Since it’s one of the rooms we spend most of our time in, it’s no wonder that people are constantly on the hunt for must-have kitchen appliances and tools. As they’re getting more innovative and eco-friendly all the time, we’ve rounded up some of the most awesome kitchen essentials for 2022. Jump between the following sections to find the perfect new addition for your kitchen.
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2022 is an exciting time for kitchen gadgets. Between breakfast sandwich makers that take care of the most important meal of the day and ice trays that prevent messes in the freezer, this year has had a lot to offer for the kitchen.
Our top 8 picks for must-have kitchen gadgets
If you’re ready for something new in the kitchen NOW, here are eight tools and gadgets that are a must-have in 2022.
- Most essential gadget for food prep: Hamilton Beach Stack & Snap Food Processor
- Most essential gadget for cooking: Instant Pot Pro Plus
- Most essential gadget for small kitchens: StoveShelf Magnetic Shelf
- Most time saving gadget: Hamilton Beach Breakfast Sandwich Maker
- Most sustainable gadget: Lomi Instant Electric Composter
- Most family-friendly gadget: Cuisinart ICE-21P1 Ice Cream and Sorbet Maker
- Best kitchen tool for gifting: Mitsumoto Sakari Chef’s Knife
- Best kitchen tool for entertainers: Frigidaire EFIC235-AMZ Countertop Nugget Ice Maker
Ready to fill your kitchen with gadgets, tools, and appliances that make life easier, food taste better, and our world more sustainable? Let’s dive into some of the top kitchen essentials.
Improve your kitchen and life with these 17 must-have kitchen gadgets
Whether you’re looking for a toaster oven with extra functionality or the latest Instant Pot, we’d love to share some of the latest kitchen appliances to make it onto counter spaces everywhere in 2022.
1. Hamilton Beach Breakfast Sandwich Maker
For those who love the first meal of the day, this breakfast sandwich maker is one of the most essential kitchen appliances there is. It has a rapid egg cooker and two separate layers for bread, cheese, meats, and much more. All removable parts are dishwasher safe for quick clean-up. A perfect gift for those short on time, breakfast can be served in just 5 minutes with this cool gadget.
2. Hamilton Beach Stack & Snap Food Processor
This BPA-free kitchen gadget is a great replacement for the knife and cutting board. It can quickly chop, slice, dice, shred, puree, and mix vegetables, fresh herbs, and even whole foods—like a whole apple! Prepping to bake an apple pie is incredibly easy with this food processor.
3. Instant Pot Pro Plus
This Instant Pot is one kitchen gadget that replaces all the tools: slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, yogurt maker, pressure cooker, canning pot, sous vide, sautépan, NutriBoost, and warmer. In addition to having 10-in-1 functionality, the paired app gives you access to Instant Pot recipes.
4. Lomi Electric Kitchen Composter
A simple press of a button is all it takes for Lomi to transform kitchen scraps and organic waste into nutrient-rich dirt. In just a few hours—and in a quiet and odor-free way—the Lomi can process up to 80% of typical household waste into something that can support houseplants or a garden. With positive reviews from thousands of Lomi owners, you can rest assured that this is one of the best kitchen gadgets.
5. Frigidaire EFIC235-AMZ Countertop Nugget Ice Maker
When it comes to cool kitchen gadgets, there are few better than this one—literally! A game changer for those who entertain regularly, it can produce a whopping 44 pounds of ice a day (no need for countless ice trays). Even better, it produces the soft crunchy ice cubes many of us associate with restaurants.
6. Chefman Immersion Stick Hand Blender
Equipped with powerful stainless steel blades, this is one of the top kitchen appliances for someone who regularly makes things like sauces and soups, as well as icing and smoothies. The high speed blender crushes ice and blends food at the touch of a button. After use, it’s dishwasher safe.
7. Great Northern Popcorn Company Popcorn Popper
One of the best kitchen gadgets for movie lovers, this retro style popcorn popper turns kernels into up to one gallon of popcorn. It features a stainless steel kettle, removable popcorn tray, and warming light to keep the popcorn warm. It’s small enough to take up minimal counter space, too.
8. NutriChef Vacuum Air Sealing System
Free up freezer space by using a vacuum sealer to store leftovers, meat, near-expired vegetables, and more. Instead of ending up with wasted food or freezer burnt food, this method keeps food safer for up to 5 times longer than ziploc bags or containers.
