Here are a few highlights found at the Affordable Innovation showcase:
Egg Scrambler
Why wash an extra bowl and fork when you can scramble an egg right in this egg-shaped scrambler? Merely crack the egg into the cup. Add the agitator ball (which can double as an egg separator). Give it a few shakes. Pour the egg through the strainer (to catch the agitator) into the pan and cook it. Dishwasher safe, it retails for around $6. www.hutzlerco.com
Dish Drying Mat
Throw out the dish rack and replace it with this patch of fabric. Its thin layer of foam between two layers of super absorbent microfiber absorbs almost four times what a dishtowel can soak up. Merely pile the dishes on it and let them dry right on the countertop. Easy to store, machine washable, and reversible, the mats come in classic cream or a variety of colorful patterns and designs that blend into your kitchen décor. $4.99. www.schtre.com
Foldable Ice Bucket
Tucked into a little tin box, this scrap of plastic unfolds into an ice bucket big enough to chill a bottle of wine. Portable and reusable, it comes in four different colors. $7.95. www.ravisolution.com
VIVA Wine Aerator
Squirting through four little holes in the bottom of the goblet funnel, poured wine comes into contact with the atmosphere more efficiently, releasing the vintage’s layers and subtle complexities within moments. $11 or $35, includes decanter. www.tag2u.com
Diamond Ice Tray
Diamonds are a drink’s best friend—especially when bling ice cools the beverage. Fill the bottom of the two-part tray with water, snap on the top, and put it into the freezer. The two-inch ice gems melt slowly, keeping drinks cold and less watered down. $5. www.hutzlerco.com
Lalalu Notepads and Clips
Memo pads and clips with a now non-toxic sticky surface that adheres to glass, tile, stainless steel, mirrors and other smooth surfaces where magnets can’t get a grip. If the adhesion starts to fade, the non-toxic, odorless adhesive can be re-charged by adding water to the sticky surface. $5-$7. www.jasperandblack.com
