We've all got a self-proclaimed chef in our life. And Christmas is the best time of year to give back to those who wine and dine us, especially when it means helping them prepare even more tasty treats in the future.
Here are five cool kitchen gadgets every home-cook covets, perfect for holiday gifting:
Instant Pot
What is it: A smarter, faster, better update on the old school pressure cooker.Why buy it: Braise pulled pork in an hour instead of six, and cook steel-cut oats in three minutes instead of overnight. There are even sizes for you to choose from, depending on the amount of people you're feeding—five ravenous eaters, a crowd of three, or just your cat and you.
Thermomix® from Vorwerk
What is it: It's an all-in-one kitchen appliance that's got a cult-like following in Europe and Australia.Why buy it: Thomas Keller supposedly has five. (And that might be reason enough.) It promises to be able to cook nearly 600 recipes on its own from scratch, from chopping the ingredients and sautéing, puréeing and eventually cooking the whole dish down. Word is that it can even cook risotto for you.
Joule by Chefsteps
What is it: A sous-vide machine to beat all other sous-vide machines.Why buy it: Touted as one of the smallest—if not the smallest—sous-vide machines on the market, Joule makes for an easy addition to any kitchen. This is partially due to the fact that it doesn't come with any analog controls; the Joule is completely controlled via a Bluetooth app, which gives its users remote access to control the water temperature and doneness.
Artisan® Mini Stand Mixer from KitchenAid
What is it: A smaller, more compact, more powerful sibling of the iconic KitchenAid stand mixer.Why buy it: The original stand mixer has a massive cult following for its ability to make everything from fresh pasta to mincing burger patties, churning ice cream and stuffing sausages. But the general gripe was that it's a tad bulky and heavy, which means it's not an appliance users will be lugging about the kitchen. (Especially for those home cooks with tiny New York City apartments.) The new Artisan® Mini mixer eases up on this, as it is noticeably smaller and lighter. And the best part: it comes in a variety of colors for every personality.
Kitchen Thermometer from Weber
What is it: A cooking thermometer that will alert you on your phone when your food is ready.Why buy it: A watched pot never boils. Weber's smart thermometer is a step up from kitchen thermometers; it has the ability to alert you remotely through an app so you can focus your attention elsewhere while the roast cooks in the oven.
