Unitasker Wednesday: Cotton candy maker
Some foods weren’t meant to be made at home. Cotton candy isn’t one of them. I can’t think of a better treat to make at home than a giant ball of sugary goodness that is cotton candy. You can wait until you make your way to an amusement park, baseball game, circus, or carnival, but why wait? You can pick up your very own Cotton Candy Maker and enjoy a sugar cloud whenever you want.
This versatile machine looks like it can handle both kinds of cotton candy, blue and pink. It has so many other features that I’ll just highlight a couple:
- Ideal for bringing carnival flavor and fun in to the home
- Antique-cart style design looks good on any counter
Now if only I could track down my very own Kitchen Carnival.
**Each week, the Unitasker Wednesday column humorously pokes fun at the unnecessary, single-use items that manage to find their way into our homes.
Popularity: 2% [?]
Unitasker Wednesday: The Dough-Nu-Matic
Who doesn’t love a doughnut every once in a while? The fresher the doughnut the easier it is to become an addict. If you are addicted to freshly deep fried doughnuts, now you can have your cravings quelled by investing in the Dough-Nu-Matic. The freshly fried dough may scald you incredibly badly, but be patient and you can enjoy your very own doughy goodness.
Why stop by a Krispy Kreme or a Dunkin’ Donuts when you can prepare your very own before you leave for work in the morning?! This bad boy will only eat up 23″ x 7″ x 14″ of valuable counter space. The Dough-Nu-Matic shapes the doughnut, fries it, and dispenses it into the hopper in under a minute. Let them cool, and you can enjoy a fresh doughnut during your daily commute. Of course, you may be adding quite a bit of girth to your waistline if you are partaking in fresh doughnuts every morning, but I challenge you to pass up a fresh doughnut if you have the ability to make your own at the drop of a hat.
Take a look at this video and you may not be able to resist.
**Each week, the Unitasker Wednesday column humorously pokes fun at the unnecessary, single-use items that manage to find their way into our homes.
Popularity: 3% [?]
Unitasker Wednesday: The Squeasy Tea Bag Squeezer
Tea lovers, your prayers have been answered. You no longer have to burn your fingertips on scalding hot tea bags just to enjoy every last drop of tea. The Container Store has you covered with the Squeasy Tea Bag Squeezer. How else would one get the maximum tea out of a tea bag, with a spoon? Ha! That is so pedestrian. No self respecting tea drinker would be caught using a spoon to squeeze out his tea.
You’ll undoubtedly be the envy of all of your tea drinking friends with this ingenious invention. From the Container Store:
The tea lover on your holiday shopping list will adore this smart tea bag squeezer because it prevents you from burning your fingers on a hot tea bag. The stainless steel squeezer helps get every last drop from the tea bag. The set also includes a porcelain saucer to rest the squeezer and tea bag.
So, if you can’t think of anything to get someone, run — don’t walk — to the Container Store and be sure to grab these squeezers. Your tea drinking friends will thank you for saving their finger tips.
**Each week, the Unitasker Wednesday column humorously pokes fun at the unnecessary, single-use items that manage to find their way into our homes.
Popularity: 5% [?]
Unitasker Wednesday: Movie Time Kettle Popcorn Maker
Popcorn is the perfect snack to enjoy while watching a movie. What could be more perfect than this Movie Time Kettle Popcorn Maker? It may measure in at 19″H x 12.5″L x 10.5″ W, but that space is easily sacrificed for the allure of freshly popped popcorn for your movie viewing. How else does one achieve the freshly popped corn of the movie palace? I can’t think of any other way!
It can make up to one gallon of popcorn at once. I’m not exactly sure how much popcorn that is, but it sounds like enough to cure your popcorn craving. This thing is perfect for the home theater, tv room, or game room. It is apparently meant for table top display, so make sure you have a table ready for this popcorn behemoth!
**Unitasker Wednesday posts humorously poke fun at the single-use items that manage to find their way into our homes.
Popularity: 5% [?]
Unitasker Wednesday: The egg cracker
I used to have a difficult time cracking an egg and not including at least a couple of pieces of shell in the egg as it dropped into the bowl … and then I turned 10.
