"I tested this all-in-one machine and shocked myself by falling in love. It functions as a top-notch food processor and cooker, and is full of delightful design touches, such as easy-release buttons right in the handles of the workbowl so that it’s a cinch to put on and take off. The stainless-steel bowl is sturdy. All the parts go in the dishwasher. The control panel is intuitive, with more than 200 recipes built in—but it was also simple to use our own recipes. I loved the food I cooked in it, from grains, vegetables, and soups to main dishes and desserts." -LM
Lisa’s 2020 Holiday Gift Guide
This week Lisa shares her personal picks for the holiday season.
As an executive editor of our Reviews team and an America’s Test Kitchen cast member, Lisa McManus knows about kitchen equipment. For years, she has dedicated herself to finding kitchen tools that are worth home cooks’ money. This week Lisa shares her personal picks for the holiday season including what she hopes her husband (cough, cough) might give her. From great stocking stuffers, such as our favorite travel mug, to a splurge-worthy indoor pizza oven, each item featured here is a top performer in its category.
—Carolyn Grillo, Associate Editor, ATK Reviews
"Our test kitchen’s favorite food processor is tough as nails, quiet as a purring kitten, and simply outperforms the competition. Best of all, it’s easy to monitor progress and to clean, and its compact profile is simple to store." -LM
"Keeping your kitchen knives sharp is one key to enjoying cooking and this sharpener makes that easy. In about 2 minutes, it can restore the most damaged, dull knife to razor sharpness." -LM
"If you know me, you know I love coffee. Grinding the beans right before brewing is one of the best ways to boost the flavor of your brew. This burr grinder is our favorite, with plenty of settings to customize your grind, hands-off operation, and a handy drawer to collect and transfer the coffee for brewing." -LM
"Coffee experts found that the coffee from this simple blade grinder was indistinguishable to the same beans from the burr grinder, so for a highly compact bargain option, this model is a great choice." -LM
"We had so much fun—and so much truly great pizza—when we were testing this countertop indoor pizza oven. If you know someone who loves making pizza, this is a wonderful choice." -LM
"For me, other pizza cutters just don’t compare to this big, sharp wheel. The comfy handle and tall blade that doesn’t get jammed or drag toppings make slicing every type of pizza a cinch." -LM
"If you love both cooking and car camping, like me, this stove is a big step up from the basic camp stove. It gives you the cooking space and the excellent heat control that you need to feed hungry outdoorspeople." -LM
"Make your favorite coffee drinks like a pro with this compact tool that works like a mini immersion blender. A great stocking stuffer." -LM
"For hands-off operation, this pitcher-style frother beat the competition and lets you specify the exact style of frothed milk you want for perfect cappuccino or latte." -LM
"This convenient shaker with built-in strainer and reamer is a compact all-in-one tool for your home mixology. Pair it with How To Cocktail and it’s a terrific gift." -LM
"This petite rolling pin is a great way to get kids involved in the kitchen. Pair it with The Complete Baking Book for Young Chefs and you’ll start making memories together." -LM
"This sleek, compact, easy-to-hold travel mug keeps coffee and tea searingly hot for hours on end, and does the reverse for cold drinks. The locking cap and pop up lid make it safe to carry and easy to drink from without spills. And it comes in several very cute colors, too." -LM
"I may have a half-dozen different kinds of measuring spoons at home, but I just bought myself a set of these because, frankly, no others really compare. Their accuracy is impeccable, their sturdy stainless-steel construction never bends, it’s easy to sweep across the bowl and handle with a leveling knife to measure perfectly, and their oval shape slides right into narrow spice jars."
"Since baking more bread while working at home, I’ve come to realize that even the sharpest knives don’t work as well as a dedicated lame with a razor blade to score loaves without squashing, dragging, and deflating the dough. If you know a baker who likes to cut fancy designs into their bread, this tool is a must." -LM
"For times when a full-size whisk won’t do (and there are surprisingly many), this little one is just right. A great stocking stuffer." -LM
"I will never not love these. Sharp, simple, and with 11 (!) sizes to choose from, these cutters in their terrific little compact tin will spark creativity and dare I say, joy?" -LM
"This is an excellent pan and a comparatively inexpensive gift that will last many lifetimes. And everyone can always use another cast-iron skillet, in my opinion. Whether you’re searing steak or frying chicken, baking cornbread, roasting a chicken, —or making a giant chocolate chip cookie, this pan will do the job." -LM