Hailey Bieber is Finally Dropping Cooking VideosNBC – Getty Images
From her truffle oil pizza toast and viral Erewhon smoothie to the dinner recipes that she posts on her Instagram stories, Hailey Bieber knows her way around the kitchen. The model’s TikTok page might be full of glazed donut nail tutorials and Rhode product swatches, but she also loves showing off the recipes that she whips up for herself and Justin regularly.
Her YouTube content has similarly spanned across categories to include skincare routines, conversations about mental health, and food. Hailey even has a popular series where she invites other celeb friends to snack on her favorite foods and chat about life — think making sandwiches with Addison Rae, eating crab legs with Normani, and snacking on nachos with Emily Ratajkowski.
Fans (🙋♀️) have taken notice of her delicious-looking concoctions and begged Hailey to release more food content. Well, ask and you shall receive because the model just announced that she’s launching a brand new series on her YouTube channel. Her most recent launch “What’s in My Kitchen?” will continue the food theme with cooking videos based on her most popular recipes.
Hailey Bieber on Instagram
“Surprise! What’s In My Kitchen is LIVE TODAY!! 🤍,” Hailey wrote on her Instagram stories. “So excited to introduce a brand new series on my channel, WHAT’S IN MY KITCHEN? This series is inspired by your response to me making the pizza toast, creamy Tuscan pasta, smoothies, and more.” The model continued, “I’m excited to take you all even deeper into my actual home kitchen!”
Hailey Bieber on Instagram
Hailey didn’t just drop the launch announcement — she also released the very first video, entitled “making breakfast two ways.”
The supermodel filmed right in her own home with all of her ingredients laid out on her kitchen island, showing her fans her “running out the door breakfast” protein coffee as well as her favorite protein pancakes for when she has more time. Hailey finished off the delish-looking pancakes with sliced bananas, a dollop of whipped cream, and a drizzle of maple syrup.
“Disclaimer: I’m just a foodie that loves to cook, but I am NOT a professional chef,” the video reads. “My recipes aren’t always going to be from scratch, be the healthiest, or always make sense! This is just my Hailey way of doing it!”
“Hailey starting a youtube channel was the best thing to happen on this platform,” declared one fan. Others flocked to the comment section to drop suggestions for Hailey’s next cooking video with ideas like Christmas cookies, banana nut bread, and chicken wings.
“Chef Hailey” has a nice ring to it — can we pop in for a taste test next time?!
Give the gift of whimsy this holiday with these adorable kitchen gadgets!
Quirky might not be your first thought when it comes to holiday gift-giving, but these kitchen gadgets will put a little fun into an otherwise stressful time. Anyone — from expert to novice — can appreciate these innovative ideas because they’re practical tools as well. Plus, they’re all available on Amazon, so you can get them in time. Don’t wait too long though, you only have a week left!
This Magic Mushroom looks like a mushroom, but actually turns inside out to become a funnel! It fits either wide mouth jars or skinny bottles, so it’s good for transferring liquids, cooking oil, ground coffee, and more.
“This is the cutest little funnel and I love it,” said an Amazon reviewer. “The “mushroom cap” folds up in order to make a funnel, then folds back when not in use. The funnel hole isn’t super big, and you’ll want to only use liquids in this…but it’s perfectly adorable sitting on the kitchen counter…”
No need to be crabby with this cute gift! You can use this adorable red silicone crab as a spoon rest or a steam releaser — simply position it to keep the pot lid open as you cook.
It’s a hit with this Amazon reviewer: “One of the best of the best purchases I’ve made! I love this little guy so much. He fits on saucepans and skillets perfectly and can hold spoons (and scissors) when sitting on a flat surface. He’s so victorious! So pleased with his culinary skills!”
Have a tea drinker in your life? Consider this Cup of Nessie tea infuser mug. Just fill Baby Nessie’s “body” with loose tea, and then add hot water. It looks like a Loch Ness Monster floating in a teacup. Cute!
One Amazon shopper calls it the perfect gift. “This is the perfect gift for anyone who has ever even HEARD of the Loch Ness Monster! Or TEA! The tea infuser is not only adorable, it’s fun to use and easy to clean! The tin cup makes you feel outdoorsy, like you’re sitting in from of a loch in Scotland.”
Now this is a bear you actually want in your kitchen. Barry the Bear is a box grater not just for cheese, but also for carrots, cucumbers, zucchini, or anything else you want to shred.
“Barry the grater is wonderful,” said this five-star review. “Works great for zesting, grating garlic, and a small amount of cheese. He’s great for small jobs. His belly only holds about a cup of volume, that’s plenty for a one/two person meal prep. Bonus he’s cute and easy to clean.”
Add even more fun to pizza night with this amusing axe-shaped pizza cutter. It’s a great idea for kids and lumberjack wannabes alike.
This Amazon shopper agrees it’s a fun gift: “It’s super sharp, cuts well and definitely it is a super cool gift, affordable, that will put a smile on everyone’s faces. Only having as a decoration already worth the money! We absolutely love this pizza cutter!”
Keep the vampires away with this amusing garlic crusher. It peels and crushes multiple garlic cloves in seconds without a knife. Perfect for the garlic lovers in your life!
