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CNN
2 days ago
- General
- CNN
The best food dehydrators for nutritious and delicious snacks
The best food dehydrators we tested: Best food dehydrator: Cosori Food Dehydrator As someone who tests kitchen appliances for a living, it takes a lot for any one gadget to impress me. I've cleaned, cracked open, and lived with everything from cocktail machines to multi-level air fryers and plenty of quirky tools and appliances in between. After all that testing, nothing has really changed my perspective on the way I cook or snack — until I tried a few of the best food dehydrators. I'll be honest, I scoffed at the idea of a food dehydrator before I tested one. Privileged with an endless array of apple chips in the CNN office, I couldn't fathom someone wanting a clunky device when it seemed so much easier to buy chips, jerky or other already-dehydrated culinary wonders. When my lineup of dehydrators arrived, with their bulky builds and spaceship-like designs, I was further convinced no one would have the real estate for one. But after hours of experimenting and turning out tray after tray of delicious and nutritious dried fruits, it clicked. These machines are surprisingly practical. They can preserve a wide variety of foods and unlock a new level of creativity in the kitchen. Now, I can easily elevate a Negroni with a dried orange slice, dry flowers for a craft, top off a parfait with a colorful array of dried strawberries and even make seasonings with dried herbs. To find the best food dehydrator, I put several top-rated models through side-by-side testing, evaluating how well they dried different types of produce and how easy they were to use and clean. One rose above the others as the best. Related article The best vacuum sealers in 2025, tested and reviewedCosori Food Dehydrator The Cosori Food Dehydrator could pass as the cousin of a toaster oven. It's incredibly user-friendly, yet powerful enough to dry up trays of dehydrated treats. I could easily "set it and forget it" to make delicious snacks at home without much thought, all with the push of a button. What made this dehydrator stand out was the easy-to-stack trays and ample space to dry whatever I threw at it. It's no secret that a food dehydrator takes up a lot of space. So, if you're going to invest in one, it should be powerful enough to dehydrate a range of treats without much hassle. I thought the Cosori Food Dehydrator was a versatile and user-friendly machine for food dehydrating newbies. With six spacious, dishwasher-safe trays made of food-grade stainless steel, it offered plenty of room to dry everything from sliced fruits and herbs to meat, vegetables and even homemade powders. The digital control panel is straightforward, with four clearly marked buttons to power the machine on or off, set the temperature (from 95 to 165 degrees Fahrenheit) and program the timer in 30-minute increments for up to 48 hours. The dehydrator also saves your previous settings, making repeated batches quicker and easier. One of my hesitations (and biggest fears) with using a dehydrator was the thought of it overheating — it's usually on for hours on end to properly dry what's inside. I'm talking roughly six or seven hours. Thankfully, the Cosori's automatic shut-off kicks on if or when the machine overheats. This gave me peace of mind during testing to leave it be on my kitchen counter, even if I needed to head out to run errands or anything. The Cosori food dehydrator is also FDA compliant and made with BPA-free materials—including mesh screens and fruit roll sheets that are perfect for drying delicate ingredients like berries, fresh herbs or blended fruit purées. In my hours spent drying fruits, the Cosori food dehydrator had the most practical and familiar build of all the appliances I tested. It reminded me of a toaster oven, with easy-to-remove trays and an LED panel. It wasn't a complex, plastic contraption that required much thought. It's just four buttons with plenty of trays and space that are very easy to clean. And most importantly, it properly dried everything I put into it. From apricots to strawberries and even kiwis, the Cosori got the job done. Whether you're prepping snacks for hiking, preserving garden herbs or experimenting with homemade fruit leathers, I think the Cosori will deliver reliable, even results every time. If you're a true food dehydrator pro, the Cosori comes with fun extras that will help you unlock new ideas. Every dehydrator comes with three fruit roll trays and a recipe book with an endless number of creative ideas. And it's all backed by a two-year warranty, making this dehydrator a strong choice for beginners and experienced home cooks alike. Food dehydrators come in many shapes and forms, and my hands-on testing made it easier to evaluate how each model performs side by side. To do so, I took a trip to Whole Foods and bought a range of fruits with various moisture levels. These included strawberries, apricots, apples, bananas, kiwis and oranges. I used a mandoline to evenly slice everything and took note of how each one turned out, cranking up the dehydrators to 145 degrees Fahrenheit for six hours. Through trial and error (and a goopy, failed batch of dried blueberries to clean up), I wound up with more dried treats than I could have imagined. I also found that the best results often require adjusting for your own kitchen environment. Here's what else I considered while testing: Installation and setup: I noted how easy (or difficult) the fryer was to get set up. Was it ready to use right out of the box, or did it require any extra steps to make it operational? Design: A food dehydrator is bound to take up space, but I looked for appliances that made the most out of the space available. I also kept my eye out for innovative features, ease-of-use and materials used, like stainless steel versus plastic. I also considered how each dehydrator would look if it were on display, because appearance does matter when you don't have much storage. Consistency and performance: In order to properly test each dehydrator's capability, I cut and dried a range of fruits — from apples, strawberries and bananas to apricots and kiwis. I arranged and dried a serving of each type of fruit in each appliance, taking note of how evenly everything cooked and how dry it came out. Versatility: I weighed how many modes and settings each dehydrator offered. Are these additional modes convenient or too much hassle to unlock? Ease of cleanup: How convenient is it to clean the trays? Did fruit stick to the crates? I considered how easy or difficult this was, as well as the post-drying cleaning process. A food dehydrator does exactly what it says it's going to do — dehydrate food. This concept has been around for centuries — even ancient man resorted to sun drying. But what makes this appliance so effective? It uses low heat and airflow to slowly dry out food, typically for six to eight hours. Food dehydrators can elevate meals in more ways than one. Just take it from the experts: 'Fruits, vegetables, and jerky are common staples, but in a professional kitchen or bar setting, dehydrators are also used to create powders, flavored salts, infused sugars and unique garnishes,' said LP O'Brien, award-winning mixologist, winner of Netflix's television series, 'Drink Masters' and now, Global Creative Director of Beverage at F1 Arcades. 'They're especially helpful in reducing waste and extending the life of seasonal ingredients in new and creative ways.' 'I love using a dehydrator to concentrate and transform flavors, whether it's creating a strawberry-basil powder for a cocktail rim, drying herbs to blend into garnishes or infused into oils, or making savory dusts for bar snacks,' she said. 