Archives for Unitasker Wednesday

Unitasker Wednesday: Breading Pans

All Unitasker Wednesday posts are jokes — we don’t want you to buy these items, we want you to laugh at their ridiculousness. Enjoy!

Williams-Sonoma has so many wonderful unitaskers that it almost feels like I’m being lazy when I use one of them in the weekly feature. This week’s unitasker is so specific, though, I just had to bring it to your attention. Introducing the Stainless Steel Breading Pan, Set of 3:

I know you could use these pans for other things (and if you own them, I really hope you do), but as advertised they are strictly for your breading pan needs. You know, for ALL those times you bread things at home. You super breader, you. You’re a breading monster! Bread, bread, bread!

I imagine, however, if you are a regular breader, you already have a system set up for breading things. I bet you use plates and bowls you already own — things you didn’t have to rush out to buy, and things that are wholly effective at breading all those things you bread.

If you are a master breader, and these things speak to you, can you please invite me over for dinner? Because right now, my mouth is watering thinking about fried chicken. I don’t even like chicken, and these Stainless Steel Breading Pans are making me crave it. Crispy, spicy, fried chicken … Mmmmmmmm … Darn you, unitasker!!

Posted by Erin on Sep 1, 2010 | 42 Comments | Tweet This

Unitasker Wednesday: The Bacon Platter

All Unitasker Wednesday posts are jokes — we don’t want you to buy these items, we want you to laugh at their ridiculousness. Enjoy!

Mmmmmmmm, bacon. Bacon is so yummy, but it is extremely difficult to detect when it’s on a table next to other breakfast foods.

Voice-over: Does this happen to you?
[Camera pulls back to show a helpless woman sitting at a table.]
Woman: [Stabbing an egg with a fork.] Is that bacon? [Tastes food on fork.] No! Yuck! Those are eggs. I’m so full and I haven’t even figured out which plate has bacon on it!

To end the confusion and help your family know which food is bacon and which food isn’t, you need to put it on the obvious Bacon Platter!

Warning! The Bacon Platter is for bacon only. You and your family will be even more confused if you put sausage, pancakes, or other breakfast foods on it. And you don’t want to confuse your family, do you?

Also, when serving bacon on your awesome Bacon Platter, you should definitely consider using canned bacon. There is no bacon like canned bacon.

Thanks to reader Linda for finding the Bacon Platter and bringing it to our attention.

Posted by Erin on Aug 25, 2010 | 25 Comments | Tweet This

Unitasker Wednesday: The bananarama continues

All Unitasker Wednesday posts are jokes — we don’t want you to buy these items, we want you to laugh at their ridiculousness. Enjoy!

I have no idea what it is about bananas that inspires unitaskers, but they do. Oh, how they do.

We’ve written in the past about the Banana Saver and the rectangular-shaped Banana Slicer, but did you know you could also get your hands on …

A Banana-Shaped Banana Slicer:

A Nana Saver banana clip:

Or, the “special” looking Banana Bunker:

If you’re carrying a banana around in your backpack, I can see how the banana-protection devices would be useful. However, I crack up at the idea of someone bringing a bunch of bananas home and individually protecting each banana with a Bunker as it sits on the counter — like outfitting each banana with its own suit of armor.

Now I’m off to slice up a banana using just a knife. I know, I live on the edge …

Posted by Erin on Aug 18, 2010 | 59 Comments | Tweet This

Unitasker Wednesday: The Mayo Knife — Spreader

All Unitasker Wednesday posts are jokes — we don’t want you to buy these items, we want you to laugh at their ridiculousness. Enjoy!

For the past two years, I’ve been laughing about the Peanut Butter and Jelly Spreader. My laughs were elevated to a new level, however, when reader Adam sent me a link to this INGENIOUS piece of plastic — the Mayo Knife — Spreader:

I think my favorite part about this unitasker is how it mentions an alternative multitasking object that can do the job just as well in the product’s name. The name of the product reminds you about a knife! A knife you already own! A knife that makes this product completely unnecessary! And, my guess is that the word spreader even makes you think of a spatula made of rubber or silicone in your kitchen drawer that also does the exact same thing. I would have named this unitasker the Mayo Magic Wand because it uses magic to get you to spend money!