One Amazon shopper said it’s actually bought it as a joke, then fell in love with it. “THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST PURCHASES I HAVE EVER MADE!!! This little buddy handles about 3-5 cloves at a time (depending on size) and is the easiest garlic-processing-item to clean IN THE HISTORY OF EVER!!”
This Hello Kitty ramen bowl set comes with a pair of chopsticks built right in. Perfect for noodle soups of all kinds.
“Ordered this for my Granddaughters 9th birthday,” said this happy buyer. “She has only just discovered non-US foods and she loves Ramen style soups…This is a nice weight bowl, the graphics are very clear & bright.”
Imprint Baby Grogu on every grilled sandwich you ever make with this clever panini press. Perfect for the Mandalorian fan in your life, or anyone who can’t get enough of baby Grogu.
“I bought this for Christmas, everyone loves it,” said a five-star review. “It’s super easy to use and clean up is easy too. Every Wednesday (when new Boba Fett episodes come on) is officially grilled cheese night.”
Separating yolks from egg whites just got easier — and more fun. This adorable silicone egg separator will bring a smile to the whole family.
“This thing is a time and egg saver,” said this enthusiastic shopper. “This little frog gets the job done efficiently and prevents the waste that happens when the yolk breaks. Plus, it’s just plain fun to use in the morning. Wish it were a bit easier to clean, but otherwise, a great purchase.”
With the Marna Pink Piggy Steamer, you can microwave leftovers without making a big mess. Simply place it over your food and nuke it for a few minutes. It’s also great for steaming veggies!
One Amazon shopper said it was life-changing. “I wish I’d bought this long before I did, it’s so useful. It’s perfect for covering a bowl of soup or other leftovers. (We use the IKEA 365+ soup bowls and it fits exactly.) It holds tight to the bowl and I’ve never had any spillover…One month after getting this smaller size, I ordered the larger one.”
Sure, I love my big ticket kitchen tools, like my Le Creuset lidded baking dish and drop-dead gorgeous knives. But sometimes it’s the little things that make all the difference when it comes to cooking, eating and cleaning up after meals.
These odds and ends have become such a defining part of enjoying my cooking life, I use them nearly every time I wander into the kitchen to whip up a meal.
After pushing them on my family and friends in the form of gifts and unsolicited opinions, I thought I’d share my cheap, easy-to-clean kitchen favorites with you. They’re all products I actually own and use in real life and that are simple to incorporate into your cooking routine.
Most of all, they’re versatile tools you can use daily, which means they’re not just inexpensive, but also high-value. Here are the tools I never want to be without and how I use them. (P.S. I recently updated this story with new favorites and checked for pricing and availability. Note that both can change and do change.)
Read more: 9 Stellar Kitchen Buys That are Worth the Extra Dough
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I’ve searched high and low for a spoon rest I don’t hate — and I finally found it. This space-saving Yamazaki Home stand keeps cooking spoons, ladles, tongs and pot lids from clattering to the counter and spraying my cooking surface with goopy sauces and splats. It’s stylish enough to blend into most kitchen environments (it also comes in white/grey and there’s a similar style that’s all-white with a bamboo rest bar). Importantly, the bottom catch tray pops out, so all pieces are easy to clean.
Note that lighter colors may have you more nervously eyeing stains, especially if you cook with lots of red, oily sauces or yellow seasonings like turmeric. I haven’t had a lasting stain yet, but when in doubt, the black color will be more forgiving.
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Xujia via Amazon
The wide, saucer-shaped bowl, long handle and pleasant weight make these beautiful spoons perfect for almost everything — eating soup, curries, rice dishes, spooning yogurt out of the tub, spooning anything out of any tub, really. In my family, these Korean stew and rice spoons are now the dominant, and most asked-fo spoon of choice — to the point they’ve been nicknamed “life-changing spoons.”
You can buy long-handled spoons online or in many Asian markets. My personal preference is to get a set with round handles, not the thin kind with the flat ends. Prices vary, but they’re not expensive either way — say $16 for a pack of 5 good quality spoons, or even $15 for a pack of 8.
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I’m a huge fan of countertop risers and have these shelf organizers from multiple brands in my kitchen, bathroom, shelving and right next to me here on my desk. They not only double your storage and organizational space by creating a second tier but also enhance the environment as an accent piece that happens to be functional. For example, use them to elevate a paper towel holder or smart display while storing spices or other tools below. Or perhaps create a hot drinks center like I did, with sugar and tea canisters on the top deck and flavored syrups below.
Screenshot by Jessica Dolcourt/CNET
I’ve owned my fair share of kitchen sink caddies. They’re fine. I like how they corral the sponges and soap, but too often the decorative trays pool water, soap, and grime, while the more utility-focused are either bleh-looking, overwrought, or come equipped with suction cups (always come unstuck, collects mold) and deep grated bottoms (hard to clean, traps gunk). I finally found this Nieifi caddy, which neatly holds my sponge, cleaning wand, pot scraper (see below), dish soap and hand soap. It looks nice and understated, and you can easily pick the whole thing up to tip out water from the collection tray below. You can also pop that into the dishwasher, or soap off when it needs a refresh. So far, so good.
