House & Home
Kitchen

All the best kitchen gadgets we’ve tested and loved

These are the small kitchen appliances worth adding to your collection.
By Mashable Team and Jenna Clark  on 
All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission.

Our Top 9 Picks

Breville Joule Oven Pro (opens in a new tab)

Best for cooking newbies

The Breville Joule Oven Pro makes cooking simple for beginners with step-by-step guidance and instructional videos.

The Good

  • In-app recipes available
  • Spacious interior
  • Autopilot feature adjusts cooking settings

The Bad

  • Expensive
  • Takes up a lot of counter space

The Bottom Line

The Breville Joule oven takes most of the guesswork out of cooking and comes jam-packed with recipes, instructional videos, and a nifty autopilot feature that handles temperature and cooking time for you.
Pros & Cons

Nutr (opens in a new tab)

Best for single-servings of plant-based milk

If you're worried about food waste, the Nutr is a great way to make small servings of almond milk, oat milk, and more.

The Good

  • Small and won’t take up much counter space
  • Good for single servings
  • Easy clean-up

The Bad

  • Not equipped for making large servings

The Bottom Line

Even though you can only make one serving at a time, Nutr is a fun (and cost-economic) solution for making plant-based milk at home.
Pros & Cons

Almond Cow (opens in a new tab)

Best for large batches of plant-based milk

Eco-friendly buffs: look no further. The Almond cow is our favorite way to make large batches of plant-based milk (and it has a ton of sustainability research behind it).

The Good

  • Makes five to six cups per batch
  • Quick
  • Simple to clean
  • Can make thick creamers

The Bad

  • Milk only stays fresh for 3-5 days in the fridge
  • Cannot get the outside wet

The Bottom Line

The Almond Cow is definitely an investment, but it pays off for households who want to ditch single-use nut milk packaging and control what goes in their plant-based milks.
Pros & Cons

Bartesian Duet (opens in a new tab)

Best for at-home cocktails

Whether you want to sip on a manhattan or an espresso martini, we highly recommend the Bartesian Duet (aka the ‘Party Keurig").

The Good

  • Delicious drinks
  • 50+ capsules
  • Easy setup and cleanup

The Bad

  • Not compatible with the Long Island capsule
  • Leakage when removing bottles

The Bottom Line

Our reviewer was impressed with the taste, quality, and convenience of the Duet's cocktails.
Pros & Cons

Cuzen Matcha Maker (opens in a new tab)

Best for making high-quality matcha

Skip the cafe-bought matcha latte and make your own at home.

The Good

  • Easy to use
  • Aesthetically pleasing

The Bad

  • Expensive
  • Not compatible with other matcha leaf brands
  • Large gadget

The Bottom Line

Though it might seem like overkill to the casual matcha drinker, matcha die-hards will appreciate the fine details of the Cuzen Matcha Maker.
Pros & Cons

Magic Bullet Air Fryer (opens in a new tab)

Best budget-friendly air fryer

The Magic Bullet Air Fryer is a simple, cheap air fryer that evenly crisps food and doesn’t make it smell weird.

The Good

  • Evenly crisped and cooked food
  • Easy to use
  • Nonstick
  • Doesn’t take up too much counter space

The Bad

  • Not good for making large portions of food
  • Parts not dishwasher safe
  • Dial is somewhat difficult to turn

The Bottom Line

For quick reheating and crisping, you can't go wrong with the Magic Bullet air fryer.
Pros & Cons

OXO Compact Cold Brew Coffee Maker (opens in a new tab)

Best for at-home cold brew

Cold brew has truly never been easier to make than with this budget-friendly gadget.

The Good

  • Compact
  • Easy to store
  • Carafe is dishwasher safe

The Bad

  • Not as easy to clean for people without access to a dishwasher

The Bottom Line

Starbucks who? The OXO compact cold brew coffee maker creates strong, tasty cold brew at home.
Pros & Cons

Yonanas Soft Serve Maker (opens in a new tab)

Best for non-dairy ice cream lovers

If you’re looking to make delicious fruit-based ice cream at home, the Yonanas soft serve maker is one of the best options on the market — and it delivers on flavor and texture.