Posted by Erin on Aug 11, 2010 | 22 Comments | Tweet This

Unitasker Wednesday: The Daddle

All Unitasker Wednesday posts are jokes — we don’t want you to buy these items, we want you to laugh at their ridiculousness. Enjoy!

Oh, Daddle, you are one of the most special unitaskers I have encountered:

I don’t even know what to say. I’m at a complete loss for words. Or, rather, at a loss for words that are appropriate for a family-friendly website. I can think of a number of double entendres and completely inappropriate jokes. So, those of you over 18, simply imagine that I have written those jokes here and chuckle to yourselves. Ride on!

Thanks to reader Sharon for trotting this unitasker out for our attention.

Posted by Erin on Aug 4, 2010 | 28 Comments | Tweet This

Unitasker Wednesday: Potato Chip Finger

All Unitasker Wednesday posts are jokes — we don’t want you to buy these items, we want you to laugh at their ridiculousness. Enjoy!

There are folks out there who don’t like picking up potato chips with their hands. Chips are greasy! Your hands could be dirty! And if you have a cut, the salt can sting! Avoid the pain of eating potato chips with the Potato Chip Finger!

It’s also fully automatic, and so realistic looking that your mouth won’t know you didn’t use your real fingers! And, if I’m to believe the man in the commercial, after using it you want to give everyone a big thumbs up! (You should know it works well, too, because I keep using exclamation points!!!)

I was having difficulty imagining how people who don’t like using the hands attached to their bodies might possibly eat potato chips without the Potato Chip Finger, but thankfully the commercial also showed me a multi-tasking alternative:

(Thanks to reader Emi for introducing us to this week’s unitasker.)

Posted by Erin on Jul 28, 2010 | 19 Comments | Tweet This

Unitasker Wednesday: The Watermelon Cooler

All Unitasker Wednesday posts are jokes — we don’t want you to buy these items, we want you to laugh at their ridiculousness. Enjoy!

I know about your obsession with watermelon. I’ve seen the way you talk to the blooms in your watermelon patch, the way you care and support each watermelon that crosses your home’s threshold, the way you always show up at potluck dinners with one, and the small tear that rolls down your cheek every time you cut into one. You love watermelons of all shapes and sizes — seeded and seedless.

Because of this deep-flowing passion, I immediately thought of you when I saw on Engadget and CrunchGear the JoyBond company’s greatest creation: The Watermelon Cooler!

Now, I need you to brace yourself, because I have some bad news. Unfortunately, the Watermelon Cooler is only sold in Japan. It’s okay if you cry. I understand. It saddens me, too. Maybe you can plan a vacation?

—
Thanks go to the more than 100 readers who sent us a link to this unitasker this week. This is a great one!

Posted by Erin on Jul 21, 2010 | 43 Comments | Tweet This

Unitasker Wednesday: ept’s Keepsake Bag

All Unitasker Wednesday posts are jokes — we don’t want you to acquire these items, we want you to laugh at their ridiculousness. Enjoy!

Today’s unitasker was sent to us by reader Daphne, and it just might be the most, uh, um, uhhhh personal unitasker we have featured since the UroClub.

It’s, well, uh, a purple, satin, keepsake bag for your positive at-home pregnancy test.

As the site explains, it’s for when you would like to “Remember the moment you knew …”

Personally, I don’t know why a clear, zip-top bag couldn’t work just as well. In fact, I’d actually want a plastic bag (not fabric) and would want to see what is in the bag without having to open the bag, touch the test, and pull it out of the bag to “remember the moment.” A zip-top bag is the better option, in my opinion, if keeping a stick with urine on it is your thing.

On the plus side (yes, that horrible pun is intentional), it does look like you can get a keepsake bag for free!

If you’re not at work, I strongly recommend checking out MomLogic’s alternative suggestions for how to showcase your treasured, positive, at-home pregnancy tests. Let the world see your, um, “moment.”

