This will be the defining list of the ultimate kitchen gadget gift ideas for any foodies or budding chefs this Christmas. We’ve scoured through user reviews and ratings to give you the ultimate compilation of not only what is hot this year with the best user review ratings, but most importantly the company that will provide it to you at the lowest cost! Whether you’re looking for appliances or simple little things, we’ve searched high and low to find what you love! If there’s anything you think is missing feel free to add a comment and let us know what you think should be on the list!
1. The TEFAL Fresh Express Cube & Stick Food Processor
Why we love it
It’s perfect for health nuts and foodies alike. With a super cool design, the express cube and stick food processor is just really really cool looking as well as extremely practical. It comes with a wide assortment of different parts which help to slice them to the exact thickness you desire, making healthy salads a cinch to make. It even automatically adjusts its chopping speed depending on the blade cartridge. From there you can directly serve into a plate or bowl.
What the critics say
It’s got 4 stars on Amazon. The pros are that it’s very easy to use and clean up, which is always a plus on items in the kitchen. Other pros are that once you feed the vegetables in, most of them come out diced, julienned or cubed extremely uniformly. Negative reviews include that it is not always needed (fair point) and that it is quite large if you have a small kitchen.
Where can we buy it
After a search through a range of shops online, Amazon ultimately is the cheapest at £119.01.
2. Philips Avance Taste Infusion
Infuse your barbecue indoors – £94.92
Why we love it
Because the UK doesn’t have long enough summers, this indoor meat grill makes barbecue available all year round. This awesome grill has got an aromatic diffuser section, which helps herbs like rosemary or thyme infuse with your meat while it is grilling. But beyond just herbs, you can also use wood chips to get a great smoky flavour into your meats – genius! You can also add liquid to the reservoir at the back of the machine to infuse flavours such as wine, balsamic vinegar or stock. It also comes with two non-stick hot plates, one flat and the other ribbed. The sloped grill allows for any excess fat to drip out over the cooking process and the grill heats up exceptionally fast too.
What the critics say
This meat grilling machine has got a 4/5 stars on Daily Mail, as well as 4/5 stars on user reviews on Amazon.co.uk. People state that love the infusion technique but that the machine is a little bulky to be used indoors. Two reviewers have stated that the hot plate has had issues heating up, but this should be solvable with the one year manufacturer’s warranty provided upon purchase.
Where can we buy it
The best deal is once again on Amazon, where it’s on a discount at the time of writing this post, with a £25 reduction to just £94.92.
3. SousVide SVS-10LS Supreme
Sousvide your way into chef-dom – £359.95
Why we love it
Every single cooking show in the last year has featured at least several cooks using a SousVide machine. The cooking method of SousVide is essentially by bathing it in water after wrapping your protein up in a vacuum sealed bag. The texture and taste is quite different to other cooking methods, and meats such as salmon, steak, lamb, ribs or even chicken are absolutely delicious.
This particular water bath is perfect for the counter top. Despite it being the size of a crock pot, it has an 11.3litre capacity, meaning you can cook dinner for yourself and a range of guests if needed. The extremely precise temperature control means you can always make sure your meat is cooked to perfection.
What the critics say
The 18 reviews on John Lewis add up to 4/5 stars, while the Amazon community ranks this at 4.5 stars. Reviewers on the whole are quite happy, and cite happy children as a key result of the sousvide cooking method due to the soft and melty texture of meats that are cooked within it. Other pros are that it is quite easy to clean, it’s compact and has very accurate temperatures.
Where can we buy it
After an extensive search John Lewis has the best offer, at £359. It’s got a 2 year warranty as well from the manufacturer. You can also purchase this on Amazon.co.uk – follow this link to buy.
4. Cusinart Soup Maker
This isn’t just any blender, it’s THE blender for soup making – £120
Why we love it
This incredible machine comes with a non-stick plate at the bottom, allowing you to saute your main ingredients. Once you’re done with that you can heat it all up in the machine and even blend it, all in one place. It also has a warming function to keep your soup at the perfect temperature. Imagine the amount of dishes you’ll save with one of these! On top of making soup, it also acts as a normal blender, so you can make smoothies or pesto as well. This is absolutely the perfect winter time gift for any soup lover. Best of all, it comes with a two year guarantee, so this brilliant borscht buddy will stay in tip top condition for at least a couple winters to come.
What the critics say
This popular item has the internet community buzzing. With an average rating of above 4 stars on a range of review sites, it is clear this soup blender combo is a hit.
