Top 10 kitchen gadgets to give this Christmas

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Posted at 12:02PM, 01 December 2011 by Sarah Sysum - Assistant editor, Easy Cook magazine

Self-confessed kitchen gadget fan, Sarah Sysum, chooses her top 10 buys for Christmas.

Kenwood CH180A White Mini Chopper

It's an oldie but a must have, a dinky chopper that whizzes up the last slice of bread into breadcrumbs ready to freeze, it's a speed demon at making a curry paste and pretty good at chopping nuts too.

£19.50, widely available.

La Cloche Baking dome

This clever device gives you the crispest crust. Its bell design traps steam in the same way as a large wood fire oven. I like it as it is big enough to cook a homemade sourdough, (if you've the patience to make it in the first place!)

£47.99, Bakery Bits, bakerybits.co.uk.

Macaron Large Baking Sheet

If you're anything like me you will have been bitten by the macaron bug. But unless you are a piping queen (I'm not) piping 30 identical circles of mixture just doesn't happen. This silicone mat has circular ridges, which hold the mixture in place so you get 30 identical professional looking circles. Great British Bake Off here I come...

£13.62, bienmanger.com

Cooks Collection Santoku Knife

Santoku are my favourite knives; I find them much easier to hold than a large cooks' knife and more controllable. This is a real bargain. It's made from carbon steel, has a riveted, weighted handle and grooves on the blade to stop food sticking.

£11.50, Sainsbury's

Morphy Richards Flavour Savour

If any of my friends are reading this I really, really want this! It's without doubt the best slow cooker I've tested. Unlike most models you can brown meat directly on the hob in the stainless steel pot before slow cooking it. The base stores away in the pot, and it made an amazing chicken curry on both the fast and traditional slow cook options. Did I mention I wanted one?

£58.86, Argos

Tesco Value HB07 Hand Blender

OK, this isn't going to win any awards for looks, but I realised long ago looks aren't everything. It purèes food well, crushes herbs pretty consistently too, and quite honestly made as a good a smoothie as a £50 model.

£4.13, Tesco

Prepology Universal Microban Bamboo Knife Block

Knife blocks are a great idea, but in reality many of us have cherry-picked knives that we've bought over the years, this block is filled with thousands of thin plastic rods, so you can push in any shape and size of knife or scissors - mine is completely stuffed. The casing is made from 'material of the moment,' bamboo, so it has eco credentials too.

£15, QVC, qvcuk.com

Stay-Sparkling Champagne Flutes

The latest technology in glassware; they're made with special etching on the inside base of the glass, onto which bubbles form and rise upwards - keeping your Champagne sparkling for longer. I like the classic design. They can go in the dishwasher too.

Pack of 4, £15 M&S

WMF Barista Milk Frothing Pitcher

Sales of all things coffee continue to rise. Not content with the perfect espresso people now want the perfect froth for their cappuccino. This clever jug is designed with a widened base and gradual sloping walls to producing optimal milk froth. If you're giving as a pressie it's worth slipping a milk-frothing thermometer in the stocking too.

£26.50, amazon.co.uk

SousVide SVS-10LS Supreme Water Oven

If you have a budding Michel Roux Jr in the family this is quite probably on their most wanted list. It's a water bath oven that allows you to slow cook vacuum-sealed (sous-vide) food. Forget boil in the bag fish and think of meltingly tender steaks instead. It's incredibly easy to use and top of GF food editor, Barney's list.

£349, John Lewis

Comments

mark

3 December 2011, 10:00AM
mark

the knife block that fits your collection is going on my xmas list. wish I'd seen the stay-sparkling flutes lsat week when I was buying for a party. :)

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DreamingAloud

3 December 2011, 1:05PM
DreamingAloud

I think this is a great list. Personally I would never buy another cook a knife (I'm so picky, I wouldn't be sure I'd get it right for someone else) or keep mine in a block. On the other hand I had no idea that the cloche or macaron mat existed and now I do, I want them - so I think there's something here for everyone.

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alison

5 December 2011, 3:27PM
alison

just bought a knife block similar to this its great my knives slip in great

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skellylass

5 December 2011, 3:50PM
skellylass

Will the Morphy Richards Flavour Savour work (for browning purposes) on an induction hob?

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Neferankh

5 December 2011, 4:14PM
Neferankh

Can't afford the baking cloche. But now going to experiment with conical loaves in my tagine. The Milk frothing jug works a treat.

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tordis

6 December 2011, 2:17PM
tordis

The macaron baking sheet is on my list - it's pure magic!

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Sarah

7 December 2011, 4:20PM
Sarah

Hi Skellylass - thanks for reading my blog, sadly the Flavour Savour isn't designed to be used on induction hobs. Hope this helps. Sarah

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cynthia

9 December 2011, 2:25PM
cynthia

hi, ive got one of the knife blocks from q.v.c. they are brilliant, exactly what it says on the tin so to speak, great item in my kitchen.

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lindaben

13 December 2011, 12:26AM
lindaben

Bread in the tagine! What an inspiring idea, I'm going to try that tomorrow too.

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**

14 December 2011, 9:36PM
**

Hi Neferankh.Guess I'm teaching my grandma to suck eggs if I suggest a terracotta plant pot . Merry Christmas to you and all who read me x

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