Posted by Erin on Jul 14, 2010 | 59 Comments | Tweet This

Unitasker Wednesday: Vegetable and Fruit Savers

All Unitasker Wednesday posts are jokes — we don’t want you to buy these items, we want you to laugh at their ridiculousness. Enjoy!

There must be a large contingency of people in the world who loathe using basic square and round food storage containers because there are an insane amount of products dedicated to very specific food storage needs. Along these lines, I present the Vegetable and Fruit Savers:

I’ll admit that these Savers are really cute, and they seem to be more practical than their seat-belted competitors. However, as luck would have it, my onion would end up being too big for the onion container and I’d have an orange needing storage instead of a lemon or lime. I’ll be sticking with my BPA-free Rubbermaid Easy Find Lid Containers that can be used for any foods, regardless of size, shape, or type. I prefer Easy Find’s high-utility, multi-use, and nested storing to these adorable, but unitasking Vegetable and Fruit Savers.

Thanks to reader Sandy for introducing us to this week’s unitasker product.

Posted by Erin on Jul 7, 2010 | 22 Comments | Tweet This

Unitasker Wednesday: Pet Highchair

All Unitasker Wednesday posts are jokes — we don’t want you to buy these items, we want you to laugh at their ridiculousness. Enjoy!

This week’s unitasker comes to us from the Los Angeles Times. I would assume that a manufacturer has to know their product is doggone-goofy when the mainstream print media is poking fun at it. Yes? At least a little? Someone at Pet Gear had to have asked, “Are we sure we want to do this?” What would you have said when a co-worker threw out the bone-headed idea for The Pet Gear Clip-On Pet High Chair:

Maybe I’m barking up the wrong tree? For all I know, this pet highchair is fetching in the dough for the Pet Gear company! There might have been high-fives around the conference room and bosses were rolling over for its designer when this puppy was first revealed.

It’s probably a good thing I am not working in the manufacturing industry.

One last thing, the Los Angeles Times recommends checking out this unitasker’s competition — the corresponding photo is priceless.

Posted by Erin on Jun 30, 2010 | 33 Comments | Tweet This

Unitasker Wednesday: The can grip

All Unitasker Wednesday posts are jokes — we don’t want you to buy these items, we want you to laugh at their ridiculousness. Enjoy!

Some weeks, I need to write a great amount of exposition about our featured unitasker because some folks might not understand why I believe a product lacks utility. This is not one of those weeks.

Introducing the Can Grip:

Why would I “instantly need to turn a can into a mug”?! Why?! WHY?! WHYYYYYYYYYYYY???!

Thanks to reader Scott for sending us this unitasker suggestion.

Posted by Erin on Jun 23, 2010 | 35 Comments | Tweet This

Unitasker Wednesday: The Krustbuster

All Unitasker Wednesday posts are jokes — we don’t want you to buy these items, we want you to laugh at their ridiculousness. Enjoy!

When did knives become too difficult to use? When did crust become something you don’t eat? When was using your fingers or a chopstick ineffective for pinching two pieces of bread together? When did we become a people demanding the production of the Krustbuster?

Next thing you know, there will be a device made just to dispose of the sandwich-crust border! Actually, my favorite part of this device is its packaging, which promotes the Krustbuster’s “multi-uses”:

So! Many! Sandwiches! But how in the world do they use it on s’mores’ crunchy graham crackers?? Maybe stale graham crackers? Where is a YouTube video when you actually want one?

Thanks to Erik for sharing this wonderful unitasker with us.

Posted by Erin on Jun 16, 2010 | 50 Comments | Tweet This

Unitasker Wednesday: The Pressto! tofu water extractor

All Unitasker Wednesday posts are jokes — we don’t want you to buy these items, we want you to laugh at their ridiculousness. Enjoy!