'Dehydrating intensifies flavor while removing moisture, which allows you to infuse ingredients into other elements or finish a dish or drink with a pop of texture and aroma. It's one of the most versatile tools in both my kitchen and bar programs.' Here's how the process breaks down: Heat source: The dehydrator gently warms the air to a temperature usually between 90°F and 165°F, depending on the model and settings. Fan and ventilation system: A built-in fan circulates warm air evenly across the food placed on stacked trays or shelves. This airflow is key — it moves moisture-filled air away from the surface of the food and replaces it with dry air. Moisture removal: As the warm air continues to flow, water evaporates from the food and slowly reduces its moisture content, which can take anywhere from a few hours to over a day, depending on what you're drying and at what temperature. Preservation: Once dried, food becomes less hospitable to bacteria, giving it a longer shelf life without the need for preservatives or refrigeration. Presto 06301 Dehydro Digital Electric Food Dehydrator The Presto expandable dehydrator is a smart, space-saving appliance with intuitive controls and athe bility to dry everything from apple chips to basil. Although I'm not a fan of the plastic build, it's a solid, budget-friendly pick — especially for beginners or those with limited storage space. The Presto 06301 Dehydro Digital Electric Food Dehydrator immediately stood out for its expandable build and affordable price point. I found it to be an easy-to-use appliance equipped to handle everything from fruits and vegetables to herbs, spices and even homemade jerky or fruit leather. With consistent airflow and an easy-to-follow control panel, it offers a straightforward way to make healthy, shelf-stable snacks at home. The Presto comes with six drying trays and can be expanded to hold up to 12 (but the additional trays are sold separately), making it a flexible option for both small and large batches. The trays feature an innovative spiderweb design, which was unlike the familiar Cosori tray I loved, but I wasn't a fan of the fact that they were made from plastic. However, that's not to say the Presto isn't smart. There's also a built-in cord storage compartment that keeps everything tidy when not in use. The digital thermostat and timer gave me precise control over the drying process, with adjustable temperatures ranging from 90 to 165 degrees Fahrenheit. The buttons looked and felt a bit old-school to me now that I'm spoiled with digital touchscreens; however, it still got the job done. And like the Cosori, it shuts off automatically once the timer ends to prevent over-drying, which is especially helpful when processing more delicate ingredients like strawberries. The package also comes with two fruit roll sheets and two flexible, nonstick mesh screens, which allow for drying a range of food types, like blended fruit purées or chopped herbs. All trays and the cover are dishwasher safe, which made cleanup refreshingly easy, but again, they are all plastic. As much as I loved the space-saving Presto, I wasn't completely sold on the plastic construction. While the lightweight build and stackable design make it convenient and space-efficient, I found it less sturdy and less visually appealing than the stainless steel models I tested. Still, the Presto 06301 stands out for its efficient drying performance, compact storage and user-friendly features. For beginners or those short on counter space, it's a strong, well-priced option for diving into the world of food dehydration. Hamilton Beach Digital Food Dehydrator Similar to the Presto, the Hamilton Beach dehydrator has space-saving stackable trays and an easy-to-use panel. I appreciated the BPA-free trays that provide plenty of drying space, but I prefer a stainless steel unit. Either way, it's well-suited for everything from beef jerky and dried fruit to veggie chips and herbs. Like most other dehydrators I tested, the Hamilton Beach is a compact, efficient machine that makes it easy to create homemade snacks with no added sugar or preservatives. With five stackable, BPA-free trays and a uniquely rounded-rectangular build, it's well-suited for everything from jerky and dried fruit to chips and herbs. I found the digital controls to be straightforward and precise, especially on a sleek touchscreen. You can also set the temperature anywhere from 100 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit to match the food you're dehydrating, and once again, a built-in timer saves the day. It counts down from 1 to 48 hours and shuts off automatically, which is helpful for longer drying cycles when you don't want to constantly monitor it. Powered by a 500-watt base-mounted heater and quiet fan, the dehydrator delivers consistent, even airflow across all trays, so I didn't need to rotate my fragile dried fruits during use. After a seven-hour drying cycle, I found that the Hamilton Beach dried everything evenly, from apple slices to kiwis, without soggy spots. It also includes a mesh screen for more delicate food items (like herbs), and comes with a solid fruit leather tray for blended purées. The vented clear lid was a nice touch, too, since I could monitor the drying process without interrupting the airflow. And since the trays are all plastic, cleanup was simple: the trays and lid are dishwasher safe. Overall, the design looked and felt standard and compact, with nonslip silicone feet to keep it stable on the counter. Tinier than some gargantuan food dehydrators on the market, it also stores easily in a pantry and can fit comfortably under most kitchen cabinets. Cuisinart DHR-20P1 Food Dehydrator Perhaps the biggest and bulkiest food dehydrator I tested, the Cuisinart DHR-20P1 Food Dehydrator makes a statement. Although it offers a spacious and powerful solution for preserving everything from fruits to jerky, it also takes up the most room at a whopping 9.6 pounds, all without a timer. Talk about a powerhouse appliance. With 552 square inches of drying surface and a 620-watt motorized fan, this dehydrator delivers fast, efficient airflow to evenly dry food across five interlocking, stackable trays. All that to say, this hefty appliance was not expandable, meaning some of my thicker fruit slices wound up getting smashed between trays. Because of the rigid build (and thicker fruit slices), I noticed it was harder for heat to circulate. I also wasn't a fan of the adjustable thermostat with four settings: fan only, low, medium and high. I also felt a timer was missing, and would have preferred a panel or even a button to give me peace of mind. Nevertheless, I appreciated the interlocking trays that felt sturdier in place than other dehydrators I tested. Its range of temperature options made it versatile to dry a variety of foods, from apple slices to banana chips. The included fruit roll sheet added extra versatility for those who want to experiment with blended fruit purées as well. I do want to note that the fan runs quite loudly, so keep this in mind if you want something quiet. Like other dehydrators, the trays stack vertically, making it ideal for batch-drying large quantities of food. This helps reduce food waste and saves money on pricy, preservative-free snacks in the long run. If you want a durable, mid-sized dehydrator with solid power, capacity and control, this is a decent option. So long as you have a separate kitchen timer handy. The following questions were answered by LP O'Brien, award-winning mixologist and current Global Creative Director of Beverage of F1 Arcade. How long does food that has been dehydrated by a food dehydrator last? How long does food that has been dehydrated by a food dehydrator last? 'When properly dehydrated and stored in airtight containers, most dehydrated foods can last. anywhere from 6 months to a year. Low-moisture fruits and vegetables tend to last longer, especially if kept in cool, dark conditions.' What is the difference between freeze drying and dehydrating? What is the difference between freeze drying and dehydrating? 'Dehydrating uses heat and air to remove about 90–95% of moisture, while freeze drying uses a freezing and vacuum process to remove up to 99% of moisture. Freeze-dried foods often retain more of their original shape, flavor and nutritional value, but dehydrating is more accessible and energy efficient for everyday use.' For this article, we consulted the following expert for their professional insights. LP O'Brien is an award-winning Afro-Boricua mixologist. She won Netflix's 'Drink Masters' and is currently the Global Creative Director of Beverage of F1 Arcade. CNN Underscored's writers and editors thoroughly review all the products in our testing guides and provide full transparency about how we test them. We have a skilled team of writers and editors with many years of product testing experience who ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We include subject matter experts where necessary and always speak about the pros and cons of all tested products. For this article, associate testing writer Carolina Gazal spent hours slicing and drying fruits and analyzing features of different kinds of food dehydrators. Gazal loves to get her hands on the latest kitchen craze and has tested all types of appliances, from the best blenders to the best coffee grinders and even the best ice molds for cocktails.
