11 Kitchen Gadgets and Appliances That Practically Cook for You
Updated: Nov. 17, 2023
We love a good shortcut—and these gadgets make it easy to put a hot meal on the table every night.
Automatic Pot Stirrer
If you turn your back to the stove for a second, you can rest easy knowing your sauce won’t immediately burn. This automatic pot stirrer keeps things moving at three different speeds. Plus, it’s dishwasher-safe!
Sous Vide Cooker
If you’re like me, you’re never just cooking—you’re doing several things at once. Using a sous vide cooker like this will ensure that you never overcook chicken, turkey or steak. You can add the Anova app to your phone and multitask without having to constantly check to see if your meal is done.
Ceramic Egg Cooker
I love to have eggs in the morning, but there isn’t always time to whip them up before the day begins. With a ceramic egg cooker, you can mix in your ingredients, pop them in the microwave and voila—a healthy and delicious meal is ready. (You can also cook your morning oatmeal this way.)
Microwave Pasta Cooker
Do you love pasta? It’s not hard to boil water, but it definitely takes up time that you may not have. Use a microwave pasta cooker to speed things up. You can make a hot meal for lunch!
Slow Cooker
No matter what new kitchen gadget people are talking about, the classic Crock-Pot will always be my go-to. I can easily freeze ingredients ahead of time to throw in or make traditional family meals like chili and roasts. Find new recipes to make in a slow cooker.
Psst! Make the most out of your cooking experience by making it less of a workout with this appliance slide mat.
Instant Pot
For my fellow working moms, coming home and cooking meat from frozen in twenty minutes is ideal! You can even chop and freeze ingredients ahead of time and toss ’em in an Instant Pot for a fast meal. There are a ton of Instant Pot recipes to explore, too. (I think they make the best hard-boiled eggs!)
Ninja Foodi
Looking to cook a meal quickly with one appliance? Nikki Thompson Frazer, founder of Sweet Encounter Kids, notes that her Ninja Foodi, which is a 5-in-1 indoor grill, is a tool that she uses to prepare a whole meal. Need a recipe to get started? Check out this Ninja Foodi Turkey Breast, which would be great for Sunday dinner.
Rice Cooker
If you make a lot of rice, either as a side dish or as your main, you need a Zojirushi rice cooker. Many have trays that will steam veggies at the same time, creating a complete meal in a fraction of the time. Don’t miss our roundup of meals to make with rice or how to use your new rice cooker to get perfect rice every time.
Hot Dog Cooker
You may not think that you need something like this, but if you have kids, you know that there’s a time when a hot dog will be a staple in your house. These hot dog cookers also toast your bun for a quick and delicious meal. If you’re feeling ambitious, these hot dog recipes are a true culinary experience!
Mini Maker
To make pancakes, omelets or even sandwiches, you simply put the ingredients in the Mini Maker and voila—breakfast, lunch and dinner are ready. These affordable appliances also travel well and make the perfect camp cookware if you have a camping trip planned.
Toaster Oven
Toaster ovens like this Breville model aren’t just for toast! From homemade pizzas to vegetable dishes and roasting meat, people use toaster ovens for all kinds of fast and family-friendly recipes. Check out these toaster oven recipes for a new-to-you meal!
Originally Published: April 01, 2021
