A Kitchen Editor's Year in Review – Meet the Top 10 Most Useful Appliances I Tested in 2025
From barista-level coffee makers to cordless quiet blenders, I tested hundreds of products this year, but these ones really changed the game
As a kitchen editor and trained cook, I test hundreds of appliances every year – from frying pans to juicers – and 2025 was no different. Some gadgets looked good on paper but didn’t live up to the hype, while others quickly became heroes I continue to reach for day after day.
These 10 products stood out because they’re genuinely useful and make day-to-day life in the kitchen easier. From the best cookware that makes feeding the family a cinch, to cleaner air fryers that crisp food without questionable coatings (the best non-toxic air fryers), these are the tools I personally trust – and you can too.
Consider this your shortlist for 2026. And if you want a pro tip, peek our edit of the January sales – some of my favorite items often have the best deals right now.
Testing the SMEG Soda Maker in my kitchen at home
If I had to pick just one 'Desert Island' item, it would be tricky (it was hard enough to compile ten), but there are two drinks machines that saved me so much time and effort that I couldn’t part with them.
First, the Ninja Luxe Café Pro from SharkNinja. As someone who tests coffee machines for a living, this is the one that simplified my mornings. It makes consistently good lattes, so I’ve stopped buying takeout. Then there’s the SMEG Soda Maker, from Crate & Barrel, which I initially thought would be a nice-to-have but now use almost daily, quietly replacing my seltzer habit.
Top 10 Most Useful Kitchen Products I Tested in 2025
Below you'll find my top ten-rated products out of the hundreds I tested in 2025. If you want to read more in-depth testing detail, I have also linked the full reviews for each product.
The Ninja Luxe Café Pro Coffee Maker was the only coffee machine I was desperate to keep in my kitchen for 2026. It delivered both espresso‑style shots and full coffee brew, making barista-worthy lattes, cappuccinos, and espresso martinis with ease. The adjustable brew strengths and frothing options meant consistent results every time, and I saved a bunch on takeout coffee.
I just finished testing this on New Year’s Eve, and it already earns a top spot on this list. Staub’s stackable set includes four cast-iron essentials without hogging space. With beautiful heat retention and non-stick results, it includes a Dutch oven, braiser, fry pan, and one universal lid. Genius for small kitchens or anyone who hates clutter.
Full review coming soon.
From the dozens I tested, I kept coming back to models from Ninja for their ability to produce quick, healthy sides and proteins. They are the best brand for crispy vegetables, wings, and snacks without soggy middles – and at multiple heat ranges so you don’t end up burning edges while waiting for centers to cook. The Crispi changed the game with beautiful, non-toxic glass containers that can be stacked and stored in the fridge.
I have a terrible immune system, so I ended up taking this portable juicer everywhere this year for vitamin-C-packed citrus juice on the go. If you also want to make juice outside at the grill, on the balcony, or on vacation, this cordless machine is a great buy. It's easy to use and pretty affordable, too.
If there’s one piece of bakeware that became a serious workhorse in my kitchen this year, it was this baker from Le Creuset. For Sunday dinners, lasagnas, roast chickens, layered casseroles, and even bubbling desserts, this dish delivered consistent results every time. Practical, reliable, and designed for a lifetime of use.
Read more in my guide to the best roasting pans
My top pick for smoothies is, without a doubt, the Ninja Blast Max. It showed the perfect mix of power and petite size, crushing ice and fibrous greens without turning them into a clumpy mess. Even better, the bottle was leakproof and dishwasher-safe. It also shot up into my guide to the best quiet blenders.
I love Asian cuisine, but hate cleaning sticky sauces and burnt bits off your pan. I ended up using this wok a lot after testing to sizzle and stir-fry without any sticking. Clean-up was really easy; it's lightweight and easy to handle, too.
This soda maker is a genuinely beautiful, intuitive and sustainable way to enjoy soda at home. It is lightweight and cordless, so you can take it outside to fizz drinks in the summer – or I used it for a home bar in the holidays, which was really handy. I save a bunch on store-bought soda.
Clean cuts make cooking more joyful and safer. Simple as that. HexClad's Damascus steel knife set is not just good, it is exceptional. I got the magnetic storage board set and adore it too. It's a clever way to save space while keeping the knives always within reach. The board is my tenth most useful kitchen item of the year; two birds, one stone!
These ten products made my kitchen life in 2025 so much easier, and I still reach for them every week. From clever stackable cookware to the best juicers, each one is genuinely useful (no gimmicks allowed in my kitchen!)
If you’ve been inspired to do a kitchenware refresh, I can also explain which food prep appliance you need – and how to choose the best non-toxic kitchen appliances for prepping and cooking well in the new year.