CNET
4 days ago
- General
- CNET
From Crumbs to Melted Cheese, Here's How to Clean Your Toaster
While you may clean your counters and dishes daily, your kitchen appliances need a little love, too. Whether you prefer buttered toast, avocado toast or toaster pastries, you need to be cleaning your dirty toaster -- probably more often than you think. After enough use, I started noticing a burnt odor and uneven browning in my own toaster. That's when I realized the culprit wasn't the bread but the mess of loose crumbs and food particles lurking inside the toaster. Crumbs pile up fast, and if you don't clean them out regularly, they can burn, stink and even turn into a fire risk. Worse? Leftover food bits can attract bugs, especially in hot weather. Luckily, giving your toaster a deep clean is easier than you might think. It takes just a few minutes, doesn't require any fancy tools and can save your breakfast (and your kitchen) from disaster. For more cleaning tips, learn how to wash your bedding the right way and how to clean your kitchen in under 15 minutes. How to clean out your toaster If you use your toaster as often as I do (daily), you'll need to clean it at least once a week. If you use it sporadically, you can get away with cleaning it every few weeks or so, or when you notice food remnants building up. Here's the best way to clean your toaster: CNET 1. Unplug your toaster and do the usual upside-down shake thing over the sink. No, just shaking the appliance over the sink isn't entirely effective. 2. Pull out the crumb tray, if it has one, and then wash it with warm water and dish soap. 3. While you let the crumb tray dry, dampen a cotton cloth with a little white vinegar and wipe out the slots where the bread, pop tarts or other treats sit. 4. If there's stuck-on food residue left over from breakfast pastries on the heating elements, gently brush them with an old toothbrush dampened with white vinegar. 5. Wipe the insides down with a water-dampened cloth to remove any vinegar residue. 6. Give the toaster one last good upside-down shake. 7. Wipe down the outside of the toaster with another dampened cloth. Let the toaster dry inside and out completely before plugging it back in. It should only take a couple of hours to dry. For more household tips, check out how to kill mold in your washer and keep it away and how to clean cat pee from your couch. Frequently asked questions Can you submerge a toaster in water to clean it? No, you should never submerge any electrical appliance in water, as it can damage the internal components. How do I get burn marks off the toaster? If you've gone a long time without cleaning your toaster, you may have some burn marks on the top of it leaving an unsightly brown mark. To fix this you can make a paste of equal parts water and baking soda and while the toaster is still unplugged, scrub with a toothbrush or non-abrasive sponge. Afterward, wipe it clean with a soft, damp cloth to remove the paste. More home cleaning tips
CNN
4 days ago
- CNN
The best toasters of 2025, tried and tested
The best toasters we tested Best toaster: Breville 'A Bit More' 2-Slice Toaster Best budget toaster: Cuisinart 2-Slice Compact Plastic Toaster CPT-122 Even as kitchen appliances get more advanced and further outfitted with modern tech, traditional slot toasters will never go out of style. They're tiny, reliable and — if we're being honest — the source of one of the most satisfying moments in the world of cooking. You know that click. When your toast pops up with a perfect golden tint, everything that hits your senses is a delight. Call me a purist, but no toaster oven or air fryer can scratch that same itch. Already reaching for the butter and jam? You'll need a toaster that can consistently produce that crunchy crust to lather up. It should be able to handle other toasting tasks too, like frozen waffles, toaster pastries and chunky bagels. Luckily, I put seven different toasters through a series of trials using precisely those foods so you don't have to. Ultimately, two units delivered the results I wanted at a price that was hard to beat. Breville 'A Bit More' 2-Slice Toaster Key features that grant a sneak preview at your toast's progress and the option to add just "a bit more" time to reach your desired doneness make this stainless steel toaster a winner. Cuisinart 2-Slice Compact Plastic Toaster CPT-122 What this model lacks in premium materials (it literally has "plastic" in its name) it makes up for with undeniable value as a fast-working master of the basics. While all the toasters I tested were adequate at browning bread to my liking, none of them packed as many useful features into an attractive package at a compelling price quite like Breville's 'A Bit More' 2-Slice Toaster. Its thoughtful design will be appreciated by those who want their toast to the perfect level of doneness, whatever that is according to their preferences. Sure, it's not all that different from any other slot toaster — drop in your bread, push the lever, wait — but that's where the Breville gets interesting. A countdown bar ticks away as your toast cooks, letting you know when it's almost done. Feeling impatient? A 'lift and look' lever lets you take a peek at your toast without fully interrupting the cycle. Worried you're going to have to push it back down once done because your toast wasn't done? Just tap that 'a bit more' button to add some extra time. The guts of the toaster get the job done too, of course. It doesn't overtoast bagels. It gave a crust to pastries while warming the filling within. On regular white bread, the medium setting led to a perfect gold every time. It took about two minutes and 30 seconds to get there, but only the Revolution R90, a digital toaster more than triple the price, worked significantly faster. As far as doneness, the difference was negligible. Prev Next While testing this toaster, I couldn't help but think that serious toast enthusiasts devised its design. Unlike most slot toasters, the main interface is on the long side of the unit, so it sits horizontally on your counter instead of vertically. It's different, but it makes sense because it provides a larger surface for the buttons and settings you'll want to see every time you use it. Sure, the crumb tray (which has tall rails to prevent spillage) and the lever are moved to the sides instead of the front. But the former is one section you won't visit often, and the latter is something you can use without a direct view anyway. Aside from a brief one-year warranty, the only other flaw on the Breville toaster is the clearance from the toasting slots to above the unit. When finished toast pops up, it doesn't leave a lot of room for you to grab it, even when you use the lever to push it up an extra smidge. You'll have to watch your fingers or consider picking up a pair of toast tongs to avoid burns. Any modern kitchen won't need much adjusting to welcome the 'A Bit More' to its ranks, as its stainless steel finish matches the standard look for fridges and ovens. If the look and features have sold you but the two-slot sizing is coming up short, a long-slot version of the same toaster is just $10 more. It should fit longer styles of bread and four slices of your typical loaf. Sure, it might cost, ahem, a bit more than what you'd find in the bargain bin, but getting this kind of precision and performance for making toast, all for less than $100, is a value that's hard to top. The Cuisinart 2-Slice Compact Plastic