You can get a lot done in the kitchen with the most basic tools, but adding a few gadgets to your countertops can make things a little easier and probably more enjoyable. This is the tech-infused cooking gear we like to use in our own kitchens, with insight from Engadget reviews, buyer’s guides and personal experiences. The perennially popular Instant Pot is here, as is the brand’s air fryer, which is the best we’ve tested. Our favorite thermometer takes zero seconds to give a reading and our top pick for a blender makes everything you put into it smooth as silk. If you like to cook, these are the best kitchen gadgets to help you do it.

Quick Overview

Instant Vortex Plus 6QT Air Fryer with Odor Erase Technology, 6-in-1 Functions that Crisps, Roasts, Broils, Dehydrates, Bakes & Reheats, 100+In-App Recipes, from the Makers of Instant Pot,1700W,Black

Best air fryer

$90 at Amazon

Thermapen One

Best thermometer

$109 at ThermoWorks

Escali Primo Digital Food Scale

Best food scale

$27 at Amazon

Ninja CREAMi

Best ice cream maker

$200 at Amazon

KitchenAid Artisan Series Stand Mixer

Best stand mixer

$450 at KitchenAidMore options

Vitamix Explorian

Best blender

$350 at Wayfair$380 at Amazon$380 at Macy’sSee more options

Breville the Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro, BOV900BSS, Brushed Stainless Steel

Best toaster oven

$400 at Amazon

Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Sauté, Yogurt Maker, Warmer & Sterilizer, Includes App With Over 800 Recipes, Stainless Steel, 6 Quart

Best multi-cooker

$90 at AmazonMore options

Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker 3.0 (WiFi), 1100 Watts

Best sous vide machine

$145 at Amazon$199 at Sur La Table$200 at Ace HardwareSee more optionsSee 4 moreInstant Pot

Instant Vortex Plus 6QT Air Fryer with Odor Erase Technology, 6-in-1 Functions that Crisps, Roasts, Broils, Dehydrates, Bakes & Reheats, 100+In-App Recipes, from the Makers of Instant Pot,1700W,Black

Best air fryer

The hottest kitchen gadget right now seems to be the air fryer, presumably because the idea of “frying” foods without the oily mess is an easy sell. Really, though, air fryers are just miniature convection ovens. They’re typically pod-shaped and often come with a removable basket. There are also toaster ovens with an air-frying function – see our recommendations below – if you prefer to have a multi-purpose appliance on your countertop.

Though both have their own merits, if you think you’re going to be air-frying a lot, we actually recommend a dedicated pod-shaped air fryer. These devices tend to result in crispier food, plus they’re easier to clean. One of our favorites is the Instant Vortex Plus with ClearCook and OdorErase. As the name suggests, it has a window so you can see what you’re cooking, as well as odor-eliminating filters that help reduce cooking smells – not many other air fryers have both. It also doesn’t take up as much space as a large toaster oven and it has easy to use controls.

$90 at AmazonThermapen

Thermapen One

Best thermometer

Nobody wants to eat undercooked meat, but it’s pretty inedible when it’s overcooked as well. One way to avoid either extreme is to use a thermometer to monitor the temperature. Our favorite is the Thermapen One from ThermoWorks. It gives readings instantaneously, and the screen rotates automatically depending on how you’re holding it. The auto-wake and sleep feature is useful for quick temp checks, and its IP67 waterproofing rating means you don’t have to worry about accidentally dropping it in the sink.

The ThermoPop is a more affordable option in ThermoWorks’ lineup. It’s not quite as fast as the Thermapen One, and it doesn’t have the rotating display or backlight. But it still measures temperatures accurately and while it’s not waterproof, it is splash resistant.

$109 at ThermoWorksEscali

Escali Primo Digital Food Scale

Best food scale

Bakers everywhere know that the most precise way to measure ingredients is with a scale. A “cup of flour” can be wildly different depending on how you scoop it, while a scale can tell you exactly if you have 120 grams. A digital scale is best for the most accurate measurements, and we especially like the Escali Primo. You can switch between grams and ounces with a single press, and importantly, there’s also a tare button that zeros out the weight so you can keep measuring in the same container. One reason we like the Escali Primo over other models is that it has a very long auto-off timer, allowing it to stay on for four minutes before shutting off. That’s important for when you need the extra time to chop up vegetables or gather other ingredients without having to worry about the scale resetting to zero.

$27 at AmazonNinja

Ninja CREAMi

Best ice cream maker

While the Ninja Creami is more like a blender than a traditional ice cream churn, it still allows you to create luxurious frozen treats while taking up less room on your countertop compared to old-school rivals. It’s also super easy to operate – if you can use a food processor, you can use the Creami – and pretty much everything aside from the machine itself can go in your dishwasher, so it’s easy to clean. Granted, it’s a bit loud while in action, but for $200, the Creami is an affordable and surprisingly versatile way of making great ice cream at home. — Sam Rutherford, Senior Reporter

$200 at AmazonKitchenAid

KitchenAid Artisan Series Stand Mixer

Best stand mixer

Sure, you could probably mix together a batch of cookie dough by hand, but it’ll take time and quite a bit of upper body strength. That’s even truer if you want to knead bread dough or whip up a meringue. Save yourself the trouble by getting a stand mixer. The favorite among bakers and amateur cooks for years have been KitchenAid’s Artisan series. It’s durable, powerful and it comes with your choice of paddle, hook and whisk attachments to use with the mixing bowl. We also like that the KitchenAid mixers are compatible with a variety of accessories and attachments that can turn the machine into an ice cream maker, a meat grinder and a pasta machine just in case you want to expand your culinary horizons.

$450 at KitchenAidVitamix

Vitamix Explorian

Best blender

It’s hard to beat the Vitamix in this space. The high-performance blender brand makes machines that do more than just prep smoothies, but can also make salad dressing, sauces, batters and soups. It’s especially handy if you have a habit of adding tougher ingredients into your recipes – things like nuts, dried fruit and frozen produce. Whereas other, less powerful blenders may leave chunks once you introduce hardier ingredients, the Vitamix won’t, leaving you with a silky smooth final product.

Depending on the model you get, you can also buy different attachments to make the most of the blender’s powerful base. You can pick up 64-ounce containers for making smoothies for your whole family at once or a “dry grain” container that’s outfitted with a blade specifically for grinding up things like whole grains so you can make your own flour.

Vitamix currently has four series of blenders: the basic Vitamix One, which comes in at $250; the slightly more advanced Explorian series, which starts at $350 and is arguably best for most people; the Legacy series, starting at $400; and the advanced Ascent series, which will set you back at least $500. Yes, these are expensive machines, but it’s worth investing in if you do a lot of blending or like to experiment with making things from scratch.

$350 at WayfairExplore More Buying Options$380 at Amazon$380 at Macy’s