Gadget mania

Mixers that can cook, boiling-water taps, teppanyaki hot plates… there’s a befuddling array of gadgets to seduce the keen cook, but what’s actually worth buying? Hayley Gilbert rounds up seven classics, along with new-fangled bits of hi-tech kit.

1.

Mix it up

KitchenAid’

Artisan stand mixer is retro in style and super-efficient in action. It also comes in a funky range of colours. From around £389.

2.

Smooth operator

This hand-operated stainless-steel

mouli

is the traditional choice for creating perfect-textured purées. £29.95 from Divertimenti.

3.

Power of one

The

Magimix

3200 BlenderMix food processor can mix, grate, slice, chop, whisk, knead and liquidise. It also has an integrated mini processor for smaller jobs. £179.96 – £215.96 at John Lewis.

4.

Soft touch

Silicone spatulas from

Cuisipro

make mixing and folding easier, thanks to their flexible heads, which are heat- resistant to 300°C. In red, orange, blue or frosted, they cost £9.99 each.

5.

Easy does it

is perfect for preparing spuds and root veg. It has a soft, comfily contoured handle, and the ‘Y’ design means you can peel at speed. It costs £5.50. Call 0114 290 1455 for stockist details.

6.

The professional choice

The

Thermomix TM31

is a hi-tech food processor that cooks, too. It can handle anything from making jam to steaming rice, with one bowl, blade and whisk. The hefty £885 price tag includes a thick recipe book.

..and six hi-tech innovations

1.

An oven and a half

Gaggenau’

extra-wide 90cm built-in single oven is great for entertaining and cooking in bulk. The EB388 has a generous 78-litre capacity and a Pyrolytic self-cleaning programme. Priced around £4,590.

2.

Hot water on tap

The latest must-have is the

Quooker

boiling-water tap. Saving time, energy and water, it delivers 100°C water without waiting for the kettle to boil. The tap is designed to be child-proof. But, at £790, it ain’t exactly cheap.

3.

Top of the hobs

Professional chefs love the robust, industrial feel of

Wolf’s Gas Cooktop

. It has porcelain-coated cast-iron grates and is easy to clean. Fans include Galton Blackiston, Thomasina Miers, Michel Roux Junior and John Torode. The ICBCT36G is priced from £1,845.

4.

The griddler 

If you enjoy Japanese cuisine, have a go yourself with

Siemens’ Teppan Yaki cooktop griddle

. The 40cm wide steel hotplate has touchpad controls and can reach temperatures of 240°C. It’s priced around £1,500.

5.

Super cool

Keep your ingredients fresh with

Neff’s K8345 fridge-freezer

. Priced around £2,050, it features VitaFresh technology in special compartments, which reduces the temperature to near freezing. These drawers have up to 95% humidity to help vegetables and fruit stay crisp and fresh for up to three times longer than a conventional refrigerator.