Amazon
I’m sure I could live without a pair of kitchen shears like this one from Henckels (also known for making reliable knives), but I don’t particularly want to. A dedicated pair of shears makes opening food bags, cutting meat and fish and trimming green beans dead-easy. Storing them with your knives or utensils keeps them accessible where you need them and eliminates cross-contamination with your other scissors. Sturdy shears can butterfly poultry and this model unhinges for dishwashing — it’s dishwasher safe if in need of thorough sanitizing, but it usually cleans easily with soapy hot water and a sponge. This particular model costs under $15 on sale.
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Tovolo
Bench scrapers, also known as pastry or dough scrapers or cutters, are typically used to pry dough off a work surface, though I use mine multiple times a day for either scraping or lifting items from my cutting board to a pan or bowl. I used to use the side of whichever knife I had in my hand, but this useful kitchen tool shovels more diced onions at a time and is safer anyway.
I’ve also used straight-sided bench scrapers, but the offset design is much easier for sliding under a pile of chopped food. It’s equally adept at its intended purpose of working with bread and pastry dough. This Tovolo bench scraper is the one I use and costs around $12.
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Lifver Home via Amazon
Small bowls are hardly interesting or new and I have plenty of them, especially fluted and ribbed ramekins. But these wonderful dip bowls have made cooking and serving food more of a delight. I just love them. They’re useful enough for daily prep and pretty enough to serve on.
You can mound a surprising amount of food in the hollow, like lemon zest, olive oil, wasabi or even grated cheese like fresh parmesan. They cost $18 for a set of eight 3-ounce bowls.
Here’s how I use them:
Spoon rest
Used tea bag holder
Salt piggy
Egg holder
Prep bowl for ingredients like garlic, shallots, ginger
Prep bowl for blending spices (the mix flows into the pan really easily, without getting stuck in creases)
Garnish server
Server for individual desserts, like squares of chocolate, a brownie or a tiny scoop of ice cream
Sugar caddy for after-dinner coffee or tea
Ring valet (especially when taking off to work with slimy or sticky food)
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Prep Solutions via Amazon
My dad endearingly referred to these as “rubber fingers.” This set of two — one with a pointy end (pictured) and one that looks more like a paddle — are awesome for scraping, scooping and pushing down all types of food. Think the last little bit of something gooey like peanut butter from the jar, or getting every little bit of beaten egg out of a small bowl. I still use full-size spatulas for large work bowls, pots and pans, but these nonstick minis work better than spoons or my finger and fit really well into drawer dividers. They’re machine washable, too.
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Lodge via Amazon
I had never heard of a pan or pot scraper until my colleague Rich Brown sang its praises. I have an elaborate and finely tuned method for steaming and scraping off stuck-on crud from pots, pans and bakeware, but I started getting a lot of time back once I began using this indispensable tool.
This kitchen gadget fits into your palm and easily scrapes away gunk with its flat and curved edges, which can also better reach into corners. Still expect a little sponge work, but mostly to wipe away loosened and leftover stuff. I was amazed with how my Lodge pot scraper obliterates the scum that builds up in a ring around the pan, say the leftovers of reduced marinara.
It cuts through residue faster and more efficiently than a hard plastic spatula and it won’t gunk up the scrubby side of a sponge with cheese, egg or starchy buildup. I recommend keeping it visible on your sink, near your sponges and dish soap. I initially put it into a drawer and forgot about it, but now it’s top of mind.
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My friend bought a fancy new dishwasher with built-in wine holders and gave me three purple silicone tubes that help keep your wine glasses safe in the machine. “Here, you like wine,” she said. “You should use these.”
She was right. They may look derpy, but this perfect gift probably saved my wine glasses more than once. You fit one grippy end around your overturned stemware (as pictured) and slide the other end, a hollow tube, over a peg on the bottom rack of your dishwasher. A wire that runs two-thirds the length of the attachment supplies structure.
If a glass feels extra wobbly in the center of the bottom rack, I’ve been known to clip on two of these silicone holders for extra stability, one on either side. I used to hand-wash my wine glasses and still managed to break one here or there. Not anymore. It costs between $10 and $15 for a set of eight (depending on discounts and sales). I’ve run them in the dishwasher on a weekly basis for almost two years.
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Great for elegantly draining pasta, reaching for items on the top shelf, juicing lemons and even cleaning window blinds. A pair of 9-inch or 12-inch silicone-tipped tongs costs about $17 and has become a trusty kitchen companion that does far more for a chef than just flip browning veggies and meat. Here are seven clever uses for kitchen tongs.
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Endurance via Amazon
I love a small saucepan for so many reasons, including frying perfectly round eggs one at a time and reducing broth and sauces. Melting butter and making modest quantities of caramel or hot milk and cream are also great in an itty-bitty pan, especially if you’re trying to keep a small amount of liquid from evaporating too quickly.
I bought a “cup measuring pan” that’s a lot like this one, with a long handle, and I like it, though it’s not as thick as some of my other kitchen pots. I’d also happily consider a butter melting pot for butter, sauces, warming milk and boiling single eggs, but I currently use a tiny milk frothing jug for that, intended for espresso. Whichever pan you get should cost between $15 and $25, tops. Mine was about $15.
