gadget: enhance
December 15, 2023 8:07 AM Subscribe
I'd like to buy myself a minor appliance to upgrade my life. What is your favorite minor appliance, what do you use it for, and how happy does it make you on a daily basis?
Any genre, any room of the house, practical or whimsical, basic or outre. There is a budget but for the purpose of this question I mostly want to see what's out there.
This question brought to you by the perfect confluence of getting a birthday/Christmas check from my parents (buy something for yourself you wouldn't normally buy!) and seeing this comment and and an instagram ad for this toaster all in the same week :)
Any genre, any room of the house, practical or whimsical, basic or outre. There is a budget but for the purpose of this question I mostly want to see what's out there.
This question brought to you by the perfect confluence of getting a birthday/Christmas check from my parents (buy something for yourself you wouldn't normally buy!) and seeing this comment and and an instagram ad for this toaster all in the same week :)
Best answer: If you are a tea person, the Breville Tea Maker is a beautiful device. Heats water to specified temperature, lowers tea into water for correct time, goes bing. I'm not a huge tea person myself but my wife is a full-on green tea snob and the lower water temps required for proper green tea are much harder to get with a cheap kettle, plus it prevents oversteeping.
posted by restless_nomad at 8:11 AM on December 15, 2023 [8 favorites]
posted by restless_nomad at 8:11 AM on December 15, 2023 [8 favorites]
Clothes steamer.
posted by avocet at 8:16 AM on December 15, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by avocet at 8:16 AM on December 15, 2023 [6 favorites]
Best answer: Electric kettle with clear glass and blue light. I use it many times a day because I drink a lot of tea, and watching the bubbling water and the light makes me smile.
(I think when it dies I might go for the Breville Tea Maker restless_nomad links to.)
Also, I once poured water out of a stainless tea kettle and a roach came out, and that is one reason I now want the clear glass.
posted by FencingGal at 8:16 AM on December 15, 2023 [21 favorites]
(I think when it dies I might go for the Breville Tea Maker restless_nomad links to.)
Also, I once poured water out of a stainless tea kettle and a roach came out, and that is one reason I now want the clear glass.
posted by FencingGal at 8:16 AM on December 15, 2023 [21 favorites]
I love my water carbonator (DrinkMate is the brand I have). I work from home, and I’ve always been bad at keeping hydrated, but with an endless supply of fizzy water and the fun flavor combinations I invent on the fly, it’s much better.
posted by matildaben at 8:17 AM on December 15, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by matildaben at 8:17 AM on December 15, 2023 [6 favorites]
Breville Toaster Oven/Air Fryer. A gift from my brother for my new place. No need to use the big oven anymore. I really love it and use it most days. I've had no toast-maker for a couple years and dang, I really love toast! But also air frying vegetables is really nice. Frozen or fresh works!
posted by Glinn at 8:18 AM on December 15, 2023 [8 favorites]
posted by Glinn at 8:18 AM on December 15, 2023 [8 favorites]
Best answer: Toto C5 Washlet (Don't be too turned off by the MSRP. It can often be found for less than that)
posted by RonButNotStupid at 8:20 AM on December 15, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by RonButNotStupid at 8:20 AM on December 15, 2023 [5 favorites]
Electric kettle with clear glass and blue light.
Yeah, this is great for tea or pour over coffee or anything that needs hot water.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:21 AM on December 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
Yeah, this is great for tea or pour over coffee or anything that needs hot water.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:21 AM on December 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
Echo/echo dot: There is such a wide range of capabilities, but we use it mainly for quick look-ups of information ("Alexa, how tall is Dustin Hoffman?"), weather, and streaming radio/TV stations.
Vacuum sealer: We just acquired this so I can't speak to how long it will dwell as a favorite, but are finding it really useful for storing leftovers, products purchased in volume that don't generally keep until we use them up, and labor-intensive ingredients for other dishes (like homemade meatballs).
Small food processor: Perfect for chopping vegetables, grating cheese, mixing salad dressings, etc. Most of our countertop appliances reside in a cabinet in the garage, but this one stays in the pantry where I can access it quickly. It takes up a lot of room in the dishwasher, but it's worth it.
Seconding a soda maker. So much less waste and so much more variety in soda flavors. (We use Crystal Light packets and the like for flavorings.)
posted by DrGail at 8:29 AM on December 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
Vacuum sealer: We just acquired this so I can't speak to how long it will dwell as a favorite, but are finding it really useful for storing leftovers, products purchased in volume that don't generally keep until we use them up, and labor-intensive ingredients for other dishes (like homemade meatballs).
Small food processor: Perfect for chopping vegetables, grating cheese, mixing salad dressings, etc. Most of our countertop appliances reside in a cabinet in the garage, but this one stays in the pantry where I can access it quickly. It takes up a lot of room in the dishwasher, but it's worth it.
Seconding a soda maker. So much less waste and so much more variety in soda flavors. (We use Crystal Light packets and the like for flavorings.)
posted by DrGail at 8:29 AM on December 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
Best answer: A Zojirushi rice cooker. And a copy of Roger Ebert’s The Pot and How to Use It.