This week’s unitasker had to be explained to me because I didn’t know what it was — the Pressto! tofu water extractor:

Those of you, like me, who regularly consume tofu might be thinking that this is a device to make homemade tofu. It’s not. Well, at least, that’s not how it is being marketed. The purpose of the four-piece Pressto! appliance is to get as much water out of your store-bought tofu as possible. From the product description:

The Pressto! is a compact kitchen device that squeezes the water out of a block of tofu and lets you quickly dice the tofu into small, easy-to-cook cubes in just seconds. Out with the watery stir-fry, the wasted paper towels, and the messy kitchen counters … in with the Pressto! We’re talking less water, more flavor.

Unfortunately (fortunately?), this device hasn’t yet hit the market. So, those of us who regularly eat tofu will just have to continue removing water the easy way by setting the tofu down on a towel or cloth napkin. You can remove water from your tofu “like the pros,” too, without this device.

Thanks to reader Jacki for bringing this unitasker to our attention.

Posted by Erin on Jun 9, 2010 | 32 Comments | Tweet This

Unitasker Wednesday: Zoku Quick-Pop Maker

All Unitasker Wednesday posts are jokes — we don’t want you to buy these items, we want you to laugh at their ridiculousness. Enjoy!

For those times when waiting a couple hours to make traditional ice pops in your freezer is just a ridiculous request, there is the Zoku Quick Pop Maker:

This appliance makes three (yes, THREE!) pops at a time in less than 10 minutes, and it costs $50. Like most newer model ice cream makers, the shell of the Zoku Quick-Pop Maker has to live in your freezer until you’re ready to use it, otherwise it takes more than two hours to freeze the shell first. In the end, it might take you more time to use this device (if the shell isn’t already frozen), about $40 more, takes up a good chunk of storage space, and makes considerably fewer ice pops than traditional methods. Maybe there are ice pop emergencies I’m not aware of that this device is perfect for solving? Or … maybe not.

(via Serious Eats)

Posted by Erin on Jun 2, 2010 | 27 Comments | Tweet This

Unitasker Wednesday: The Cherry Chomper Cherry Pitter

All Unitasker Wednesday posts are jokes — we don’t want you to buy these items, we want you to laugh at their ridiculousness. Enjoy!

I’m not a huge fan of cherries (unless they’re candied and in the middle of a giant dollop of chocolate), so I don’t own a cherry pitter. However, if you’re a fan of cherries, I hear the workhorse cherry pitter can be a small and useful single-task device (similar to a garlic press).

Reader Alison has introduced us to a very specific type of cherry pitter that is the opposite of small, looks extremely difficult to clean, and doesn’t appear to be nearly as efficient as its traditional competitor — and definitely crosses the line from single-task device into unitasker territory. The Cherry Chomper Cherry Pitter:

One of the reviews on Amazon is titled: “A Messy Waste of Time — Works Like it’s Part of the Federal Government.” I don’t know if that headline is accurate, but it certainly made me laugh.

Thanks, Alison, for bringing this big head Cherry Chomper unitasker to our attention!

Posted by Erin on May 26, 2010 | 12 Comments | Tweet This

Unitasker Wednesday: The Gboard

All Unitasker Wednesday posts are jokes — we don’t want you to buy these items, we want you to laugh at their ridiculousness. Enjoy!

Reader Blaine sent us a unitasker that is incredibly worthy of our unitasker Wednesday feature — the Gboard!

From the Gboard description:

The Gboard is a unique keyboard that will turbo-charge your Gmail experience. Simply plug it in via USB, flip on the keyboard shortcuts in Gmail, and you’re on your way to saving valuable time. The Gboard has buttons for 19 of the most-used functions in Gmail. Select multiple messages and star, archive, spam, or trash them.

Or, instead of spending $20, you can go into your Gmail settings (the link is in the upper right-hand corner of the inbox screen), turn keyboard shortcuts on, and then click on “Learn more” to actually learn the keyboard shortcuts that don’t require an external device to use:

The amount of time it will take you to learn the Gmail keyboard shortcuts is less time than ordering the device, waiting for it to be delivered, installing it, and then learning what all of the keys on the Gboard do. (And you won’t be out $20.) Best of all, learning the keyboard shortcuts keeps your USB port free for use with another device!

