Best Kitchen Gadgets of 2023

At the most basic level, the only kitchen supplies you really need are a knife, a cutting board, some type of heat-resistant container, and maybe a cookware or two. But if you really want to take your cooking to the next level – and who wouldn't? – you'll want to invest in a few essential kitchen tools. From pressure cookers to toaster ovens, these are our favorite essentials that make cooking easier, faster, and more fun.

Best multicooker: Instant Pot Duo Plus

instant pot

If you haven't jumped on the bandwagon yet, a multicooker like the Instant Pot could become part of your regular rotation.

$75 on Amazon

If you haven't jumped on the bandwagon yet, a multicooker like the Instant Pot may become one of your favorite kitchen gadgets. This cult favorite can perform multiple tasks such as pressure cooking, slow cooking, sautéing, rice cooking, yogurt making, steaming, and warming. All these features combined make it easy to cook stews, soups, stews, and more. You can even make cheesecake with this! The popular model for most people is the Instant Pot Duo Plus. Easy to use and features several quick cooking modes for soups, eggs, porridge and cereals. It also has sterilization and vacuum cooking functions.

Want a smarter Instant Pot instead? Consider the Instant Pot Pro Plus. Not only does it have modern features like canning capabilities and an oven-safe inner pot, but it also has WiFi connectivity and a companion app that provides step-by-step guided instructions for over 800 recipes. Additionally, it can be used to remotely release steam from your Instant Pot. You can also use the app to set a timer to release steam automatically.

Best thermometer: Thermapen One

thermapen

Our favorite thermometer shows you the reading instantly, and the screen automatically rotates depending on how you hold it.

$99 at ThermoWorks

No one wants to eat undercooked meat, but overcooked meat can be quite inedible. One way to avoid both extremes is to monitor the temperature using a thermometer. Our favorite is the Thermapen One by ThermoWorks. Measurements are displayed instantly, and the screen automatically rotates depending on how you hold it. The automatic wake and sleep feature comes in handy for quick temperature checks, and the IP67 waterproof rating means you won't have to worry about accidentally dropping it in the sink.

ThermoPop is a more affordable option in the ThermoWorks lineup. It's not as fast as the Thermapen One, and it doesn't have a rotating display or backlight. However, it can accurately measure temperature, and although it is not waterproof, it is splash-proof.

Best Food Scale: Escali Primo

Escali

For the most accurate measurements, a digital scale like Escali is best. You can switch between grams and ounces with a single push, and there's also a tare button to zero the weight.

$27 on Amazon

Bakers around the world know that the most accurate way to measure ingredients is with a scale. A “cup of flour” varies greatly depending on how you scoop it, but a scale will tell you exactly whether it's 120 grams or not. Digital scales are best for the most accurate measurements, but we especially like his Escali Primo. He can switch between grams and ounces with a single press, and importantly, there's also a tare button to zero the weight, so he can continue measuring in the same container. One of the reasons we prefer his Escali Primo over other models is that it has a very long auto-off timer, allowing him to stay on for 4 minutes before powering off. This is important if you need extra time to chop vegetables or gather other ingredients without worrying about the scale resetting to zero.

Best Air Fryer: Instant Vortex Plus

instant pot

This machine has a window to see what's cooking and an odor filter to reduce cooking odors. There aren't many other air fryers that have both.

$130 on Amazon

The most popular kitchen appliance at the moment seems to be the air fryer. Probably because the idea of ​​”frying” food without getting dirty with oil is an easy sell. But in reality, an air fryer is just a small convection oven. They are usually pod-shaped and often come with a removable basket. There are also toaster ovens with air frying capabilities if you want a multipurpose appliance on your countertop. See recommendations below.

Both have their own merits, but if you fry a lot of food, we actually recommend a dedicated pod-type air fryer. These devices tend to make your food crunchier, plus they're easier to clean. One of our favorites is the Instant Vortex Plus with ClearCook and OdorErase. As the name suggests, it has a window that allows you to see the cooking process and an odor filter to reduce cooking odors. There aren't many other air fryers that have both. It also doesn't take up as much space as a larger toaster oven, and the controls are easier to use.

