Your must-buy kitchen accessories for the summer
Give your kitchen a summer makeover with these accessories that will bring the sunshine into your home
A new set of table linen or even a plant pot can add a bright and fresh touch for the warmer season. So, whether you're throwing a barbecue or entertaining guests this summer, read our guide for the best accessories to kit your kitchen out with… And if you haven't quite sorted out your summer menu, check out our best summer recipes. If you're after something a bit lighter, take a look at our summer salad recipes and healthy summer recipes. For more kitchenware inspo, read our 10 expert tips for designing your kitchen. We've also chosen the best summer cookbooks to buy for fresh recipe inspiration. As the seasons change, look ahead with our best autumn home decor ideas for a kitchen makeover. Take a look inside beautiful kitchens for some interiors inspiration – see inside chef Jason Atherton's kitchen or food writer Ed Smith's bold orange design. Best summer kitchen accessories La Redoute Olympe Sunny cotton napkins Available from La Redoute (£14/set of 2) The prettiest addition to a summer tablescape, these cheery cotton napkins will bring the sunshine, whatever the weather. Daylesford Organic Wildflower Collection Available from Daylesford Organic (from £5) We've fallen head over heels for the new Wildflower Collection from Daylesford Organic. Made by artisans in India and with English meadow-inspired illustrations by Hugo Guinness, the collection comes in shades of blue and white and is comprised of everything from tablecloths and napkins to platters, bowls, serving mats and glassware. KS Creative Pottery Available from KS creative pottery (from £12), Whistles (from £30) This Sicilian-inspired tableware by potter Kate Sellers is meticulously designed, and hand-finished in her Staffordshire studio. With designs that feature pastel candy stripes and playful faces, it’s sure to add a touch of Italian sunshine and humour to any summer tablescape. Summerill & Bishop Herb Garden linen Available from Summerhill & Bishop (£295) copy" alt="Herb Garden Linen Tablecloth from £295_Summerill & Bishop_1[1] copy" classes=""] copy" alt="Herb Garden Linen Tablecloth from £295_Summerill & Bishop_1[1] copy" classes=""] copy" alt="Herb Garden Linen Tablecloth from £295_Summerill & Bishop_1[1] copy" classes=""] copy" alt="Herb Garden Linen Tablecloth from £295_Summerill & Bishop_1[1] copy" classes=""] copy" alt="Herb Garden Linen Tablecloth from £295_Summerill & Bishop_1[1] copy" classes=""] copy" alt="Herb Garden Linen Tablecloth from £295_Summerill & Bishop_1[1] copy" classes=""] copy" alt="Herb Garden Linen Tablecloth from £295_Summerill & Bishop_1[1] copy" classes=""] Bring the essence of an aromatic herb garden to the table with this botanical tablecloth and napkins in 100% French linen by Summerill & Bishop. It’s a visual feast of herbs including chives, rosemary, thyme, parsley, verbena, mint and lavender which creates a striking backdrop to any outdoor picnic. M&S Ikat picnic side plates Available from M&S (£10.50) Brighten up your picnic kit with these colourful melamine plates from M&S, great for dining al fresco without having to worry about anything getting broken. Sous Chef abstract enamel colander Available from Sous Chef (£49.99) Jazz up your kitchen with this cheerful colander that will add an instant splash of colour. Draining pasta never looked so stylish. Anthropologie floral vase Available from Anthropologie (£18) Display your summer blooms in this elegant, hand-painted vase – we love the pretty pink and orange tones. Wade Ceramics Gluggle jug Available from Amazon(£44.50), Graham and Green (£45) Impress your guests and liven up your dinner party with this quirky ceramic jug that gurgles as you pour. It's available in a range of colours, from sunshine yellow to pastel pink. Oliver Bonas shell salt and pepper shakers Available from Oliver Bonas (£19.50) Channel the memories of a seaside summer holiday with this quirky salt and pepper shaker set. They'll make a great talking point at the dinner table when entertaining. Bordallo Pinheiro strawberry serving dish Available from John Lewis & Partners (£29) Make a seasonal statement with this bold strawberry platter. Pile it high with berries or use it to serve up nibbles with pre-dinner drinks. Lékué ice cube tray Available from Lakeland (£19.99) A practical purchase that will keep you stocked with ice all summer long, this is our pick if you need a new ice cube tray. The clever system makes 33 honeycomb-shaped ice cubes at once, which can then be tipped into the storage box below while you freeze another batch in the lid. Say goodbye to warm drinks! Sous Chef octopus terracotta bottle Available from Sous Chef (£43) This funky terracotta bottle – filled with fruity oil made with olives from Italy’s Apulia region – will make a great focal point for the dining table or add a pop of colour to your kitchen shelves. Le Creuset Signature cast iron shallow casserole Available from Amazon (£213.75), Le Creuset (£249) Rustle up midweek risottos in this shallow casserole dish in a smouldering volcanic shade of orange. It’s pretty enough to take straight from the oven or hob to the table. For more ideas, visit our Le Creuset deals round-up. More home and interiors guides Kitchen Haven: Michelin-starred chef Aktar Islam 10 expert tips for designing your kitchen Kitchen Haven: Kate Watson-Smyth 15 foodies share their best hack for easy entertaining Gurdeep Loyal's best homeware brands to discover Your must-buy kitchen accessories for the summer Best cutlery sets Best cookware brands for pan sets, casserole dishes and more 20 best marble kitchen accessories 11 best spice rack ideas Best Ninja air fryers to buy Gozney vs Ooni: which pizza oven to buy Best BBQ gifts Best cocktail accessories The best picnic guide accessories Best foodie books for the summer Best summer beers to try
Spiralizers are a nifty kitchen gadget for creating gorgeous spirals of fruit and veg. Spiralized courgette in particular makes a delicious, healthy alternative to spaghetti. We’ve tested five spiralizers to suit any budget, so read on to find out which is right for you
