It's always fun to find a bargain on sale or get something you really covet, but sometimes a gadget or appliance is simply worth splurging on. We review many kitchen technologies, appliances, and accessories, and these are the ones that come to life in our own kitchens. Think of them as investments.
Erica Laws/Digital Trends
Anova Nano
Master sous vide cooking
Strong Points
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compact size
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Touchscreen display/controls on device
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sophisticated design
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durable construction
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app control
Cons
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Unable to connect to Wi-Fi
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clamp is small
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They tend to be placed too high in their pots and require more water
Anova Nano is a freestanding 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. Nano heats water to a specified temperature and maintains that temperature for several hours. That is, it is impossible to overcook something. Sous vide cooking keeps your food at the perfect temperature, so you can create the perfect steak (or any other food) every time.
Anova Nano
Master sous vide cooking
Tineco Toasty One
Smart toasters are surprisingly useful
Strong Points
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Cook the two pieces to different crispiness
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color touch screen
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perfect results
Cons
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expensive
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Slightly larger than a regular toaster
Tineco's Toasty One is a smart toaster that detects your bread and adjusts the heat for perfect toast every time. You can also make two pieces of toast at the same time with completely different doneness. It has a touch screen so you can choose your favorite toast shade. It's not cheap, but it's a gadget that will impress your guests.
Tineco Toasty One
Smart toasters are surprisingly useful
Cuisinart EvolutionX Hand Beater
Cordless kitchen appliances make sense
Strong Points
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no wire
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Can be used anywhere
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Perfect for RV and camping
Cons
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Not as powerful as corded models
For those on the go, Cuisinart's Evolution X is a handheld blender with several different heads for immersion blending, whipping, and even frothing drinks. Perfect for moving around the kitchen. You don't have to be tied to a wall outlet, so you can mix your dough or quiche anywhere – on the stovetop or at the dining table. Even if you already have a handheld blender, there are various reasons why a cordless version is useful, especially for someone who owns a camper or his RV.
Cuisinart EvolutionX Hand Beater
Cordless kitchen appliances make sense
Amazon Smart Soap Dispenser
Touchless is the future!
Strong Points
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compact
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Touchless.no bacteria
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nice design
Cons
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Can be bulky in some homes/sinks
A few years ago, this might have seemed like a foolish splurge, but these days it's a wise investment. If you can eliminate touchpoints, you're avoiding contact with all kinds of germs, whether it's COVID-19 or Salmonella. Amazon's smart soap dispenser is a great idea for people who have children or who prefer cleanliness. You can control the amount of soap by how far you place your hand under the spout, and it stays on for 20 seconds (recommended cleaning time). You can also use it in your Alexa routines to play music.
Amazon Smart Soap Dispenser
Touchless is the future!
loft lighter x
How to light a grill without wires
Strong Points
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There is no way to start a fire using chemicals.
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rechargeable
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reusable
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Also functions as a bellows to start a fire
If you use a charcoal grill, the rechargeable cordless Looft Lighter X is worth checking out. This is a unique tool that does double duty as a bellows to light the charcoal and provide vital oxygen to the grill. Simply click and touch the charcoal, and when the charcoal starts to spark or glow, pull the lighter back to provide a wider area of heat and more airflow. Within a minute, the charcoal is lit and you're off to the races.
loft lighter x
How to light a grill without wires
Images used with permission of copyright holder
Thermomix TM6
All-in-one kitchen robot
Strong Points
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Equipped with 20 types of 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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Automatic cooking mode in addition to recipes
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self cleaning
Cons
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expensive
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Annual subscription to Cookidoo recipes required
Thermomix TM6 is an all-in-one cookware. They are blenders, food processors, crock pots, rice cookers, whippers, and steamers. In fact, you can even bake the protein on top of the steamed vegetables and cook the entire meal at the same time. It can be sous vide, slow cooked, and even emulsified. It's pretty expensive, but considering it replaces about a dozen other home appliances and gadgets, you'll be pretty excited to try it out. Oh, and this “kitchen robot” is all the rage across Europe.
Thermomix TM6
All-in-one kitchen robot
Images used with permission of copyright holder
U by Moen smart faucet
talk to tap
Strong Points
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Provides accurate water temperature
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accurate measurements
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Voice control works well
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nice design with many styles
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Battery power or AC
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DIY installation possible
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Versatile: handle, motion or voice
Cons
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Requires considerable initial setup
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Some people may be afraid to install
You may think it's a little decadent to talk to a tap, but hear me out. U by Moen is a smart faucet that dispenses a precise amount of water with a voice command and can be activated with a hand motion. There's a wand wash setting and he keeps the faucet running for 20 seconds, pausing to apply the soap, then continuing. Plus, you can set presets to fill your coffee pot or dog dish, so you never waste water.
U by Moen smart faucet
talk to tap
Images used with permission of copyright holder
joule oven air fryer pro
Execute chef recipes like a pro
Strong Points
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Cooks food evenly
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13 cooking options
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A smart app that works seamlessly with your oven
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Eliminates the need for multiple small appliances
Cons
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Bagel function is not working properly
Breville's Joule is a combination oven and fryer. It can be activated by voice and comes loaded with smart features designed to optimize your cooking time. It can also be used for fermenting dough and drying fruits. The companion app is packed with hundreds of recipes from New York Times Cooking (no subscription required), Top Chef alum, Breville Test Kitchen, and more. Best of all, we basically cook the recipes ourselves with flight plans. Want to wow your guests? Quickly cook delicious croissants that rise and bake to perfection.
joule oven air fryer pro
Execute chef recipes like a pro
With so many great gadgets on the market and new models being introduced all the time, incorporating technology into your kitchen has never been easier. Try something new and see if you can save time and money.
Editor's picks