Seriously, cracking an egg is not difficult. Unless you don’t have hands or have severe arthritis, there is no need for a gadget like this to take up drawer space in your kitchen. The makers of the Egg Cracker wouldn’t agree with me. So, I guess, thank goodness it is dishwasher safe.
If I had one of these, I’d find that it fit nicely in a drawer next to a butter cutter, mango splitter, and the pickle picker.
**Unitasker Wednesday posts humorously poke fun at the single-use items that manage to find their way into our homes.
Popularity: 6% [?]
Unitasker Wednesday: The condiment gun
In the wrong hands firearms can have dire effects on the people around them, but in the right hands they can dispense delicious condiments on your hamburger or hot dog! Yes, that’s right, you can now dispense condiments out of a barrel of a gun.
You may be interested in this if you enjoy your eggs in the shape of a .45, but you may just enjoy feeling the power of a gun as you drench your fries with ketchup. Finally, condiments are fun again!
Think of the boring chore it is to add a line of mustard to your hot dog. You may want to invest in two condiment guns so you can dispense your mustard and ketchup more freely without having to change cartridges. You can then pretend you are in the wild west as you hold your six shooters on either side of your apron. Your fun will never stop!
**Unitasker Wednesday posts humorously poke fun at the single-use items that manage to find their way into our homes.
Popularity: 6% [?]
Unitasker Wednesday: Pickle picker and unitaskers explained
We realized last week that we haven’t ever explained the Unitasker feature on our site. So, before we delve into the goodness that is this week’s item, we wanted to take a few seconds and talk about it.
At their most basic elements, all Unitasker posts are intended to be funny. We joke about single-use items to remind us that organizing doesn’t have to be so serious. It’s good to pause and remember that what we discuss on the site isn’t brain surgery or rocket science.
Often times, the things we mention are things that are in our homes. I have an ice cream maker, a juicer, and a few other items that have been discussed. Matt has the snowball maker. We were both oddly tempted by the martini shaker!
When we mention an item as a Unitasker, we do it knowing that someone out there probably finds some use for the item (well, except for the kitty wigs … we’re still completely baffled by those). For most people, though, the items we name wouldn’t be anything but clutter in their homes. It’s totally fine if you choose to own a Unitasker. There aren’t any Unclutterer Police coming to take it away from you or judge you over it. We’re just talking about stuff, things, objects — not people or their choices. We love our readers and hope to entertain you with the Unitaskers. And, we love it when our readers send us ideas. Some of our best items have come from you! — Erin
So, without further ado, we bring you this week’s installment of Unitasker Wednesday:
Pickles can be tough to round up out of a jar. There is no need to use a fork or your fingers when you can buy a utensil specifically designed for the task of picking up a pickle! The Pickle Picker is just what any pickle lover would want:
Forget squeezing your fingers into a jar trying to grasp a pickle to no avail. This nifty pickle picker does the work for you. Simple and easy to use, the picker is great for any jarred item that is difficult to grab. Just push down on the plunger, grab the item out of the jar and release.
Did I mention it can also pick up banana peppers and be used to annoyingly poke your little brother? (Maybe it’s not a unitasker after all?!) Regardless, if something is in a jar and you don’t want to waste a perfectly clean fork or your fingers on such a task, then this is the tool that can get the job done.
**Unitasker Wednesday posts humorously poke fun at the single-use items that manage to find their way into our homes.
Popularity: 7% [?]
Unitasker Wednesday: Incredibly specific containers
If you or your loved one’s lunch keeps getting smashed or damaged on a regular basis, you may (not) want to invest in some plastic containers to protect the contents. But how on earth do you remember what is in each container? Well, that’s where these brand-specific containers come in handy. Do you need your Twinkies protected? No problem. What about your Nutri-Grain bar? Tired of smashing it when you are on the go? Then go ahead and get yourself a Nutri-Grain container. They come in different colors so you know exactly what flavor you are about to enjoy.
The Tater Tubs may haunt you in your dreams with their googly eyes, but you’ll never experience “crumblage” when enjoying your lunch time potato chips. It is nearly impossible for anyone to find a container to fit those crazy shaped Fudge Striped cookies, but now your prayers have been answered. A perfectly round container is available for you and it looks just like one of those Keebler endorsed cookies! You’ll never be caught off guard again.