You can cut thin slices of courgette into strips by hand of course, but it's worth investing in a spiralizer to speed up the process when you're making a lot of courgetti. Courgetti are thin strands of courgette that can take the place of noodles or spaghetti. They need very little cooking, can be eaten raw, and are a gluten-free, low-carb way to turn dishes into substantial meals. But spiralizers aren’t limited to courgetti – they can be used make vegetable ‘spaghetti’ from carrots, butternut squash, beetroot and loads more. There are different styles of spiralizer, from crank-handle to automatic models. We've tested a range for different budgets, putting the spiralizers through their paces with carrot, cucumber, courgette and potato. Our expert reviews team have put hundreds of products to the test to help you choose the best appliances for your home. If you're trying your hand at baking, read our guides to the best stand mixers and best bundt tins. Got your eye on an air-fryer? Check out our guide to the best Ninja air-fryers for all the information you'll need. Dabbling in eating less animal products? Read our guide to the best plant milk makers. 6 of the best spiralizers at a glance Best all-rounder spiralizer: ProCook spiralizer, £15 Best compact spiralizer: Joseph Joseph Spiro spiralizer, £18 Best affordable spiralizer: Habitat spiralizer, £7.50 Best spiralizer for courgetti: OXO Good Grips spiralize, grate & slice set, £32 Best electric spiralizer: Magimix Spiral Expert kit, £119 Best blow-out spiralizer: Chiba Kaiten Japanese spiralizer, £79.95 Best spiralizers to buy in 2024 ProCook spiralizer Available from ProCook (£15) Star rating: 4.5/5 Best all-rounder spiralizer This sturdy spiralizer from ProCook is industrial in design and would fit well in a modern kitchen. We were impressed by the weightiness of this model as soon as we got it out of the box, which, coupled with the strong suction feet, means there's little chance of it moving on the countertop while being used. Despite coming with just two blade settings (fewer than other spiralizers on test), we were impressed by the spiralizing results. Our cucumber didn't go mushy at all, producing long spaghetti-shaped strands. This was also the only manual spiralizer on test which used the whole vegetable rather than the blades cutting around a central column, meaning there was significantly less waste. Available from: ProCook (£15) Habitat spiralizer undefined Star rating: 4.5/5 Best affordable spiralizer Coming with a large storage container, making clearing up a breeze, this spiralizer from Habitat was intuitive to use and gave great results. It comes with a choice of three blades and has a lever at the base to control the suction to the countertop, which is a welcome safety feature. We used the smallest blade to spiralize a cucumber which produced long, satisfying noodles. On the larger blades we made thicker noodles of potato, which we used for a savoury potato rosti. undefined Joseph Joseph Spiro spiralizer undefined Star rating: 4/5 Best compact spiralizer This hand-spiralizer works similarly to a giant pencil sharpener, where you twist a vegetable into the base and the blade cuts it into spaghetti-shaped ribbons. It comes with two accessories for large or finer ribbons and a third for grating. The compact design makes this model easy to store compared to more traditional crank-handle models. On test our potato and courgette spiralized well, with a little breakage resulting is slightly shorter strands. We found it very difficult to spiralize a carrot as it was too long and narrow, making small curls rather than the long pasta-like strands we were hoping for. undefined OXO Good Grips spiralize, grate & slice set undefined Star rating: 4/5 Best spiralizer for courgetti This is a versatile piece of kit with two blades for grating and one to mandoline as well as the spiralizing blade. These blades fit neatly together inside the storage box, which doubles as a container for the sliced vegetables. We found this spiralizer worked better with some vegetables than others. This was likely due to the manual turn, which meant we often had to adjust our hand position with every half turn rather than being able to spiralize continuously. This meant that more brittle or soft vegetables like carrot and cucumber broke up rather than maintaining long strands. However, our potato and courgette both spiralized well, resulting in long noodles. undefined Magimix Spiral Expert kit undefined Star rating: 4/5 Best electric spiralizer Part of Magimix's range of accessories, the spiralizer works with food processor models 4200XL, 5200XL and new models of the 3200XL. It's essentially a new lid to fit onto the main bowl of the food processor, allowing you to feed vegetable through the automated spiralizing blades. It comes with three stainless steel cones which produce spaghetti-, tagliatelle- and fusilli-shaped vegetables. On test we found that, to get the long strands we were after, the vegetables had to have sustained contact with the cutting blade. This was easier to achieve with some vegetables than others and meant that, where we couldn't keep contact, we were left with short strands rather than long noodles. undefined Chiba Kaiten Japanese spiralizer Available from UK Juicers (£79.95) Star rating: 3.5/5 Best blow-out spiralizer Coming in an eye-catching lime green, this spiralizer uses Japanese steel in the blades, which are sharp enough to cut through even tough vegetables with ease. It comes with a choice of three blades, the finest of which we used with a cucumber to produce a fine texture similar to a vermicelli noodle, which worked really well in our spiralized summer rolls. The absence of any suction cups on the feet means it's difficult to keep secure on the countertop, and we found we had hold it with a lot of pressure to keep it from moving around. Available from: UK Juicers (£79.95) Related content Courgetti recipes Best bean-to-cup machines Best coffee pod machines Best espresso machines Best coffee gifts Best coffee gadgets and accessories Best Ninja air fryers Best Nutribullets KitchenAid deals
