A version of this post originally appeared on April 20, 2024, in Stephanie Wu’s newsletter, “From the Editor,” a roundup of the most vital news and stories in the food world. Read the archives and subscribe now.
We’ve just launched Kitchen Upgrade, the ultimate guide to kitchen shopping. We tackled how to kit out the most important room in your house throughout major life transitions, such as moving into your first grown-up apartment, combining kitchens with a partner, and downsizing. It’s a reminder that household items are often so much more than functional — they can mark time periods of our life and hold much significance. Inspired by this, I wanted to share some of the kitchen items that have marked turning points in my own life.
The college savior: George Foreman Grill
I made it through most of college eating a disturbing combination of dining hall food, pasta cooked by my roommate, and Dunkin’ Donut breakfast sandwiches. That is, until I acquired a George Foreman grill in the height of the panini craze. This compact machine allowed me to take fridge staples and create a hot meal for myself, and I made all varieties of grilled cheeses and cold cut sandwiches on it, and reheated leftovers like quesadilla and burritos with it too. I finally parted ways with it in our last move, but I’ll always look back fondly on the one-of-a-kind product that got me through my student days.
The pandemic hobby: KitchenAid Stand Mixer
Like so many people, I got into baking as a pandemic hobby, attempting to master everything from biscuits and cinnamon rolls to milk bread. I splurged on a KitchenAid during that time and marveled at how it made it so much easier to cream butter, knead dough, and even do basic prep work like shredding vegetables. I’ll admit it gathers a bit of dust these days, but it remains one of my favorite investments — and that classic cherry red machine really does look great on the counter.
The winter staple: Cuisinart Electric Kettle
Every Chinese household must have two things — a rice cooker and an electric kettle. We used to have one of those Zojirushi boilers, which dispenses hot water with the push of a button, but we swapped it for an electric kettle a few years back. Our Miroco kettle only does one thing, but it’s a lifesaver for getting through cold winters and flu season. It’s discontinued, but this Cuisinart one is similar.
The hosting upgrade: Nespresso Pixie
I got this espresso machine as a gift ages ago, and will never give it up because I love its tiny size, and the fact that I can always have single-serve coffee on hand. My favorite hostess move these days is offering guests a post-dinner espresso — regular or decaf. It’s a nice touch that ends the night on a comforting note, and somehow feels very grown-up.
The new parent time-saver: Beaba BabyCook
I usually have a major aversion to one-use appliances, but this baby food maker won me over. It steams and purees in one machine, without having to dirty pots and pans and blenders, and it’s easy to clean. Sure, the puree stage is a short one, but it’s a stressful one. To maximize usage, we handed it off to my in-laws in between kids, and I look forward to passing it along once again when we’re done in a few months.
What are your favorite kitchen appliances that you can’t live without? Shoot me a note at fromtheeditor@eater.com and share!