Toaster shows it doesn't cost much to get good toast if that's all you're after. While it doesn't include all the bells and whistles of my top pick or far pricier options, it will deliver what you want out of it without breaking the bank. Despite being priced at the bottom of my testing pool, the Cuisinart toaster produced results that ranked closer to the top. Though I found it to come on a bit strong when cooking a bagel or pastry at a medium setting — its bagel function doesn't decrease half of the heating coils like most toasters — it thawed and browned a frozen waffle to perfection in less than two minutes. It truly shined when tested on consecutive white bread toasts, finishing in give or take two minutes with proper crisping achieved. Though the build on this plastic toaster is not as robust as others I tested, keep in mind that it's just a toaster. It doesn't need to be professional grade or boast designer looks. I ran it through a lot of toasting during testing, and I have even purchased one for my sister-in-law when she requested a toaster for Christmas. All reports have indicated it's holding up just fine, and any issues that do arise will be covered for now; Cuisinart backs this toaster with a three-year limited warranty. So, who should buy this instead of the Breville? For starters, it's a compelling alternative to my top pick because it's less than half the price. That may be worth it for you without needing another reason, but if speed is important and looks are not, zero in on the Cuisinart because that's its specialty at its core. Also notable is that the four-slot version has separate levers for each side, allowing for different toasts at the same time. It, too, is super cheap. Especially if you don't plan to tinker with settings or toast different varieties of bread, the 'lift and look' and 'a bit more' functions on the Breville are likely not worth the added cost. Just go with the Cuisinart, set it and forget it. I blew past recommended carb intake levels by toasting white bread, frozen waffles, breakfast tarts and bagels to see how each toaster handled the different items. I defaulted to the medium setting on each unit — typically level 3 out of 6 or level 4 out of 7 — then adjusted from there depending on the initial results. I also made several sets of toast consecutively to see how residual heat from the previous session affected the next. Throughout it all, the following criteria guided my evaluations. Toasting performance Accurate browning: Whether you prefer a golden crisp or a borderline burnt charring, it's vital for a toaster to toast to the appropriate doneness based on your selected setting and preference. I noted which toasters had continuous toast settings or those that moved up in notches. Consistency: What about when your family member wants to pop their bread into the toaster immediately after yours? I made back-to-back-to-back sets of toast to see how that carryover heat affected consistent results. Options: Is there a frozen setting? What about bagels? The toasters that allowed users to really dial in on how they wanted their item toasted — to a degree more specific than just levels of brownness — gained standing in my rankings. Speed: When you or your kid have a bus to catch, there's a big difference between a toaster that finishes its job in 90 seconds and another that takes three minutes. I timed my toasts to get a handle on which units still delivered acceptable results with speed. Design Slot size: Are the bread slots wide enough for a bagel? How about some brioche? I kept a close eye to see how thicker items fit into the toaster and if their edges got too close to the heating element. Levers and toast retrieval: Nothing spoils the joy of freshly popped toast quite like burning your fingers trying to pick it up. I noted how much clearance there was from the top of the toaster to the top of any contents in the slots, accounting for the ability to further raise the bread with the toaster's lever. Crumb tray and cleaning: Toasters can be crumb magnets, so I valued those that minimized the mess and made it easier to clean up. Placement and size of the crumb tray mattered, as did the exterior surface of the toaster. Aesthetics: Every design choice in your kitchen contributes to the overall vibe, so I accounted for the visuals of each toaster. Did it look modern and sleek? Retro and charming? Cheap and tacky? Value Price: How much you plan to use a toaster will affect how you feel about its price. I put each model against its price tag to see if it provided adequate value. Warranty: I compared the term and scope of each manufacturer's warranty. Are two slots enough? The volume of toast you make during a given session will provide your answer here. It's probably not wise to buy a two-slot toaster if breakfast in your home involves feeding lots of mouths. Though those compact models were the focus of our testing in this exercise, four-slot and long-slot toasters will usually double your toast output. The best four-slot toasters will allow the two halves of the toaster to work independently of each other. Many of the models I tested come in larger iterations that do just that. But if you don't need extra toasting capacity, a two-slot toaster is a simple solution to making breakfast better. It doesn't take up as much space on your counter, there's less of it to clean and, as I showed with my tests of consecutive toasting, a good one will be able to handle a few servings of toast one after the other. Do I need a toaster oven? It can feel redundant to own both a slot toaster and a toaster oven. The latter can even overlap with an air fryer. And to have all three on your countertops? Enough. While it's tempting to opt for a do-it-all appliance such as a toaster oven, I'd argue most of those can't match the convenience of a slot toaster, especially if you know you're going to be making toast frequently, being able to pop some bread into the toaster and have it easily accessible while, say, frying an egg or making coffee is well worth the investment (which, by the way, is usually less expensive with slot toasters). How much is too much to spend on a toaster? The next part of this article will unveil a $300 toaster. It might be hard to fathom ever spending that kind of money on slightly warming bread, but depending on how often you make toast and how important it is to your daily routines — you know what they say about the most important meal of the day — the value of a toaster varies by user. I don't make toast daily, but I come close to that frequency because I chef up more breakfast sandwiches than is good for my health. But look the other way and you can see the benefit of a toaster at a tenth of the price, such as our budget pick from Cuisinart. It works. It isn't flashy. You won't feel like you have to use it because you shelled out big bucks for it. But when you do have a hankering for toast now and then, it will be there. Revolution R90 Digital Toaster The R90 ditches dials and knobs for a touchscreen interface that specifies what you're toasting and how brown you want it. It works well — if you want to pay for it. The Revolution R90 excels at making toast precisely how you want it. The touchscreen menu reveals six options — toaster pastries, English muffins, bread, bagels, waffles and Revolution's sandwich cooker, the Toastie Press — then seven levels of doneness. You can tip off the toaster that your contents are frozen or if they need a few