Go beyond a kettle and cafetière, and take your pick of our favourite coffee gadgets and accessories, from clever canisters to handy pod storage
It’s time to take your coffee to the next level with these handy coffee gadgets and accessories. Whether you’re an espresso aficionado or a filter fan, these coffee extras will give your classic brew a barista-style boost. Once you’ve got your equipment sorted, you’re just missing the coffee itself: sign up to a coffee subscription so you never run out. You can also head out to one of our best barista courses and learn some new skills to put to use in your kitchen. For even more inspiration, our guide to the best gifts for coffee lovers includes everything from coffee perfume to games and books. Looking for a saving? Take a look at our recommendations on the best Nespresso offers. Best coffee gadgets and accessories to buy in 2023 Grind One coffee pod machine Available from Grind (£295), Amazon (£390, machine, frother + 60 pods), Anthropologie (£285) Cult coffee brand Grind have teamed up with Swedish experts Sjöstrand to create its Grind One machine, a sleekly paired-back gadget compatible with Nespresso pods, that’s as graceful as it is industrial. Three rails around its top means there’s a practical espresso cup warmer to take advantage of; an unusual feature for a coffee pod machine. Check out our full review of the Grind coffee machine here. Available from: Grind (£295) Amazon (£390, machine, frother + 60 pods) Anthropologie (£285) undefined Ember temperature control smart mug Available from Amazon (£129.95), Currys (£149.95) Take your coffee high-tech with this smart mug from Ember. It allows you to set the exact temperature you desire, so your coffee is never too hot or too cold – also good if you like delicate herbal or green teas. The mug keeps the drink at your chosen temperature for one-and-a-half hours, so you don’t have to gulp it quickly. It’s all linked up to an app where you can set the temperatures for different brews and be notified when a drink is ready. There are two sizes, various colours to choose from and even a travel version for £180. Latest Deals 40-pod rotating Nespresso coffee storage Available from Wayfair (£16.99) If you’re an avid user of your Nespresso or other coffee pod machine, you’ll appreciate this chic rotating coffee pod stand. It clears your counter and makes a colourful statement. Available from: Wayfair (£16.99) Pour-over coffee maker Latest Deals Forget messy and wasteful coffee filter papers and invest in this Bodum model with a permanent filter. It’s made from stainless steel, so it won’t trap flavours or essential oils while allowing the coffee to evenly drip into the glass carafe below. The cork grip makes it safe to pour your finished cup, and as a bonus the carafe is dishwasher-safe. Latest Deals Wacaco Minipresso espresso maker Latest Deals An espresso maker that fits in a handbag, this is a very handy gadget that means you don’t need to compromise on the quality of your coffee even when on the go. This manual 5-part maker produces a seriously good single espresso. Read our full review of the Wacaco minipresso. Latest Deals SMEG ECF01 espresso machine Latest Deals Unmistakably SMEG in its design, this espresso machine is deceptively simple. Behind its trio of buttons lies the option to tailor everything from coffee quantity and automatic shut-off timings to the water temperature. Its milk steamer wand is also incredibly efficient. Read our full SMEG ECF01 espresso machine review. Latest Deals Gaggia Magenta Plus bean-to-cup coffee machine Available from Gaggia (£589) and Gaggia UK Direct (£589) The Gaggia Magenta is an elegant, statement machine complete with a professional milk steamer wand and 250g bean hopper capacity. Within its espresso function, the coffee temperature, quantity and grind-sizes are all adjustable. It also arrives with a 500g bag of Gaggia Intenso coffee beans which is a nice touch to get you started. Read our full Gaggia Magenta Plus review. Available from: Gaggia (£589) Gaggia UK Direct (£589) undefined Bodum travel mug Latest Deals If you’re looking to upgrade from your current thermos, Bodum’s practical travel mug is a quality pick for all varieties of portable coffee. Made of high-quality stainless steel, plastic, rubber and silicone, it features an insulated double wall system and an exterior which stays cool when the contents is piping hot. Latest Deals Stojo collapsible pocket cup Available from Amazon (£13.99) This coral pink reusable coffee cup with lid and heat sleeve collapses into a leak-proof disk so you can throw it straight into your bag. It’s light and very compact. Available from: Amazon (£13.99) undefined Lavazza A Modo Mio MilkEasy milk frother Latest Deals Lavazza’s ‘MilkEasy’ is one of the easier, more efficient electric frothers on the market. Simply fill with milk up to one of the markings (you can heat up to 180ml or froth 120ml), press the button once for hot froth, twice for hot milk or thrice for cold froth for iced coffees or lattes. Read our guide to the best milk frothers to buy. Latest Deals Barista & Co. coffee scoop Measure the perfect cup of coffee in style with this sleek scoop. The deep sides and cleverly tapered edge of the spoon make it simple and comfortable to use. It also has measuring marks for the most accurately formulated brew. undefined Aeropress Brew Bundle Available from Kiss the Hippo (£44.50) and Chimney Fire Coffee (£35) The AeroPress carefully brews coffee direct into a mug, and along with this the bundle contains the filter papers you need, a bag of single origin Colombian coffee (choose whole bean or medium ground, ready for the AeroPress) as well as a handy tote bag. Read coffee expert Celeste Wong's guide to perfecting AeroPress coffee at home here. Available from: Kiss the Hippo (£38) Chimney Fire Coffee (£35) Zoku iced coffee maker When a heatwave hits, a cooling cup is just the thing. This clever iced coffee-maker chills a hot coffee in 5-10 minutes without the need for adding ice, so no more watery brews. The stainless steel mug needs to be frozen overnight, then