Food)

 

Christmas has come to pass and, as a joke (because I’m the ultimate food-tester in my group, but I can’t cook to save my life), I’ve received a bunch of food-related utensils from my friends. Bunch which includes a banana slicer. Now, my parents may or may not buy sliced bread just because I can’t cut the normal one (hint: they are), but, come on, even I can slice a banana. So, in my quest to explain the utility of said banana slicer, I’ve researched kitchen gadgets and I’ve come across some interesting, but really weird and kind of unnecessary tools:

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The Potato Gun: This little evil contraption shoots harmless (or so the company says) potato pellets. Basically, what you have to do is stick a potato into the barrel and it slices a bit of it to turn it into a bullet. So, a) it’s fun and b) it peels your potatoes. What I don’t get is why won’t people use a normal toy gun and a potato peeler for this. Alas, to each his own.

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The Food Evaporator: Well, this is a really complicated gadget and it might be useful in some new, developing branch of the food industry (i.e. molecular gastronomy, we’ve talked about this). Or if you’re an astronaut. But to have this in your household – thanks, but I’ll pass.

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Zero Gravity Magnetic Spice Rack: At first, I thought the thing actually floated around the room and I was wondering why people need state-of-the-art technology to store their spices. But it’s a misleading name. It doesn’t float (sobs). The containers have tiny magnets on them and they can be attached to any metallic surface. It’s saving space, true, but, come on, how many condiments do people usually use for their food? Much ado about spices. And I’m not forgiving you people for making me believe that my stuff could levitate around the kitchen.

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Drumstick Spoons : Which would be a pretty cool idea, if they could be used for…you know, eating, too. Too bad that one of the two spoons in the set has a musical note-shaped hole in it. But that’s art to you, I guess.