Posted by Erin on May 19, 2010 | 9 Comments | Tweet This

Unitasker Wednesday: Tu-Go Travel Coffee Cup Holder

All Unitasker Wednesday posts are jokes — we don’t want you to buy these items, we want you to laugh at their ridiculousness. Enjoy!

A decade ago, I might have looked at the Tu-Go Travel Coffee Cup Holder and not considered it for our weekly unitasker feature. But now, thanks to security measures at the airport, I can’t even imagine when a person would have the opportunity to use this:

Since you can’t bring drinks past security checkpoints, you might have a drink for all of 10 feet between where you buy it and a seat at your gate. At most, you might be carrying a coat, your carry on bag, and a drink — all you need to do is wear your coat, pull your luggage with one hand, and hold your drink in the other hand. As long as you have two arms, you are fully equipped to handle a drink without this $10 device.

A special no-spill sippy cup for my wine on the plane, well, now that would be a useful-tasker if ever there was one! Thanks to reader Nancy for bringing the Tu-Go Travel Coffee Cup Holder unitasker to our attention.

Posted by Erin on May 12, 2010 | 30 Comments | Tweet This

Unitasker Wednesday: Snap On Bottle Tops

All Unitasker Wednesday posts are jokes — we don’t want you to buy these items, we want you to laugh at their ridiculousness. Enjoy!

When you’re drinking soda pop out of a can, do you really wish you were drinking it out of a bottle? Is a 12 oz. soft drink just the right size, and 20 oz. way too much? Sure, you could buy a 20 oz. bottle, drink only the amount you want, and save the rest for later — but we both know that would be too easy! Plus, no one ever brings a cooler of 20 oz. bottles to your kid’s soccer games. They always bring those stupid cans! cans! cans! Instead of turning your back on cans, you should have a Snap On Bottle Top:

For $10 you can get 12 Snap On Bottle Tops, where they can take up space in your cupboards, car, cooler, and/or backpack! Now, instead of simply tossing that can directly into the recycling bin, you will also have a piece of plastic to wash. The Snap On Bottle Tops never stop giving!! Plus, think of how cool you will look drinking from a can with a bottle top on it — your friends will be amazed!

Thanks to reader Chelsea for bringing this unitasker to our attention.

Posted by Erin on May 5, 2010 | 49 Comments | Tweet This

Unitasker Wednesday: Reel Roaster

All Unitasker Wednesday posts are jokes — we don’t want you to buy these items, we want you to laugh at their ridiculousness. Enjoy!

You know what goes great together? Young children, sharp toys used to stab things, sugary foods, and open flames!

The Reel Roaster is guaranteed to make any child a plaintiff in a personal injury class action suit. From Amazon’s product description:

… crank the handle on the fishing reel. This rotates the skewer and ensures that the marshmallow or hot dog is cooked to perfection. Reel ‘em and roast ‘em! Go for a slow turn for a slow roast. Or you can crank up the speed for a faster rotation. Either way, it’s going to be a hot and delicious treat.

A big thanks to reader Sarah for introducing us to this poorly conceived unitasker!

Posted by Erin on Apr 28, 2010 | 25 Comments | Tweet This

Unitasker Wednesday: The Pocket Referee

All Unitasker Wednesday posts are jokes — we don’t want you to buy these items, we want you to laugh at their ridiculousness. Enjoy!

When reader Vera sent this in to Unclutterer, it took me a few seconds to “get” what this was:

See, it’s a coin with two sides. It’s just like a quarter — or, rather, a $15 quarter. It’s a Pocket Referee.

Great for play dates, at grandma’s, in the car, anywhere you see conflicts could arise.

Unlike a quarter, however, you can’t spend it. You just have to lug it around with you in its decorative (Crown Royal-esque) bag in case there is ever a disagreement of some kind with only two possible outcomes. I’m so taken aback by it that I’m pretty much speechless.

This may be the best unitasker yet.

Posted by Erin on Apr 21, 2010 | 29 Comments | Tweet This