13 Cool Kitchen Gadgets for When You Feel Adventurer

If you've ever smoked a cocktail, you know how delicious it is. I love the Cowboy Killer so much that I bought my own cocktail smoker. Now I use it to spice up everything from drinks to desserts. The Smoking Gun Pro is a great choice because of how versatile it is. So, if you're on the fence about whether or not you should actually use this tool, there are enough features to convince you.

This professional-grade product has a nozzle long enough to fit anywhere from a full bottle to a dish with a lid, so you can smoke a variety of things beyond just cocktails. While cheaper models don't let you customize your smoke level, this product comes with a fan to help you get the right concentration right where you need it.

Though they're essential to many cuisines around the world, freshly ground spices (or the lack thereof) may be one of the reasons why homemade dishes don't taste as fine as those you get at a restaurant. Rinku Bhattacharya, author of Spices and Seasons, loves this Cuisinart spice grinder's large capacity, efficiency, and ability to handle lots of spices. “The secure locking cup and easy opening are also a plus,” she says. [with other grinders] There's a conflict there, it's uncomfortable, and there's a chance that some of the spice might get spilled.”

We also love that the blades are super sharp and the bowl is dishwasher safe. But if you already have a coffee grinder and think it will work the same way, think again. “The blades work differently,” says Bhattacharya. “A coffee grinder is useful in an emergency, but a spice grinder will give you a finer texture.”

The Taiker Cake Decorating Kit has everything you need to get started baking, even if you don't even have a set of measuring spoons. It's made up of a whopping 493 pieces and includes tools like cake pans, silicone molds, spatulas, whisks, muffin cups, and more. With a focus on helping you become a skilled decorator, it also comes with a cake turntable, spirit level, and piping bag. The bag comes with dozens of tips so you can practice piping virtually any shape or style. It also comes with two injectors for filling individual food items like cupcakes.

Thanks to the generous selection of extra tools, like tongs and a dishwasher, it can also better accommodate your other cooking needs. This may not be the most luxurious set you'll ever have, but it's perfect for trying out new skills.

Yogurt makers are pretty simple machines, but they've come a long way since the early days. (I remember my mom's version being a bit of a guesswork operation.) The Euro Cuisine digital maker lets you make individual jars of yogurt, eliminating the hassle of portioning later. I like that it only takes 7-10 hours to complete a batch and automatically shuts off after 15 hours. You can also make fewer jars at a time if you don't need to make a large batch.

But if you want to make lots of yogurt at once, you can also purchase extra racks separately. With milk and starter cultures, you can have a glass of milk at the start of the day and a glass of yogurt at the end of the day.

Fondue is great, but the world of melted cheese doesn't end there. Raclette refers to both the type of cheese and the dish made by melting it. This Swissmar Grill is big enough for a party, with supplies for up to eight people. It comes with both a spatula and plate for each person, so each person can take care of their own plate while the grill is in the center.

The cast iron grill top is reversible and has a smooth side, so it can be used for other purposes when needed, or transferred to the barbecue or oven. While the cheese melts, you can use the extra space to toast bread, grill meat or crisp up veggies.

Rather than disappearing, the zoodle craze started a trend as it integrated into pasta culture, and in recent years it's become increasingly common to mix spiralized vegetables into traditional pasta or replace them entirely. With a handheld spiral cutter, the task can be arduous and quickly tire your hands. But OXO's countertop version works more like a traditional apple peeler and corer, because it sits flat on a table and can be turned by hand.

Like other products from this brand, it is ergonomically designed for ease and comfort in use: a suction cup at the base of the tool prevents movement, and three blades – spaghetti, fettuccine and ribbon – give you a variety of shapes to choose from.

It may sound like an exaggeration to say that the Ninja Creami Deluxe became my favorite thing last summer, but it's not. I've had ice cream makers my whole adult life, but I've never been more obsessed with it. This ice cream maker works in a totally different way than a regular maker, allowing you to freeze your recipes in advance and just mix when you're ready to eat. The ice cream itself is delicious, but I was surprised by what other features it could do.

Topping my list are smoothie bowls that taste and feel like ice cream, but are made purely with fruit and alcoholic beverages and taste better than any smoothie bowl I've had at a bar. I recommend buying extra dishwasher-safe jars, because you want to have plenty of options for summer fun.

Made by the brand that has established sous vide cooking for home use, we love the Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker for its ease of use and consistent results. Unlike other Wi-Fi models, it doesn't require the use of a separate app, adding convenience and making it easy to use even for those just getting started with sous vide cooking.

The app heats water quickly, keeps it at the exact temperature you need for your dish, and warns you if the water level gets too low. It also works with almost any type of protein or vegetable. If you use the app, it's a great resource with thousands of free recipes.

When I attended the press conference announcing the launch of this portable pizza oven, I was amazed at how easy the Gozney was to use. A few months later, I was thrilled when someone gifted it to his girlfriend. Pizza ovens take a bit of practice, but once you put in the effort, the quality of the pizza you can make at home is amazing.

Easier to transport than other pizza ovens, the Roccbox can be set up almost anywhere outdoors. It's not light, but it's not hard to load into your car for an outdoor pizza party. It's a little slower than other pizza ovens, but that's actually a plus, considering that pizzas burn quickly in hot ovens.

I've owned this fondue pot for about 15 years now, and its ability to stand up to the test of time and considerable use is amazing, especially considering its mid-range price point. I'm not usually a fan of non-stick coatings, but this fondue pot's feature is a dream come true, as it can turn a melted cheese entree into a chocolate dessert in a matter of seconds. (It usually takes longer for my guests to change plates and dipping dishes.)

Guests also always love the insert that lets you hang a solid-colored fork on the side of the pot for quick stops. Once everything's at the desired temperature, just turn the heat down a bit and whatever you put inside will stay the perfect temperature for hours.

Just like freshly ground spices, fresh herbs can really elevate any recipe. Keep them in large quantities to make sauces like pesto or chimichurri. The AeroGarden has its own lighting system, making it perfect for indoor spaces without large window frames. It also has an automatic watering system and a lighting timer.

This means even those with minimal gardening skills can grow fresh herbs indoors, and there's no need to buy seeds to get started as the nine pods and grow dome included include basil, two types of parsley, dill, and more.

Tofuture expertly compresses tofu every time without the hassle of stacking tins and plates. This press does all the work for you. Just load your tofu, select your compression level and let it do the rest. It works with any tofu, from silken to extra-firm, and compresses in just 20 minutes.

This press is as easy to clean as it is to use, and the tofu it produces will come out crispier when subsequently sautéed, pan-fried or air fried. To empty after use, simply pour out the water that collects in the container underneath.

Long scorned for the bland steamed vegetables that were popular a few decades ago, steamers have much more to offer than that: the things you make with them are actually delicious. With just a few tweaks to your steaming method, like adding spices to the water underneath the steamer, steamed dishes can take on incredible flavors and textures.

This KitchenAid basket allows you to enjoy steaming food to the fullest. Its adjustable size allows it to seamlessly fit different sized pots and pans, making it convenient for cooking fish as well as dumplings. It also fits perfectly in your pressure cooker, and its durable construction will last for years to come.