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Cooking with kids is a bit like parenting overall: you’re going to need a lot of patience and some creativity, and you never know exactly how it’s going to turn out. Plus, it’s a learning and growing experience — for all concerned.
“If you’re cooking with kids,” says Jessica Battilana, cookbook author and staff editor with King Arthur Baking, “you just have to expect and plan for it to take longer, be messier and more chaotic, and possibly have an outcome that’s different than it would be if you were cooking alone.”
Set new bakers up for success by doing a bit of advance preparation — tasks like laying out ingredients, preheating the oven, or getting your bowls and kitchen tools ready. Battilana then recommends bringing kids in at the “action point,” where they can actively help by chopping or measuring or maybe sneaking a few chocolate chips.
For Melissa Jameson, deputy editorial director at Buzzfeed, breakfast is a good place to start because it’s inexpensive (important if you need to remake a recipe) and there’s “plenty of kid-friendly starter tasks like whisking batter, cracking eggs or layering a yogurt parfait.”
She recommends considering copycat recipes — where you try to remake a dish at home from a restaurant. For Jameson’s six-year-old son, that was Starbucks’ egg bites, easy to recreate with eggs baked in muffin tins.
“Not only is it fun to recreate something you love,” says Jameson, who oversees the food and cooking content for Buzzfeed and Tasty, “but it’s also valuable to teach that we can do it ourselves. Plus, kids are nearly guaranteed to devour the end result.”
The journey to the kitchen could even begin in your living room watching kids’ cooking shows like MasterChef Junior or Is It Cake? as a way to inspire budding young chefs. But don’t jump immediately into the most complicated cakes or dinners. Instead, Jameson suggests smaller tasks like mashing avocados, blending a smoothie or assembling the toppings on an English muffin pizza.
“Cooking and baking together is about being together,” adds Battilana. “The food you make, or you know, later have to compost, is just the cherry on top.”
The food editors we spoke with picked out these 10 useful tools to help get your kids started in the kitchen.
Amazon
Give kids a leg up with the Guidecraft Classic Kitchen Helper Stool. It has an adjustable platform (either 15 inches or 18 inches off the ground) and folds up so it can be stored when it’s not in use.
“Get [kids] on your level so they can fully see, touch and feel like they’re a part of the process,” says Jameson. A helper stool (sometimes called a toddler tower) lets toddlers reach a counter, with guards to keep them from falling before they’re ready to use a step stool or are tall enough to stand on the floor.
Amazon
Let your kids decide what they want to make with My First Cookbook by America’s Test Kitchen Kids. The hardcover book (note: easier to wipe off spills) with more than 60 recipes breaks snacks and meals into steps with clear photos and directions. Jameson appreciates the “approachable, kid-friendly recipes,” because “each one is photographed in an eye-catching, step-by-step way so smaller cooks can visually follow along — or even flip through on their own to find their next project.”
Amazon
With non-skid bases and wide pour spouts, the OXO Good Grips Mixing Bowl Set deserves a spot in your kitchen drawers. With sizes ranging from 1.5-quart to 5-quart, you and your helper can whip up a little bit of whipped cream or a family-size batch of pancakes. The small bowl is easier for smaller hands to grip while the big bowl can hold popcorn on movie night.
Amazon
The Lamson Stainless Steel Dough Scraper is a baker’s friend, functioning as a knife and cleaning tool. With a walnut handle that’s easy to hold and a wide blade (that’s less sharp than the other knives in your drawer), it’s also a great tool for kids. Battilana notes that “bench knives are great for a whole variety of tasks, from transferring ingredients to a bowl, to cutting biscuits or scones, to cleaning your work surface.”
Amazon
The Ateco Offset Spatula is a must-have if you’re going to venture into the word of decorating cakes. The rounded, nearly 8-inch blade helps create even edges and smooth icing, while the narrow wooden handle fits in a child’s grip. It also can be used to spread jelly on sandwiches, lather cream cheese on bagels at brunch, and flip tofu on a baking sheet.
Amazon
Battilana recommends the Opinel Le Petit Chef set because she believes in giving kids “real tools for real jobs.” The knife with a rounded tip and the y-shaped peeler, with guards that fit around a single finger, have beechwood handles designed for a kid’s hand. The included finger guard is a great way to show kids proper technique while protecting their hands.
“It’s wonderful because the knife and finger guard and peeler are scaled for small hands, but in every way it’s similar to the knife I use,” adds Battilana.
Amazon
The bright colors of the silicone baking cups from OXO will appeal to kids and Jameson likes them because the “grip tabs on each make them easy for kids’ hands to maneuver.” She uses them for muffins, cupcakes and egg bites. The non-stick cups are reusable, turn inside out for quick cleaning, and have a fill line to ensure your cupcakes are even.
Nordstrom
Kids can roll out dough, chop vegetables, and taste soup with the JK Adams Children’s Baking Set. Battilina recommends this set, which comes with a maple rolling pin, cutting board and spoon. By giving your kids a dedicated collection of their own tools, you can teach them about how to prep, cook and clean up after dinner.