I love my stand mixer! But my rice cooker is the true workhorse of my kitchen.
posted by MonkeyToes at 8:53 AM on December 15, 2023 [14 favorites]
I love my stand mixer! But my rice cooker is the true workhorse of my kitchen.
posted by MonkeyToes at 8:53 AM on December 15, 2023 [14 favorites]
My micro-chip activated pet feeders from Sure that I got for my cats. Keeps them only eating their own food and now the one who eats more slowly, i.e. likes to take a bite or two and walk away and then come back later, does find her bowl empty when she returns to it. A very close second (as an older single woman with arthritis in my wrists) is the Black and Decker electric jar opener--it is bulky and expensive, but I inherited mine from Mom and it saves me much pain and frustration.
posted by agatha_magatha at 8:56 AM on December 15, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by agatha_magatha at 8:56 AM on December 15, 2023 [4 favorites]
Best answer: I got an immersion blender that has a whisk attachment at around the same time I switched to drinking matcha powder based tea in the morning, and I use that electric whisk every morning and love it! It's not a super necessary item (I could live without it) but it makes my breakfast routine easier and more luxurious feeling.
Specifically about kitchen happiness but not a gadget: Don't underestimate the power of keeping some portion of your cash earmarked for little things and spending a month or two paying more attention to little moments of tension/annoyance that a small purchase can resolve. It took me a long time to realize that only owning 4 bag clips was a hindrance to me, and then it was only a few dollars to fix it. Having several copies of frequently used things so that they can go in the dishwasher instead of being handwashed between uses has made a difference for me too (paring knives, small cutting boards, chopsticks). Oh, and I recently realized that only having one set of measuring spoons and measuring cups made some recipes more challenging/annoying (needing to stop to wash and dry something while I was in the middle of cooking, if say you need a tablespoon of both oil and flour), so I got another set of each. There are probably minor points of annoyance or stress that can be fixed for small amounts and you'll really notice the difference if you address them!
posted by rivenwanderer at 8:57 AM on December 15, 2023 [30 favorites]
Specifically about kitchen happiness but not a gadget: Don't underestimate the power of keeping some portion of your cash earmarked for little things and spending a month or two paying more attention to little moments of tension/annoyance that a small purchase can resolve. It took me a long time to realize that only owning 4 bag clips was a hindrance to me, and then it was only a few dollars to fix it. Having several copies of frequently used things so that they can go in the dishwasher instead of being handwashed between uses has made a difference for me too (paring knives, small cutting boards, chopsticks). Oh, and I recently realized that only having one set of measuring spoons and measuring cups made some recipes more challenging/annoying (needing to stop to wash and dry something while I was in the middle of cooking, if say you need a tablespoon of both oil and flour), so I got another set of each. There are probably minor points of annoyance or stress that can be fixed for small amounts and you'll really notice the difference if you address them!
posted by rivenwanderer at 8:57 AM on December 15, 2023 [30 favorites]
Best answer: Ooh I love this fabulous little light that changes colors and is also a magnet (I got mine from the 2021 mefi gift swap so THANK YOU again yeahlikethat) and I use it all the time to light up my life. It's so great that my mom and my sibling got themselves their own lights once they saw mine in action. I own a lot of different types of ridiculous things that light up and this thing is truly the perfect little mood light. It makes me very happy because I am all about jazzy lighting.
My favorite kitchen tool by far is my fish spatula.
posted by RobinofFrocksley at 9:18 AM on December 15, 2023 [7 favorites]
My favorite kitchen tool by far is my fish spatula.
posted by RobinofFrocksley at 9:18 AM on December 15, 2023 [7 favorites]
A thermostatic mug like the Ember.
Seconding washlet, and a nice toaster oven with good convection.
Not really a gadget but my bang for buck kitchen tool is a utensil bin full of cheap spoons (chef supply or costco) that lives by the stove whose only purpose is stirring and tasting.
posted by supercres at 9:27 AM on December 15, 2023 [4 favorites]
Seconding washlet, and a nice toaster oven with good convection.
Not really a gadget but my bang for buck kitchen tool is a utensil bin full of cheap spoons (chef supply or costco) that lives by the stove whose only purpose is stirring and tasting.
posted by supercres at 9:27 AM on December 15, 2023 [4 favorites]
Best answer: Seconding a good quality rice cooker (Zojirushi or similar). It makes so much difference, especially for brown rice.
Depending on what you like to cook or bake, I think a stand mixer, a food processor, and a pressure cooker can be good to have, but a quality rice cooker makes more of a day to day difference in my kitchen. A nice kitchen scale isn't really an appliance in my book, but if you like to bake, it makes a huge difference.
posted by ssg at 9:30 AM on December 15, 2023 [2 favorites]
Depending on what you like to cook or bake, I think a stand mixer, a food processor, and a pressure cooker can be good to have, but a quality rice cooker makes more of a day to day difference in my kitchen. A nice kitchen scale isn't really an appliance in my book, but if you like to bake, it makes a huge difference.
posted by ssg at 9:30 AM on December 15, 2023 [2 favorites]
OH and a nice scale, and a chart of how much various volumes of various ingredients weighs. (Here’s mine.) i can get through 95% of recipes (which i have converted mostly to grams anyway) measuring cup and measuring spoon free thanks the gods.
posted by supercres at 9:31 AM on December 15, 2023 [7 favorites]
posted by supercres at 9:31 AM on December 15, 2023 [7 favorites]
An Innova 8 liter electric pressure cooker.
Like this , but mine is not non-stick, which would be a deal breaker for me.
I don’t care for Instant Pots because they have too much plastic that gets hot and smells.
posted by jamjam at 9:35 AM on December 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
Like this , but mine is not non-stick, which would be a deal breaker for me.
