Some may be essential basics such as sharp knives, vegetable peelers and chopping boards; others might be cooler and streamline the cooking process, like rice cookers, electric breakfast sandwich makers and tabletop cereal dispensers.
There are even kitchen gadgets available that help you solve problems you may have never even known you had, such as knife sharpeners to bring your most-used kitchen utensils back to life and instant pots, which take the guesswork out of cooking.
Even if you’ve just taken a liking to kitchen gadgets because their cool – fun does not always mean impractical, as many kitchen gadgets and gizmos are time-saving tools that make cooking far more enjoyable.
Whether you’re looking for a funny conversation starter or are after a tool that streamlines the cooking process, we’ve found some kitchen gadgets that are both quirky and game-changers for home chefs.
From automatic pan stirrers that will give wrists a break to UVC sterilisation lamps, which are the ultimate defence against bacteria and viruses – scroll through our picks.
Cool kitchen gadgets 2021: Essential and unique accessories
Are you wondering what kitchen gadgets are necessary for your home? Which tools are more hassle than they are worth or come attached with a mammoth price tag?
While some kitchen gadgets carry a hefty price tag, trendsetters are snapping up these items not only for their appearance but as symbols of status.
From popcorn makers to smoothie machines and premium breadmakers, kitchen gadgets are often seen as an indication of wealth.
However, that’s not to say that those with lower budgets can’t afford kitchen finery that will make friends and family envious of their homes.
Whether you, your partner or your housemate is a bonafide kitchen pro, an aspiring amateur or acquiring new gadgets to help improve their culinary skills, these tools will make cooking (and cleaning) easy, safe and fun!
Cooking thermometer
If we’re talking about practicality, a cooking thermometer should be on every chef’s wish list.
While there is an abundance of thermometers available on the market, in most cases, only three are used for the kitchen: thermistor/digital instant-read thermometers, thermocouple thermometers and oven-probe thermometers.
Oven-probe thermometers are particularly useful for monitoring the internal temperature of meat, helping the user avoid overcooking or undercooking their food. These types of thermometers are also more accurate than the ones fitted to your oven, which can better set the preheating temperature.
Thermistor and digital instant-reading thermometers are probably the most popular of the three types of thermometers as they can take quick readings of the internal temperatures of food.
They also tend to be pocket-sized, making them easily transportable and convenient to carry and store.
Pressure cookers
Pressure cookers were once considered a luxurious kitchen appliance due to their price tag and were more prevalent among celebrities. However, advances in technology and increased competition means you can find these no-frills gadgets at a far more affordable price.
From luxury brands to Amazon – you can find pressure cookers just about anywhere on the market, and they have fast become a staple kitchen item over the past few years.
While new users will more than likely need some time to modify recipes to suit the pressure cooker’s methods better, as these devices seal moisture into the food, meat is often more tender and flavoursome. Fewer nutrients are also lost than using more conventional cooking methods, while the combination of heat and pressure help kill unwanted bacteria.
Pressure cookers can also be used to cook a range of foods, including meat, potato, vegetables and even frozen food, albeit you may need to adjust the cooking time for the latter.
Although they can be relatively noisy due to the pressure created from the steam, the increased pressure can reduce cooking time by up to 70%, which saves on overall electric consumption.
Food processor
Have you found yourself doing a lot of chopping, grating and slicing recently? Perhaps it’s time to give your hands a break and invest in a food processor, which will significantly reduce your preparation time.
Many people confuse a food processor with a blender, but the two are entirely different products.
Unlike blenders, which essentially turn food into smoothies, food processors are equipped with sharp blades to help shred, chop, grate and cut cooking ingredients. While they can blend to some extent, the results probably won’t be as smooth as they would be if you had used a blender.
However, food processors work great on larger, thicker foods and the different cutting edge apparatus make it an extremely versatile and flexible tool. The only downside is that they tend to occupy a significant amount of work surface space.
S’mores maker
Nothing quite beats the sweet, gooey combination of marshmallow and chocolate sandwiched between a biscuit, but most of us don’t have access to open flames. A s’mores maker could solve this issue!
