While it’s always fun to pick up a bargain or get something you really covet on sale, there are times when a gadget or device is just plain worth it. We review many kitchen appliances, appliances and accessories and these are the ones that have earned a place in our kitchens. Think of them as an investment.
Erika Rawes/Digital Trends
Anova Nano
Table of Contents
Master sous vide cooking
Advantages
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Compact size
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Touch screen/on-device controls
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Elegant design
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Sustainable construction
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App control
The inconvenients
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Lack of Wi-Fi connectivity
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The clamp is small
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Tends to sit too high on the pot, requiring more water
Anova Nano is a free-standing sous vide cooker that can be placed in any pot, pan or basin. It plugs into the wall and can be controlled via an app. The Nano will heat water to a specified temperature and hold it for hours, meaning it’s impossible to overcook anything. Sous vide cooking ensures your food maintains the optimum temperature so you can prepare the perfect steak (or any number of other foods) every time.
Anova Nano
Master sous vide cooking
Tineco Toasty One
The smart toaster is surprisingly useful
Advantages
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Cooks two pieces to a different crispiness
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Color touchscreen
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Perfect results
The inconvenients
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Dear
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A slightly larger than average toaster
Tineco’s Toasty One is a smart toaster that senses your bread and adjusts the heat to ensure it comes out perfectly every time. You can even make two toasts at the same time with completely different cooking levels. It has a touch screen, so you can choose the exact shade of toast you want. It’s not cheap, but it will be a gadget that will wow your guests.
Tineco Toasty One
The smart toaster is surprisingly useful
Cuisinart EvolutionX Hand Mixer
Wireless appliances in the kitchen make sense
Advantages
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no wires
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Use anywhere
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Ideal for motorhomes and camping
The inconvenients
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Not as powerful as corded models
For those on the go, the Cuisinart Evolution X is a hand blender with several different heads for immersion blending, whipping, and even frothing drinks. It is perfect for moving around the kitchen. Since you don’t need to be hooked up to a wall socket, you can mix dough or quiche anywhere: on the stove or even on the dining table. Even if you already have a hand blender, there are all sorts of reasons why a cordless version is handy, especially for campers and those with RVs.
Cuisinart EvolutionX Hand Mixer
Wireless appliances in the kitchen make sense
Amazon smart soap dispenser
Contactless is the future!
Advantages
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Compact
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Without touching ; no germs
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nice design
The inconvenients
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May be bulky for some homes/sinks
A few years ago that might have seemed like stupid folly, but these days it’s a wise investment. Whenever we can eliminate touchpoints, we avoid contact with any type of germs, whether it’s COVID or salmonella. Amazon’s smart soap dispenser is a great idea for anyone with kids or anyone who loves cleanliness. You can control how much soap it dispenses based on how far you place your hands under the spout, and it lights up for 20 seconds (the recommended wash time). You can also use it with your Alexa routines and make it play music.
Amazon smart soap dispenser
Contactless is the future!
Looft X Lighter
A cordless way to light your grill
Advantages
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No chemical way to start fires
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Refillable
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Reusable
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Acts as a bellows to stoke the fire too
The Cordless Rechargeable Looft Lighter X is worth a look if you’re using a charcoal grill. It’s a unique tool designed to both start your charcoal fire and act as a bellows to deliver all the important oxygen to your grill. Simply click on it, touch it to the charcoal, and when the charcoal sparkles or begins to glow, you pull the lighter back to provide a wider heat area and plenty of airflow. Within a minute, your charcoal is lit and you’re off to the errands.
Looft X Lighter
A cordless way to light your grill
Thermomix TM6
All in one food processor
Advantages
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20 different cooking functions in one device
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Easy to use
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Thousands of recipes available
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Nice big screen
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Automated cooking modes in addition to recipes
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Self-cleaning
The inconvenients
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Expensive
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Annual subscription to Cookidoo recipes required
The Thermomix TM6 is an all-in-one cooking appliance; it’s a blender, food processor, cooking pot, rice maker, whisk and steamer. In fact, you can cook an entire meal simultaneously, with the grilled protein on top of your steamed vegetables. It also allows you to sous-vide, slow cook and even emulsify. It’s quite expensive, but if you consider that it replaces a dozen other devices and gadgets, you’ll be happy to try it. Oh, and this “food processor” is all the rage across Europe.
Thermomix TM6
All in one food processor
U by Moen Smart Faucet
Talk to your faucet
Advantages
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Provides accurate water temperatures
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Precise measurements
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Voice command works great
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Beautiful design in many styles
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Battery or mains powered
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Can be installed yourself
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Versatile: No handle, movement or voice
The inconvenients
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Requires significant initial setup
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Some may be intimidated by the installation
You might think it’s a bit decadent to talk to your cock, but hear us out. U by Moen is a smart faucet that can deliver a precise amount of water on voice command and can be activated with a wave of your hand. It has a wand wash setting that will keep the faucet running for 20 seconds, pause while you soap up, and continue. Plus, with the ability to set presets to refill your coffee maker or the dog dish, it means there’s no wasted water.
U by Moen Smart Faucet
Talk to your faucet
Joule Oven Pro Fryer
Execute chef recipes like a pro
Advantages
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Cooks food evenly
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13 cooking options
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Smart app that works perfectly with the oven
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Eliminates the need for multiple small appliances
The inconvenients
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Bagel function not working quite properly
The Joule from Breville is a combination oven and air fryer. You can activate it by voice and it has a number of smart functions designed to optimize cooking time. You can also use it to leaven dough and dehydrate fruit. The companion app contains hundreds of recipes from The New York Times Cooking (no subscription required), Top Chef alum, Breville Test Kitchen, and more. Even better, recipes with a flight plan cook themselves. Want to wow your guests? Quickly whip up a batch of delicious croissants that ferment and bake to perfection.
Joule Oven Pro Fryer
Execute chef recipes like a pro
With so many amazing gadgets on the market and new designs being introduced all the time, it’s never been easier to incorporate technology into the kitchen. Try something new and see if it saves you time and money.
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