I don’t care for Instant Pots because they have too much plastic that gets hot and smells.
posted by jamjam at 9:35 AM on December 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
A non-kitchen thing, I have these motion detector lights in most of my closets now. It's nice to have light that happens on its own.
posted by mersen at 9:42 AM on December 15, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by mersen at 9:42 AM on December 15, 2023 [3 favorites]
If you are still in Chicago: a heated mattress pad. On cold nights in a drafty old house it's absolutely sinful levels of luxury.
If you get a Kitchenaid, get used. ATK just did a new "best stand mixers" and they noted that Kitchenaid has really REALLY backed away on their warranty -- if you knead dough for more than 2 minutes in a row or six minutes total for the batch, that voids your warranty. If you're not going to bake bread very often, I'd just go with a good hand mixer (we have the current wirecutter recommendation and it's very nice).
If you're going to bake bread, either an old Kitchenaid, or a Bosch, or shell out the megabucks for the weird Swedish one. We have a Bosch... it's an absolute beast for bread, mashed po-ta-toes, whipping egg whites, but it isn't very good at creaming butter & sugar for cookies. So we use the hand mixer for that.
Robovacuums / autoschnorflers with self-empty are really nice.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 9:47 AM on December 15, 2023 [5 favorites]
If you get a Kitchenaid, get used. ATK just did a new "best stand mixers" and they noted that Kitchenaid has really REALLY backed away on their warranty -- if you knead dough for more than 2 minutes in a row or six minutes total for the batch, that voids your warranty. If you're not going to bake bread very often, I'd just go with a good hand mixer (we have the current wirecutter recommendation and it's very nice).
If you're going to bake bread, either an old Kitchenaid, or a Bosch, or shell out the megabucks for the weird Swedish one. We have a Bosch... it's an absolute beast for bread, mashed po-ta-toes, whipping egg whites, but it isn't very good at creaming butter & sugar for cookies. So we use the hand mixer for that.
Robovacuums / autoschnorflers with self-empty are really nice.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 9:47 AM on December 15, 2023 [5 favorites]
Best answer: I cannot tell you how amazed I am at the Roomba universe. I won a little neighborhood raffle and have had a robot vacuum and a robot mop for about a month. Oh my god. I would absolutely buy replacements for these expensive little things when they eventually break down beyond repair.
I suppose the life benefit is that they work. It really surprised me. I set up the vacuum first, thinking I'd get some mileage out of it and just sell on the mop. My flat is almost entirely wood or stone flooring, aside from the carpeted bedroom, and dust really shows on the hard surfaces. I never feel like I can dust, sweep, and mop enough to keep it looking clean, which has always been a bit depressing. That's especially poignant for me because dust mites are my main, most overpowering allergy, so I've always kept a very tidy house. But this vacuum just... obliterates the dustiness, to a degree that I marvel at. The dust bin is not tiny and it FILLS COMPLETELY every 2-3 days, allowing me to be in awe of not having to spend 30-40 minutes almost every day with various cleaning implements picking up maybe half of what little 'bot picks up. I empty the chamber with relish. So... I gave the mop a try. Oh my word, I have never had a shiny floor before that wasn't a short-lived result of back-aching labor. I don't even use detergent, I just fill its reservoir with water (and a couple drops of a cheap floral splash that I always have around) and every other day have it (and the vacuum) set to do the entire place when I'm out of the house. It's amazing what the regularity of swabbing a wet towel across the floor does for the sense of tidiness and cleanliness I have. I sit on the floor to meditate or stretch and a huge smile spreads across my face as I realize there's not a bunch of shit stuck to me.
All these years I've mocked these things... I feel so foolish. Hail the robots.
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 9:56 AM on December 15, 2023 [40 favorites]
I suppose the life benefit is that they work. It really surprised me. I set up the vacuum first, thinking I'd get some mileage out of it and just sell on the mop. My flat is almost entirely wood or stone flooring, aside from the carpeted bedroom, and dust really shows on the hard surfaces. I never feel like I can dust, sweep, and mop enough to keep it looking clean, which has always been a bit depressing. That's especially poignant for me because dust mites are my main, most overpowering allergy, so I've always kept a very tidy house. But this vacuum just... obliterates the dustiness, to a degree that I marvel at. The dust bin is not tiny and it FILLS COMPLETELY every 2-3 days, allowing me to be in awe of not having to spend 30-40 minutes almost every day with various cleaning implements picking up maybe half of what little 'bot picks up. I empty the chamber with relish. So... I gave the mop a try. Oh my word, I have never had a shiny floor before that wasn't a short-lived result of back-aching labor. I don't even use detergent, I just fill its reservoir with water (and a couple drops of a cheap floral splash that I always have around) and every other day have it (and the vacuum) set to do the entire place when I'm out of the house. It's amazing what the regularity of swabbing a wet towel across the floor does for the sense of tidiness and cleanliness I have. I sit on the floor to meditate or stretch and a huge smile spreads across my face as I realize there's not a bunch of shit stuck to me.
All these years I've mocked these things... I feel so foolish. Hail the robots.
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 9:56 AM on December 15, 2023 [40 favorites]
The kitchen appliance I love the most (after the dishwasher) is my old-fashioned stovetop pressure cooker. I also feel that a good immersion blender is something everyone should have, specially if it comes with extras, like a whisk and a mini food processor.