Amazon
The Ove Glove Oven Mitt is how you can get your kids comfortable with handling hot pans out of the oven and boiling pots of water on the stove. The kevlar glove can be used as an adult’s grill gloves, but can also be used by kids in the kitchen, as the silicon grips and articulated fingers work better for smaller hands than a standard oven mitt. The gloves are rated to handle heated pans up to 540 degrees Fahrenheit.
Amazon
The Zulay Milk Frother is an inexpensive dynamo. While it can be used to add body and lightness to an afternoon chai latte, it’s also an easy way to whip up a personal batch of whipped cream for a treat after dinner. With a wide range of colors and simple operation (you depress a button at the top of the frother), this is a nifty little tool that kids will enjoy using.
Hands smeared with butter, flour spraying out of the bowl, I gushed about my electric mixer for a good 10 minutes in a live demo for an audience of two. More specifically, I was trying to convince my close friends I gathered to bake with last weekend that I wasn’t crazy for bringing my own electric beaters (and apron, and baking sheets…) to someone else’s house. So I launched into a passionate show-and-tell (while making cookie dough, of course) about why my electric beaters are superior to theirs.
Here’s the thing. I can get pretty obsessive over the gear, gadgets and tools I love to use most. And with good reason. I’ve spent a lot of time, energy and money over the years upgrading from good-but-basic tools to items I actually love and am convinced make me a better cook. While many terrific kitchen tools I love cost under $25, I also wanted to share my running list of favorite kitchen items that cost a little bit more and are worth every penny. I bought (or was gifted) every one of these tools and I use them weekly, if not daily.
If you’re looking for a kitchen gift for an aspiring or established foodie, these are tried and tested in the crucible of my galley kitchen. Better yet, you might even want to give one of these to yourself. After all, you can never have too many aprons.
Breville
I had an inexpensive pair of electric beaters that always gave me trouble — ditching it for this Breville Handy Mix Scraper was one of the best decisions I made, especially during this season of abundant baking. This mixer seriously does it all: It comes with whisks, creamer inserts and dough hooks! It has a built-in light so you can see what’s in the bowl! There’s a stopwatch feature so you can see how long you’ve been mixing and a pause button that keeps track of your speed settings and time while you take a break to scrape down the bowl! The cord base can rotate to get out of your way! And it has a convenient storage situation where you can keep all the beater wands!
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Shun
I have lusted after Shun Premier knives for over a decade and finally bought two for my new kitchen: the 8-inch chef’s knife and a 3.5-inch paring knife. Over Black Friday, I added a 7-inch Santoku blade to the mix. I adore the way the rounded handles balance, and the stunning, wavy pattern on the forged blade boasts an edge designed to hold sharpness far longer than average. That’s good for me, because the sound of knife sharpening sets my every tooth, bone and neuron on fire.
Shun Premier knives come in gray and brown wood handle options. The Classic knives are cheaper and also very good (yes, I’ve tried them out, too). But my heart belongs to the Premier line for the way they feel in my hand, and the extra aesthetics on the blade (69 layers of Damascus steel, if you’re wondering). I store them in a drawer with a blade guard case to protect the knife sharpness (and my fingers). Here are other recommended chef’s knives as well.
Screenshot by Nina Raemont/CNET
I’ve owned an immersion blender for years, but recently upgraded myself to the Braun MultiQuick 7 for its robust design, powerful motor and fun extras, like a mini food processor attachment (like, for making quick work of onions and herbs) and a balloon whisk attachment for quickly whipping or whisking without having to go full-bore with the electric beaters.
I use this tool constantly, to process soups right in the pan, make salsa in the included beaker, whip cream into soft peaks and make quick work of pulverizing onion without hefting the food processor to the counter. It’s also wonderfully easy to clean and dry, and small and light enough to pull out from the pantry any time I need it. I can’t recommend it enough.
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I may have spoiled myself buying the Google Nest Hub smart speaker display for my kitchen. I have it set up on a riser shelf on my counter, next to a phone stand where I can also keep my phone away from the worst of tea splatters and flying onions. I use the Nest Hub for everyday things like checking the weather as I’m making my morning cuppa and playing music (with song lyrics!) while I cook. I use the two hands-free timers multiple times a day, and look up recipes on the screen (you can follow these step-by-step).
There’s also an extra function where you can program the Nest Hub to forgo the “OK, Google” or “Hey, Google” wake word when you look at it and start listening to you with just a glance (Google calls this Look and Talk). That’s ultra convenient for saving some time and breath every time you want to ask for unit conversion measures, adding to or canceling a timer and skipping to the next track.
Read our Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) review.
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Amazon
Zojirushi has an excellent reputation for countertop appliances that hit the high-water mark. I’ve been beyond happy with my Neuro Fuzzy rice cooker since I bought it earlier this year. My pantry is stuffed with six kinds of rice and at least four other grains I routinely cook up. The settings are easy to use and whether I wash the grains or not, whatever I’m making comes out evenly cooked. Plus, it plays a song when starting and ending a cycle, which is much nicer than a loud beep or buzz.
