We live in a world where groceries can be delivered to our door using our phones, going to show that life in the kitchen has arguably changed for the better. And in case your pantry is fully stocked, it’s time to make space around your kitchen for the right equipment to put those ingredients together. Getting technical when you’re cooking is one thing, but getting technological is a whole other story, which is why the state-of-the-art gadgets geared toward cooking areas have only become more and more advanced in recent years.
Modern-day cooking techniques have grown increasingly innovative, and there is an endless number of gizmos that make practically anyone a gourmet chef with the push of a button. If you’re looking for an unrivaled air fryer, a sizzling pizza oven, or an all-in-one device to save some countertop space, there is no shortage of options to consider. As a result, flashy kitchen gadgets happen to be one of the appliance space’s most competitive fields, leaving many people in question as to which are the best choices for increasing the convenience and deliciousness of their prepared meals and beverages. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide to the absolute best kitchen gadgets to electrify your recipes.
Osmo Salt Rechargeable Electric Salt & Pepper Grinder Set
21st-century citizens don’t have the patience for the salt-and-pepper-shakers of yesteryear, ultimately making this an obvious pick to start with (we’re kidding, sort of). This set of electric grinders can tackle rock salt and peppercorns at your preferred coarseness level. Osmo Salt has practically become a viral phenomenon following countless online cooking tutorials putting it to use. Moreover, this set even comes equipped with a jar of the brand’s Baja Sea Salt and 15-Peppercorn blend.
AirHood
Cooking on the stove without a properly working hood or fan can get messy, and that’s an understatement. Luckily, AirHood is a startup that’s well aware of how bad odors and grease stains can get. Touted as “the world’s first portable range hood,” the unique gadget offers cooking fume extraction, a detachable grease filter, and an activated charcoal filter to provide your kitchen with the fresh air it needs after cooking a big meal.
Aervana Electric Wine Aerator
Wine stewards are beyond aware of the importance of letting your wine breathe, and they’ll often make sure you’re well-informed on the topic with any chance they get. Aervana’s unique electric aerator serves as a way to modernize this conversation and provide the wine with its fullest flavor potential. The device is presented in a sleek tap style that makes filling up your glass an absolute breeze.
Breville Smoking Gun
The high-end Australian brand’s Smoking Gun adds natural smoke flavor to your food (or cocktail) of choice by way of cold air. Fill it up with whatever you see fit — be it wood chips, herbs, dried flowers, or tea — and let its internal dual-air fans go to work. And if you’re not ready to experiment with flavors just yet, it comes equipped with a set of apple and hickory wood chips. All in all, this is a great choice for those who don’t have space for a standing smoker.
Yummly Smart Thermometer
Whether it’s grilled chicken breast or seared steak, determining the temperature of your meat is one of the most important parts of cooking, especially from a safety standpoint. That said, Yummly’s innovative Smart Thermometer is here to help, as its neighboring app allows you to monitor how much time is needed for your meal regardless of your cooking method. Simply leave the stainless steel probe in your cut of choice and eliminate any sort of estimates you have in mind.
Balmuda Kettle
Few appliance brands level up to Balmuda when it comes to design, and this gorgeous kettle is a solid showcase as to why. It features an ergonomic handle and gooseneck for the perfect pour every time. And while most other options you’ll come across will beep or hiss when the water starts to heat up, the Balmuda Kettle greets you with a gentle light and quiet boil, serving as a more relaxing way to make your morning coffee or tea.
Vitamix Immersion Blender
Vitamix’s catalog of blenders sits in a class of its own, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that it makes the market’s best immersion blender, too. With five different speed settings to choose from and a user-friendly LED display, this ergonomic gadget makes blending your favorite soups, sauces, and more as easy as you could’ve imagined.
