The secret to a good kitchen gadget is to be genuinely useful, rather than trading on gimmickry or novelty value alone, it has been suggested.While the number of gadgets available on the market is increasing all the time, the items that are really worth buying are the ones that fulfil a specific criteria.Pat Abrams, author of the popular US book Gadgetology, told the News Sentinel A great gadget is something that solves a problem.And sometimes new advances in technology can make all the difference to gadget design and the kitchen as a whole. Abrams says The introduction of new materials has revived gadgetry. Like silicone. Its pretty and fun and durable. Theyre using it to make better pastry brushes and whisks that dont scratch.The ones that really work and the ones that last are the ones that will stay in your kitchen for years.Innovative new materials have revolutionised sink construction too, such as the range of fragranite sinks from Franke, which offer the durability of part-granite construction blended modern materials.