Don’t even think about sticking a non-Keebler product into one of these — Keebler elves do not mess around when it comes to lunch time treats.
(I shudder to think of the space it would take to actually store all of these containers!)
**Unitasker Wednesday posts humorously poke fun at the single-use items that manage to find their way into our homes.
Popularity: 6% [?]
Unitasker Wednesday: Cat wigs
I should be able to post a photo of a cat in a wig and nothing else … but it’s too much fun not to elaborate on this ridiculous product for a bit.
Cats and dogs aren’t people. They are domesticated animals, and I’m fairly certain they couldn’t care less about how they look. The purchase of a wig for an animal has little to do with the cat and everything to do with the owner. The wig is obviously entertainment for the owner and the poor cat has to put up with wearing a wig until the perfect picture is snapped. After that picture is snapped, the wig instantly becomes clutter. I have cats, and I cannot imagine them putting up with this nonsense for more than a few minutes. My suggested alternative: Skip the whole process and just learn how to photoshop your favorite celebrities’ hairdo onto your feline friend.
The one pictured on the right would have to be Cher, right? Check out more cat wigs at Kitty Wigs.
Popularity: 10% [?]
Unitasker Wednesday: Juicers
Why would someone invest the money and space in their kitchen for an electric juicer? I know I felt the wrath of the ice cream maker owners back when I suggested that an ice cream maker was a unitasker, and I’ll probably hear from the pro-electric-juice-making contingency on this one, but I don’t understand sacrificing counter space when you don’t have to.
Yes, I’ve enjoyed freshly squeezed orange juice and I can say that it is better than anything store bought, but I’m not going to run out and purchase a dedicated electrical appliance for my juicing needs. Isn’t a space-saving, hand-held, non-electrical juicer just as effective? Do you really save that much time? Can you even throw the electrical one easily into the dishwasher? I can’t justify the storage space for something that I can easily purchase at the grocery store or make just as well with a small, hand-held device.
I’m also curious as to how many oranges it takes to make four eight ounce servings of juice? I really have no idea. I’m sure Jack Lalanne could tell me, and he would gladly take my $130 for one of his electric Power Juicer models, too.
Popularity: 26% [?]
Unitasker Wednesday: Food molds
You may have eaten a few hardboiled eggs in your day, but have you ever eaten one in the shape of a cute little fish? If you or you child have been waiting for a more exciting ways to consume hardboiled eggs, your opportunity is now. Over at Slashfood, they highlight the fish mold for all your hardboiling needs. Those folks in Japan think of everything don’t they?
Once you’ve had your taste of an egg in the shape of a cute little fish, you’ll most likely be craving for some more molded foods. Not to worry, the good people at the eBay Store in Japan have your sausage making covered with the Penguin Sausage Maker (pictured). Have you always wanted to have a little more fun when eating plain old sausage links? Your morning breakfast will be full of excitement when you take a bite out of a sausage link shaped like a lovable little penguin. Penguins not for you? How about sausage in the shape of a crab or an octopus? Either way, you’ll be living it up with your newly found love for molded foods.
Wait, what about your kid’s lunch? You’re covered there, too. Boring sandwiches can now be cut and molded into bears, bunnies, or flowers. Take your pick. Now, go forth and eat some molded food!
**Unitasker Wednesday posts humorously poke fun at the single-use items that manage to find their way into our homes.
Popularity: 24% [?]
Unitasker Wednesday: So you think you know how to eat spaghetti?
Today’s Unitasker Wednesday item is a 2-for-1. Both of them will help you eat spaghetti like a machine. Each of them makes the tedious chore of eating stringy pasta easier — who knows what might happen if you use them at the same time?
First up is the Twirling Spaghetti Fork. For those of you suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome due to the fact that you have to twist your spaghetti noodles on your fork manually, your prayers have been answered.
Battery-powered fork takes the effort out of twirling spaghetti! Save your wrist with this battery-powered fork–it spins and gathers up the spaghetti, so all you have to do is eat. Fun and easy to use. Dishwasher safe.
