Gadget of the month... August 2016

... Slaking summer thirsts

SpinChill is a waterproof, handheld gadget that is able to chill any can or bottle to an ideal low temperature in less than a minute – provided you have a container of ice or ice water to spin it in. 

The gadget, which was invented by mechanical engineers Ty Parker and Trevor Abbott, works by spinning the can to increase the rate of heat transfer through convection – from one place to another by the movement of fluids. Whereas plunging the beverage into ice water takes 10 to 20 minutes to get a good chill, the drink cools down in a minute when it is spun, according to SpinChill. 

While this sounds like a simple concept, the trick is to do this in such a way that the can doesn’t overflow when the drink is opened. By rotating instead of shaking air pockets in the liquid they remain intact so the drink doesn’t overflow on opening. 

The portable device is great for camping and barbecues. Although cooling times may take slightly longer than advertised, the gadget is ideal for summer days when a cold drink is required quickly. 

The device can be purchased for £24.99 on Amazon.co.uk.