Coffee is almost a religion for my Mediterranean-born husband. So, imagine our horror when our ancient De’Longhi coffee machine gave up the ghost. We considered a simple replacement, but the coffee world has moved on in recent years. Machines needing ground coffee are no longer the norm – bean-to-cup makers have taken over.
So, after much agonising, we dropped a cool £500 on the Sage Barista Express Bean-to-Cup Coffee Machine at John Lewis. Order has been restored. But it got me wondering what else we should consider replacing in our kitchen, and what gadgets I should save up and make space for.
I asked the experts for their view on what’s currently worth buying.
These offer instant boiling water at the touch of a button. "Prices have come down a lot," says kitchen expert Hayley Gilbert.
"Having instant boiling water available saves time, energy and money, as you don’t need to wait for the kettle and you only use the precise amount of water you need.
"Why not upgrade to a four- or five-in-one that offers cold, hot, boiling, filtered cold and sparkling water?"
Whizz-bang new ovens may come and go (even new AI varieties are emerging), but the Aga still wears the crown. Innovation ensures that these ovens remain cutting-edge and covetable – despite their eye-watering price tag.
"Agas are unrivalled for wintry roasts and slowly simmered stews," says Meike Beck, Good Housekeeping’s former cookery director.
Specialist kitchen journalist Lindsay Blair agrees: "One of Aga’s latest launches is the ERA, its first all-glass and all-electric model. It adds a contemporary edge to the much-loved classic appliance."
A fridge with two doors that open outwards from the middle, this offers wide shelves that are easy to access. The doors can be opened independently or together, and most versions have a freezer below the doors.
"It has been revolutionary," enthuses Beck. "It is eye height, deep, spacious and easy to keep organised. The double doors mean that neither is heavy and you don’t have to move out of the way when opening.
"The freezer below is super-practical. Smeg and Liebherr fridges are fantastic, but my head will never again be turned by single doors."
The newest-trending gadget.
What’s said to be special about the Wonder Oven is its steam infusion technology, which uses a small amount of water to give a crispy exterior and moist interior to food. Moreover, it’s a six-in-one counter-top appliance that can air fry, bake, roast, grill, reheat and toast, and it heats up significantly faster than a conventional oven.
"I’d say that the Wonder Oven is a good addition to small kitchens or where you only need to cook for one or two at a time," says Blair. "Or if you rent and want to add an extra appliance that adds some colour, too."
However, Blair remains cautious: "Their longevity remains to be seen, so it may be worth not jumping on this trend too early."
These hobs have integrated extraction, doing away with bulky overhead hoods.
"An extraction hob removes cooking odours and steam at source," says Gilbert. "It stops the kitchen from feeling greasy and food odours from creeping into your open-plan dining or seating area.
"BORA and Novy are top-of-the-range, but for a more realistic price and still excellent quality, I’d look at Miele or Siemens."
New research from kitchen installation company Wickes put the air fryer almost on a par with the microwave as Britain’s most used appliance (35.7% vs 37.1%).
And with good reason, according to Gilbert: "Air fryers have evolved so much in recent years, with double-drawer or stacked-drawer versions, and now a new model has launched from Fritaire that is self-cleaning, and has a glass bowl (so you can keep an eye on cooking progress), a rotisserie and an air stand for dehydrating foods."
For small households, where filling a full-size dishwasher takes a while – often resulting in residue smells building up – the new, smaller-scale dishwasher drawers are a godsend.
They have a punchy price tag but are worth considering as part of a kitchen upgrade. "When I redesigned my parents’ kitchen, this was a top priority and there have been no regrets," says Beck.
"But make sure to pick a trusted and quality brand, and go for the best you can afford. The cheaper ones often don’t last, and dripping wet crockery when a cycle is finished is just irritating."
The word ‘pantry’ may evoke Downton Abbey days, but they are very much de rigeur for anyone having a kitchen installed right now.
"Kitchen design firms have been brilliant at coming up with pantries of different sizes, so there are options even for small kitchens," says Gilbert.
"They’re especially useful for awkward corner areas. With open shelving, worktop space, drawers, pull-outs, racks and rails, they keep things organised and easy to find, and it’s all out of sight when they're closed.
"In big kitchens, walk-in designs are great for storing cookware, crockery and more."
The long-lasting claims of many non-stick pans often prove far-fetched. Happily, HexClad pans appear to be the real deal.
Made from stainless steel with a brand-specific TerraBond ceramic non-stick coating, the pans offer good temperature control, have stay-cool handles, and are dishwasher-safe, oven-safe to high temperatures, suitable for induction hobs, metal-utensil-friendly and backed with a lifetime guarantee.
"I have HexClad pans and, so far, the non-stick is holding out really well," says Beck. "Plus, they are light and easy to look after."
For a keen cook, is there anything more irritating than roasting a joint perfectly, only to see the designated carver hacking away at it with a knife that simply isn’t sharp enough?
Or witnessing a beautifully bouncy Victoria sponge annihilated by a blunt cake knife? Enter the first home-sharpening machine that hones the entire bevel of the knife, not just the outer edge.
"Easy to use and not at all scary to operate, the Tormek knife sharpener keeps blades sharp, actually making them safer," says Gilbert. "It ensures that they last longer, so it’s a more sustainable solution than buying new knives every few years."
(Hero image credit: Getty Images)
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