Kitchen Appliances That Will Save You Hours of Cooking
We independently test the products and technologies that we recommend.
1. Oven
An ordinary oven is unlikely to make cooking easier for you, as it only knows how to bake and roast. However, if it's a multifunctional model with additional features, its usefulness and convenience increase significantly. For example, basic convection (built-in fan) ensures the circulation of hot air, promotes even baking, and speeds up the cooking process. The grill allows you to cook steaks, poultry, vegetables, and fish with a delicious crispy crust, while the rotating rotisserie is ideal for kebabs, shish kebabs, a whole chicken, and other similar dishes. Additionally, more advanced ovens may have a steamer or even a built-in microwave.
convection, steamer, microwave, grill, and more.
2. Multicooker/Pressure cooker
The multicooker has long earned its reputation as a reliable all-round helper: it is a multifunctional appliance that can do a lot: frying, boiling, stewing, baking, sterilizing, reheating food, and cooking with steam (if there is a corresponding option and accessories). While it may not always speed up the cooking process, it significantly simplifies it, as you don't have to monitor the time, wipe up spilled liquid, or throw away burnt food—the multicooker automatically controls the temperature and time, turning off the heating after the set time.
A multicooker-pressure cooker is designed for fast thermal processing of food. Thanks to its airtight lid, high internal pressure, and ability to retain steam, such appliances significantly reduce cooking time: dishes that take hours on a regular stove can be made in 30 – 40 minutes in a pressure cooker. This is especially convenient for cooking meat, legumes, soups, stews, and porridges.
the cooking process by using steam and high pressure.
Both multicookers and pressure cookers (even the most budget-friendly ones) generally offer various operating modes (reheating, frying, boiling, baking, etc.) and programs for preparing specific dishes. These can be standard porridges, meat, fish, and vegetables, as well as more unusual ones: jellied meat, fondue, jam, sous-vide, and others.
3. Multi-oven
A universal device that combines the capabilities of several kitchen devices at once: a multicooker, air fryer, countertop electric oven, or an oven with convection function. All of this in a compact body, which is especially relevant for small kitchens and frequent moves.
The multi-oven ensures even heat distribution and stable temperature, allowing products to cook evenly from all sides. You can cook anything: roast meat, fish, vegetables, pies, pizzas, bread, desserts, reheat ready-made food, and even cook with steam (if the relevant mode is available). All the user needs to do is load the ingredients inside, start the appliance, and possibly stir the contents occasionally. When cooking is finished, the machine will turn off automatically.
with minimal oil or none at all.
However, the main advantage is that you can roast and bake with minimal oil or none at all. In just 20 – 30 minutes, you can get crispy French fries, nuggets, and chicken wings without a large number of calories and harm to health and figure.
Many models offer automatic programs with optimal time and temperature settings for different recipes, which is especially convenient for those who do not want to bother with operational nuances.
4. Kitchen machine
A kitchen machine is a universal solution for performing various culinary tasks. Most often, such devices combine the capabilities of a food processor and a blender, and the package may include attachments like a mill and juicers. However, advanced models with heating capabilities—essentially a pot—are much more interesting. They have their own heating element, making them a culinary pot, pan, steamer, food processor, dough mixer, mixer, and chopper all in one device. Typically, the design consists of two containers: a multi-level steamer and a main container for cold or hot processes (boiling, frying, stewing, whipping, chopping, kneading dough). Thanks to this, the machine can cook several dishes at once: for example, boil porridge in the lower cup and steam fish and vegetables in the steamer.
mix, and whip, but also boil, fry, stew, and steam.
5. Food processor
The value and convenience of a food processor lie in the integration of functions from several devices, allowing it to perform various kitchen processes. At its core, it features a planetary mixer, while other equipment depends on the model's package. It could be a blender, meat grinder, food processor for chopping and slicing, a mill for grinding coffee, nuts, spices, etc., and a juicer (centrifugal or citrus). Consider what you need, as, for example, if you already have an electric meat grinder, that attachment in the set will be redundant. If you're unsure what you might need in the future, choose processors that can be equipped with additional attachments sold separately.
Accessories are equally important. For instance, a slicing disc can shred or slice vegetables and fruits in seconds, while a special disc cuts ingredients into cubes, and a French fry disc prepares uniform potato sticks for frying. Meat grinder attachments help mold homemade sausages and kebbe and even prepare dough for different pasta types.
thanks to a variety of attachments and accessories in the package.
6. Electric grill
Another solution for fans of grilled food without harming the figure is the electric contact grill. It allows you to grill meat, fish, vegetables, sausages, sandwiches, and stuffed flatbreads without the need to light a fire (especially challenging for apartment dwellers) or use the traditional frying method with oil. Ideal for quick breakfasts as well as full lunches and dinners.
without oil and extra fat.