Best Stand Mixer: KitchenAid Artisan Series

kitchen aid

KitchenAid stand mixers are popular among bakers for many good reasons, including being durable and powerful, as well as being compatible with a variety of accessories and attachments.

$450 at KitchenAid

Sure, you could mix cookie dough by hand, but that requires time and a lot of upper body strength. This is even more true when kneading bread dough or whipping meringue. You can save yourself that hassle by purchasing a stand mixer. A perennial favorite among bakers and amateur cooks is KitchenAid's Artisan series. Durable, strong, and with a selection of paddle, hook, and whisk attachments to use with your mixing bowl. We also like that the KitchenAid mixer is compatible with a variety of accessories and attachments that can turn the machine into an ice cream maker, meat grinder, or pasta machine, in case you want to expand your cooking range.

Best Blender: Vitamix Explorian Series

vitamix

Nothing beats Vitamix in this area. This high-performance blender brand makes machines that can not only prepare smoothies but also make sauces, batters, and soups.

$350 for Vitamix

Nothing beats Vitamix in this area. This high-performance blender brand makes machines that can not only prepare smoothies, but also salad dressings, sauces, batters, and soups. It's especially useful if you have a habit of adding harder ingredients to your recipes, such as nuts, dried fruit, or frozen foods. Other less powerful blenders can leave lumps when you add hard ingredients, but the Vitamix doesn't, and you get a smooth final product.

Depending on the model you get, you can also purchase different attachments to get the most out of your blender's powerful base. You can choose a 64-ounce container to make smoothies for the whole family at once, or a “dry grain” container that comes with a special blade to grind things like whole grains to make your own flour.

Vitamix currently has 4 series of blenders. The basic Vitamix One costs $250. The slightly more advanced Explorian series starts at $350 and is probably the best choice for most people. The Legacy series starts at $400. The advanced Ascent series costs at least $500. Yes, these are expensive machines, but if you blend often or like to experiment by making something from scratch, it's worth the investment.

Best Toaster Oven: Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro

breville

We love the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro because it's big enough to roast chicken and has other features like dehydration, fermentation, and air frying (thanks to the Super Convection mode).

$400 on Amazon

A toaster oven is an incredibly versatile home appliance. Yes, it can be used to toast bread, buns and all kinds of baked goods. But it's also a great alternative if you don't want to heat your entire house with a full-sized oven. It also heats up much faster, making it a more efficient option for warming up leftovers.

We love the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro because it's big enough to roast chicken and has other features like dehydration, fermentation, and air frying (thanks to the Super Convection mode). It also includes presets for baking pizza and toasting bagels. Taking it a step further is the Joule Oven Air Flyer Pro, which adds Wi-Fi connectivity so you can control it from your phone. The app also has a wealth of recipes and an “autopilot” feature that automatically adjusts the temperature while cooking.

If you don't need something that big, the smaller and more affordable Panasonic Flash Express is a good choice. It's roomy enough to handle a slice of pizza, but definitely doesn't take up as much space as the Breville. It's definitely a great option if you just need a toaster oven to heat up frozen snacks or toast a few slices of bread at a time.

Best sous vide cooker: Anova Precision Cooker 3.0

Anova Culinary

If you want a simple, easy-to-use sous vide cooker for cooking meat, eggs, and more, the Anova Precision Cooker 3.0 is our favorite all-rounder.

$176 on Amazon

If you want to cook your expensive steak perfectly medium-rare without having to constantly monitor the temperature, consider purchasing a sous vide cooker. These machines allow you to cook everything to perfection in a temperature-controlled water bath. We've had success making steak, chicken, burgers, eggs, and even yogurt in our sous vide cooker, and the results were perfect every time.

Our favorite model is the Anova Precision Cooker 3.0. With the launch of its latest version, the company added digital touch controls, a longer power cord, and WiFi connectivity to its already impressive base product. The companion app is also thoughtfully designed and includes hundreds of recipes and the option to remotely control your machine. Even if you have an app component, you don't have to use it. Easily adjust the temperature with onboard controls and a large digital display.

Valentina Palladino contributed to this report.