you slide it into the insulated sleeve (multiple colours are available), pour in your coffee and leave for 5-10 mins to chill. The travel mug and straw mean it’s great for on the go – perhaps, a drink in the park when the sun is out. undefined Atmos 1.2-litre vacuum canister Available from Amazon (£40) Keep coffee beans fresh with this vacuum canister. An improvement on a standard storage jar, the vacuum seal removes oxygen and prevents oxidisation, so your coffee beans don’t lose their delicate flavour or aroma. While coffee is always best freshly ground, if you grind too much this is handy to prevent it going stale. Available from: Amazon (£40) Bialetti milk froth pitcher Latest Deals Despite many coffee machines having a milk steaming wand, not all provide a milk steaming jug. This simply designed vessel will make frothing milk much easier, with a professional drip spout for carefully pouring foam – perfect if you’re attempting some delicate latte art. Latest Deals Want to learn more about becoming an expert at-home barista? Read our guides here: Celeste Wong's guide to becoming an overnight coffee expert Celeste Wong's guide on how to make iced coffee Celeste Wong's best moka pots Celeste Wong's best coffee grinders Celeste Wong's best gooseneck kettles to try Celeste Wong's best decaf coffee to try Celeste Wong's best reusable and compostable espresso pods Celeste Wong's best coffee beans to try Celeste Wong's best cafetières to buy Celeste Wong's best coffee bags Best coffee pod machines Best espresso machines Best Nespresso machines For coffee gifts and accessory guides, read on: Best coffee gifts Best coffee mugs Best coffee subscriptions More reviews Best chef's knives
We’ve rounded up some of the best whisks to suit every type of home cook. From simple-to-use handheld whisks ideal for whipping cream, egg whites or sauces, to the ultimate tabletop mixer for an easy way to create showstopping cakes or bakes
Looking for the best whisks to use at home? From automatic hand-held whisks to free-standing mixers, these are perfect for quick and easy fuss-free baking. All products have been chosen and reviewed independently by our editorial team. This page contains affiliate links and we may receive a small commission for purchases made, but this comes at no extra cost to you and helps us to continue providing top quality content for our loyal readers. Here's our pick of the best whisks and mixers to buy: Hand-held electric whisks Blow out: KitchenAid Hand Mixer, Almond Cream, £75, Amazon Whip up cream, egg whites or silky-smooth buttercream in no time with this elegant and easy-to-use handheld whisk, ideal for a professional finish. This reliable whisk gradually increases in speed as you mix to guarantee splatter-free batter. The sophisticated beaters mean this is not only great for lighter mixtures but perfect for heavy mixtures, too. Buy now Mid-range: Breville Heatsoft Hand Mixer, Silver, £69.99, John Lewis Whether you need to whip up a simple batter or something more complicated, get the job done quickly with this stylish handheld whisk. No need to wait for your butter to soften to make that cake, as this mixer will gradually soften it with its impressive HeatSoft tech. Buy now Budget: Kenwood Hand Mixer, White, £20.99, Amazon All home bakers need a good automatic whisk for silky smooth mixtures – this reliable, compact, handheld whisk is perfect for fuss-free baking. Buy now Hand-held manual whisks Balloon whisk: Vogue Light Whisk Stainless Steel, £6.74, Amazon Make light work of your creamy mixtures with this traditional whisk, a favourite with most home bakers for hassle-free whipping. Use this flexible balloon shape whisk for whisking sauces including beurre blanc, hollandaise and béarnaise. Buy now Mini whisk: KitchenCraft Stainless Steel Mini Magic Whisk, £2.50, Amazon Avoid lumpy gravies or sauces and create super-smooth mixtures with this small but compact tool. Buy now Flat whisk: Norpro 11-Inch Stainless Steel Flat Whisk, £10.99, Amazon Start whisking like a pro with this flat whisk that reaches the bottom of the pan, ensuring you are left with nothing sticking – great for sauces or gravies, plus it’s easy to store. Buy now Egg whisk: Joie Whiskie Egg Whisk, £3.99, Ocado This cute and comfortable handheld whisk makes a great stocking filler and will help to whip up your eggs for a quick weekend brunch. It’s compact so it’s great for small amounts of mixture. Buy now Coffee milk whisk: Aerolatte Milk Frother with Storage Tube, Black, £12.95, Amazon If you're a home barista that wants to impress, this is the secret weapon you need. The fast motor does the hard work so you can achieve the ultimate light, frothy coffee at home just like in your favourite coffee shop. Buy now Silicone whisk: Twist Whisk 2-in-1 Silicone Whisk, £13.00, Joseph Joseph Not only does this piece of equipment boast both a balloon and flat whisk shape, it is made from heat-resistant silicone so it won't scratch the bottom of your pan while beating. Buy now Multi-purpose whisk: Rotary Whisk, £12.99, Lakeland Whip away with this nifty whisk – great for small amounts of whisking, ensuring mixtures are light as air. The rotary function takes the effort out of mixing, as it beats xx times per rotation. Buy now Table-top electric whisk: KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer for Cake Mixing, £499.00, KitchenAid A tabletop stand mixer is the ideal piece of kitchen equipment for fuss-free baking, whether you’re after fast bread doughs, smoother butter creams and cake batters, or meringue that stands to attention. The KitchenAid combines timeless style (you can choose from 14 colours across its curvy, heavy-duty body, as well as personalise with your name and a jazzy bowl) with smart engineering and practicality. The 4.8- and 3-litre bowls that come as standard mean bulk baking is no issue. The mixer also comes with a wide range of tools, including a flat-beater and multi-tasking flex-edge beater (good for everything from frosting to cookie dough) as well as balloon whisk attachment, and a dough hook to make light work of kneading. Plus, you can make this investment piece work even harder with the purchase of additional accessories, including a speedy pasta maker, sausage maker, juicer, spiralizer and more. Buy now Related reviews Best baking turntables Best measuring spoons Best kitchen scales Best dough scrapers Best springform cake tins Best loaf tins Best bundt tins Best cookie cutters Best spatulas
