Holiday 2026 · Gift guide
Two short lists: the new appliances that made our news this year, and the tools our own recipes lean on. We haven't tested these products, so we don't rank them. For the news picks we link the original reporting; for the tools we tell you what to look for.
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Each of these was in our news in the last few months and is listed on Amazon US: we opened the listing to check. The headline goes to the original report, so you can read about it before you buy.
Announced Nov 7, ecozy's Brezzano Switch is an entry-level home machine with a 20-bar pump and steam wand for espresso, plus a separate drip basket that brews one or two servings in about 75 seconds. It has PID temperature control, a color touchscreen with step-by-step guidance and one-touch self-cleaning, and is sold on Amazon in the US.
Cuisinart has started rolling out a Color Collection of 11 countertop appliances in shades such as Tahini, Sage, Bayside and Blush. The line covers a 4-quart glass air fryer, a 6-quart basket air fryer, a compact toaster oven air fryer, two ice cream makers, a 5-cup food processor, retro toasters and a kettle. They're sold at Cuisinart.com and other retailers including Amazon and Target, with more products and colors arriving through early 2027; no prices were given.
The Ninja Crispi Microwave and Air Fryer (MW101) pairs a 1,000W microwave with a 1,700W air-fry system and cooks in a 5.5-quart glass dish with a crisper plate, with no turntable. It lists at $449.99 in the US. It's Ninja's first microwave, aimed at replacing two countertop appliances with one.
Announced Oct 28 in the UK: Ninja's MultiPot XL multi-cooker has two pots that run different settings at the same time, or swaps in one 7-litre pot for big batches. Its functions include slow cook, sear, sous vide, simmer, rice, pasta and bake, up to 220°C, and the pots are oven-safe. It costs £259.99 in the UK; T3 lists a US price of $249.99.
Announced Oct 20: Anova's new top sous vide circulator runs at 1,600 W, moves 12 litres a minute, handles baths up to 100 litres and holds temperature within 0.05°C. It's built of metal, rated IPX7 waterproof and rated for 10,000 hours of continuous use, and Anova says it's quieter than the last Pro. It costs $299 at Anova's site and retailers including Amazon and Target.
The new All-in-One Combination Coffee & Espresso Machine (COM630BK) makes drip coffee, cold brew and espresso, now with a touch display and a footprint more than 20% smaller than before. It sells for $349.95 in the US. A sensible pick if you want one machine on the counter instead of two.
Tools our Weekend Recipes and family recipes use. We name the type of tool and what to look for, not a model. Each link opens an Amazon search for that type of tool (paid link).
The steak and roast cook
It stays in the meat while it cooks and sounds an alarm at the temperature you set, so a holiday roast or a reverse-seared steak comes out the way you planned.
Look for: A wired or wireless probe with an alarm, a clear display or app, and a probe thin enough for steaks as well as roasts.
The cook who hates dry pork and chicken
It clips to a pot they already own and holds the water at an exact temperature, which takes the guesswork out of chops, steaks and chicken breasts.
Look for: A sturdy clamp that fits different pots, controls on the unit itself so it works without an app, and enough power for a big pot.
The weeknight cook
It turns out a full dinner from one basket and frees the oven. Glass-bowl models were the trend in this fall's launches.
Look for: A basket big enough for the household (a wide, shallow one crisps better than a deep one), parts that go in the dishwasher, and a footprint that fits their counter.
Anyone with a thermometer or a circulator
Both of our steak and pork chop recipes finish with a fast sear in a very hot cast-iron pan. It's the other half of the gift.
Look for: About 12 inches, pre-seasoned, with a second helper handle, because a pan this size is heavy.
The sous vide cook and the bulk shopper
A zip-top bag works for sous vide, but a sealer makes it tidier, and it is handy for freezing food bought in bulk.
Look for: Bags or rolls that are easy to find, a pulse or gentle setting for soft foods, and a size they have room to store.
A stocking stuffer for any cook
The small tool that gets used every day: a quick check on chicken, bread, frying oil or the second spot on a turkey.
Look for: A reading in a few seconds, a thin tip, a display that's easy to read at an angle, and a water-resistant body.
The host
Our family dressing cooks in one for up to 4 hours, which frees the oven on the big day. The rest of the year it's stews and pulled pork.
Look for: About 6 quarts, a removable stoneware insert, separate high and low settings, and a lid that locks if they take food to potlucks.
A stocking stuffer for the gravy maker
It skims pan juices in seconds, which makes better gravy with less fuss.
Look for: Heat-safe, about 4 cups, with a low spout or a bottom release so the fat stays behind.
Cooking the big meal?
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