Hamilton Herald Masthead

Editorial


Front Page - Friday, October 1, 2010

What’ll they dream up next?


Progressive MiracleWare Omelet Maker



The Progressive MiracleWare Omelet Maker is microwave safe and easy to clean. It doesn’t require oils or cooking sprays to make an omelet because the eggs won’t stick to it. Just be safe when removing this from the microwave because the short handles put you at risk for a steam burn. - Misty S. Brown
My first full-time job out of college was working for a non-profit organization that aims to promote the cattle-farming industry through education and legislation. How I got the job, I’m not sure since I’d never even touched a cow that I could recall.
During the first month I worked there, we had an annual summer conference. I was impressed by the thick country accents, ten-gallon hats and the good ol’ Southern hospitality of most of the attendees. They were certainly some of the nicest people I had ever had the privilege of working with.
At the conference one morning, the attendees arrived early for an omelet breakfast made possible by the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission. My first thought when seeing the long line was, “This will take a bit.” Man, was I wrong – the ALPC had omelet making down to an art.
The assembly-line style moved each of us through the line in record time with omelets filled with whatever ingredients we each desired. I am still impressed by their efficiency.
On my own, I have attempted their method of making a hole in the egg and filling it with the uncooked goo until it’s all done. Before then, I had always tried to flip the egg over to cook both sides.
Using this method I can get a perfect omelet most of the time, but there are plenty of times I’ve sadly ended up with a batch of scrambled eggs.
On a recent shopping trip, I found the Progressive MiracleWare Omelet Maker to add to my kitchen gadgets and help keep me from turning omelets into scrambled eggs.
What it is
The Progressive Miracle Ware Omelet Maker is a plastic microwave-safe omelet cooker.
How it works
There are two compartments when the omelet maker is opened with a hinge separating them. Omelets are prepared by pouring lightly beaten eggs into each half and microwaving for at least a minute and a half. After each side is done, filling is added to each side and microwaved for an additional minute.
The last step requires the user to snap the lid shut and microwave for an additional 30 seconds. The omelet should be ready to serve immediately.
Pros and cons
The most impressive aspect of the MiracleWare Omelet Maker is that eggs do not stick to it, so cooking sprays, butters and oils are not necessary. This makes for a healthier omelet.
However, cheese and other high-fat ingredients will stick to it and make for a difficult clean up. The bottom of the device warns against using oils, butters and high fat foods, so it might be best to stay away from these ingredients since they might cause damage to the device.
The omelet maker can be hand-washed or cleaned in the top rack of a dishwasher. It is also freezer safe, though I am not sure why it would be placed in a freezer.
To maximize the life of the product, it should not be used with browning dishes, elements, in conventional ovens or on hot plates – it is solely for microwave use.
This product is great for students in college or for travelers who cannot access a stove and pan in a hotel room.
There are a few drawbacks to this product. The handles are short, putting you at risk of getting a steam burn when you remove it from the microwave.
The omelet is also difficult to remove from the compartment, unless you turn it over onto a plate.
It might take some time adjustments to get the egg thoroughly cooked. I had to add at least 30 extra seconds to fully cook my eggs, but this might just be a matter of adjusting your microwave’s power.
Overall, this is a great product that makes an omelet quickly and efficiently. When put to the test, this might even beat the speed of the ALPC’s omelet assembly line cooking time.
Where to buy
I purchased my Progressive MiracleWare Omelet Maker at Bed Bath and Beyond for $3.99. The Progressive line of kitchen products is also available at TrueValue, Sears, Fred Meyer, Amazon.com, Shopko, and several other stores.
Submissions
Have a gadget you’d like me to review? E-mail me at misty@dailydata.com.