The Good

  • Can use overripe bananas
  • Removable parts are dishwasher safe
  • Quick assembly
  • Doesn’t take up much counter space

The Bad

  • Banana chunks may get stuck in the blade

The Bottom Line

Ideal for vegan, keto, and other special diets, the Yonanas ice cream maker makes it healthy (and easy) tp whip up a sweet ice cream treat.
Pros & Cons

Instant Pot Pro Plus (opens in a new tab)

Best smart Instant Pot

The Instant Pot Pro Plus is the smartest pressure cooker on the market, and even allows you to start dinner from your smartphone.

The Good

  • Start time can be controlled from your phone
  • Hands-free steam release from iPhone
  • WiFi functionality
  • App with recipes

The Bad

  • The air fryer lid is not compatible

The Bottom Line

For busy professionals and on-the-go families, the Instant Pot Pro Plus allows you to manage some of the cooking process remotely from your phone.
Pros & Cons

Whether you’re a professional chef or someone who is just learning how to cook, small kitchen appliances can shoulder a ton of work in the kitchen. From air fryers to coffee gadgets, there are products on the market to make pretty much any kitchen task more convenient. We've hands-on tested dozens of kitchen gadgets and have narrowed down the coolest ones to share with you, so you can stop scrolling through products on Amazon and get cooking.

Whether you’re looking for a soft serve maker to whip up a batch of fruit-based ice cream or an air fryer that will actually crisp up your meal, we’ve got you covered. 

Read on for the best kitchen gadgets of 2023.

Best for cooking newbies
Credit: Jae Thomas
Specs
  • Dimensions: 21.5 x 17.3 x 12.8"
  • Heat max: 480°F
  • Included accessories: 13’’ non-stick pizza pan, wire racks (x 2) - reversible for 8 different rack positions, 9” x 13” broiling rack, 9’’ x 13’’ enamel roasting pan, air fry / dehydrate basket
  • Materials: Brushed stainless steel

If you’re a beginner in the kitchen and are looking for a smart tool to guide you every step of the way, you should consider the Breville Joule Oven Pro(opens in a new tab). This air fryer teaches you how to cook with WiFi connectivity and a compatible smartphone app filled with recipes and detailed instructions. According to our reviewer, the Joule Oven streamlines the recipe-following process by controlling cooking time and temperature, giving you phone alerts when it's time to check on your food, and so much more.

This is a great gadget for visual learners as the app contains tons of instructional videos. Although this oven requires elbow grease when cleaning, it's worth it for its convenience, efficiency, and connected features. 

Check out our full review of the Breville Joule Oven Pro

Best for single-servings of plant-based milk
Specs
  • Dimensions: 4.3 x 4.3 x 8.2"
  • Volume capacity: 350mL
  • Included accessories: Two stainless steel measuring spoons, stainless steel filter, cleaning brush, recipe book
  • Materials: Stainless steel

While some milk machines are good for making large batches, the Nutr(opens in a new tab) machine specializes in single servings. In addition to dairy-free milk, this machine can be used to make smoothies, yogurts, soups, and frozen drinks. It's a perfect gadget for reducing waste since it eliminates plastic milk packaging and only makes small servings that you can use up immediately.

This machine makes it easy to make dairy-free milk quickly with its six functional buttons and gets rid of the need to pre-soak nuts and seeds before blending them. Mashable contributor Michelle Rostamian says “All in all, Nutr delivers as a sustainable, hassle-free way of making nut or plant-based milk at home — without the bulkiness (and ear-numbing sound) of a blender.”