Know someone who loves avocados? From patterned tea towels to avocado trees, we've rounded up the best themed kitchen items to give as gifts (or maybe keep for yourself)
Looking for birthday present ideas for an avocado fan? Seeking the ultimate foodie presents but don’t know where to start? We’ve found the best avocado-related kitchen items, from avocado tea towels and salt and pepper shakers (to season your avocado on toast with), to avocado cookbooks and more… How better to deliver your avocado gift than on an avocado breakfast tray, complete with an avocado rose or avocado on toast – check out our best avocado recipes here All products have been chosen and reviewed independently by our editorial team. This page contains affiliate links and we may receive a small commission for purchases made, but this comes at no extra cost to you and helps us to continue providing top quality content for our loyal readers. Avocado lunch box – Amazon, £5.99 Keep your sarnies intact in this cute, compact lunch box. We have plenty of healthy lunch box inspiration here to try... Buy it here The avocado cookbook – Amazon, £9.99 If your Instagram feed is filled with avocado toast ideas (just us?), look no further for new inspiration for how to use this most versatile fruit. Delve into Heather Thomas’ dedicated avocado cookbook for everything from linguine with avocado pesto to Mexican brunch burritos. Or check out our exciting recipes here... Buy it here Avocado spoon rest – Not On The High Street, £12.50 This useful little spoon rest will keep your worksurfaces stain free – perfect for a stocking filler or birthday present. Buy it here Grow your own avocado tree – Amazon, £12.99 Don’t expect to be harvesting your own avocados any time soon, but this nifty, easy-to-use avo-shaped growing gadget will help bring some welcome greenery to your kitchen. Buy an avocado growing device here Avocado and coconut hand and body set – Oliver Bonas, £21.50 These stylish little pots will have your hands avocado-smooth in no time. Buy them here Avocado storage pod – John Lewis, £4 Keep your left-over avocado green and fresh for longer with this snazzy storage pod. Click here to buy an avocado storage pod Avocado socks – Monki, £3 Express your love for the avo and keep your toes warm while cooking in the colder months with these quirky socks. Get a pair here Avocado tea towel – Amazon, £3.25 Dry dishes equals happy avocados. Click here to buy it Avocado salt and pepper set – Amazon, £7.78 This cheery pair of shakers fit together for easy storage and brighten up your kitchen table. Buy avocado salt and pepper shakers here <a href="https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/gb/groceries/sainsburys-home-healthy-eating-avocado-tool-132767414-p?langId=44&storeId=10151&krypto=cQ3H1/sJNUA/FaPxFVCIjmvhLLEUjsE/di4zm4+g/eS+ctFyeWbywbqYhKhstsgemom8vFN2yJp0x0D1Ha9IX5WOGLfRwOJvRqqj6FPj4nyTf1Ozkbmp+aAEmdko56iQ&ddkey=https:gb/groceries/sainsburys-home-healthy-eating-avocado-tool-132767414-p" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" data-id="iframe-0-anchor-22">Avocado tool – Sainsbury's, £4.50 Cut, slice, scoop and remove the stone with this multi-functional avocado tool. <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=71026X1546147&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sainsburys.co.uk%2Fwebapp%2Fwcs%2Fstores%2Fservlet%2Fgb%2Fgroceries%2Fsainsburys-home-healthy-eating-avocado-tool-132767414-p%3FlangId%3D44%26storeId%3D10151%26krypto%3DcQ3H1%2FsJNUA%2FFaPxFVCIjmvhLLEUjsE%2Fdi4zm4%2Bg%2FeS%2BctFyeWbywbqYhKhstsgemom8vFN2yJp0x0D1Ha9IX5WOGLfRwOJvRqqj6FPj4nyTf1Ozkbmp%2BaAEmdko56iQ%26ddkey%3Dhttps%3Agb%2Fgroceries%2Fsainsburys-home-healthy-eating-avocado-tool-132767414-p" data-id="iframe-0-anchor-23">Buy it here Avocado bowl – John Lewis, £5 This stylish stoneware bowl is a quirky way to serve snacks, dips and, of course, guacamole. Click here to buy an avocado bowl Avocuddle card – Papier, £3.35 Avo-card-o. Know a fellow avocado fanatic? Send them your best wishes in this contemporary card. Click here to buy a card These are our best avocado recipes to make including: Arepas with eggs and avocado Griddled avocados with crab and chorizo Avocado and smoked salmon toasts Mexican salad tortilla bowls Avocado, kiwi and lime ice lollies
The best kitchen gadgets and accessories 2020
Our guide to the coolest kitchen gear to buy in 2020, from handmade textiles to pretty ceramics and even a kitchen bin to treasure
Check out our guide to the best kitchen gadgets and kitchen accessories to ensure you have the best kitchen design... Crockery Bake and ovenware Textiles and linen Gadgets and equipment Picnicware Homeware Crockery Porcelain plate. Boiled, fried or scrambled, use this quirky plate for your next plate of eggs. £25, store.wallpaper.com Stoneware cafetiere. Brew your coffee in ultra violet style. £57, lecreuset.co.uk Bake and ovenware Cast-iron casserole. Le Creuset’s new collection features this smouldering volcanic shade of orange in a shallow 26cm casserole. Pretty enough to take straight from oven to table. £235, lecreuset.co.uk Le Creuset casserole dish. We smartened-up our koji roast chicken in the March issue with Le Creuset’s latest colour, rosemary. Make your food look even more appealing and serve straight to the table. From £159, lecreuset.co.uk Textiles Mixed coast four-pack napkins. These chic monochrome napkins are screen-printed by hand and 10% of all profit made on them goes to the Happy & Co Farm in Cambodia. £20, happyandco.com Lara linen apron. Made with 100% linen, this apron is super soft, primed for spillages, and you can buy matching tea towels, all in a range of colours. £29.99, linenme.com Scholten & Baijings for Hay tea towel set. We’re dotty about this set… get it? £18, scp.co.uk Freesia Yellow Chevron Zigzag kitchen