Choosing the Right Kitchen Cooker for you

New, efficient kitchen appliances have home cooks abuzz in their quest to prepare easy yet flavorful meals. However, it can be tricky to choose between cooking gadgets. Here’s a quick guide to appliances so you can determine the best fit for your kitchen:

The Slow Cooker cooks food at low temperatures over longer periods, making slow cookers perfect for unattended home cooking. Whether you’re preparing a meal overnight or want to return home from work with dinner ready to enjoy, add all of the ingredients to the device, then let the slow cooker work its magic. Make sure it’s one-half to two-thirds full to ensure foods cook properly. Note that foods cooked on the bottom will cook faster and retain more moisture since they simmer in the liquid. Lifting the lid to check your meal’s progress may release too much necessary heat. Instead, try spinning it until the condensation falls off, and then peek at your dinner’s progress.

The Instant Pot® is a 7-in-1 gadget that’s capable of multiple cooking techniques. It’s not only a pressure cooker – it’s also a slow cooker, rice cooker, sauté pot, steamer, warming pot and yogurt maker.

In one cooking session, you can sauté onions, switch to high or low pressure-cooking for meat, and turn on the “Keep Warm” setting until it’s time to eat. Cooking six times faster than traditional devices, the Instant Pot helps busy families prepare elaborate meals quickly, from beef brisket and pork shoulder to casseroles, noodles and cakes. The Instant Pot is safe, easy to use and clean, and perfect for flavorful meals in a flash!

The Air Fryer gives food a crispy, crunchy exterior without excessive amounts of oil. It circulates dry heat around a perforated basket containing the food, allowing the heat to intensify and quickly reach the ingredients. Some air fryer recipes suggest tossing foods with a bit of oil before air frying, but others believe that a bit of butter/oil is only needed to maximize flavor, making for healthy cooking. Besides “frying,” they can also roast and bake. Air fryers require a watchful eye, as food can quickly burn. Its smaller size also makes it perfectly portable – great for a cooking gadget on the go.

Whichever cooking device you choose, you’re sure to be pleased with the simplicity and tasty results in your kitchen.