A mini food processor is in itself a wonderful thing. I have an immersion blender with all the extras, and a small food processor, and still I turn to my 30-year old mini processor all the time, for chopping nuts, making pesto and similar sauces and dips and chopping garlic or just one onion and a gazillion other things.
Since I live in two places, I can compare between stand mixers. I have the Kitchen Aid and a Kenwood. The Kenwood is far more efficient, but less glamorous. I love them both though.
Good knives and a good knife sharpener. There are lot of appliances you won't really use a lot when you develop the knife skills. I find it easier to just slice the potatoes, or whatever, than to set up the slicer in the food processor and then clean it all afterwards, unless I'm cooking for 12. I probably have too many knives, but they are nice for when you are cooking with family and friends.
If you don't have an induction stovetop, a single induction burner can be useful. Both as an extra burner if you are cooking a lot, as a device for keeping stuff warm at the lowest setting, and also for boiling water really fast. I use mine every morning for my soft-boiled egg. But it is excellent for getting pasta on the table in less than 15 minutes and similar tasks. And you can store it away when you aren't using it.
posted by mumimor at 9:58 AM on December 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
A mini food processor is in itself a wonderful thing. I have an immersion blender with all the extras, and a small food processor, and still I turn to my 30-year old mini processor all the time, for chopping nuts, making pesto and similar sauces and dips and chopping garlic or just one onion and a gazillion other things.
Since I live in two places, I can compare between stand mixers. I have the Kitchen Aid and a Kenwood. The Kenwood is far more efficient, but less glamorous. I love them both though.
Good knives and a good knife sharpener. There are lot of appliances you won't really use a lot when you develop the knife skills. I find it easier to just slice the potatoes, or whatever, than to set up the slicer in the food processor and then clean it all afterwards, unless I'm cooking for 12. I probably have too many knives, but they are nice for when you are cooking with family and friends.
If you don't have an induction stovetop, a single induction burner can be useful. Both as an extra burner if you are cooking a lot, as a device for keeping stuff warm at the lowest setting, and also for boiling water really fast. I use mine every morning for my soft-boiled egg. But it is excellent for getting pasta on the table in less than 15 minutes and similar tasks. And you can store it away when you aren't using it.
posted by mumimor at 9:58 AM on December 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
KitchenAid Cordless Immersion Blender and accessories set. You sorta know when you're using a stick blender that the cord is a pain in the ass, but it's not until you can blend freely that you realize what an upgrade it is.
posted by Lyn Never at 10:04 AM on December 15, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by Lyn Never at 10:04 AM on December 15, 2023 [4 favorites]
Best answer: The Bellman Stovetop Steamer
After going through just about every spinning, pumping device for milk foam at home, I am finally at peace with this device. There is a little bit of technique involved to use it, and it is a pressure vessel, which might be scary to some folks. It's built to last though, & gives the best quality foam. Cleanup/maintenance is ez.
posted by superelastic at 10:11 AM on December 15, 2023
After going through just about every spinning, pumping device for milk foam at home, I am finally at peace with this device. There is a little bit of technique involved to use it, and it is a pressure vessel, which might be scary to some folks. It's built to last though, & gives the best quality foam. Cleanup/maintenance is ez.
posted by superelastic at 10:11 AM on December 15, 2023
Best answer: My Sonicare toothbrush. The replacement heads are $$$ but I don't care, I love it so.
Philips colored light bulbs. Every night I sit down to watch TV or a movie and adjust the lights to appropriate colors, and can make them nice and dim.
AirPods. Even though 75% of what I listen to is podcasts and sound quality doesn't really matter, they're comfortable -- and I never find in-ear things comfortable -- and work well. You, of course, would to add this and then we can be twinsies.
posted by The corpse in the library at 10:17 AM on December 15, 2023 [2 favorites]
Philips colored light bulbs. Every night I sit down to watch TV or a movie and adjust the lights to appropriate colors, and can make them nice and dim.
AirPods. Even though 75% of what I listen to is podcasts and sound quality doesn't really matter, they're comfortable -- and I never find in-ear things comfortable -- and work well. You, of course, would to add this and then we can be twinsies.
posted by The corpse in the library at 10:17 AM on December 15, 2023 [2 favorites]
This is a very minor appliance, but the Whirley Pop popcorn maker is by far my favorite appliance since the Instant Pot, even though it does only one thing and takes up a ton of space in my tiny kitchen. If you love popcorn, it's totally worth it.
Note: trusted serious eater J. Kenji López-Alt tested and determined that the cheapest aluminum "original" Whirley Pop is the best!
posted by moonmilk at 10:19 AM on December 15, 2023 [6 favorites]
Note: trusted serious eater J. Kenji López-Alt tested and determined that the cheapest aluminum "original" Whirley Pop is the best!
posted by moonmilk at 10:19 AM on December 15, 2023 [6 favorites]
Best answer: A bucket-style towel warmer has upgraded winter showers immensely.
A Ninja coffee pot with a setting for single cups, travel mugs, and iced coffee, in addition to full pots, using regular-old ground coffee. We only make a full pot of coffee when there are guests, and we don't want to use K-cups, so the Ninja has been really great.
As mentioned, the Whirley Pop. We make popcorn once or twice a week and it's the friggin best. Get Orville Redenbacher kernels (they really do pop up bigger! I didn't think they would, but they do!) and some Flavacol and you're set.