Ember Mug 2
Upon its release, the Ember Mug arguably served as the average remote worker’s most vital gadget, which is saying a lot. Over five years later, the brand’s updated version remains one of the most integral pieces to have in your home office and kitchen cupboard. The self-heating mug can keep a cup of coffee as hot as 145°F, allowing you to enjoy it patiently with no need to fret over it cooling down. The gadgeteer even adds a charging coaster into the bargain, so you can keep it as hot as you like for as long as you need.
AeroGarden Harvest Indoor Hydroponic Garden
While we think houseplants are a great way to decorate your home, it’ll be hard for them to compete with a full-on herb garden. Thanks to AeroGarden, the process is made incredibly quick and easy, as it’s capable of growing herbs up to 5 times faster than soil thanks to its innovative LED growing system. The kit even comes equipped with over 5 different herb seeds, including Genovese basil, curly parsley, and thyme, all of which will provide your meals with an extra touch of homegrown flavor.
Smeg Milk Frother
Anything from SMEG’s retro-styled catalog could have earned a spot here, but we decided to roll with this fashionable and functional frother for coffee lovers‘ sake. The 120V machine is powered by a 500-watt motor and offers six different frothing functions, so it’s the perfect addition to any cappuccino or macchiato drinker’s kitchen.
Aarke Carbonator III
There’s no denying the popularity of sparkling beverages, but whether you prefer San Pellegrino or La Croix, you’ll fall in love with this countertop carbonator from Aarke. The chrome appliance boasts a glistening stainless steel chassis that is as durable as it is sleek, making for a kitchen centerpiece as much as it does a functional wonder. Simply fill the included bottle with water, attach it to the machine, then pull the lever and fizz your beverage in a matter of no time. For added flavor, it even comes equipped with a variety of drops, including Citrus Twist and Wild Strawberry.
Fellow Ode Brew Grinder
You may have stumbled upon this popular coffee grinder through social media, but it’s sure to look better in your kitchen. Fellow’s Ode Brew Grinder boasts café-grade capabilities that ensure a high-quality brew every time. It boasts 64mm stainless steel flat burrs and a whopping 31 different grind settings to adjust the coarseness to your liking. While it is the perfect equipment for cold brew drinkers and people who can’t get enough of their French press, it’s worth noting that the machine does not grind espresso beans.
Philips Pasta Maker Plus
In a similar vein to baking homemade bread, making pasta from scratch became a popular hobby over the course of quarantine — but this machine manages to kick all that hard work to the curb. Philips’ premium pasta maker is a user-friendly piece of equipment that automatically mixes, kneads, and extrudes your shape of choice. Additionally, it allows you to use a variety of different ingredients, like fresh vegetables and, if you’re feeling adventurous, chocolate for a dessert pasta.
All-Clad Digital Gourmet Waffle Maker
Whether you prefer pancakes or waffles, there’s no arguing the decadence of the latter, especially when made fresh in your own home. With that in mind, All-Clad comes to the rescue with its versatile gourmet waffle maker. It features the capacity to make a quartet of thick, deep-pocketed Belgian waffles and offers over a handful of baking modes tailored to your batter, including chocolate and gluten-free. The stainless steel machine also allows you to select your preferred brownness level, making for the perfect batch every time.
Revolution InstaGLO Smart Toaster
Finding the right toaster can truly determine the outcome of your breakfast. At the end of the day, some people don’t mind their toast being burnt to a crisp, while the majority tend to aim for a nice shade of golden brown. Revolution’s innovative InstaGLO Smart Toaster grants you the opportunity to have your toast, bagels, and English muffin the way you prefer them. Most of all, its touch screen interface is easy to operate and lets you kick off your morning with the push of a button, er, screen.
Kitchenaid Professional 5 Plus Series Stand Mixer
Whether you’ve seen it in your friend’s kitchen or a movie household, everyone has come across a Kitchenaid stand mixer at some point. The pro-grade piece of equipment is ubiquitous for a reason, as it offers the capability to mix up to 9 batches worth of cookie dough or 2 quarts of ice cream, the latter of which is made possible by a separate attachment sold in the vast ecosystem of Kitchenaid products. Most notably, its signature tilted head design allows for easy adjustability and bowl removal.