Several s’mores makers on the market require no fire at all; others work in the oven or latch onto the grill, and some are fitted with a Sterno that produces a small flame to cook the marshmallows.
If you’re after a s’mores maker, consider whether you’d want one suitable for the oven, microwave or outside with canned fuelling tins.
Rice cooker
Do you cook rice regularly and struggle to get the water measurements right or misjudge the cooking time and cause the bottom half to burn?
If you’ve caught yourself nodding your head, you might want to invest in a rice cooker that will not only improve the quality of your rice but save you time and possibly money as you won’t be throwing any burnt bits in the bin.
Although rice at the bottom of the cooker can still burn, as the appliance uses non-stick technology, this rarely happens.
Also, once you’ve measured out the correct volume of water and rice, you won’t have to keep fussing over the pot once you’ve closed the lid and turned it on, as the rice cooker will shut down once the cycle is complete.
Rice cookers even keep the rice warm after finishing the cooking cycle!
Electric wine opener
Most of our readers are probably familiar with manual wine openers, which require significant amounts of effort and care to free the cork from the bottle’s neck.
If you’re wondering whether it’s worth purchasing an automatic wine opener, keep reading to find out the pros and cons of this stylish kitchen gadget.
The most significant advantage of using an electric wine opener is that it removes the hassle of lining up the corkscrew with the top of the cork and hoping it has been inserted correctly.
Automatic wine openers are also far less prone to breaking as they tend to be made out of stainless steel and are also rust-resistant, making them far more reliable than manual openers, which tend to have a shorter shelf life.
UVC steriliser lamp
Following the novel outbreak of COVID-19, formally known as SARS-CoV-2, a UVC steriliser lamp might be an essential kitchen appliance moving forward, given that it has been shown to eliminate bacteria and viruses, including the outer protein layer of the coronavirus.
Sometimes wiping everything down with disinfectant products isn’t feasible, and hand sanitiser can only do so much when it comes to destroying germs.
However, UVC lights are known for killing airborne viruses and disinfecting nonporous surfaces without damaging human tissue. UVC sterilising lamps can kill 99% of germs and bacteria if adequately utilised, so it’s easy to see why it’s fast becoming a staple kitchen item.
UVC also doesn’t leave any residue behind, unlike other spray and solution-based cleaning products, so it’s safe to use on electronics and external surfaces.
Fahren UK’s UVC light is CE Approved, efficient and effective against all microbes
Breakfast sandwich maker
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and yet many of us rarely have time in the morning to prepare anything due to rushing to get to the office or complete the school run.
If you struggle to find the time to prepare breakfast, why not invest in a sandwich maker?
The best breakfast sandwich makers have sturdy handles and heatproof technology for easy handling, making it safe to use around young children and pets.
Sandwich makers are available on the market at a range of prices; however, the cheapest ones will likely be poorly manufactured. Some affordable models in the mid-market range will offer better value for money as there is less danger of the product breaking or becoming faulty.
Breakfast sandwich makers are also easy to clean due to their non-stick coating and come fitted with thermostats to ensure the sandwich maker stays at the right temperature.
Instant boiling water taps
The new must-have kitchen gadget is the Instant Boiling Water Tap, replacing coffee machines, kettles and hot water dispensers across the globe.
Both practical and stylish, instant boiling water taps mean no more waiting around for old-school appliances such as kettles to boil and more time to spend on more important matters. Our 4-in-1 instant hot water taps dispense boiling, hot, cold and filetered water. Our 3-in-1 instant hot taps dispense the same but without the filtered.
Take a look at our fantatic brushed gold hot water tap in action:
Instant boiling water taps are perfect for making hot drinks, cold drinks, cleaning fruit and vegetables and stubborn stains off pots and pans. They are a considerably classy option for the kitchen and can replace your existing tap or stand-alone next to your kitchen faucet.
Manufacturers such as Fahren UK have also ensured safety first, and many models come fitted with child safety mechanisms and aerators to improve the flow of water and prevent splashing.