The Neuro Fuzzy in particular takes up more counter space than the most compact models, and rice can take an hour for a typical cycle of even cooking. But there are lots of settings, including a quick cook mode, and cleanup is easy. (Here are meals you can make in the rice cooker other than rice.)
Buying the Breville Smart Oven Pro Toaster Oven (BOV845BSS) was one of my best kitchen decisions. It toasts, it broils, it roasts. And since it has a convection oven function, you can totally skip the separate air fryer — and cook more stuff at once. I love the countdown clock that takes the mystery out of when your food will be done, and I love that I can bake a single batch of cookies or toast walnuts faster than a standard oven, and without having to heat the whole thing first. Plus, the brushed stainless steel body looks pretty great on my countertop.
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Le Creuset dutch ovens are all the rage (I actually really love my Staub Cocotte), but one of the best gifts I ever received was this Le Creuset casserole dish that can go straight from oven to table (to fridge!) while cooking food evenly and looking awesome. I would buy this all over again, and gift it, too. It comes in a range of striking colors, and shockingly cleans easily — with a little soak in soapy hot water and a dirt-cheap pan scraper. I’m the kind of person who excels at ruining dutch ovens with burned-on spots. After a couple years, this dish has remained spot-free, even after roasting dark, sticky stews (yum!).
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A workhorse apron is worth its weight in gold. I’m thankful I finally stumbled on Hedley & Bennett, which makes a seemingly endless supply of thick, sturdy aprons I now can’t fail to miss seeing seemingly any time I walk into a restaurant. If these aprons can handle the stresses of a professional kitchen, they can handle the flying sauces and batter in mine. I bought myself two styles, including a Cookie Monster print that never fails to make my inner child giggle. The apron’s neck loop is adjustable, there are a lot of pockets, and so far the waist straps haven’t gotten scrunched, twisted or mangled in the washer or dryer.
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I’m not the kind of wine enthusiast who owns a different glass for every varietal — not yet, anyway. Instead, I opt for one all-rounder that will work beautifully no matter which bottle I open, erring on the side of big, bold reds. I’ve been using these “Burgundy” glasses from Schott Zwiesel for years, and my Amazon search history told me I bought them five times, twice for myself and three times as a gift. Yes, I do drink white wine, rose and sparkling out of them (gasp!), and they all taste terrific. Better in my mind to drink from a glass with a too-big bowl than a cramped glass that stifles all that great wine nose.
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If you don’t use an electric kettle yet, drop everything and get yourself one. This indispensable kitchen savior rapidly heats water for tea, coffee and hot chocolate, and it gives you a head start on boiling vats of water for pasta, blanching or anything else you need. I’ve owned and gifted a lot of electric kettles, and most work about the same way. This Zwilling Enfingy Electric Kettle has a sleeker, more sophisticated look and variable temperature controls. I also like that it’s got a cool-touch exterior that won’t burn you when you pick it up.
There’s no viewing window for water height and you have to feel comfortable with capacitive controls that you press and hold, but these aren’t deal-breakers for me by any means.
You’re receiving price alerts for Zwilling Enfingy electric kettle: $120
For even more top kitchen picks, see our best kitchen gifts under $25 and best stainless steel frying pans.
Every cook loves great gear and these next-level kitchen tools will upgrade your culinary … [+] experience.
Apres Supply Co
Once you have the essentials in your kitchen, then the fun really begins. That’s when you can start adding special equipment that makes cooking and baking easier and more stylish.
The following is my eclectic list of next-level kitchen tools. Some of the items on this list are things that I never thought that I would buy, and now that I have them, I cannot live without them.
The gorgeous handmade wooden biscuit cutters from Tennessee native Riley/Land come in a size for … [+] every biscuit maker and feel great in the hand.
Joseph Riley Land
Beautiful Handmade Wood
The Riley Land Collection is curated by Joseph Riley Land and each piece is sourced by him directly from the maker. The beautiful wooden biscuit cutter is a must have for any baker. If you make biscuits, or if you’ve always aspired to make biscuits, this is your new family heirloom.
The biscuit cutter is “ hands-down, my best selling item. It is my star…” said owner and founder Joseph Riley Land. Fittingly, the wood that the biscuit cutters are made from comes from his family farmland, and his neighbor Mr. A. makes them. The cutters come in black walnut, cherry and ambrosia-maple wood, as well as four sizes, the Riley/Land Biscuit Cutter, the Fat Cat, The Kittenhead, and the Cathead biscuit cutter. The biscuit cutters start at $18.
Super-premium Stella Falone kitchen products are made from the pieces of Ebony and American-walnut … [+] wood that are leftover after making Taylor Guitars.
Stella Falone
I think a few premium wood cutting boards are the most important upgrade in your kitchen after three really good knives. There are lots of cutting boards on the market—some are disposable and some are family heirlooms. If you invest in a really good cutting board, and take care of it, it will last you a lifetime. Two companies that make handcrafted cutting boards that are as beautiful as they are functional are The Boardsmith, and Stella Falone.