towel. Because if you’re landed with the drying up, you’ll need something jazzy to cheer you up. £11.85 each, zazzle.co.uk Usva napkins. These delicate linen napkins are as chic as they are practical – and will complement most neutral table schemes. £10 each, skandium.com Lobster cotton tea towel. Add some colour to your kitchen with a lobster or two. Ulster Weavers have specialised in textiles since 1880, so its 100% cotton tea towels are worth snapping up. £6.50, ulsterweavers.com Black organic cotton apron. Get on message (Virginia Woolf’s in this case) with this smart chalkboard-style apron. £29, finecellwork.co.uk Gadgets and equipment Krups. Easy to use, with burr grinders and 17 different settings to suit every type of coffee maker, this electric machine also has a cup capacity selector so you only grind what you need. £36, krups.co.uk Kitchen Aid stand mixer. Brighten up your kitchen with the freshness of spring with KitchenAid’s green apple stand mixer. £549.95, currys.co.uk Porlex. A firm favourite among coffee aficionados, this stainless steel, Japanese-made grinder features replaceable ceramic burrs and a simple mechanism that allows you to easily tweak the grind size to suit your brewing style. It’s also small enough to fit inside an Aeropress, if you’re short on storage. £43, workshopcoffee.com Books Forager’s calendar. Learn what’s in season, where to find it and how to use it in your cooking. £9.37, amazon.co.uk Breakfast cookbook. Shake up your mornings with cardamom buns, green banana porridge and roti prata. £24.99, amazon.co.uk Picnicware Bamboo forks.Take these eco-friendly eating irons on your next outing for a picture-perfect picnic spread. They’re made from sturdy bamboo so you can pop them in the dishwasher after. £7.74 for a set of six, smallable.com Barking side plate. Because what else would you want to serve your morning sausage sarnie from? £32 (set of four), joules.com Miko the Panda bowl. This sweet bowl is made from sustainable bamboo. £3.95, dotcomgiftshop.com Homeware Retro prints. Splash burgers, spaghetti and sushi across your walls. £23.95, etsy.com Daisy Dining Chair Yellow. A classic design in a very on trend pastel palette. £39, very.co.uk Alto Saffron Yellow Kitchen Bin 32L. One person’s trash (can) is another person’s treasure. £30, habitat.co.uk Nomad Society Banana Pancakes candle. Light up one of these small-batch soy wax candles and tell your other half exactly what you fancy for brunch. From £15, osmology.co *All products have been chosen and reviewed independently by our editorial team. This page contains affiliate links and we may receive a small commission for purchases made, but this comes at no extra cost to you and helps us to continue providing top quality content for our loyal readers.
We look forward to summer barbecues all year round, but getting the equipment right is key. Deputy editor, Lulu Grimes, has put together her pick of the best barbecues you can buy, and what to avoid.
BIg Green Egg If you’re in a position to splash out, barbecues don’t come much better than the Big Green Egg. They’re inspired by Japanese mushikamados (traditional, round, clay rice-cookers) with top dampers and bottom draught doors. Big Green Eggs are made from high-fibre ceramics that were developed for the space shuttle programme, so they’re far less likely to crack. Because they cook closed, the heated air circulates, and the insulation and air vents mean the temperature can be controlled much more accurately than other charcoal barbecues (it’s best to use lumpwood charcoal, with no additives). There’s a temperature gauge, so you can get the heat just right for anything from slow-cooking ribs, to grilling, or baking pizza at 400C. The closed lid and air circulation mean it’s great for smoking too – an accessory called a plate-setter can be placed above the firebox so the food isn’t cooked directly, but by convected heat. Because Big Green Eggs can accurately barbecue, grill, smoke and bake, they’ve become popular in restaurant kitchens – Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons and The Chiltern Firehouse use them. O tested a MiniMax sized Big Green Egg (£550) to barbecue lamb marinated in pomegranate molasses and monkfish in lemon, thyme and cumin. The results had satisfying grill-char, were cooked-through, still succulent, and retained the flavours of the marinade while also taking on a delicate smokiness – pretty much the barbecue results you might fantasise about but would otherwise never achieve. Prices from £399 for a Mini up to £3,745 for an Extra Extra Large. Weber Charcoal Kettle Barbecue These come in different sizes, so choose one to suit the size of your garden and the amount you want to cook. They all have vents for controlling air flow, a lid, and the bigger models have built in thermometers and ash catchers. They’re easy to use and work well for grilling and smoking, you can even barbecue a whole turkey in the larger ones. You can take classes on how to use your Weber via grillacademy.co.uk. Price from £59.99, weberbbq.co.uk Disposable barbecues Not worth it – they rarely contain enough charcoal to cook much, and are impregnated with firelighter, which can taint the food. Besides which, they leave nasty burn marks on any grass you put them on. Buy a lightweight bucket barbecue with legs if you need portability. Outback Spectrum Hooded 3 Burner Gas Barbecue This is big. Half of it’s grill, the other half griddle. It has lava rocks under the grill, which vapourise any juices that drip through, creating smoke to flavour the food. It heats easily, which is a huge plus, but it’s heavy, so you can’t move it easily. £329.99, outbackdirect.co.uk You might also like Best ever BBQ recipes Best ever vegetarian BBQ recipes Full works burger this week we talk about mastering the art of low and slow on the barbecue olive magazine podcast ep58 - biscuit rituals, cooking low and slow, and food in Ithaca View oEmbed on the source website
Best kitchen gadgets for 2016, from spiralizers to grinders
Here are 2016’s must-have kitchen gadgets including spiralizers, mandolins, spice and nut grinders, stick blenders and microplanes.
