Chill Now, Cook Later

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With the Polara ($1,799), Whirlpool brings refrigeration technology to the oven. A strange pairing, at first glance, but consider the benefit: You put food into the combo unit before you leave for work, and it stays cool. Then, at a time you specify, it switches from refrigeration to oven mode so that dinner's ready when you walk through the door. Tonight's Menu of Brecksville, Ohio, has created a similar prototype that connects to the Internet, enabling you to adjust start time from work.