The Boardsmith is proud to be a “Mom and Pop” family business and they make each board by hand, paying careful attention to details like woodgrain direction and seamless joinery. This craftsmanship is recognized by many chefs and they have a loyal following. They use hardwoods including maple, cherry, and black walnut sourced from sawmills who use sustainable forestry practices (FSC). They will also engrave a name, initials or logo on the boards which is a very nice touch for yourself or your favorite cook. The boards start at $125 and can be purchased at theboardsmith.com
Do you love music and food? If so, there is a Stella Falone cutting board or paddle for you. Stella Falone was established by Bob Taylor, co-founder of Taylor Guitars. [ICYDK, Taylor Guitars is the leading acoustic guitar brand and they are played by many of the superstars in the music world, including Taylor Swift, Paul McCartney and Shawn Mendez.]
In an effort to minimize waste, Stella Falone uses the leftover pieces of Ebony and American-walnut wood from making the guitars, to make kitchen products. The cutting boards and wooden paddles are super-premium and absolutely gorgeous. The paddles and boards start at $59 and can be purchased at stellafalone.com
The Premium Grill Master apron is made of waxed recycled cotton with leather and brass accents and … [+] gets better the more you wear it.
Apres Supply Company
Clothes for the Cook
Every cook needs a bad-a** apron. And Apres Supply Co., is just that company. These are not your average, everyday aprons. The owner and creator of Apres aprons, Michael Wendland, was looking for a special apron as a gift for his wife, and when he couldn’t find what he was looking for he decided to create his own.
The aprons are made from premium materials including leather, waxed canvas, premium denim, recycled cotton, and premium cotton blends as well as brass grommets and heavy duty trims. And this could be the last apron that you ever buy, because they have a lifetime guarantee—something I have never heard of in the apron business. Apres offers free exchanges for the lifetime of the product, but the real reason to love it is that it’s both fashionable and functional.
If you’re looking for a seriously heavy-duty apron, the Premium Grill Master is like a Barbour coat for the outdoor cook. It is made of 16oz waxed recycled cotton with leather trims and interchangeable straps. You have an option to personalize the apron and it include a bottle opener.
The Premium Pizza Master apron is made of lighter-weight 10oz recycled cotton canvas and features two faux-fur lined pockets. If you live in the Northeast, Midwest, Canada or another cold and blustery area, you can put your hands in your pockets while you are waiting for your pizza or steak to cook, and keep them warm. Even if you don’t need the fur-lined pockets for warmth, they feel good and are a nice touch.
The premium aprons are competitively priced at $115.00 but there are other choices that start at $89.00. The aprons ship for free to anywhere in North America and come in a premium black gift box. They can be purchased at apressupply.com.
Frieling is well known in coffee circles for their heavy-duty insulated Double-Walled French Press … [+] and this fall, they added six decorator colors to the line.
Elizabeth Karmel
Coffee and Tea
Coffee and tea are two of the biggest rituals that come out of the kitchen. And, coffee snobs have long loved the French Press. Top on their list is the Frieling Double-Walled Stainless Steel French Press. The 100{d2b09b03d44633acb673e8080360919f91e60962656af8ade0305d5d8b7e4889} stainless steel French Press is double walled to keep the coffee hot longer. In fact, it keeps coffee hot four-times longer than glass French presses.
This fall, Frieling launched a double-walled French press in six colors so that you can add a pop of color to your morning ritual. The lacquered French presses hold 34 fluid ounces, have a double screen to filter out maximum sediment, and a no drip spout. The French Press can also be used for looseleaf tea and is a “top tip” for tea aficionados. The presses have a suggested retail price of $99.95.
Once you use an electric tea kettle to heat water for tea or your French press, you will never go back to a stovetop kettle. It is so much faster than waiting for the water to boil (on the stove).
If you’re looking for an electric tea kettle that looks as good as it performs, SMEG fits the bill. This is one of those appliances that I swore that I didn’t need. And then I fell in love with my red SMEG mini Tea kettle. The mini version offers the same 50s design in a compact size that is especially welcome when space is limited. The kettle sits on an anti-slip 360° chrome base and has a double-wall structure with a stainless-steel lining and water level markings inside.
The internal water level indicator is very helpful. I found that just above the minimum water mark is good for one cup, and filling it at the maximum water level is good for 3 cups of hot water. The mini SMEG electric kettle is available in seven colors including white, black, cream, pastel blue, pastel green, pink and red. The Mini kettle is available at Williams-Sonoma.com for a suggested retail price is $149.95. The SMEG Basic full-size kettle has a 56-ounce capacity and starts at $189.95.
Send a message with the ice in your drink with a customizable, monogrammed silicone ice-cube tray … [+] from Siligrams
Siligrams
The Ice Cube Makes The Drink
The cocktail ice-cube tray just got personal. Ice cubes make a big difference in your drink, especially if you are drinking whiskey on [one] rock. Siligrams has upgraded the silicone ice-cube mold with personalization. The trays are custom-made with your monogram, company logo, or a unique design.
The silicone ice-cube trays are easy to fill, and it is easy to release the cubes one-by-one as you need them. Siligrams makes the customizable ice cube trays in three square cube sizes as well as a “whiskey ball” mold, ice shot-glass mold and other shapes. You can also opt to buy the trays with or without a lid. But if you are going for a monogrammed ice cube tray, I say go all the way and order a lid. I really like the matching silicone lid that fits over the ice tray as it keeps the ice pristine. The trays start at $29.00 with free shipping and take about two weeks to customize.
