Even if your life is no longer dictated by a school calendar, it’s a great time to give your kitchen or cooking routines a refresh.
We’ve gathered together the tools and equipment that help get each day off to a good start and ensure you end it with a good meal. The items featured below are all highly ranked models in their individual categories. From the best coffee maker to a trusted slow cooker, here are our favorite back-to-school kitchen tools.
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Technivorm Moccamaster KBT
A breeze to set up and brew, this simple machine is ideal for those who want a cup of coffee as quickly as possible when they wake up. The key technology is hidden inside the body of the brewer: Its powerful copper heating element transfers heat rapidly and steadily, so the water quickly reaches the ideal temperature zone. A thermal carafe ensures the coffee stays hot for hours. Read our review.
Zojirushi Stainless Mug SM-SHE48
A great on-the-go companion, this well-insulated travel mug kept drinks hot for 10 hours and cold for 6 in our tests. It’s easy to open and close; the locking mechanism prevents the lid from accidentally popping open. Its narrow build makes it easy to carry, and it can be tucked into a backpack without taking up too much space. Read our review.
Breville Barista Express
If your morning routine involves a latte or other elaborate coffee drinks, then chances are good that you’ve already considered getting yourself an espresso machine. We think that semiautomatic models are best for most people. Our winner features a built-in grinder and steam wand so that you can grind coffee beans, brew espresso, and steam milk. Have a smaller kitchen? You may prefer the Breville Bambino Plus, which lacks a built-in grinder but boasts a compact footprint. Read our review.
Instant Pot Pro 8Qt
A multicooker is a versatile appliance, able to braise, pressure-cook, sear, and steam. It’s an asset when meal-prepping. Our winning model is spacious and does every task well. It also has an easy-to-navigate interface for various programming needs. Our Best Buy, the Cosori 6.0-Quart Pressure Cooker, offers great value for its small size. We were impressed with its performance in both slow cooking and pressure cooking. Read our review.
Beast Mega 1200
A personal blender is a great thing to have this time of year. The blending jar often doubles as a portable mug when fitted with a travel lid, a clever configuration that allows you to bring your favorite smoothie on the go. But these blenders are good for so much more than smoothies. We also like them for sauces and vinaigrettes or other salad dressings. Our winner is intuitive to use and blends everything to perfection, making exceptionally smooth beverages and dressings. We also recommend a more affordable option, the Nutribullet Personal Blender; it made great salad dressings, but the smoothie was a touch icier than the one made in our winning blender. Read our review.
(re)zip Gallon Bag 4-Pack
To store batch-cooked meals or pack lunches and snacks, food storage bags are sometimes the most convenient and practical option. In our tests, our winning reusable storage bags kept everything—from soup to pork chops—in perfect condition in the freezer for more than a month. We also liked how easy the bags were to clean. A less pricey alternative is our disposable winner, the Ziploc Freezer Bags Gallon. These bags were sturdy and reliable; the seal stayed intact even when dropped from a counter. Read our review.
Presto Flipside Belgian Waffle Maker
New school year, new breakfast routine. This simple-to-use waffle maker is quick, making golden-brown, tender waffles in about 4 minutes. The timer conveniently alerts you when the waffles are 1 minute away from being done, so you can be ready to slide them onto a plate and top them with butter and syrup. We like to make a batch on the weekend, freeze them, and pop individual waffles in the toaster for quick weekday breakfasts. Read our review.
Breville Smart Oven
We’ve tested toaster ovens for years, and nothing has emerged to outcompete the Breville Smart Oven. It cooks and bakes everything evenly and consistently, from cookies to roasted chicken. Thanks to its impressively intuitive controls and easy-to-use features, we could use the toaster oven straight out of the box and didn’t need to spend time decoding cryptic symbols or consulting the user manual each time we wanted to use a different setting. Read our review.
KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Chopper
To tackle small-batch blending, chopping, and mincing, we find a small food processor handy and convenient. It’s compact, lightweight, and doesn’t require hauling in and out of the cabinet to use. With a moderate 3.5-cup capacity, our favorite model can quickly and reliably make a creamy, perfectly emulsified salad dressing or a marinade with uniformly chopped garlic and herbs. Read our review.
Hamilton Beach Temp Tracker 6 Quart Slow Cooker
A slow cooker can help make easy, flavorful, and nutritious meals for anyone who’s a little strapped for time. Our favorite model is easy to operate and produces consistent results, braising foods gently and turning out perfectly cooked dishes every time. A bonus: The latches on the lid make it easy to transport for potlucks and other functions. Read our review.
Zojirushi 5.5-Cup Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker & Warmer
Rice cookers sometimes get labeled “unitaskers,” but they can cook quinoa, bulgur, and other grains just as reliably as they can different styles of rice. They can be a real boon to weeknight cooking. Once you get the rice and water into the machine, it does the rest, allowing you to focus on cooking the mains while it steams your rice to perfection. Read our review.
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