more seconds to reach perfection, as with my top pick from Breville. The results of my tests were largely elite. Though using the frozen function overcooked the waffle, the R90 lightly toasted the outside of the bagel while maintaining a doughy interior. When toasting white bread, this model produced the fastest and most consistent results. Every time, I had perfectly golden brown toast in a little more than 90 seconds. I'd be more than pleased with this kind of quality at an overpriced brunch, and if toast is a vital part of your breakfast habits, the R90 is worth consideration to bring that ability home. Though the R90 fancifies one of the most basic kitchen appliances — it automatically lowers your bread without pushing a lever, and a chime replaces the coveted click of a traditional toaster popping up — it doesn't overthink all the basics. A convenient grip on the front helps when moving it back and forth from underneath your cabinets. Its matte black finish doesn't get as dirty as a chrome appliance, and its Amazon Echo-esque look blends right in because the screen turns off when not in use. The only thing holding the R90 back from a higher spot in my rankings is its price. At $300, you could buy three of my top picks from Breville and still have cash left over. That cost doesn't include Revolution's Toastie Press sandwich cooker, which turns your toaster into a vertical panini press, though you can bundle it for $20 extra. Considering the R90 is Revolution's budget model and not quite a 'smart toaster' — the brand has two units priced higher, including the $400 R180 Connect Plus that features a digital picture frame and current weather conditions on the front — I would have liked to see this two-slot toaster a little more competitively priced. Revolution's site argues the R90 makes toast more fun than ever before. I don't disagree, and if you're in that same camp, you'll love the R90. But your money will be better spent elsewhere if you're only looking for a toaster for its utility. Smeg 2-Slice Toaster If aesthetics are your No. 1 must-have, the retro vibes from this Smeg toaster are worth a long look. Hidden under its facade is terrific durability. If my inbox is any indication, toasters are one of the product categories CNN Underscored readers care a lot about. Before this round of testing, one reader implored me to try a toaster from Smeg because his had been toasting for eight years strong, making it the best he and his wife had owned in 49 years of marriage. Could he have been a sleeper agent for the brand? Sure. But after including Smeg's two-slice toaster in this round of testing, I found no evidence that his claims were artificial. Though a dashing retro exterior may draw you in — I tested a beautiful matte black finish — the heavy, durable build is what won me over. Toasting performance wasn't lacking either, as the Smeg granted plenty of clearance for retrieving toast and a 1-to-6 dial that clicks for every half step. Of course, you'll have to pay up for the entire package, making the Breville a better buy in my eyes. Haden Bristol 2-Slice Toaster Combining a matte putty finish with chrome accents, this toaster had a polished look without a preposterous price. Its performance wasn't too shabby either. If the Smeg toaster catches your eye but you can't bring yourself to spend that much, Haden's Bristol toaster is a handsome alternative. This model is a Williams Sonoma exclusive with a matte tan or putty color and chrome finishes. If I had one gripe with its design, I would've liked a bit more clearance for grabbing toast off the top of the unit. The Bristol's toasting performance was largely positive. Though it vastly overcooked the toaster pastry on a medium setting, it nailed bread toasting in the same amount of time as my top pick. Consistency was its strongest quality, delivering nearly identical toasts no matter how quickly I started the next cycle after the last. Oster 2-Slice Touchscreen Toaster Slow toasting times and a touchscreen that wasn't easy to interact with pushed the Oster down in my rankings despite a few strong features. This affordable model from Oster has a touchscreen (like the $300 R90) and gives users the ability to peek at toast before it's done (like the $90 Breville). But I found some flaws in its toasting performance that were hard to overlook when considering the benefit of those features. It has only six heat settings and took longer to finish a medium-level toast than everything else in my product pool. It unevenly overcooked bagels, removing any semblance of chewiness. Its touchscreen was also harder to view and use than the one on the R90, which is tilted up toward your face. The Oster screen, with blue letters on a black background, is flat, facing outward, which is kind of awkward. Zwilling Enfinigy 2-Slice Toaster A carryover from my own kitchen, this toaster is sturdy and reliable but doesn't do much to warrant a splurge. I had this toaster in my kitchen for more than three years, and it scores durability points for surviving the grind of heavy use. Its toasting performance gets the job done too, frequently handling all sorts of breads and bagels with satisfactory results. But its several flaws were enough evidence compared to the competition in my testing pool that I wouldn't buy the same toaster if it kicked the bucket tomorrow. The Zwilling Enfinigy has a small crevice between its toaster slots and the rest of its exterior shell. It's where crumbs go to die, an impossible cavern that's such a pain to clean that I rarely do. Despite only being a two-slotter, this toaster has some serious heft too, at about 10 by 8 by 13 inches. It doesn't do much to justify costing more than both my overall winner and budget pick. The following FAQs were answered by the author of this guide, CNN Underscored associate testing writer Joe Bloss. Why does my new toaster smell? Why does my new toaster smell? Don't worry, as every toaster I tested produced a nasty burning smell the first time or two I used it. It's totally normal. What you're getting a whiff of is manufacturing oils and packaging debris burning within the toaster. It'll go away, and it's not dangerous. Do I need a slot toaster if I have a toaster oven? Do I need a slot toaster if I have a toaster oven? I'd argue yes. A good toaster oven can whip up great toast, but a slot toaster delivers quick convenience that's hard to replicate, especially for a reasonable price. Even our favorite budget toaster oven, the Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Air Fryer Toaster Oven, is more expensive than my top slot toaster, the Breville 'A Bit More' 2-Slot Toaster. CNN Underscored editors thoroughly test nearly all the products we cover and provide full transparency about how we test them. We have an experienced team of writers and editors with many years of testing experience who ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when it makes sense to ensure we are testing each product accurately and speaking about the pros and cons of each. For this article, associate testing writer Joe Bloss stuffed loads of bread, bagels, waffles and pastries into a variety of toasters to find the best options for your kitchen. Don't worry, these were grocery store bagels, not the real thing from a New York deli, which should never be toasted. Bloss is just as serious about his breakfast as he is about product testing. He's penned guides on the best food processors and French press coffee makers.
