Five gadgets to make the kitchen less scary
Nothing like technology to cut down your fear of the kitchen.
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It might be that you’d like to up your kitchen game, but your hoped-for difficulty level runs more toward button pushing than elbow grease and keeping an eye on things. If that’s what you’re looking for, here are five of our suggestions to add some easy-to-use electronics to your kitchen.
Instant Pot Ultra
Buy now on Amazon.ca: Those who own an instant pot always seem to be unwavering in their devotion, and for the kitchen-shy hoping to master their meal-making, it’s not hard to see why. They’re just so versatile in their application beyond being a simple pressure cooker. This particular variety stood out to us the most, due to a balance of versatility (it features 10 functions) and mid-range price point.
Best features:
With 10 functions, it can serve as your pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, yogurt maker, cake maker, and more.
Simple to use and simple to program
Rated 4.7 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
Ultrean Air Fryer
Buy now on Amazon.ca: One thing that seems to be gaining in popularity in recent years are air fryers, purporting to offer all the benefits of fried food without having to drown it all in boiling oil first. I own this model myself and I can tell you, air frying is everything it’s cracked up to be. It’s easy to use, easy to program, and far more lightweight than it appears, allowing for easier storage if you’ve limited counter space. It comes with a small list of cook times for simple meals, but I’d recommend springing for a magnetic cheat sheet for the fridge.
Best Features:
5.8-quart capacity
Non-stick, easy to clean basket (dishwasher safe)
Rated 4.6 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
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Panasonic Rice Cooker
Shop now on Amazon.ca: Perhaps your kitchen needs run no more complicated than a good cup of rice, and you’re getting a bit bored with boiling a pot of water. Enter your new best friend, the rice cooker (specifically, this one from Panasonic). Just add what you need and easy-program how you want it, and let this compact gadget do the rest.
Best Features:
Four settings for rice, also suitable for soup and porridge
Prepares up to five cups of uncooked rice, 10-cup option available
Rated 4.3 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
Salton Portable Induction Cooktop
Shop now on Amazon.ca: For people with sparse kitchens, or in small living spaces with no stove at all, hot plates have normally been the go-to, but it’s time to upgrade your technology. This small cooktop relies on induction heating, a safer and more efficient heating method than traditional cooktops, with plenty of settings to suit your needs.
Best Features:
Eight cooking levels from 140°F to 465°F
Three-hour timer and auto shutoff
Rated 4.4 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
Chefman Anti-Overflow Belgian Waffle Maker
Shop now on Amazon.ca: And finally, if you want to up your breakfast game but aren’t quite ready to let go of your waffle addiction, here’s a way to wean yourself off of Eggos. With multiple settings and a special design to prevent overflow, just pour in the batter and get ready for some Belgian morning goodness.
Best features:
Seven different shade settings, depending on your pleasure
Wraparound channel prevents batter from overflowing or spilling out, making for a less messy experience
Rated 4.3 out of on Amazon.ca
Like what you see? Check out our Shop the Weather articles for more must-have product recommendations.
Our trusted Product Specialists recommend high-quality items that we think will enhance your experience with Canadian weather conditions. Prices and availability of items are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