Also let me rain on the stand mixer parade. We have one sitting on the counter that I only use maybe 3-4 times a year, for cookies and frosting. I bake bread at least weekly, and for that the food processor is way superior. For almost everything else, a hand mixer works just about as well and can easily be stowed when not in use. I wouldn't necessarily want to get rid of the Kitchenaid, but I wouldn't really miss it that much.
posted by uncleozzy at 10:25 AM on December 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
A Ninja coffee pot with a setting for single cups, travel mugs, and iced coffee, in addition to full pots, using regular-old ground coffee. We only make a full pot of coffee when there are guests, and we don't want to use K-cups, so the Ninja has been really great.
As mentioned, the Whirley Pop. We make popcorn once or twice a week and it's the friggin best. Get Orville Redenbacher kernels (they really do pop up bigger! I didn't think they would, but they do!) and some Flavacol and you're set.
Also let me rain on the stand mixer parade. We have one sitting on the counter that I only use maybe 3-4 times a year, for cookies and frosting. I bake bread at least weekly, and for that the food processor is way superior. For almost everything else, a hand mixer works just about as well and can easily be stowed when not in use. I wouldn't necessarily want to get rid of the Kitchenaid, but I wouldn't really miss it that much.
posted by uncleozzy at 10:25 AM on December 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I use my Velvetiser on a near-daily basis to make perfectly frothed matcha, warm apple cider, and, it's intended purpose, creamy hot chocolate.
posted by burntflowers at 10:32 AM on December 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by burntflowers at 10:32 AM on December 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
Shark Vacmop. Yes the pads are pricey but worth it.
posted by credulous at 10:51 AM on December 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by credulous at 10:51 AM on December 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
Electric water kettle is great. I sometimes use it to boil water to add to a pot to make the pasta water boil faster. I resisted for a long time, and find it very handy.
Immersion blender. So handy and easy to clean, doesn't take much space.
I've had my Cuisinart food processor since 1985; workhorse, still going.
I just got an InstantPot, no opinion yet.
posted by theora55 at 11:07 AM on December 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
Immersion blender. So handy and easy to clean, doesn't take much space.
I've had my Cuisinart food processor since 1985; workhorse, still going.
I just got an InstantPot, no opinion yet.
posted by theora55 at 11:07 AM on December 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
Best answer: The other thing about (the correct model of) Zojirushi is that it can do steel-cut oats, too. So you take two minutes the night before to set it up, set the timer, and there's your nice warm oatmeal waiting for you when you get up the next morning. (If it could just do farro well, it would be perfect.)
posted by praemunire at 11:25 AM on December 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by praemunire at 11:25 AM on December 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
Instant pot, or any electric pressure cooker. 400 watt immersion blender.
posted by elgee at 11:54 AM on December 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by elgee at 11:54 AM on December 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
Best answer: My favorite indoor appliance is my Cuisanart food processor, which gets used all the time - hummus, pesto, pie dough, latkes.
My favorite outdoor appliance is the electric leaf vacuum. I can't even imagine why anyone would want a leaf BLOWER that has you running after leaves and only partially getting them into an organized pile when you could VACUUM them up into a handy bag, where they are already mulched and can easily be disposed of!
posted by brookeb at 12:00 PM on December 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
My favorite outdoor appliance is the electric leaf vacuum. I can't even imagine why anyone would want a leaf BLOWER that has you running after leaves and only partially getting them into an organized pile when you could VACUUM them up into a handy bag, where they are already mulched and can easily be disposed of!
posted by brookeb at 12:00 PM on December 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I can't believe someone hasn't mentioned Sous Vide. They take 100% of the stress out of cooking steaks and chicken. You will never overcook them again. Plus the cook timing is so forgiving that you can focus on side dishes and sauces without worry. If you like to eat salads or vegetables with a perfectly poached egg on top, sous vide can help you as well.
posted by mmascolino at 12:17 PM on December 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by mmascolino at 12:17 PM on December 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
Waterpik using feels way less onerous than flossing and always makes me feel minty virtuous every time
posted by DebetEsse at 12:59 PM on December 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by DebetEsse at 12:59 PM on December 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
Best answer: OK, hear me out: toilet light.
I bought it for my wife as kind of a joke but we still shout "TOILET LIGHT!" almost every night when we go in and it lights up. We didn't have a night light before and it is nice to not have to turn the big light on.
posted by nakedmolerats at 2:01 PM on December 15, 2023 [7 favorites]
I bought it for my wife as kind of a joke but we still shout "TOILET LIGHT!" almost every night when we go in and it lights up. We didn't have a night light before and it is nice to not have to turn the big light on.
posted by nakedmolerats at 2:01 PM on December 15, 2023 [7 favorites]
Best answer: A mechanical white noise machine, like the Yogasleep Dohm. We got one when we had a baby, and have since bought one for our bedroom and a travel one. That plus a weighted blanket really upgraded my sleep experience!
posted by wsquared at 2:39 PM on December 15, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by wsquared at 2:39 PM on December 15, 2023 [2 favorites]
I have outsourced my memory to my Echo Dot and it’s life changing. I have one in the bathroom and one in the living room and any time I think of something I need to do I shout it at Alexa and she either puts it on a list or reminds me at a given time.
posted by HotToddy at 3:35 PM on December 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by HotToddy at 3:35 PM on December 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
Cast iron tortilla press and tortilla warmer - making fresh tortillas with store bought masa is a snap and pretty fun way to plus up homemade tacos. (These are amazon links but these are not hard to find elsewhere.)
