If you love cooking but can never find enough time for it, or you’re completely terrified of cooking but you need to start, and don’t know where to start – then you’ve reached the right place. The first step towards having a streamlined and efficient cooking experience is to have an arsenal of functional kitchen appliances by your side. With the right kitchen tools and appliances, cooking can be a fun and effortless process. The right products can reduce your prep time in half, make the little cooking tasks much easier, and help you with tedious and complicated techniques. From a tiny circular grater that turns cooking into a meditative activity to a sustainable + easily repairable coffee machine – these innovative kitchen accessories are all you need to undertake cooking and become a MasterChef in the comfort of your own home. Happy cooking!
1. The Cavdle WasteCycler
Working both as a garbage disposal system and a compost generator, the Cavdle WasteCycler isn’t the kind of device you’d hide away in the shed. Its cutting-edge design borrows from the aesthetic seen on washing machines, with a clear tinted lid that lets you see the Cavdle WasteCycler go to work at your food waste, breaking it down rapidly using aerobic decomposition.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Cavdle WasteCycler relies on 5 parameters to help turn organic substances into compost – Time, Humidity, Temperature, Dry Organics, and Oxygen. It then goes to work, creating compost without the smell, the mess, or even the sound. Operating at just under 35 decibels, the Cavdle WasteCycler grinds down your food waste while heating it up to the exact temperature needed to help good bacteria thrive while killing off the bad bacteria. At the end of the day, you’re left with a natural fertilizer that you can then use to nourish your plants while resting assured that your food waste isn’t going into a landfill where it generates methane and contributes to global warming.
What we like
- The kitchen gadget comes with a transparent-window lid that lets you see how full-empty your device is
What we dislike
- No complaints!
2. NiNJA’s Knives
NiNJA’s fashionable kitchen knives are definitely attention-grabbing, particularly because of their black blades. A color that has always been associated with looking smart and sophisticated, it gives the knives a simple yet effective upgrade when it comes to looking cool and modern.
Why is it noteworthy?
There is almost no other embellishment on the blade other than the discreet “i” logo, removing any potential distraction. Like a ninja hiding in the shadows or a secret agent in a black suit, these knives stealthily move in for the kill, cutting ingredients with precision and grace.
What we like
- Made of molybdenum vanadium steel, known for its highly durable sharpness
- Each blade from this collection is made one by one by an experienced craftsman
What we dislike
- No complaints!
3. The Maruzara
Shaped like a small round plate instead of the typical rectangular sheet of metal, this grater is meant to sit on the table rather than be held up in the air like almost all other graters. Its small design makes it perfect to be placed right on the table, and the unique pattern of the blades gives it a distinctive look even when it’s just sitting unused.
Why is it noteworthy?
That blade arrangement isn’t just for show, though. Unlike a regular grater with rows of blades, you make circular movements to grate ingredients. Rather than falling through holes, the grated pieces accumulate at the sides in full, fluffy lumps. The repetitive action, rather than being tiring and burdensome, becomes almost a mindful practice that puts you in the moment.
What we like
- Comes with a silicon rubber base that stops it from slipping on the table while you make your circling motions
What we dislike
- It’s designed primarily for wasabi and daikon radish, making it a bit limited
- Some people may prefer the form and structure of a traditional grater
4. The Yuanye
When you first see the Yuanye and it’s folded and you have no idea what it is, you might be forgiven for thinking it’s a portable projector that you can bring with you on your trip. It’s actually a portable, outdoor barbecue grilling pan you can bring on your outdoor adventures.
Why is it noteworthy?
When you open it up, you’ll see that there are two partitions where you can grill your meats on one side and your vegetable on the other. The device also comes with a gas tank, fire source, and oil storage module.
What we like
- The design of this portable grill is inspired by the usual suitcases we bring when we travel
- You can cook steak, barbecue, and all kinds of meats as well as vegetables so you get a well-rounded meal even if you’re outdoors
What we dislike
- It’s still a concept!
5. Float
At first glance, this product concept to help kids eat and finish their food seems to have no connection to picky eating. Float looks like regular food storage that kids can bring to school but upon closer inspection, it is a bit more interesting. It is made from sustainable materials with the body itself and the spork that comes with it made from CXP or Cellulose X-linked Polymer.
Why is it noteworthy?
