All Engadget Recommended products are curated by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. All prices are correct at the time of publication.
At the most basic level, the only cooking equipment you really need is a knife, cutting board, heatproof container of some sort, and perhaps a utensil or two. But if you really want to take your cooking to the next level, then who doesn’t? – you will want to invest in some accoutrements. From pressure cookers to toaster ovens, here are our favorite kitchen must-haves that will make cooking easier, faster, and maybe even more enjoyable.
Best Multi-Cooker: Instant Pot Duo Plus
If you haven’t jumped on the bandwagon yet, a multi-cooker like the Instant Pot could become part of your regular rotation. This cult favorite can multitask including pressure cooking, slow cooking, sautéing, cooking rice, making yogurt, steaming, and heating. The combination of all these features makes it easy to prepare stews, soups, stews and more. You can also make cheesecake! Our favorite model for most people is the Instant Pot Duo Plus because it’s easy to use, with several quick cooking modes for soup, eggs, porridge and cereal. It also has sterilization and vacuum cooking functions.
Want a smarter Instant Pot instead? Consider the Instant Pot Pro Plus. Not only do you get upgraded features like a canning function and an oven-safe inner pot, but you also get WiFi connectivity and a companion app, offering step-by-step guided instructions for more than 800 recipes. Plus, you can use it to release Instant Pot steam remotely. You can also use the app to set a timer to automatically release the steam.
Best Thermometer: Thermapen One
No one wants to eat undercooked meat, but it’s also not edible when it’s overcooked. One way to avoid both extremes is to use a thermometer to monitor the temperature. Our favorite is the Thermapen One from ThermoWorks. It gives readings instantly and the screen automatically rotates depending on how you hold it. The auto on and off feature is useful for quick temperature checks, and its IP67 waterproofing rating means you don’t have to worry about accidentally dropping it in the sink.
He thermopop it is a cheaper option in the ThermoWorks line. It’s not as fast as the Thermapen One, and it doesn’t have a rotating screen or backlight. But it still measures temperatures accurately, and while it’s not waterproof, it’s splash resistant.
Best food scale: Escali Primo
Bakers around the world know that the most accurate way to measure ingredients is with a scale. A “cup of flour” can be very different depending on how you scoop it out, whereas a scale can tell you exactly if you have 120 grams. A digital scale is best for the most accurate measurements, and we especially like the Climb Primo. You can switch between grams and ounces with a single press, and most importantly, there’s also a tare button that zeroes out the weight so you can keep measuring in the same container. One reason we like the Escali Primo over other models is that it has a very long sleep timer, allowing it to stay on for four minutes before turning off. That’s important for when you need extra time to chop vegetables or gather other ingredients without having to worry about the scale resetting to zero.
Best Air Fryer: Instant Vortex Plus
The most popular kitchen gadget at the moment seems to be the deep fryer, presumably because the idea of ”frying” food without the oily mess is an easy sell. In reality, however, air fryers are just miniature convection ovens. They are typically pod-shaped and often come with a removable basket. There are also toaster ovens with an air fry function, see our recommendations below, if you prefer to have a multi-purpose appliance.
While both have their own merits, if you think you’re going to be doing a lot of air frying, we recommend a dedicated pod-shaped air fryer. These devices tend to produce crispier food, plus they are easier to clean. One of our favorites is the Instant Vortex Plus with ClearCook and OdorErase. As the name suggests, it has a window so you can see what you’re cooking, as well as odor-removing filters that help reduce cooking odors; not many other air fryers have both. It also doesn’t take up as much space as a full-size toaster oven and has easy-to-use controls.
Best Stand Mixer: KitchenAid Artisan Series
Sure, you could probably mix up a batch of cookie dough by hand, but it will take time and a bit of upper body strength. That is even more true if you want to knead bread or prepare a meringue. Save yourself the trouble by buying a stand mixer. Favorites among bakers and hobby cooks for years have been KitchenAid Artisanal Series. It’s durable, powerful, and comes with your choice of paddle, hook, and whisk attachments. We also like that KitchenAid mixers are compatible with a variety of accessories and add-ons that can turn the machine into a ice cream makerto meat mincer and a pasta machine in case you want to broaden your culinary horizons.
Best Blender: Vitamix Explorian Series
It’s hard to beat the vitamix in this space The high-performance blender brand makes machines that do more than just make smoothies, they can also make sauces, batters, and soups. It’s especially helpful if you’re in the habit of adding tougher ingredients to your recipes, such as nuts, dried fruit, and frozen goods. While less powerful blenders may leave chunks behind once you introduce tougher ingredients, the Vitamix won’t, leaving you with a silky-smooth end product.
Depending on the model you purchase, you can also purchase different accessories to make the most of the blender’s powerful base. you can pick up 64 ounce containers to make smoothies for the whole family at once or “dry grain” container which is equipped with a blade specifically for grinding things like whole grains so you can make your own flour.
Vitamix currently has four series of blenders: the Basic vitamix one, which costs $250; the slightly more advanced exploratory series, which starts at $350 and is possibly the best for most people; he legacy series, from $400; and the advanced Ascent Serieswhich will set you back at least $500. Yes, they are expensive machines, but they are worth the investment if you mix a lot or like to experiment by making things from scratch.
Best Toaster Oven: Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro
A toaster oven is a surprisingly versatile appliance. Yes, you can use it to toast bread, buns, and all kinds of baked goods. But it’s also a great alternative when you don’t want to heat the whole house with your big oven. It also heats up much faster, making it a more efficient option for heating up leftovers.
we love the Breville Smart Oven Pro Air Fryer as it’s big enough to roast a chicken and also has other functions like dehydrating, proofing, and air frying (thanks to a super convection mode). It also includes presets for baking pizzas and toasting bagels. A step up from that is the Joule Oven Pro Air Fryer, which adds WiFi connectivity so you can control it from your phone. The app also has plenty of recipes, and there’s an “autopilot” feature that automatically adjusts the temperature during cooking.
If you don’t want something as big, a smaller and more affordable alternative is the Panasonic Flash Express. It’s roomy enough to hold a slice of pizza, but it definitely won’t take up as much space as the Breville. It’s definitely a great option if all you want is a toaster oven to warm up frozen snacks or toast multiple slices of bread at once.
Best sous vide machine: Anova Precision Cooker 3.0
If you want to make sure your expensive steak is perfectly medium-done without having to constantly monitor its temperature, consider purchasing a sous vide cooker. These machines allow you to cook anything inside a temperature controlled water bath to perfection. We’ve successfully prepared steak, chicken, burgers, eggs, and even yogurt in a sous-vide cooker, and the results have always been perfect.
Our favorite model is the Anova 3.0 Precision Cooker. The company added digital touch controls, a longer power cord, and WiFi connectivity to an already stellar base product with the release of the latest version. The companion app is also thoughtfully designed, with hundreds of recipes and the option to control the machine remotely. And while there is an app component, you don’t have to use it; You can easily adjust the temperature with the built-in controls and the large digital display.
Valentina Palladino contributed to this report.