Old fashioned ice crusher if you can find one! Cheaper than a pebble ice machine and (I assume) at least 60% as fun to have around. I have an electric motorized one rather than a manual one.
HomePod minis for rooms you spend a good chunk of time in (if you use a Mac or iPhone). They really do sound fine-to-good and are fun to use to play music, podcasts, audiobooks while doing chores or hanging out.
posted by lousywiththespirit at 3:39 PM on December 15, 2023
Old fashioned ice crusher if you can find one! Cheaper than a pebble ice machine and (I assume) at least 60% as fun to have around. I have an electric motorized one rather than a manual one.
HomePod minis for rooms you spend a good chunk of time in (if you use a Mac or iPhone). They really do sound fine-to-good and are fun to use to play music, podcasts, audiobooks while doing chores or hanging out.
posted by lousywiththespirit at 3:39 PM on December 15, 2023
Best answer: Rice cooker - we use ours everyday now and love it.
posted by Toddles at 3:48 PM on December 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Toddles at 3:48 PM on December 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Oh I can't believe I didn't think of this before. Hands down one of the best gifts I ever received was a set of Elfa thingums from The Container Store - specifically a "hook it up to a standard size door" upright and a bunch of baskets, hooks, and a pegboard. Probably not for everyone but this was so zero'd in on my needs and housekeeping interests I got very emotional. Loved it so much I dragged my partner to TCS later that week to get a second batch.
posted by lousywiththespirit at 4:04 PM on December 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by lousywiththespirit at 4:04 PM on December 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
The JBL Flip 4 portable bluetooth speaker has really good sound in a small package. It's been nice to take outside when we're hanging out in the yard, hang from the potrack when I'm cooking in the kitchen, etc.
I like my OXO 9 cup coffee maker a lot. The stainless steel carafe keeps the coffee hot for a long time & I don't need to worry about it breaking.
posted by belladonna at 4:17 PM on December 15, 2023 [2 favorites]
I like my OXO 9 cup coffee maker a lot. The stainless steel carafe keeps the coffee hot for a long time & I don't need to worry about it breaking.
posted by belladonna at 4:17 PM on December 15, 2023 [2 favorites]
LED headlamps
posted by mullacc at 5:04 PM on December 15, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by mullacc at 5:04 PM on December 15, 2023 [3 favorites]
These measuring spoons. They are magnetic, and nest together, so I can always find The One I’m looking for. Double-ended, so I can use the same measure for a liquid and a dry spice (and the oval end fits into any spice container I’ve had). I love these, and don’t remember my cooking/baking life before.
posted by dbmcd at 6:57 PM on December 15, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by dbmcd at 6:57 PM on December 15, 2023 [2 favorites]
An echo dot, but with smart plugs for all your lamps so you can program it to turn them all/one on with a voice command. I use mine to set timers as well as reminders, playing Spotify or the radio, and queries. Tons of ‘appliances’ work with Alexa too.
posted by ellieBOA at 7:49 PM on December 15, 2023
posted by ellieBOA at 7:49 PM on December 15, 2023
We live on a salmon river and eat a LOT of fish. These japanese fish bone tweezers are a life saver.
posted by summerstorm at 8:26 PM on December 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by summerstorm at 8:26 PM on December 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
Best answer: If you type much, is there an ergonomic keyboard that feels better but has seemed too expensive? My Kinesis was life changing.
posted by clew at 9:51 PM on December 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by clew at 9:51 PM on December 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I love a lot of my appliances, but my hands down favorite is the convection oven microwave. The thing is older than I am and still works for both. I bake a lot and the convection heat and spinning give a MUCH more consistent finish. I honestly don't think I'd be into baking without the results I get from it, it's no contest with a regular oven. Plus if you're planning on having a microwave anyway, it doesn't take up any extra room (ok, maybe a small amount extra just because it's big enough to get a standard round cookie sheet into).
I also love my soft nugget ice maker. I just recently bought it because I love chewing ice and it's so nice not to have to drive to the gas station every time I want some.
posted by Eyelash at 12:54 AM on December 16, 2023
I also love my soft nugget ice maker. I just recently bought it because I love chewing ice and it's so nice not to have to drive to the gas station every time I want some.
posted by Eyelash at 12:54 AM on December 16, 2023
This is more than a minor expense, but it might be worth the investment depending how much sun your home gets and whether you ever need power for picnics or camping: the EcoFlow Delta 2 solar power unit.
Feed a solar panel's output into it and it will do the rest, including any needed DC => AC inversion, reducing the solar power learning curve by about 90 percent. Then you simply plug your small appliances or USB powered devices into it. I have a single 200 watt solar panel, but I live in southern Spain so it's easy to catch those rays.
It's lightweight enough for many people to move around with relative ease, so theoretically you could power it up and take it with you on a camping outing.
I love mine and regularly heat water for coffee or power my portable induction cooker with it. Not sure how long it will last but if it lives for another couple of years, I'll have recouped my investment.
posted by rabia.elizabeth at 4:30 AM on December 16, 2023 [2 favorites]
Feed a solar panel's output into it and it will do the rest, including any needed DC => AC inversion, reducing the solar power learning curve by about 90 percent. Then you simply plug your small appliances or USB powered devices into it. I have a single 200 watt solar panel, but I live in southern Spain so it's easy to catch those rays.
It's lightweight enough for many people to move around with relative ease, so theoretically you could power it up and take it with you on a camping outing.