Anova Precision Pro Sous Vide Cooker
The method of sous vide cooking (French for ‘under vacuum cooking’) has grown immensely popular statewide. Moreover, we recommend using nothing short of the best in this department. Anova’s Precision Cooker Pro heats and circulates water to the exact temperature required for all sorts of food, be it veggies, fish, or the perfect medium-rare steak. Plus, it is a professional piece of drop-tested kitchen gear that can heat up to 100 liters of water and run for 10,000 hours (!) straight (though we don’t recommend doing so). While we don’t know of any recipes that will take quite that long, it’s good to know it can operate well enough in case one comes around.
Philips Premium Digital Smart Sensing Airfryer
Air-frying has been lauded for being a remarkably healthy cooking mode that doesn’t skimp on taste, and Philips has managed to make it even better for you. The manufacturer’s Smart Sensing Airfryer makes incredible use of its proprietary Fat Removal tech that extracts any fat content found in your dishes, be it beef, fish, or chicken, allowing you to enjoy meals that are good for your whole body, taste buds included.
G.E. Profile Stainless Steel Nugget Ice Maker
In case your refrigerator doesn’t make ice, having a device that makes the stuff makes loads of sense. And even if your fridge does make ice, well, it doesn’t make ice as nice as this. G.E. Profile’s sleek Stainless Steel Nugget Ice Maker can churn out up to 24 pounds of restaurant-quality nugget ice daily, making it the perfect choice for any big summer get-together. On top of that, the smart device features seamless smartphone connectivity, allowing you to schedule fresh ice with the push of a button when using the accompanying app. Whether you’re using it for cocktails or an ice-cold glass of water, you won’t regret picking this up.
Vitamix A3500 Ascent Series Blender
Like we said earlier, Vitamix stands head and shoulders above its competition in the world of blenders, and its flagship A3500 is simply another example of how and why. The ultra-powerful gadget features a handful of program settings, one of which is a self-cleaning mode that helps take even more time off your hands. It also offers variable speed control and pulse mechanisms that allow you to dictate the texture of your recipe, so you can keep your salsa chunky and your smoothies, well, smooth.
Vermicular Musui-Kamado
This versatile piece of cast iron is far more than the average pot. Japanese brand Vermicular’s signature Musui-Kamado is crafted from a mix of vermicular graphite iron and numerous other metals, ensuring a long-lasting piece of equipment that will lock in flavor for years to come. The unique gadget offers precision temperature control capabilities and serves as a variety of different appliances, including a proofer, rice cooker, or stew pot. It even features an auto rice mode that guarantees perfect, fluffy rice at any point.
June Oven Premium
All-in-one mini ovens come in handy for a surfeit of reasons. That said, there are as many options to choose from in this field as there are benefits to owning one, but the almighty June Oven manages to reign supreme. The “Plus” configuration of this countertop appliance features 12 separate cooking functions, serving as a dehydrator, slow cooker, proofer, pizza oven, and much more. It is equipped with a pair of convection fans that delivers unrivaled heat distribution and results in a much more energy-efficient cooking method. Plus, thanks to its foolproof touch-screen, there’s no need to worry about any greasy buttons and knobs to clean.
Breville Oracle Touch Espresso Machine
We’re bringing Breville back in for the end-all-be-all of coffee makers. Its remarkably advanced Oracle Touch Espresso Machine has as many functions as any product on this list, offering over 40 adjustable grind settings, in addition to the option of configuring your coffee’s strength and adjusting your milk’s texture. It features a user-friendly color touchscreen interface that offers a menu of five popular drinks, including Espresso, Americano, and Flat White, and automatically knows how to make each one as well as your local barista — if that’s not the definition of convenience, then we don’t know what is.
The 15 Best Kitchen Tools
You may have got the best kitchen gadgets covered, but no chef’s space is fully-equipped without a set of essential cooking tools, which is where this guide comes in.