Where can we buy it
John Lewis is selling these for £120. Also available at a marginal discount on Amazon for £119.95.
5. Bugatti Uma Kitchen Scale
It’s easy to see no other kitchen scale can even touch the elegance of this beauty – £110.45
Why we love it
Besides the fact it’s the most beautiful and mysterious looking kitchen scale we have seen in a long time, it’s also extremely practical. It’s 3kg capacity allows for multiple ingredients to be stacked in, which works perfectly with its weight reset function, which lets you keep putting ingredients in and allowing each item to be weighed separately. The gorgeous cone shaped bowl is removable and doubles as a mixing bowl, making it much easier to complete tasks such as making pasta, bread or cakes and saving on quite a few dishes in the meantime! The bowl itself is dishwasher safe, and just in case it wasn’t practical enough, this Bugatti kitchen scale also has a timer function, allowing you to keep track of the status of your dough or oven while you’re at it.
What the critics say
This kitchen scale has been on the highlight list for multiple publications, including T3’s best kitchen gadgets list and the Independent’s best list of kitchen scales. Reviewers of the product online seem to agree, giving this modern beauty a 4.5 stars out of 5.
Where can we buy it
This machine isn’t available via your typical outlets of John Lewis or Curry’s, so the best place to put in your order is Amazon.co.uk,
6. Krups XL-2000 Milk Frother
A frothy coffee lovers best friend – £99.95
Why we love it
This automatic milk frother comes with 3 preset settings – ‘Cappuccino’, ‘Caffè Latte’ and ‘Hot Milk’, all which deliver perfectly steamed milk without ever over boiling the temperature. This frother works quite like a kettle, simply pour the milk in the top and press one of the three buttons to start steaming the milk. The inside of the metal jug contains measurement lines, so you can make sure you always have just the right amount and minimise any wastage of milk. The top comes off easily and its non-stick interior allows for it to be cleaned very easily. Krups provide a 2 year guarantee on all parts, which is pretty great if you use it every day.
What the critics say
This frother has come up on several 2014 must have lists for its ease of use and practicality. Reviews from around the web show an average rating of 4/5 stars, with many people happy to recreate their ‘Starbucks’ experience at home.
Where can we buy it
Amazon prices this automatic milk steamer at £111.99, but John Lewis has them beat with a low offer of just £99.95.
7. De’Longhi Magnifica ESAM 4200, Bean to Cup Espresso and Cappuccino Maker
Coffee beans to espresso in just a couple minutes – £229.99 (Reduced from £449.99)
Why we love it
What’s not to love? The price is extremely affordable considering the quality, with a 50% off deal at the moment with Amazon.co.uk. This machine is the perfect gift for someone who loves their coffee. The machine uses professional quality 15-bar pump pressure allowing you to make coffee to the same standard as you would find in a quality coffee shop. All your usual grinders, steam pipes and filter holders you see in the cafe have been hidden inside the elegant machine, making it a beautiful and compact companion to your kitchen. With just a touch you can make your espresso’s, Americanos, Café lattes and cappuccinos.
Set your favourite coffee beans inside and the machine will automatically take the quantity you desire and blitz them up for an extremely fresh coffee experience everyday, right from the comfort of your own home. If you don’t have any beans available, the machine also can be filled with ground coffee. De-Longhi also provide a 2 year guarantee to keep your coffee cravings going.
What the critics say
This particular model is extremely popular, with loads of reviews available online. After scanning through a few websites it comes up with an average of 4.5 stars with the majority of users being extremely happy with their experiences. Negative reviews have cited that it makes a bit of noise (though lets face it, all kitchen appliances do). It’s also the number 1 best selling bean to coffee maker on Amazon if you needed any more convincing!
Where can we buy it
Best priced at Amazon with their generous discount. All other websites are still stocking these at full price.
8. The smart wifi enabled iKettle
Because who likes waiting for the kettle boil – £99.99
Why we love it
Control when you have your kettle boiled, just from your mobile. You can set it on timer for your morning or afternoon routines, or alternatively switch it on before you get home from work to get a cuppa in immediately! It’s got 4 different temperature settings for various drinks as coffee, green tea, black tea are all supposed to be infused at different temperatures. There’s also an option to keep water warm if you have a feel like chain drinking or have friends and family around. It’s got a nice little LED panel as well to keep you informed of your latest boiling activities. In case you’re thinking it could be dangerous if there’s no water in – it’s got a built in auto-shut off with boil-dry protection which will keep it safe in case you’ve forgotten to fill it up!
