If you're shopping for something new, it’s important to be sure it’s a gadget that's reliable and easy to operate, as well as being something you’ll actually use.
While gadgets with lots of buttons and multiple settings might work for some, they're not for everyone – particularly if you have a busy lifestyle or want to focus on recipes rather than an instruction manual.
At Which?, our tests cover how simple a product is to use, meaning our experts are well-placed to recommend straightforward kitchen gadgets to help you master delicious, uncomplicated cooking.
Eat well, live better and stay healthy.Simple air fryers
Air fryers are still wildly popular. To help you find the best of the bunch, our lab test includes an ease of use measure – it makes up 20% of an air fryer's total score.
To help you grab an air fryer that's a breeze to operate, we assess how user-friendly the controls and instructions are, plus how easy it is to open and close the lid to add or get to your food.
Our expert says:
'Consumers love air fryers simply because they’re really handy kitchen appliances. They take barely any time to preheat, there’s no fuss with too many settings and they're usually quiet and fairly easy to clean, plus they can fry pretty much anything. What’s not to love?'
Manca Virant, air fryers expert, Which?We've tested a selection of air fryers with features designed to be easy to use, including:
To see which air fryers score top marks in our tests, see our guide to the .Simple multi cookers
The best multi cookers can tackle the same jobs that an air fryer can, plus take care of other specialist forms of cooking, such as pressure cooking and slow cooking.
To uncover the best multi cookers, we asked a panel of testers to follow the instruction and recipe booklets provided. The testers rated their experience on instruction clarity and usefulness of any recipes and cooking suggestions.
When testing a multi cooker, we also check how easy it is to operate, program and view food while cooking.
Our expert says:
'Multi cookers can pack the versatility of a Master Chef kitchen into one machine. The best have lots of useful functions (some upwards of 10 different modes), including automated cooking programs and even handy temperature probes to reduce the guesswork involved in making healthy, appetising meals.
'Some combine types of cooking to make balanced meals (carbohydrate, vegetables, and protein) with just a single click. Plus, most multi cookers come with suggested recipes and cooking times for common foods, with intuitive controls to make cooking easier.'
We've tested a selection of multi cookers with features designed to be easy to use, including:
Find out which multi cookers are Best Buys with our guide to the .Simple rice cookers
A rice cooker for the kitchen could be a savvy investment if you're looking for a simple way to cook fluffy rice.
Some models enable you to prepare up to 3.5 cups of rice (enough for three people) with ease, meaning you can turn your attention to the other dishes.
Our expert says:
'Rice cookers can be really handy for serving up consistently good rice – as long as you get your ratios right.
'Every rice cooker is different, so when you first start using one you'll need to experiment a little to find the right balance of water and rice. Once you've cracked it, though, cooking perfect rice will be a simple case of loading up the right amounts and hitting go. In fact, most rice cookers are so simple that most of them just have the one button.
'Once you hit go, you can focus all of your attention on cooking what you'll be serving up alongside your rice.'
We've tested a selection of rice cookers with features designed to be easy to use, including:
Before you part with your money, explore our in-depth guide to the .Simple bread maker
It’s certainly not hard to get your hands on a loaf of bread, yet few supermarkets stock loaves that taste quite as delicious as your own fresh-baked variety.
But while baking bread isn’t difficult, the kneading, proving and baking process can be time consuming.
ost machines come with detailed instructions and recipes.
Some bread makers can also make cakes, jams, yoghurts, dough mixtures and even cheese.
Our expert says:
'Bread makers are especially handy if you don't like the idea of kneading, folding and proving homemade bread yourself. Bread makers have recipes that just require you to pop the ingredients in and press go – the machine takes care of the rest.
'As a bonus you'll regularly have the smell of freshly baked bread wafting through your home. The hardest thing is waiting for the bread to cool down enough before eating it!'
We've tested a selection of bread makers with features designed to be easy to use, including:
Discover our top-scoring bread makers with our guide to the .Simple coffee makers
The ability to make barista-quality coffee in your own home is as irresistible to many as the aroma of roasting beans. But some coffee machines are more tear-your-hair-out than touch-of-a-button.
Our expert tests prove a higher price isn't always an indication of quality. For example, we've uncovered some impressive-looking, high-end machines that cost £900 – but they're very tricky to use and clean.
On the plus side, we've also spotted coffee machines under £30 that are a breeze to set up.
Our expert says:
'Regularly cleaning and descaling your coffee machine can be a laborious chore, but is essential for keeping it working well for longer.
'Look for automatic cleaning programs to make it less of a hassle. If it needs to be cleaned manually, check to see if the parts can be removed easily for cleaning and whether they're dishwasher safe.'
We've tested a selection of coffee machines with features designed to be easy to use, including:
For help finding the perfect coffee machine for you, see our guide to the .Simple soup makers
Preparing soup isn’t that hard - but soup makers make it even easier. They can make soup as chunky or smooth as you like and you don't need to bother transferring your ingredients into a liquidiser.
Some even come with self-clean functions, saving you the hassle of washing up pots and pans.
However, our testing found some of the instruction manuals for soup makers were poor, while others lacked the self cleaning option that made rivals so convenient.
Our expert says:
'If you regularly make soup, a soup maker is a handy appliance to help you save on time and washing up. Most are super simple to use – just add your raw, chopped veg to the soup maker with some stock and then press the smooth or chunky soup button.
'The heating element and blender does all the work for you so you don’t need to worry about frying and constantly stirring your ingredients. For a quick, easy clean-up, look for a soup maker with a self-clean function too.'
We've tested a selection of soup makers with features designed to be easy to use, including:
Our guide to the reveals which models are truly worth your money.Simple food processors
Food processors are renowned for taking the strain out of food preparation, whether chopping vegetables, kneading doughs or whizzing stale bread into useful breadcrumbs.
But, as our reviews show, they vary massively in terms of price, size and what they can do, with some struggling to perform the most basic tasks, such as grating cheese and dicing onions.
The numerous parts that come with a food processor can make some of them tough to store and to clean – something our testers factor in when putting them through their paces.
Our expert says:
'It might feel like you need a food processor with all of the bells and whistles, but the reality is you only need to look for a few key features to ensure great results.
'Firstly, make sure you’ll have the accessories you need – all models come with a knife blade, but keen bakers will want to look out for things like dough hooks, whisks and beaters.
'You can get a variety of different sized mixing bowls too, so pick one that’s large enough for everyone in your household. It’s also worth considering cleaning, so dishwasher-safe attachments are an added bonus.'
Rebecca Jakeman, food processor expert, Which?We've tested a selection of food processors with features designed to be easy to use, including:
Pick the perfect food processor for your kitchen countertop with our guide to the .undefinedsource https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/simple-kitchen-gadgets-for-cooks-who-like-things-hassle-free-aL9ej5R2MYJx