CNET
5 days ago
- CNET
My Favorite All-in-One Kitchen Appliance Is on Sale for 20% Off
Too often, all-in-one kitchen appliances end up doing a lot of things poorly instead of doing one thing well. And, because some models have a lot of components, they can be a nightmare to clean. But the Chefman Everything Maker quickly won me over. The nonstick cooking surfaces heat up quickly and cleanup takes minimal effort (a serious win in my book). I've made crispy hash browns, gooey grilled cheese, breakfast sandwiches and perfectly golden pancakes -- all in one compact machine. And it's not just a breakfast tool. I've used it for late-night quesadillas and quick lunches more times than I can count in the past few weeks. The design is intuitive, easy to store upright (although I rarely put it away) and surprisingly durable. No extra bells and whistles here. It's just a well-made, easy-to-use appliance that works every time. Right now you can get a sweet 20% discount on the Everything Maker. The normal list price of $60 on the Chefman website already feels like a good deal for what this appliance can accomplish. Which is, well, everything. But right now on Amazon you can get it in the Midnight color for just $48, which is a steal. The concrete version is also on sale for a few bucks more. How I use my Everything Maker Macy Meyer/CNET The Chefman Everything Maker lives up to its name by offering a versatile, all-in-one cooking solution that fits easily on a countertop. With a 12-inch nonstick cooking surface and a slim, compact design, it's well-suited for small kitchens or anyone looking to simplify meal prep. I've found it particularly convenient for cooking breakfast foods like eggs and pancakes with the lid open, then switching to grilled sandwiches or quesadillas with the lid closed. It also heats quickly and evenly, reaching up to 428 degrees Fahrenheit (220 degrees Celsius), which is enough for searing, sautéing or even light grilling. I made a summer flatbread (with burrata, pesto and prosciutto) over the weekend and used the Everything Maker to lightly sear some peaches to add as a topping. They came out perfectly. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. Cleanup is another strong point. The nonstick surface wipes down easily after use -- no scrubbing or soaking required -- which has made it a reliable go-to for quick weekday meals. The Everything Maker also comes with a digital cookbook featuring 16 chef-crafted recipes, which I've used as inspiration for trying new dishes beyond my usual routine. While it doesn't replace every kitchen tool, the Everything Maker handles a surprising variety of tasks in a compact footprint. My buying advice Whether you're shopping for a gift or just want to level up your own cuisine game, the Chefman Everything Maker is a surprisingly versatile little appliance. Even at full price, it offers solid value and delivers big on convenience, but for just $48, you really can't beat the value. While the Everything Maker isn't on sale on the Chefman website currently, it's still worth checking Chefman's website from time to time. They run promotions regularly (in fact, my favorite blender is almost 20% off right now). If you're looking for other useful, fun gifts for your favorite hostess or the chef in your life, here are our favorite kitchen gifts under $50.
CNN
5 days ago
- General
- CNN
The best food processors for fast and easy kitchen prep, tested and reviewed
The best food processors we tested Best food processor: Cuisinart Custom 14-Cup Food Processor DFP-14BCNY Best budget food processor: Hamilton Beach 10-Cup Food Processor If a recipe is your road map to the destination of a delicious meal, consider the best food processors shortcuts to getting there. Using one can seem like cheating — a motorized hack for chopping veggies, shredding cheese or pureeing dips — but don't feel guilty, because even the best blenders and kitchen knives can stop short of achieving the results you want sometimes. To invest in a food processor is to do yourself a major favor. From a high level, using a food processor should be as simple as inserting your ingredients and turning it on, but my testing of four popular units showed it's not really that easy. Does one pull off a certain task better than another, or are they all worth a spot on your counter? After running them through a series of identical trials and assessing the pros and cons of each design, two food processors cut through the competition. Cuisinart Custom 14-Cup Food Processor This Cuisinart food processor keeps it simple, but don't confuse basic with bad. It's a kitchen workhorse that can handle a heavy load of shredding, slicing and pureeing over the long haul. Hamilton Beach 10-Cup Food Processor With Bowl Scraper Though it looked and felt cheaper than the other models in our testing pool — because it was — the Hamilton Beach food processor put forth solid results across our slate of recipes. It's a fine choice for those who won't need a food processor often but want one for when they do. I'm a product testing writer who gets his hands on the latest kitchen appliances pretty often, so I've seen some newer bells and whistles that impress me and others that make me wonder who thought this would be a good idea. The Cuisinart Custom 14-Cup Food Processor goes the opposite direction, sticking to a tried-and-true design that hasn't changed in years, because it doesn't need to. While several of the other food processors I tested had different modes and power settings, the Cuisinart features just two buttons total. One turns it on; the other turns it off or initiates a single pulse. That's it. No worrying about what level is best for what task. Just feed your ingredients through the top, then go. Simplicity in use led to results of sublime quality. I ran four tests for this round of evaluations: chopping vegetables such as celery, shredding cheese, pureeing a fresh salsa and making peanut butter. The Cuisinart won every task except for the peanut butter, where it was runner-up to only my budget pick. I made restaurant-style salsa with each food processor, and the Cuisinart was best at achieving that smooth consistency you expect from your favorite Mexican joint. The celery it chopped was the most uniform of the group. The cheese was the most finely shredded. Both were done the fastest. Seriously, all you need is a few seconds and this thing will complete whatever you need prep-wise. At my house, it gets heavy use making pizza sauce. When I made peanut butter in the Cuisinart Custom, I was amazed at how rapidly it advanced through the stages of the process. The low blade excelled at preventing buildup. The peanuts clumped into a ball, then melted down into a creamy consistency that was mouthwatering. Powered by a 720-watt motor, which isn't as much juice as advertised on other models' spec sheets, the Cuisinart Custom still packed plenty of punch but didn't get as loud as the competition. Sure, its base is heavy at about 17 pounds, but with power and pace at just the right levels this is the kind of machine you park on your counter and never remove because it makes your life that much easier. A 