9. Solo Stove Pi Pizza Oven
More people have been taking the kitchen outdoors, which is where this pizza oven comes in handy. Made of soot-resistant stainless steel, it can be wood or gas fired to reach temperatures of up to 800°F and make Italian-style, artisan, homemade pizza.
10. Vitamix Explorian Professional-Grade Blender
This professional grade blender is one of the most important kitchen appliances for nearly any home chef. Between smoothies, soups, and sauces, it can do it all. With variable speed control and stainless steel blades, it can pulse, blend, chop, grind, emulsion, and even heat.
11. VOBAGA Electric Egg Cooker
Whether you want soft-boiled eggs, poached eggs, or anything in between, this egg cooker can make it happen. In no time at all, the durable stainless steel egg holder can cook up to 7 eggs. It can even steam vegetables and dumplings!
12. Cuisinart Single Serve Coffee Maker
One of the best gift ideas for a coffee lover, this coffee maker is perfect for someone who wants a hot coffee—and just one of them. Featuring an incorporated coffee grinder and offering the option to use single-serve pods, it can do nearly anything!
13. Balmuda Steam Oven Toaster
The newest way to make sandwiches, toast bread, or make artisan-style pastries and pizzas, this toaster uses steam technology to bring out the best flavor. It heats more rapidly than air, toasting the surface of bread while preserving its inner flavor and moisture. With a compact, black and gold design, it looks great, too.
14. Müeller Ultra Kettle
Whether you’re making hot coffee or hot chocolate, this electric kettle is ready for the job. With SpeedBoil features, it produces boiling water quickly—all without toxic chemicals and BPA found in many other kettles.
15. COSORI Air Fryer Toaster Oven Combo
Combining a toaster oven with an air fryer, this nifty gadget has 11 functions: bake, toast, bagel, pizza, air fry, roast, broil, rotisserie, dehydrate, cookies, or ferment. Using the air fry function requires 85% less cooking oil than traditional methods. Enabled with wifi connectivity, it can even be paired with an Alexa!
16. SodaStream Terra
A perfect kitchen appliance gift for those who think plain water is boring, SodaStream is one of the best kitchen gadgets around. It’s an eco-friendly, plastic bottle-free way to make sparkling water and soda. This one features a CO2 cylinder, dishwasher safe bottle, and bubbly drops flavors.
17. Cuisinart ICE-21P1 Ice Cream and Sorbet Maker
As far as cool kitchen gadgets go, this one is the tastiest. In 20 minutes or less, it can make ice cream, sorbet, or frozen yogurt. For delicious homemade ice cream, simply fill the machine with whole milk and fresh ingredients.
18 practical tools every kitchen needs
If you’re not looking for kitchen gadgets that require a plug-in, we’ve also got 18 kitchen tools that will make your life a little easier.
18. Porlex JP-30 Stainless Steel Coffee Grinder
An essential kitchen gadget for coffee lovers, this coffee grinder uses top-quality stainless steel and tough ceramic burrs to produce a perfect grind of beans—whether they’ll be used for your Moka Pot or French press. As an added bonus, it won’t take up any counter space.
19. Caraway Nonstick Ceramic Dutch Oven
Your perfect cooking method for soups, stews, bread, pastas, roasts, baking, and more, this dutch oven is pretty magical when it goes on top of an oven rack or stovetop. It features a non-toxic coating free of PTFE, PFOA, PFAS, cadmium, lead, and more.
20. Silicone Ice Cube Tray
This kit contains a silicone ice tray, storage bin, and scoop. The BPA-free combination of PP and silicone is dishwasher safe and durable. The ice tray freezes the water into little balls, making it perfect for cocktails, soda, whiskey, wine, and iced coffee.
21. KitchenAid Cold Brew Coffee Maker
With this awesome kitchen gadget, you won’t have to use electricity or go to your local cafe for cold brew or iced coffee. Featuring high-quality brushed stainless steel, it takes up minimal counter space and it can also be tucked away in a cabinet or refrigerator for easy storage and chilling. The cold coffee concentrate can be stored for up to two weeks or mixed with water or milk for an iced coffee.