Of course you’ll also need a chopping board, a wooden spoon or three, and a couple of decent knives, as well as a few cheaper items, but you don’t need to spend a fortune to start with, just what you can afford. Look in supermarkets and IKEA for saucepans, chopping boards, colanders etc. You can always upgrade when you have more cash. <a href="http://www.awin1.com/cread.php?id=489797&clickref=olivemagazine-7999&awinmid=1751&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lakeland.co.uk%2F70635%2FVegetable-Spiralizer%3Fgclid%3DCOXNi8jm3MMCFazMtAodvx0AxQ%26src%3Dgpute%26s_kwcid%3DAL%2149%213%2175170817731%21e%21%21g%21%21vegetable%2520spiralizer%2520lakeland%26ef_id%3DVNzRUgAAAWPbe%40dh%3A20150212161410%3As" target="_blank" rel="sponsored" data-id="iframe-0-anchor-0">VEGETABLE SPIRALIZER Why? The spiralizer (aka spiralschneider) is a monument to retro design. Spare in detail, 1970s avocado in colour, but highly efficient at what it is supposed to do.Three different cutting blades turn out spirals of ‘spaghetti’ and long curls of shaving. Courgettes, carrots and potatoes all go through easily, the veg are gripped firmly and the handle makes turning the veg effortless. Be warned though, the sharp blades and spikes need careful handling and washing – pronging yourself is easy. Cost: £29.99, lakeland.co.uk Click here for our brilliant spiralizer recipes BENRINER MANDOLINE Why? To cut wafer-thin radish slices for Japanese pickles, shave fennel for a salad and make light work of a potato dauphinoise you need a mandolin. This will also shred carrot and celeriac into fine matchsticks and speed up stir-fry chopping for a realistic 30-minute meal. I like this Japanese mandoline because it is compact and fits in my kitchen drawer, plus, I can sharpen the blade in my knife sharpener. Cost: These cost around £20, but you may find one marginally cheaper on ebay.co.uk. MAGIMIX MINI CHOPPER Why? You can use it to chop garlic and onions, or anything else for that matter. It will purée chickpeas to make houmous, make mayonnaise with the emulsifying blade, chop nuts and whizz together a batch of pastry. The blade is very efficient, so purées are smooth and chopped items evenly sized and lump-free. The bowl comes off so cleaning is simple and it’s heavy enough to stay steady. Cost: About £55, and a worthwhile investment. <a href="http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/gb/groceries/cooks-collection-copper-triply-lidded-saute-pan-24cm?langId=44&storeId=10151&krypto=LWylbD%2FxIDh%2FQqsQQHSHlz5mHqzHLGUUGZuXm4RH8VQhSUzGUIRW7cOivsBBNQz52EYdPBy%2F%2Btoi%0AsTnBU6PYW5KvQbAXSQPQSGs7XNiVtS1%2BDoLe%2BUy5G%2Bm6sFohKxZH&ddkey=http:gb/groceries/cooks-collection-copper-triply-lidded-saute-pan-24cm" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" data-id="iframe-0-anchor-11">SAINSBURY’S COOK’S COLLECTION TRI-PLY 24CM SAUTÉ PAN Why? A sauté pan with a lid has many uses. I like copper, and I don’t mind cleaning it, so this is my favourite at the moment. The non-stick surface conducts and distributes heat really well, it fries an egg and cooks bacon without trouble. I use it to make stews, tagines and curries and also paella, and because the handle goes in the oven (it is oven safe to 180C) I can start a piece of meat in it and then transfer it while making only one pan dirty. Its only downfall is that it won’t work on an induction hob. Cost: In the world of good quality pans this is not expensive at £60, and occasionally they come up in sales so keep your eyes peeled. CUISINART SG20 ELECTRIC SPICE AND NUT GRINDER Why? If you plan on making your own spice blends (freshly ground garam masala beats the pants off ready-bought) or curry pastes, grinding nuts or flavouring sugars with herbs, a decent grinder will save you lots of time. It does the job of a pestle and mortar and is more efficient than a mini chopper when you want a fine grind. You won’t know how you managed without it. Cost: £49.95 and worth every penny if Indian food features regularly in your life. MICROPLANE FINE GRATER Why? This will zest a lemon, lime or orange perfectly, turn garlic cloves and lumps of ginger to pulp, convert parmesan to fine shavings and grate nutmeg freshly. It is the original kitchen helper and, with its super sharp etched blades, really does have the edge on others. Buy a coarse one as well and you’ll have cheese and chocolate grating covered too. Cost: At £14.99, the Home Series is cheaper than some of the other microplane series. DELONGHI SCULTURA ECZ351 COFFEE MACHINE Why? If a coffee first thing in the morning is essential to you, a decent coffee machine will be paid for very quickly. The ECZ351 can be used with ground coffee or ESE pods, has a team pipe for milk and a cup warmer on top. It isn’t fully automatic, so you have to control the strength of your coffee but it gives a good crema. Cost: £199.95, which, versus cost of coffee bought by the cup over a year, is very reasonable. johnlewis.com BODUM HAND MIXER Why? A hand whisk is essential for baking. You can use it for small amounts of batter and a stand mixer won’t do justice to 1 egg white, so unless you are planning on making wedding cakes, a hand mixer may well be enough for you. Plus you can use it for other things; potatoes can be whisked to fluffy mash still in the saucepan, or a zabaglione knocked up in a bain marie. This Bodum mixer has a good motor and is comfortable to hold. Cost: The best price I’ve found is Tesco Direct’sat £29.95. SALTER AIR SUPER SLIM KITCHEN SCALES Why? A lot of