14-cup capacity made the Cuisinart the largest bowl I tested too. That extra size came in handy with larger, messier jobs like salsa. While more compact options could be beneficial to users who plan to lean on their food processor for the convenience of casual and infrequent chopping, at least every part here — the bowl, pusher, blade and two discs — is dishwasher-safe, so you won't have to grind through a heavy-duty hand-wash. I especially liked the included spatula for scraping the sides of the bowl because it was easier to clean and operate than the built-in paddles. There's no storage for the blades you aren't currently using, but options exist on Amazon for less than $30. Though spending more than $300 at full price is no measly investment, Cuisinart backs your purchase with a full five-year warranty on the motor and a limited three-year warranty on the rest of the machine (the warranties on the rest of the food processors I tested ended at one year). And with performance and reliability far and away the best among the units I tested, you'll get your money's worth far longer than that. If yet another $300 appliance isn't what your kitchen needs right now, the Hamilton Beach 10-Cup Food Processor came through with shockingly adequate results across all my tests despite having a cheaper build than the rest of the food processors in the group. It's what I'd buy if I knew my food processor was going to be used sparingly, only being called on for the occasional recipe. The Hamilton Beach made the best peanut butter of the group: smooth, creamy and luxurious. Its flavorful salsa was also beloved by our testing panel, so much so that we ran out of chips with which to eat it. It could have done better shredding cheese, leaving behind a few small chunks above the disc that the feed tube never pushed through, but the results on that test were still better than buying pre-shredded cheese. At 10 cups, the bowl on the Hamilton Beach is smaller than my top pick, but not by much. If anything, that trade-off in capacity is a plus for portability. This unit lends itself more to moving from the counter to the closet and back again. While the Cuisinart felt like a countertop titan, the Hamilton Beach lacks the same might. It's light and borderline flimsy, powered by a 450-watt motor with a plastic dial for switching between two levels. You can look at that as a downside, or you can admit that it makes sense, considering you're getting a fine food processor for just $70. It comes with one blade and one disc, the latter of which is reversible for shredding or slicing. A three-pronged scraper fits over the center column and turns via a simple knob to remove buildup on the sides of the bowl. A food processor is meant to save time and simplify jobs in the kitchen, and the Hamilton Beach does that at a price that can't be beat. It's not a workhorse, but I doubt it'll let you down for those occasions when you do plug it in. To see how each food processor stacked up, I put them through identical tests and assessments, evaluating them according to the following criteria along the way. Performance Salsa: Using identical proportions, I made this Food Network restaurant-style salsa recipe in each food processor, then had a panel of CNN Underscored editors taste test each. We noted flavor and consistency. Chopping veggies: I sent several vegetables, including carrots and celery, through the feed tubes of each processor to see how effectively they chopped them down. Shredding cheese: A proper food processor can save time and effort when shredding cheese, so I put a hunk of cheddar into each unit to compare results. The best food processor produced uniform shreds and didn't leave behind any chunks. Peanut butter: Making peanut butter from scratch is actually quite easy, but using the same ingredients in each processor yielded varying results. I assessed the smoothness of each model's PB. Design and specs Bowl capacity: Being able to fit several ingredients in your food processor's bowl is essential if you want convenience to remain a signature reason you deploy this appliance. I noted any instances during testing in which the bowl of a particular unit seemed too small (salsa overflowing, for example) or too large (bothersome to hold and remove food). Attachments and blades: I compared the included attachments and blades for how effective they were in processing different foods and for how comprehensive they were as an arsenal as a whole. Did it feel as if an extra attachment were missing? Were there so many pieces that deciding on which to use felt like overkill? Feed tube: Every food processor had a chute atop the unit for safely inserting food to be processed. I assessed the design and use of each mechanism, identifying any frustrating snags or safety features that made the feed tube stand out. Power: A strong and reliable motor within a food processor is what makes this kitchen upgrade worth it, so I evaluated the force behind each motor, which was usually measured in watts. It was apparent which machines packed more punch than the competition. Noise: Being too loud is absolutely grounds for disliking an appliance, as the annoyance can limit where and when you can use it, so I kept the noise level in mind as I tracked performance. Overall build: How heavy is the food processor? Does its heft make it hard to move around your counters and cabinets? Does it seem durable? Getting hands-on with all of these products gave me a feel for how they'd hold up over the long haul. Care and maintenance Cleaning: Food processors can get cruddy and crumby, so I appreciated when parts were easily removable and dishwasher-safe. Storage and organization: Did all of the parts fit into the bowl when not in use? Was there a storage option available to purchase or included in the box? A food processor's blades are sharp, so it's important to be able to safely manage them. Value Features: Food processors are fairly simple machines, and because of that, most of my evaluations hinged on their design and performance in the recipes I tested. But any special features that made a tangible difference were weighed as well. Price: How often you use your food processor determines what price point is worthwhile for you. That said, I looked at the range of prices in my testing pool and the performance of each model to ensure any recommendations merited their cost. Warranty: The extent and duration of each food processor's warranty were considered in total value. Use cases will guide your choice If you're reading this, you're probably seriously considering buying a food processor. Why? Your answer will be the biggest contributor to which model will work best for you. For example, are you buying one because you're sick of having to delicately chop every vegetable you need in a recipe? If that's the case, I'm not sure splurging on a top pick is a must for you. But if you're planning on making big batches of soups and dips that could splash around in smaller machines, you're going to want to get something big and powerful like my top pick from Cuisinart. If you're not sure of your answer, that's OK too. Versatility, then, is something you'll