Check out our full review of Nutr

Best for large batches of plant-based milk
Credit: Jae Thomas
Specs
  • Dimensions: 12 x 10 x 7"
  • Included accessories: Stainless steel base, top, detachable Filter basket, collector cup, base, power cord
  • Materials: Primarily stainless steel (but also made with plastic and silicone)

If you’re big on dairy alternatives, the Almond Cow(opens in a new tab) might be for you. With more than 1200+ five-star reviews, this milk maker is beloved by customers for its speed — it can make up to six cups of plant-based milk in under a minute thanks to a high-power blender mechanism and built-in mesh basket. During testing, Mashable’s Deputy Shopping Editor, Jae Thomas, tried making Almond Cow’s signature CocoCash milk without presoaking any of the ingredients. They said that the milk was “a tad on the thin side, but was definitely on par with other almond and cashew milks on the market.” 

During testing, we found that in addition to milk, the Almond cow also created thicker creamers good for adding to coffee, cereal, or to use for baking. Although the Almond Cow only has one setting, the end results are consistently impressive (and tasty).

Check out our full review of the Almond Cow

Best for at-home cocktails
Credit: Mallory Minch
Specs
  • Dimensions: 12.5 x 12.75 x 9.5"
  • Weight: 10.33 pounds
  • Included accessories: Two glass spirit bottles (35oz) with spirit label bands, removable power cord, removable Bartesian bar mat

Outside of going to your local bar, the Bartesian Duet(opens in a new tab) cocktail maker is hands down the best way to get a tasty drink without the hassle. Mashable reviewer and bartender Mallory Minich summarized this machine as “a Keurig that pours cosmopolitans instead of coffee.” The Duet is great for those who enjoy drinks but don’t know where to start when it comes to making them. We loved that there are over 50 capsule flavors to choose from (and that there's an app that makes it easy to reorder when you run out). If you don’t drink alcohol, but still want to join in, you can whip up non-alcoholic cocktails as well.

If you’re worried about drinking too much, you can refer to the included spirit strength chart to see how much liquor you'll be sipping depending on your cocktail and pour strength setting. 

Check out our full review of the Bartesian Duet

Best for making high-quality matcha
Credit: RJ Andersen
Specs
  • Dimensions: 13.4 x 8.7 x 4.7"
  • Weight: 4.6 pounds
  • Included accessories: Three, four-gram packets of their matcha lead blends, “a guide to your matcha moment” booklet

If you’re looking to make a fancy matcha drink but don’t feel like going to a cafe, you can make one at home using the Cuzen Matcha Maker(opens in a new tab). Mashable reviewer RJ Andersen says that what makes this matcha maker stand out is its “ceramic mill that grinds the tea leaves into an incredibly fine powder just like the traditional stone milling process.” 

If you’re not sure what matcha blend you prefer, Cuzen includes three four-gram sample packets of their premium, signature, and latte blends for taste testing. The main downside to this machine is that you can’t use other brands of matcha leaves.

Check out our full review of the Cuzen Matcha Maker

Best budget-friendly air fryer
Credit: Magic Bullet
Specs
  • Dimensions: 9 x 8.5 x 10.75"
  • Heat max: 400°F
  • Included accessories: 2.5qt Fry Pot, crisping tray, recipe booklet/user guide
  • Materials: Aluminum, plastic

We were all-around impressed with Magic Bullet’s Air Fryer(opens in a new tab) with its easy-to-use features and evenly-crisp results. Before testing this air fryer, Mashable’s Deputy Shopping Editor, Jae Thomas, was an air fryer skeptic. After reviewing the appliance, Thomas said that “the Magic Bullet air fryer is just as reliable as the brand's namesake blenders.”

We also loved how this product lived up to its promotional hype. The Magic Bullet air fryer claims to heat food by having hot air circulate 360 degrees inside the pot, and our tests definitely confirmed this. From popcorn chicken to raw pie dough, the Magic Bullet proved itself a versatile gadget.

