Holiday Gifts for the Family Chef

The world of toaster ovens is not exactly a hotbed of innovation. That's why we're excited about the groundbreaking Panasonic FlashXpress NB-G1110P toaster oven (shown above). Its quartz and ceramic elements deliver infrared heat instantly. The result? That morning English muffin hits the table faster—and evenly browned every time. 

You might imagine all toasters are created equal, with walls of filaments that turn red hot when electricity flows through. Yet many models struggle to serve up evenly browned toast. Enter this top-scoring Krups KH732D50 toaster. Thanks to the layout of its heating coils, it delivers consistent results, whether set for light or dark. 

Our number-one-rated countertop cooker, the Breville Smart Oven Pro BOV845BSS, lives up to its name with a combination of intuitive controls and pinpoint temperature performance. In addition to the morning toast, it'll turn out perfectly roasted meats, broiled vegetables, baked goods, and 13-inch pizzas—making any family chef look clever. 

The simple plastic housing keeps the price low, but the performance is not com­promised. In terms of toasting consistency, the humble Proctor Silex Cool Touch 22203 two-slice toaster outperformed models that cost many times more. It's perfect for a college student or that first-time apartment renter in your life. 

It wasn't merely the diamond particles in the nonstick coating used in this 10-piece Swiss Diamond Reinforced cook set that dazzled us. Food cooked evenly, the pots and pans have heft, the handles are sturdy, and a lifetime warranty backs it all up.

Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman blogger and Food Network star, lends her name to this 10-piece Pioneer Woman Vintage Speckle porcelain-enamel nonstick cookware set. Cooking evenness and nonstick durability were among the best we tested, and most pieces are relatively lightweight. Read more about Pioneer Woman cookware.

Not a fan of nonstick coatings? The 10-inch All-Clad Stainlerss fry pan doesn't have one. But it does have a handle that stays cool to the touch, no matter how hot the pan itself gets, and its magnetic material means this versatile model also works with an induction cooktop or range.

Save time, eat well. That's the pressure-cooker promise, and this one is the fastest of three electric models we tested—much speedier than using a stovetop to prepare some foods. Any family chef lucky enough to receive it can cook braised ribs, bouillabaisse, and more, with recipes included.

Tired of guessing or poking your way to the answer of whether your festive roast is perfectly done? With this battery-operated, instant-read ThermoWorks Pocket RT600C digital thermometer, all the cook has to do is turn it on and stick it in the meat as the end of the cooking time nears. It provides quick, accurate, reliable results in an easily readable display. 

Grilling should be fun, but tempers can flare if the propane tank is empty or the burners conk out. This small Weber Spirit S-210 46110001 grill guards against both crises with a fuel gauge and a 10-year warranty on its burners. Plus, it heats evenly, a rarity among small models we tested.

In our lab tests, this nicely priced Cuisinart Power Advantage HM-50 hand mixer outperformed models costing twice as much. It'll turn whipping cream into fluffy peaks in seconds. Stiff cookie dough, which undoes many bargain mixers, proved no problem. You won't get much in the way of add-ons, but its wire beaters do just fine.