22. OXO Good Grips 3-in-1 Egg Separator
When making cookie dough or another treat, this handy OXO Good Grips egg separator easily holds the yolk apart from the whites. It also has a raised edge to easily crack eggs.
23. EVO Oil Sprayer
This non-aerosol evo oil sprayer (aka olive oil sprayer) can be used with all types of cooking oil, or even as an alternative to store-bought salad dressings. Every spray provides a 1.35-mL portion of oil, and can be used when roasting vegetables, grilling meats, or dispensing homemade salad dressings.
24. Cuisipro 4-Sided Box Grater
For grating cheese and vegetables, there’s no better kitchen gadget than this cheese grater from Cuisipro. The stainless steel grooves reduce resistance and can be used for both coarse and soft cheese, as well as vegetables and citrus fruits. There’s even a ginger grater base at the bottom!
25. Victorinox 3.25 Inch Swiss Classic Paring Knife
Available at an affordable price, this paring knife makes it extremely easy to mince, peel, slice, dice, and garnish. The paring knife is also specifically designed for accuracy and precision, and is backed by a lifetime guarantee.
26. The Negg Boiled Egg Peeler
If hard boiled eggs are a part of your regular diet, this kitchen product will make your life easier. You simply add one of your hard boiled eggs and a quarter-cup of water, then shake and the shell will slip right off.
27. Silicone Utensil Rest with Drip Pad
As one of the best kitchen tools for busy home chefs, this utensil rest goes on the kitchen counter and provides a mess-free way to store utensils while cooking. It’s heat resistant, BPA-free, and perfect for spoons, ladles, tongs, and more.
28. ARC Tortilla Press
Why go to the store when you can make tortillas in your own home? With this heavy-duty, cast iron tortillera, you can transform just a few food ingredients into tasty (and healthier) tortillas. It also works to make roti.
29. Bamboo Cutting Board with Containers, Lids, and Graters
Expedite cooking time and keep everything organized with this cutting board. With incorporated containers, the cutting board is one of the best kitchen tools for easy storage. It also features juice grooves to prevent spills. Unlike any other cutting board, it even includes surfaces for grating, slicing, and julienning.
30. Ceramic Mortar and Pestle
One of the best housewarming gift ideas, a mortar and pestle is a kitchen gadget that can be cherished for years to come—especially when it’s handmade pottery. This one is made with speckled clay and a non-toxic light blue/green glaze. It can be used to grind spices, teas, or herbs. All components are top rack dishwasher safe.
31. Nonstick Baking Sheet
No one wants baking sheets that are coated with toxic chemicals or don’t stand up to being paired with cookie dough and an oven rack time and time again. Standing apart from other baking sheets, this one is made with a nonstick surface that’s free of PFOA, lead, and cadmium. Commercial grade, it’s oven safe up to 446°F and made to last.
32. KitchenAid Classic Multifunction Can Opener/Bottle Opener
With a strong stainless steel blade, this can opener can easily puncture all types of cans and bottles. With an integrated bottle opener and easy-to-turn knob, it’s one of the best kitchen gadgets to have in your kitchen arsenal.
33. Mitsumoto Sakari Chef’s Knife
There are few must-have kitchen essentials like a chef’s knife. The Mitsumoto Sakari chef's knife is in a class of its own. Hand forged with high carbon steel, the ultra-thin sharp blade is a perfect tool for cutting meat, vegetables, and fruits. Along with the rosewood handle, it looks great, too, making it a perfect gift
34. StoveShelf Magnetic Shelf
As one of the handiest kitchen gadgets for those with limited space, this magnetic shelf attaches to a stove, providing a sturdy storage space for spices, condiments, oils, and more. It doesn’t require installation and is designed to withstand rust, stains, odors, and corrosion.
35. Bread Slicer for Homemade Bread
Made of 100% bamboo and paired with a Damascus steel knife, this bread slicer is a must-have, as far as cool kitchen gadgets go. It has three width options to accommodate different widths (thin, Texas toast, etc.) and it’s suitable for all sizes of bread.
Whether you’re saving the planet by turning your organic waste into nutrient-rich dirt or saving the day by having cold brew coffee on hand, Lomi will be here to help. We hope this list has you feeling excited about all that 2022 has to offer your kitchen.
Written by: Heather Seely