What the critics say
It’s been featured for it’s abilities in a whole range of publications, but when it comes down to it people do seem to have a few gripes and have scored it a 3.5/5 on average. Part of the disappointment comes from it “not being able to refill itself” and a few people citing problems with the lid, which should be rectified with the warranty card. The positive reviews state it’s “revolutionary” and have “changed the way tea and coffee is made forever”.
Where can we buy it
Firebox have the best range of these kettles and stock all the colours, from stainless steel to blue, pink, white and more.
9. Sony Xperia Tablet Z: Kitchen Edition
Why we love it
Tablets are quickly becoming a staple in the kitchen, allowing you to view recipes, make conversions as well as entertain yourself while you’re doing all the preparation. This tablet however is absolutely geared for that – it’s water resistant and dust proof, meaning you can keep it on the kitchen bench while you roll out some dough and don’t have to worry if it gets flour on it, or if you accidentally splash some water onto it. It also doubles as a universal remote if you’ve got your sound system on at the same time, or simply want to flick the channel on the telly. The vivid HD display also makes it a great viewing device for watching things and being a tablet, it’s extremely versatile and isn’t at all restricted to the kitchen! This particular model comes sim-free, so you can connect it up to the wifi or purchase a simcard to use alongside it. Weighing in at just 495 grams, this slimline tablet is one of the sexiest on the market
What the critics say
TechRadar have rated this a 4.5/5, while Cnet was less convinced giving it 3.5/5 – mostly for its water resistant and dust proof qualities. Engadget rates it a 8.8/10, so overall good feedback on this device. While it may not be the number 1 tablet out there, it certainly is the number 1 tablet to be used for kitchen purposes!
Where can we buy it
Amazon again takes the lead with this in stock for £267.11.
10. The Aqua Zinger – Fruit Infuser
Get in on your five a day and stay hydrated while you’re at it! £24.99
Why we love it
Have you ever looked in a drinks machine to find there is nothing that you can drink that isn’t absolutely loaded in sugar? And as we all know, we’re supposed to be drinking loads of water and eating lots of fruit every day! The latest trend in healthy living is doing just that – by using fruit to infuse flavours in water, it allows people to create all sorts of concoctions: from detoxifying to energising, all you need to do is choose the right fruits. The lower section of the AquaZinger has a blender in, so all you need to do it detach the bottom bit and pop your chosen fruit in. Once you’ve done that, give it a whiz and shake it up. The double wall in the drinking chamber means you can make both herbal and fruity teas or an iced smoothie, and it’ll keep your drink hot or cold for much longer. Making your own drinks means you keep on top of what additives and sugar go into your system on a daily basis while keeping up with your one of 8 glasses of water a day and your 1 out of 5 servings for fruit! And on the weekend you can even cheat and pop a little vodka or rum in there for a gorgeous cocktail.
What the critics say
Most people are pleased with the bottle, citing ease of use and flexibility in design means it is great for popping in your bag to the gym or elsewhere. The main complaint is that it can take some time for the fruit to infuse with the water, but on the whole the majority of fruits infuse quite quickly, and you can refill the bottle several times with water for great flavour.
Where can we buy it
Similarly priced around the web, you can purchase this from Firebox or Amazon for £24.99.
11. The Rollable Garlic Zoomer
Rollin’ with your garlic – £9.99
Why we love it
Chopping up garlic is perhaps one of the most laborious and mundane tasks there is in a kitchen. Peeling, chopping the ends of and then finely dicing each clove can take quite a while, and although there are loads of products on the market that claim to help alleviate this task, the garlic zoomer is perhaps one of the best ones. All you need to do is peel the garlic and pop it into the top of the machine and fill as needed. From there just roll the little zoomer back and forth on your worktop, and it’ll get finer and finer the longer you do it. Once diced to your desired consistency, pop open the lid and tap out the garlic. It’ll save your fingers from stinking of garlic for days as well!
What the critics say
People reviewing this product love it. It’s changed the way they cook – one particular user had been purchased this as a gift from her boyfriend as a joke, but it quickly became one of her “most prized possessions”! That in itself should be a reason to buy the little critter.
Where can we buy it
Pick it up off the guys at Firebox for a nice neat price of £9.99.
So there you have our list of favourite gadgets for this 2014, just in time for the Christmas season. Happy shopping people!