The 3-cup Zojirushi rice cooker makes perfect rice and so much more including steel-cut oatmeal that … [+] you can set on a timer so that it is hot and ready to dish up when you wake up.
Zojirushi
Perfect Rice and Oatmeal Too
I admit that that until a few months ago I was the person who said they would never buy a rice cooker. I didn’t want another appliance that I only used a few times, but I finally had to come to grips with the fact that I am the world’s worst rice cooker, and I needed some help. My ‘in-the-know’ friend, Anthony, recommended Zojirushi and I soon discovered that if you buy the right rice cooker, you can also use it to cook oatmeal and grits among other grains.
You can also set the cooker on a timer and have hot oatmeal waiting for you in the morning. The rice—for the first time in my life—is fluffy and dry, and waking up to hot Scottish pinhead oatmeal is a game changer.
I purchased the 3-cup, Micom Rice Cooker and Warmer with both a GABA brown and steel-cut oatmeal setting. The rice cooker also has technology that they call fuzzy logic technology, which allows the rice cooker to cook all kinds of different grains, and ensure a consistent finished product even if you put too little or too much water in the machine.
The 3-cup capacity will make approximately 6 cups of cooked rice. It is lightweight and has a retractable cord which makes it very easy to store. Suggested retail is $157.99.
Smart Appliances
The ChefiQ Smart Thermometer not only monitors the internal temperature of the food but the app … [+] walks you through the cooking process.
Elizabeth Karmel
Using an app on your phone and wireless cooking thermometers are not new, but the CHEFiQ Smart Thermometer is the thinnest one on the market, and it is very smart. The diameter of the thermometer is important because you want to make as small a hole in your food as possible. The larger the hole, the more the internal juices can escape.
Besides the size of this clever device, it tracks the internal temperature in real time while your food cooks, and alerts you when it is time to take action. It is heat-safe up to 572°F and has an internal food temperature range of 32°F to 225°F making it a great choice for smoking barbecue meats that you want to temp over 200°F. The thermometer is safe to use on the grill, in the oven, and even in air fryers and deep fryers. The packaging is very sleek and the charging case is super premium with a cool silicone tray in the lid that fits 2 thermometers like a glove.
The thermometer was developed to work with the CHEFiQ app and that’s what makes it really smart. Using the app, the thermometer has the ability to guide you through the cooking process. Follow a few prompts such as type of meat, type of cut, thickness, cooking appliance, etc. and the thermometer will map out your recipe step-by-step, like GPS for cooks. The alerts include when to flip the food, if necessary, when to pull it off the heat and how long to let it rest.
Like all smart appliances, it needs to be fully charged and it takes some time to set up before your first use, but that’s true for any smart wireless appliance. The key to success is positioning the probe which needs to be fully inserted at the thickest point of the food so that none of the stainless steel is showing. Beware that inaccurate placement can cause inaccurate readings.
The app is user friendly and you can tell it was designed with the help of really good cooks. I have used it many times because the CHEFiQ Smart Cooker is my favorite pressure cooker, and the thermometer uses the same app. The app has hundreds of recipes created in-house by their expert test kitchen staff of former chefs, food magazine editors and recipe developers. The recipes work and there is a great variety.
Even if you cook for a living and don’t think you need one more recipe I guarantee you’ll find one that you will make over and over again. For me, it is the brilliantly simple and delicious Mushroom Bisque that I have made more times than I can count. The CHEFiQ thermometer and Smart Cooker will enhance your cooking experience and make you a better cook.
Besides the recipes, the multi-pot has an integrated scale for weighing ingredients, more than 100 built-in presets and functions for virtually every cooking need including sous vide.
It’s a smart appliance, and what that means is that it just keeps getting better as the company creates updates. You don’t have to buy a new appliance, you just update your smart cooker with the over-the-air firmware updates and this is exactly the same for the thermometer.
This fun interactive kitchen appliance makes anything you can freeze into a creamy treat from a can … [+] of fruit or a carton of store-bought yogurt to from-scratch custards, gelatos and boozy cocktails.
Ninja Creami
Turn Your Kitchen into an Ice Cream Shoppe
Making ice cream at home has never been easier and the new Ninja Creami Deluxe 11-in-1 Ice-Cream Maker now makes frozen boozy drinks. The Creami is known for turning just about anything into ice cream, including cans of fruit. It is fun to use and makes a pint at a time so you can experiment with just about anything that you want to eat creamy, cold and frozen.
The premise is simple. You freeze the base for 24 hours—ice cream custard or whatever you want to make into a frozen treat/ice cream—and the paddle of the Creami literally “creamerizes” the contents. The new Creami Deluxe can also spin slushies, make Italian ice, frozen yogurt and creamy coffee drinks. There is a setting for mix-ins and this is where the fun begins. Make a simple base like vanilla and add your favorite toppings, candy, sauce etc., to unleash your inner Ben and Jerry and customize it how you like it.
For those who prefer it super creamy, there’s a new re-spin function to make a creamier soft- serve style ice cream. The Creami Deluxe has a suggested retail price of $249.99