The shape of the container is inspired by a ship and that’s where the helping picky eaters come in. Before starting to eat, parents are encouraged to talk to their kids about the perils of leftover food. After eating, you can then float the container in water, and depending on how much leftover food is there inside, the ship will lose its balance and sink or if they finished everything, it will float. This gives a bit of interactivity in trying to convince kids to eat all of their food.
What we like
- Adds a playful element to mealtime
What we dislike
- Not sure if this will actually convince kids to eat food that they may not always like
6. The Irogami Grater
They say that every little thing matters, and that’s especially true for garnishes and grated ingredients. Quite appropriately, this grater is also little, small enough to securely fit in the palm of your hand, almost like a toy. And just like a toy, it is designed to add a bit of fun to your kitchen and dining life while you add a bit of cheese or lemon zest to your dish.
Why is it noteworthy?
The irogami grater is simple in all aspects that you wonder why home kitchen graters aren’t made this way, too. Instead of multiple pieces of metal bent and curved at different places, the grater is a single sheet of aluminum alloy that curls backward in one corner. The design makes it look almost like a sheet of paper, particularly a colorful sticky note or memo pad, that speaks to both its playful and serious demeanor.
What we like
- Compared to those cumbersome graters that you have to hold tight at their handles, this form gives you a firmer grip
- Using this playful grater is like a game itself. Simply move the piece of cheese or stick of cinnamon from left to right and watch the tiny pieces fall down on your food
What we dislike
- Some people may prefer the form and structure of a traditional grater
7. Roll
Roll is an attempt to preserve not only the flavors of food but also their presentation. It eschews the traditional square or rectangular shape of food containers in favor of something round.
Why is it noteworthy?
What makes Roll different from bowl food containers (which do exist, of course) is that it wholeheartedly embraces the culture of using the lid or dish cap as a plate. That’s why the cap itself was made to look presentable, using soft and clean tones like ivory, sky blue, and terracotta. The idea is that you set the freshly cooked food on the lid itself and then later just cover it with the glass bowl when it’s time to put it away.
What we like
- The next time you want to eat the food, you don’t have to rearrange the food again to make it presentable
- Roll takes the food container concept upside-down, literally, by making it usable, whether as a bowl with a round lid or a plate with a bowl cover
What we dislike
- Not the most shape-efficient design/shape
8. The Retro Modern Espresso Machine
The product concept for the Retro Modern espresso machine brings back vibes of authentic American diners, old-school muscle cars and scooters, retro radios and toasters, and all the pastel goodness from the 60s and 70s. In fact, these are what inspired the designer to create something like this that brings together the retro design with the modern machine that supplies liquids to all the caffeine-deprived people who go to coffee shops.
Why is it noteworthy?
The pastel green and cream colors of the renders will look right at home at restaurants, coffee bars, or even kitchens that have a softer aesthetic. It’s very attractive for both coffee lovers and those that love old-school designs with a modern twist.
What we like
- Perfect for those who love old-school designs
- Minimal + soft
What we dislike
- The added functionalities or any other “bonus” application of this coffee maker is unknown
- It’s still a concept!
9. The Kokãir Cooking Curifier
The Kokãir Cooking Curifier is a device that you use with your desktop cookers if the room you’re cooking in doesn’t have proper ventilation. It is able to absorb the fumes when you’re cooking with oil.
Why is it noteworthy?
There is an internal fan cyclone that uses centrifugal force to collect the oil into a cup underneath for easy disposal and cleaning later on. The oil fumes go through the HEPA filter for cleaning. This will be a huge help especially when you cook a lot in your small space.
What we like
- It’s small enough that it will not crowd your desktop cooker whether you place it on the side or above the cooker
What we dislike
- It’s still a concept!
10. Kara
Coffee machines might not be the most common consumer electronics in homes, but their widespread use and the way they operate make them ideal for a thought experiment. Kara is the result of one such process, resulting in a modular coffee machine that’s meant to last forever, even when the manufacturer has stopped producing replacement parts.
Why is it noteworthy?
The secret is that these parts can be 3D printed if access to the original is no longer possible. The more technical components can be replaced or substituted with other electronics, presuming those are still in production.
What we like
- Unlike most designs that promote repairability, Kara doesn’t require advanced knowledge or skills to make that possible
- Sustainable design
What we dislike
- No complaints!