recipes rely on precise weights, so if you want to get it right, you can’t function without scales. These fit in a drawer and the zero-weight mechanism means you can put whatever you want on them – I weigh straight into bowls, plastic boxes and saucepans or straight onto the stainless steel top. They also measure liquid in ml if you need them to. Cost: RRP £12.95 but often much cheaper on Amazon. OXO GOOD GRIPS ANGLED MEASURING JUG Why? Because bread-making, baking and anything else with a precise liquid measurement requires a jug rather than guestimating with a wine glass. This is a jug you can use looking down into, as well as through the side, which makes it ideal and it starts at 10ml which is great. Cost: A bargain at £6.99, lakeland.co.uk KENWOOD STICK BLENDER Why? This can do the job of a mini chopper if you don’t own one, and if you’re a heavy consumer of soups, you’ll find it a godsend. Efficient at making smooth purées, it has three blades instead of the usual two, a motor with plenty of welly, and the purée attachment means it’s not splashy (some brands are more so than others). The basic model is cheaper, but if you spend more you can have a whisk attachment for whipping egg whites and cream and a bowl for chopping nuts, garlic etc. Cost: The basic model is around £29.99 and the one with attachments £59.99. STELTON AJ PEPPER MILL Why? An efficient, well-made pepper grinder will last you a lifetime. This has the added joy of being very easy to refill: the rubber knob pulls out of the top and the peppercorns pour straight in. Mine is 10 years old and as good as the day it was bought. Cost: £59.95. Ask for it as a present. PEBBLE TIME SMART WATCH Why? If you're a gadget fan, the Pebble Time smartwatch is great fun. The novelty doesn't wear off, functionality isn’t compromised, and for usability it’s excellent. The pedometer apps (there are many) are handy – the FitCat app even doubles up as a tamagotchi. You can set daily goals and adjust the sensitivity in case you’re running or sat at a desk. The yelp app is perfect for quick bar reviews. It picks up your location and suggests nearby restaurants, bars and cafes, including a star rating, any reviews, and how close they are from where you’re standing. Select the one you’re interested in and the phone number and address pops up, too. Beware if you have small wrists – the watch face and strap are quite large! But the anti-scratch glass held up really well when we put it through its paces in the olive test kitchen. Plus although there's no text function, you can reply to messages using emoticons – just sending a straight forward yes or no, happy or sad face was great for quick responses. Cost: From £79.99 Reviewed by Anna Glover, olive magazine cookery writer Jawbone UP24 band Why? In terms of design, we love Jawbone bands. They're flexible, comfortable to wear and – to the best of our knowledge – waterproof; we soaked it accidentally once and it was fine. It's also easy to hook around your belt or ID badge, for people who need bare arms from the elbow down (like doctors). The UP24 band is pretty accurate at measuring steps (although just moving your hand sometimes registers as a 'step') and the information you get from the generated activity charts is also useful – especially the 'total burn' calculations. An inbuilt sleep tracker tells you how well you slept each night (match the results to what you did that evening/what time you went to bed), and the band also works alongside the MyFitnessPal app to log food and exercise – the two work together harmoniously. The only drawback we found with this wireless, Bluetooth operated band is the fact that constantly keeping it synced with your phone soon runs the phone's battery down. Just something to keep an eye on. Cost: From £89.99 UNDER A TENNER U-SHAPED POTATO PEELER: Lakeland has one at a bargain price that is sharp and efficient and has a big U which makes peeling easier. £2.49, lakeland.co.uk. FISH SLICE/TURNER: Buy a nylon one if you have non stick pans. You can often buy a set and get a big spoon and slotted spoon too. SAUCE WHISK: These are cheap as chips and are great for belting lumps out of sauce, whisking eggs together and making dressing quickly. MIXING BOWLS: Stacking bowls are easier to store. I like stainless steel or polypropylene as they are lighter than glass or ceramic. TIN OPENER: Although some tins have ring-pulls, plenty don’t. Buy one that suits your grip and consider electric if you find turning the key difficult. KITCHEN SCISSORS: Snip herbs, cut up pizza, joint chicken (buy ones with a groove for cutting through bones). A good pair of kitchen scissors can be used instead of a knife on lots of occasions. MEASURING SPOONS: Essential for baking when guessing isn’t good enough. Buy a set that ties together. A COLANDER: The JosephJoseph square colander has a good handle, knobbly feet on the base so you can put it down, and a shape that helps disgorge the contents easily. £9.50, johnlewis.com. A RUBBER SPATULA: I like spatulas with handles that won’t pull off easily, otherwise the top gets stuck in the mix. TONGS: Tongs are dead useful for turning things over, lifting pasta out of pans and moving hot ingredients around. If you have non-stick pans buy ones with rubber edges. You might also like What spiralizer to buy, how to make courgetti and our best healthy spiralizer recipes SodaStream Power 2015: gadget review Best BBQ gadgets 2015 Best ever courgette and courgetti recipes Courgetti, ricotta and tarragon tarts