The plates, between which the food is cooked, ensure fast cooking with a crispy crust, appetizing golden stripes, and retention of juiciness inside. Excess fat simultaneously drains into a special tray. More advanced models have automatic programs, a shut-off timer, doneness level adjustment, and a thermometer for measuring the internal temperature of the food, making the cooking process as simple as possible.
7. Steamer
Food prepared with steam without oil and frying contains fewer calories and is beneficial for athletes and people who adhere to a proper diet or follow regimens. A steamer allows you to cook vegetables, fish, chicken, eggs, cereals, seafood, and even desserts while preserving the maximum amount of vitamins and the natural taste of the products. The convenience of such devices is that meals cook relatively quickly, require little preparation (mostly chopping and possibly marinating, although it all depends on the recipe), and the cooking process doesn't need constant supervision. Thanks to even steam distribution, the food is gently cooked without burning or drying out. What's more, modern steamers often have several levels (usually two or three), meaning you can simultaneously cook several different products: for example, porridge, fish, and vegetables for a complete meal.
while preserving the juiciness and beneficial properties of the ingredients.
8. Sous Vide
The technique is named after the cooking method where products in vacuum packaging remain submerged in water at relatively low temperatures for a long time (several hours or even days). As a result, you get juicy, low-fat dishes that retain all their nutrients. The main function of the device is to maintain a stable water temperature with high precision over a long period, which is difficult to achieve manually. Modern sous vide models come in two types: some are immersed in any suitable container with water and heat it using a built-in thermostat and pump, while others come equipped with their own water reservoir.
while strictly maintaining the temperature regime.
9. Sandwich Maker
Surely, when you hear "quick snack," many imagine a sandwich with various fillings. And if it's a hot sandwich with melted cheese, it becomes a full-fledged meal on the go. That's exactly what a sandwich maker is designed for—a compact device that doesn't take up much space in the kitchen but is incredibly handy when you don't have the time or experience for complex cooking.
Notably, there are 3-in-1 sandwich makers with different interchangeable plates in the set, significantly expanding their capabilities. Despite the name, the set may include not three, but more plates: ridged ones like a grill for frying sausages, burgers, filled flatbreads, etc., square ones for sweet or savory waffles, and special forms for making dough nuts, muffins, and more. In any case, cooking doesn't take much time, and a single device provides a variety of options for breakfasts, snacks, and tea-time bites.
can quickly prepare breakfast or a snack.
10. Waffle Maker
The device resembles a sandwich maker in design but is intended for making one specific dish—waffles with a soft texture and a golden crust. A waffle maker consists of two heated plates with a patterned surface that, when closed, form a waffle with the desired shape—classic Belgian, thin Viennese, or decorative. Experimenting with batters and fillings can diversify the menu: for example, you can add chocolate chips or cocoa to a sweet batter, drizzle it with fruit sauces and chocolate spread, and also make savory waffles with cheese, greens, ham, cottage cheese, potatoes, and many other toppings.
but experimenting with batter recipes, toppings, and fillings can diversify the menu.
11. Egg Cooker
You might think that boiling eggs isn't challenging, but achieving the desired result requires paying attention to time, which is challenging amidst morning chaos and rushing to work or school. An egg cooker is a convenient solution—a specialized appliance for boiling eggs using steam. And don't underestimate it, because the device allows you to select the degree of doneness (soft, medium, or hard-boiled) and automatically controls cooking time, ensuring a perfect result every time. Additionally, many models come with forms for preparing omelets, classic fried eggs, or poached eggs, making it a great aid in preparing breakfasts for the entire family.
12. Electric Skillet
The electric equivalent of a regular frying pan is a deep casserole with a non-stick coating, a built-in heating element, and often a lid. Essentially, it is a fully-fledged replacement for a pot and burner combined into one device. Its main advantage is autonomy: the electric skillet operates on electricity and doesn't require a stove, meaning it can be used anywhere—in the countryside, in a dorm, or in temporary settings without kitchen equipment. You can cook the same dishes as you would in a casserole: fried or stewed dishes from meat, fish, vegetables, and more.
and the heating element beneath it (the stove burner).
13. Electric Crepe Maker
There are special pans for making pancakes and more modern devices—electric crepe makers. Their primary advantage is the even heating of the working surface, ensuring pancakes do not burn, and cook consistently across their entire area. Immersion models work on an unconventional principle: the surface is immersed in batter, the necessary layer adheres to it and is evenly fried, resulting in a thin, neat pancake. Pourable crepe makers involve the traditional cooking method. In fact, some models can fry multiple items at once thanks to divided surface molds and even come with interchangeable panels with various molds.
pancakes, and other dough-based creations.
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