I love mine and regularly heat water for coffee or power my portable induction cooker with it. Not sure how long it will last but if it lives for another couple of years, I'll have recouped my investment.
posted by rabia.elizabeth at 4:30 AM on December 16, 2023 [2 favorites]
Cupboard strip lights for those dark cupboards that don't get properly lit up by the room or hallway overhead lights. They have motion sensors to come on when you open the door, they're USB rechargeable, they attach with magnets to other stick-on magnets so that you can position them anywhere, they're cheap as chips, and oh my god why didn't I get them years ago.
posted by rory at 5:10 AM on December 16, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by rory at 5:10 AM on December 16, 2023 [4 favorites]
Having a humidifier in the bedroom has made my sleep better and deeper. When I don't use it for whatever reason, I typically feel it the next day.
Along those lines, a small-ish rechargeable bluetooth speaker (JBL) for white noise while sleeping has been likewise a boon.
posted by cupcakeninja at 5:46 AM on December 16, 2023 [1 favorite]
Along those lines, a small-ish rechargeable bluetooth speaker (JBL) for white noise while sleeping has been likewise a boon.
posted by cupcakeninja at 5:46 AM on December 16, 2023 [1 favorite]
Not an appliance but. This Muji telescoping pole and tub/shower scrubber has turned one of my most loathed cleaning jobs into one I barely notice. There's also a swivelling broom attachment that makes sweeping much less annoying than with fixed-angle brooms. That's about $30 of stuff one might not know about or might not ever think to buy but really makes a serious dent in how annoying some chores are.
posted by seanmpuckett at 6:20 AM on December 16, 2023
posted by seanmpuckett at 6:20 AM on December 16, 2023
I hate cooking and love my Instant Pot. And I hate vegetables but tolerate green smoothies, so I love my nutribullet blender.
posted by Mavri at 6:25 AM on December 16, 2023
posted by Mavri at 6:25 AM on December 16, 2023
Response by poster: I woke up sick this morning, but what a perfect opportunity to do nothing but browse.
The Velvetiser and the leaf vacuum were the two recommendations that gave me the biggest hmm for being something I'd never considered before. So perhaps someday.
I decided to level up my kitchen with not just any rice cooker, but this absolute beauty of a Zojirushi, scroll down for simulated rice lava animation. I'm excited.
Thanks for all the awesome links and things to think about!
posted by phunniemee at 8:15 AM on December 16, 2023 [5 favorites]
The Velvetiser and the leaf vacuum were the two recommendations that gave me the biggest hmm for being something I'd never considered before. So perhaps someday.
I decided to level up my kitchen with not just any rice cooker, but this absolute beauty of a Zojirushi, scroll down for simulated rice lava animation. I'm excited.
Thanks for all the awesome links and things to think about!
posted by phunniemee at 8:15 AM on December 16, 2023 [5 favorites]
Response by poster: Also, I realized reading through this that I'm already living in blessed gadget land. Big yes to food processors, immersion blenders, kettle with the blue light, washing my butt with a bidet attachment. You all have inspired me to try to reintroduce my roomba to the dogs and give that a better try.
One thing I didn't see here at all was an espresso machine. I have an inexpensive one and use it multiple times per week, one of my very favorite things!
posted by phunniemee at 8:23 AM on December 16, 2023 [2 favorites]
One thing I didn't see here at all was an espresso machine. I have an inexpensive one and use it multiple times per week, one of my very favorite things!
posted by phunniemee at 8:23 AM on December 16, 2023 [2 favorites]
Why oh why don't they make a Whirley Pop that doesn't have wooden handles and is dishwasher safe? While we're all waiting for that, I have noticed that my Cuisinart pan works way better for popcorn than my Farberware. It probably has something to do with the fact that it's much heavier.
(Also, in my opinion, Anthony's Popcorn blows Orville Redenbacher's right out of the water.)
posted by FencingGal at 8:43 AM on December 16, 2023
(Also, in my opinion, Anthony's Popcorn blows Orville Redenbacher's right out of the water.)
posted by FencingGal at 8:43 AM on December 16, 2023
The single best thing I bought for myself this year was an OttLite LED magnifying lamp. I got serious about my model kit hobby in the spring and after having some good experiences with a smaller and flimsier magnifying lamp, I sprung for this one. This lamp has changed my life, and has made this hobby much more enjoyable. I've found it useful for other, more pracical detail work too.
posted by May Kasahara at 9:38 AM on December 16, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by May Kasahara at 9:38 AM on December 16, 2023 [1 favorite]
If you like popcorn, this popcorn maker.
I was a Whirly-Pop guy for years. I still think the Whirly Pop is great. But when we got a convection stove I was never happy with the stainless version of the Whirly-pop. It was inconsistent. Also, it took some effort. I wanted something easier. So I got the one I linked to. It takes some counter space, but it's worth it. It makes the most perfect popcorn every single time and cleanup is super easy. We don't use the butter feature, we melt butter in a small pan on the stove, so that helps keeping cleanup simple.
I'm not kidding when I tell you it is next level popcorn. Consistently good.
(Don't get me started on microwave popcorn. It is bad and you are bad for thinking it is not bad.)
posted by bondcliff at 12:37 PM on December 16, 2023
I was a Whirly-Pop guy for years. I still think the Whirly Pop is great. But when we got a convection stove I was never happy with the stainless version of the Whirly-pop. It was inconsistent. Also, it took some effort. I wanted something easier. So I got the one I linked to. It takes some counter space, but it's worth it. It makes the most perfect popcorn every single time and cleanup is super easy. We don't use the butter feature, we melt butter in a small pan on the stove, so that helps keeping cleanup simple.
