There was a time when kitchen appliances had little versatility and were single-use. The chopper wouldn't blend, the toaster could do nothing but toast sliced bread - and let's not get started on the egg cooker. The list of almost useless kitchen appliances is endless.
But here's one device that promises to combine the ease of use and convenience of storage: CrunchyTop, which claims to be the world's first stovetop air fryer.
The device is essentially a lid with a fan. When in use, it swirls hot air created in a pan on a stovetop burner to deliver fast convection cooking — think of it as turning any pot or pan into a mini convection oven. There’s no need to preheat and the device works on electric, gas, induction and camping stoves, and with most pots and pans.
What can it be used for? Baking frozen foods, vegetables, meat, fish and making small batches of cookies and muffins.
CrunchyTop was invented by Bill Stumphauzer, an Ohio-based industrial engineer, and then licensed to Invention City, a Cape Cod-based company that commercializes inventions. Inventors submit their ideas to the website and get feedback on commercial potential - and if approved, a licensing deal.
The company was launched by Mike Marks, who prides himself as being a relentless innovator trying his hand at everything from an internet radio network to perfume to a surfing brand.
"I started Invention City around the time that Jeff Bezos started Amazon," Marks said. "We wanted to do for inventions what Amazon did for books. I had a big crazy vision -- of wanting every invention in the world to come to my portal. I'm still working on it."
CrunchyTop is licensed by Invention City and is launching its Kickstarter campaign on Tuesday, Feb. 26. The company aims to raise $150,000 with the product initially retailing at $28.
Editor's note: While we're still in February, make sure to check out this month's anchor series on top makers in Boston.