Now that you have that magical fork, what else can you possibly want? Well, the fun doesn’t stop there. No, you are going to want the Spaghetti Shallow Plate to make the twirling fork that much more effective. The plate features a built-in “spinning zone,” the eye of the hurricane if you will, to make your noodle eating even faster. No noodles will be safe now.
This clever white melamine plate was designed to be used for spaghetti. Like other pasta plates, the shape is a bowl yet this piece features a small crater in the center which afford the user the opportunity to twirl the spaghetti using a fork only - no spoon required. Works wonderfully and a new essential for the pasta lover.
How on earth did we consumed spaghetti prior to these inventions?
**Unitasker Wednesday posts humorously poke fun at the single-use items that manage to find their way into our homes.
Popularity: 29% [?]
Unitasker Wednesday: The pancake puff
Do you like pancakes? If you do, you’ll probably question why you have been eating flat pancakes all these years when you could be making pancakes in the shape of a ball. Yes, that’s right! Now you can eat pancakes that are easy to make, completely round, and taste delicious. Introducing the Pancake Puff.
Forget making those messy pancakes that your grandma used to labor over for hours (cue old woman spilling pancake batter all over the counter), now you can easily make a puffy ball-like pancake as easy as 1-2-3 — But that’s not all! You can choose the Chef’s Upgrade package that includes:
- Gourmet Flavor Filler
- Sugar Shaker
- Pastry Brush
- Professional Handle Cover
- 1 Year Supply of Flippling Sticks
Kiss those boring old pancakes goodbye and take your pancake making to the next level. Order today!
If for some reason you aren’t interested in the Pancake Puff set, you should take a look at their site and watch the video. You will be amazed at the possibilities, and have a hearty laugh.
**Unitasker Wednesday posts humorously poke fun at the single-use items that manage to find their way into our homes.
Popularity: 27% [?]
Unitasker Wednesday: Double-Deck pizza oven
Excuse me if I’m a bit ignorant to the advantages of having a dedicated pizza oven in your kitchen, but this behemoth is a mystery to me. Measuring in at 16 3/4″ wide x 15 1/8″ deep x 16″ high, it is a space hog and it wouldn’t be the easiest appliance to store out of sight. What advantages does a dedicated pizza oven offer that a conventional oven doesn’t? I’m not entirely sure. Maybe an owner of the Double-Deck can let us in on the secret.
I read the four reviews of this oven on Brookstone and they all loved the “ease of use,” but one user left the following observation:
This product is a dissapointment. Cook your pizza in your regular oven, it’s far superior and doesn’t take up all the space this one does.
My thoughts exactly. Do your counter a favor and pass on this pizza oven overkill.
**Unitasker Wednesday posts humorously poke fun at the single-use items that manage to find their way into our homes.
Popularity: 24% [?]
Unitasker Wednesday: Personal microwave
I never thought Sharper Image supplied consumers with practical goods until I came across the iwavecube Personal Microwave. Yes, it is about time we all had our own personal microwaves to carry with us. From Sharper Image:
How incredibly convenient — a personal, portable microwave! Forget all those trips to the kitchen or treks to the cafeteria — now you can reheat coffee right at your desk; or nuke some soup for your brown-bag lunch; or pop some `corn in the entertainment room.
While other suckers are walking all the way to the kitchen to nuke their soup in the microwave, you can hang out in your entertainment room while your soup gets nuked right next to your couch. Add this thing to a mini-fridge and you may never need to venture off to your kitchen again. More from Shaper Image:
Plug it in anyplace that’s handy — work or home office; home gym; family room; nursery; wet bar; dorm room; work bench; pool house, everywhere! The quiet, super-energy-efficient iwavecube measures just 10″ x 10.5″ x 12″ and weighs only 12 lbs. Features a built-in carry handle and view-through door.
The next time I’m rocking my daughter to sleep in the nursery, it will be great to have corn popping right next to us. That will certainly help her nod off to dream land. Less walking and more popping in 2008!
**Unitasker Wednesday posts humorously poke fun at the single-use items that manage to find their way into our homes.
Popularity: 11% [?]
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