need to prioritize. Luckily, all of the food processors I tested can handle more than one job. I'd take a look at each model's section in this guide to see where they shine that aligns most closely with your kitchen needs. How key is capacity? The size of your food processor will open up more possibilities. With the 14-cup Cuisinart in my kitchen, I know I'm prepared the next time I want to make salsa or hummus for a party. But the machine is so big that it can't stay out permanently because my counter space comes at a serious premium. Conversely, if you live alone or rarely prepare food for more than a few people, you can get away with a smaller food processor, so long as it still has the power to do the job. Ninja Professional XL 12-Cup Food Processor Though I preferred the simpler controls on the winning models, this Ninja food processor lets you dial in on exact settings if you want. The included storage container (if it's in stock) is clutch for organization and safety. If you don't want to spend the money for the Cuisinart but feel you need more than what my budget pick from Hamilton Beach offers, the Ninja Professional XL 12-Cup Food Processor can handle most jobs. It didn't lead to the same results as I got with my top pick, but it was a capable machine for a fair price. Notably, its interface and controls are far more robust than the Cuisinart's basic on/off function. Powered by a 1,200-watt motor, the Ninja handled my salsa test with ease, though its batch wasn't a favorite among our taste tests. Feeding celery and cheese through its feed tube was also a smooth experience, as it has three nesting sizes suitable for different foods. Its peanut butter was not bad but also not nearly as smooth as what the Hamilton Beach extracted. I used the high setting for that task and didn't love that it automatically shut off after a minute. I had to reengage it three times to reach my desired consistency. The complications during my PB test were likely the result of Ninja's Auto-iQ programming, designed to turn off once the food is done. Using one of four settings — chop, dough, puree, disc — on high or low is supposed to 'remove guesswork with the touch of a button,' according to the brand. For me, it took several touches of that button. Your experience may vary, and this approach could be desirable for anyone intimidated by the far simpler controls on the winning Cuisinart. The Ninja I tested also came with a smaller 4.5-inch nesting bowl for smaller jobs, plus a lidded storage box for any blades you weren't using. It was a great addition, though it added to an already large footprint and was subject to availability. As of this writing, it was out of stock at Ninja and marked up significantly at Amazon. NutriBullet Ultra Plus+ Compact Kitchen System Shoppers short on counter space might appreciate the 3-in-1 aspect of this food processor that moonlights as a personal blender and a grinder … or is it the other way around? It's not a good sign that I can't tell which is the primary function of the trio. I knew the limitations of the NutriBullet Ultra Plus+ Compact Kitchen System when I considered it for this test, but I included it anyway because I thought the extra features would give it a boost in my rankings. In a way that happened, because its small size and versatility proved to be unique among the group. While it is a mini 2-cup food processor, the box includes the blades and bowls to also be a fully functioning personal blender and coffee/spice grinder. The food processing of the Ultra Plus+ delivered mixed results. Our testing panel actually loved the salsa it produced, though I couldn't fit the entire recipe in the bowl, and the portion that did fit overflowed while the machine was on. It fared OK in chopping celery, leading to mostly uniform sizing, but left a large hunk of cheese unshredded above the disc. It couldn't make peanut butter at all, automatically stalling out with clumps of peanut stuck below the reach of the blade. Most frustrating was the disassembly required for cleaning. The bowl and its handle are two parts that are supposed to come apart (and they must, since food and liquid fit between them), yet it took minutes of struggling to split them up almost every time. These issues were understandable because I expected to sacrifice some top-notch performance to gain the ability to grind coffee or make a smoothie. But as someone who uses a burr grinder every morning at home, this bladed grinder simply didn't cut it. It made a guessing game out of grind size; when I wanted a coarse grind, the results were inconsistent and included a lot of finely ground coffee. This NutriBullet, to borrow an overused term, is a jack-of-all-trades but master of none. It may only have utility for you if you don't need a specific grind size for your coffee or want all three appliances but lack the space to accommodate separate machines. The following questions were answered by the writer of this guide, CNN Underscored associate testing writer Joe Bloss. How is a food processor different from a blender? How is a food processor different from a blender? A food processor grants you far more control over what you put into it, allowing for precise chopping, slicing and shredding of things that would otherwise be turned to goop in a blender. This is because the blades in a blender typically move with more power than a food processor. Though the two can be used interchangeably for some tasks, anything with liquids is often better suited for a blender than a food processor. How do I use a food processor? How do I use a food processor? There are two main methods of using a food processor. One is adding all your ingredients to the bowl and combining them, just as I did with salsa and peanut butter during my testing, or you can use it as a tool to chop, slice and shred ingredients piece by piece through the top feed tube. Before that, make sure the blade is inserted and the lid is properly attached, then turn it on. Engaging the motor can typically be done in pulses or in a steady setting. What size food processor do I need? What size food processor do I need? It all depends on your expected uses. The 14-cup capacity of the bowl on my top pick from Cuisinart was plenty big enough for most, including those prepping meals for a group, while the 2-cup bowl on the NutriBullet was far too small. The 10-cup capacity of my budget pick from Hamilton Beach felt like the appropriate middle ground. CNN Underscored editors thoroughly test nearly all the products we cover and provide full transparency about how we test them. We have an experienced team of writers and editors with several years of testing experience who ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when it makes sense to ensure we are testing each product accurately and speaking about the pros and cons of each item. For this guide, associate testing writer Joe Bloss assembled a group of food processors from leading kitchen appliance brands to see which are truly worth your money. Bloss has years of experience testing products for CNN Underscored, including kitchen mainstays such as slot toasters and French press coffee makers.