Check out our full review of the Magic Bullet Air Fryer

Best for at-home cold brew
Credit: Sam Stone
Specs
  • Dimensions: 5 x 8" (brewing container)
  • Capacity: 700 Milliliters
  • Included accessories: Brewing container, rainmaker, glass carafe, cork lid
  • Material: Stainless steel, borosilicate glass

If you’re looking to save some money and start making your daily cold brew at home, the OXO compact cold brew maker (opens in a new tab)can help. The nesting carafe and brew container design is ideal for small spaces, and makes a perfect amount of concentrated cold brew for one person. Reviewer Sam Stone says “the OXO Compact Cold Brew Coffee Maker is far and away the best cold brewing experience I’ve ever had.” We love how easy this dishwasher-safe, budget-friendly gadget makes the brewing process.

Check out our full review of the OXO Compact Cold Brew Coffee Maker

Best for non-dairy ice cream lovers
Credit: Michelle Rostamian
Specs
  • Dimensions: 7.5 x 6.25 x 13.75"
  • Weight: 1.4 pounds
  • Capacity: 0.5 Liters
  • Included accessories: Plunger, chute, blade, gasket
  • Materials: Stainless steel, plastic

Frozen treat lovers should consider adding the Yonanas Soft Serve Maker(opens in a new tab) to their online shopping cart. This nifty machine turns fruit into thick, creamy ice cream — no milk or cream needed. Mashable reviewer Michelle Rostamian said “Yonanas is extremely easy-to-use and involves three basic steps: freeze your fruit, thaw your fruit, and insert it into the chute. Yep, it's that simple.”

Regarding flavor and texture, Rostamian found that Yonanas produced wonderful “ice cream” from bananas and other assorted fruit. It's definitely one of the tastiest ways to boost your daily fruit intake.

Check out our full review of the Yonanas soft serve maker

Best smart Instant Pot
Credit: Leah Stodart
Specs
  • Dimensions: 15.2 x 15.2 x 15.2"
  • Weight: 20.5 pounds
  • Capacity: Five quarts
  • Included accessories: Cooking pot, pressure cooking rack, pressure-cooking lid
  • Materials: Stainless steel

The 10-in-1 Instant Pot Pro Plus(opens in a new tab) is great for the busy, tech-savvy cook. With wifi compatibility, the Pro Plus allows you to start cooking before you even get home, and has a ton of automated features. We love that many of the pasta recipes don’t require straining, and that the NutriBoost feature self-stirs rice to prevent it from sticking to the bottom. The only downside? It's not compatible with Instant Pot's air fryer lid.

Check out our full review of the Instant Pot Pro Plus

More in Kitchen

How we tested

We hands-on tested all of the kitchen gadgets in this list, and each one was chosen for testing because it had over a four-star user review rating and came from brands that are well-known for making top-notch kitchen gadgets for both advanced and beginner chefs. 

Some factors we considered while testing were: 

Ease of use and learning curve: Kitchen gadgets can feel overwhelming, especially for beginner chefs. We tested a variety of kitchen tools from non-dairy milk makers to smartphone-controlled Instant Pots to see how easy or difficult they were to use and the quality of the food or drinks they produced. 

Best bang for the buck: We compared products in several categories to see if we thought they delivered on the value for the price.

Cool Factor: When testing these gadgets, we considered whether or not the products were actually doing something new — or better than — what is already on the market.

You’ll notice that this roundup is made up of reviews previously published on Mashable. If you want to learn more about any of the products that have been previously featured on our site, click on the review link in the product cards to head to the full write-up.

Headshot of a person with long brown and purple hair smiling gently
Jenna Clark
Contributor

Jenna Clark is a freelance writer who covers commerce, travel, beauty, and lifestyle. Her work has been featured in Insider, The Daily Beast, Well+Good, and Taste of Home. When not reviewing the latest products or traveling, you'll likely find her at a theme park or watching the latest Broadway show. 

You can follow her on Instagram @JennaElizClark(opens in a new tab) and Twitter @JennaElizClark(opens in a new tab)


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