I'm not kidding when I tell you it is next level popcorn. Consistently good.
(Don't get me started on microwave popcorn. It is bad and you are bad for thinking it is not bad.)
posted by bondcliff at 12:37 PM on December 16, 2023
Mod note: This post and all it's great suggestions have been highlighted in the Best Of blog!
posted by Brandon Blatcher (staff) at 12:52 PM on December 16, 2023
posted by Brandon Blatcher (staff) at 12:52 PM on December 16, 2023
My favourite small appliance is some kind of electric screwdriver. This is just one example, but these are cheap and widely available.
I used to think an electric screwdriver was cheating, but they make a lot of repair tasks so much easier and faster. Now that I'm getting older and my hands don't work so well, it's hard to face a job with lots of screwing and unscrewing without a tool like this.
posted by sneebler at 9:12 AM on December 17, 2023
I used to think an electric screwdriver was cheating, but they make a lot of repair tasks so much easier and faster. Now that I'm getting older and my hands don't work so well, it's hard to face a job with lots of screwing and unscrewing without a tool like this.
posted by sneebler at 9:12 AM on December 17, 2023
When your blue light electric kettle goes, consider a Zojirushi Water Boiler. They can boil and hold several liters of water at a set temperature (the fancier ones have a variety of temperatures). I use mine for making tea all day long, oatmeal, ramen, empty it into a pot for insta- boiling water for pasta or veggies or potatoes or grains, half a cup mixed with half tap water for a recipe calling for warm water, pour a quart over sliced tofu from a serious eats recipe, splash of hot water into a pan where onions are starting to stick, a bit of hot water to thin out a soup that's too thick or salty, etc, etc.
Congrats on the new rice cooker! I have an ancient Zojirushi they don't make anymore and still adore it. Steel cut oats and rice forever!
posted by carrioncomfort at 11:46 AM on December 17, 2023
Congrats on the new rice cooker! I have an ancient Zojirushi they don't make anymore and still adore it. Steel cut oats and rice forever!
posted by carrioncomfort at 11:46 AM on December 17, 2023
An "installation tool" will ultimately be more useful than a simpler electric screwdriver if it fits in the budget.
And if you are still in the habit of using your electric drill to drive fasteners for other projects, then maybe a beefier impact driver than an installation tool.
The other gee-whiz tool that's been widely adopted is the oscillating multitool (especially as a hand-held plunge saw).
Power tools (and batteries) are best bought during seasonal or holiday sales; the discounts are deep (and so the regular prices steeply marked up).
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:34 AM on December 18, 2023
And if you are still in the habit of using your electric drill to drive fasteners for other projects, then maybe a beefier impact driver than an installation tool.
The other gee-whiz tool that's been widely adopted is the oscillating multitool (especially as a hand-held plunge saw).
Power tools (and batteries) are best bought during seasonal or holiday sales; the discounts are deep (and so the regular prices steeply marked up).
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:34 AM on December 18, 2023
Of the various things that we've gotten over years: hard agree on the rice cooker. I've made rice in a pot for years and it's not hard, but you know what's easier? Using a rice cooker. Cheap ones abound and they don't last long. I bought a Cuckoo rice cooker from H-Mart and it's been great.
My spouse wanted an immersion blender and in addition to its main use for soups, etc, it's the bees knees for making hollandaise and mayonnaise. Here's J. Kenji Lopez-Alt's recipe for mayo.
Like popsicles? Zoku has adorable molds and as well as a pop maker that you keep in the freezer for making pops in minutes.
posted by plinth at 8:40 AM on December 18, 2023
My spouse wanted an immersion blender and in addition to its main use for soups, etc, it's the bees knees for making hollandaise and mayonnaise. Here's J. Kenji Lopez-Alt's recipe for mayo.
Like popsicles? Zoku has adorable molds and as well as a pop maker that you keep in the freezer for making pops in minutes.
posted by plinth at 8:40 AM on December 18, 2023
Sunrise alarm clock!!! If you have to get out of bed while it's still dark out, it's the gentlest and most pleasant way to wake up. Seriously life changing.
posted by emeiji at 1:51 PM on December 19, 2023
posted by emeiji at 1:51 PM on December 19, 2023
Seconding the Waterpik. My hygienist insisted, and I'm glad she did.
posted by Rash at 10:00 PM on December 19, 2023
posted by Rash at 10:00 PM on December 19, 2023
Seconding the LED headlamp. I have the USB rechargeable Petzl Bindi and I love it. It’s very well made and the charge lasts a long time. It has a few different settings including three levels of brightness and both white and red light (plus emergency red strobe). The red light is to preserve night vision and avoid blinding others with your light if you are in a group.
I use my headlamp ALL the time. Originally I bought it for walking in the woods on dark winter evenings, but I also
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 1:49 AM on December 20, 2023 [2 favorites]
I use my headlamp ALL the time. Originally I bought it for walking in the woods on dark winter evenings, but I also
- wear it when walking the dog at night to improve my visibility to drivers and have a hands free light while picking up dog poop;
- use it as hands free lighting if the power goes out;
- hang it around my neck for bright focused light when doing tiny, close craft work: beading, knitting, hand sewing.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 1:49 AM on December 20, 2023 [2 favorites]
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posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 8:11 AM on December 15, 2023 [14 favorites]