Item: Cuisinart ICE-100 Ice Cream and Gelato Maker
Price: $299
Overall Impression: An easy and reliable way to make consistently good ice cream at home.

I love making ice cream, but after being spoiled by a glorious industrial ice cream maker I got to play with at the Culinary Institute of America and scarred by a series of misadventures with a "rock salt and ice bucket" model, I was skeptical that I'd ever be able to make it to my satisfaction at home. A compressor model sounded like the ideal solution, so I was curious to try the latest one from Cuisinart, the ICE-100. More

Item: SodaStream Fizz
Price: $179.99
Overall Impression: Less streamlined than some other models but the Fizz Chip indicator is very useful.

We are avid drinkers of carbonated water and homemade soda in my household, and the SodaStream, which can convert tap water to sparkling water in a matter of seconds, is one of the appliances we use most. When our SodaStream Pure model died after two years of near-constant use, I was curious to try the company's latest model, the Fizz. More

Item: Edgeware Better Zester
Price: $14.95
Overall Impression: Pretty much the perfect citrus zester.

I use citrus zest constantly; very few cooking sessions go by in my kitchen without me reaching for my citrus zester at least once. Well, last year at the Housewares show in Chicago I saw a fantastic new zester that had some small but well-designed improvements that won my heart. More

Item: Krups Silver Art Collection Electric Water Kettle
Price: $79.00
Overall Impression: This isn't a cheap kettle, but it is well made and functions at top levels. It may be too shiny for some, but I really like its chrome surface and elegant lines.

As I've already confessed in previous a post, my electric hot water kettle is perhaps the most used small appliances in my kitchen. It's important to me that my kettle is safe, efficient and a real workhorse. While the appearance is also something to consider, if it doesn't work well then I won't buy it. So when the Krups people sent me their new, fancy-pants electric kettle, I approached it with some skepticism. More

Item: Probiotic & Filmjólk Swedish Non-Fat Drinkable Yogurts from Siggi's
Price: $1.99 to $4.99
Overall Impression: Yummy low-sugar drinkable yogurts.

We're big fans of Siggi's Iceland-style yogurts — extra thick, and extra high in protein. So when he sent some of their drinkable yogurts to check out too, I was thrilled. These are really delicious! More

My oven broke over Christmas. That's four months without a big oven. I could have had it repaired at any time but never felt the urgent need to do so. That's because I have my Breville Smart Oven. (I don't work for Breville or have any ties to the company whatsoever, I promise). The Smart Oven toasts, bakes, broils, and reheats. It's perfect for someone living alone or for couples. But it's also great for cooking for kids. I always hated heating up an entire oven for 8 tiny faux-chicken nuggets or a small Amy's Organic pizza for my kids! In fact, I am starting to think I could probably live without a big oven; that space could be better served with drawers or shelves. More

Item: TopChips Chip Tray
Price: $19.95
Overall Impression: Handy! These trays aren't a magic bullet for perfect chips, but they certainly make the process easier and simpler.

One of the biggest hitches to making our much-loved microwave potato chips is the labor-intensive process of making them. They require numerous batches at different microwave times and with constant adjustments to power strengths — all for a few handfuls of chips. These silicone trays from TopChips help simplify the process. More

Item: 5-Tray SMALL GARDEN-Excalibur 26 hour Timer #3526T
Price: $249.95
Overall Impression: Excalibur is known as the Cadillac of food dehydrators, and this model has sophisticated features while also being very easy to use.

For years I have heard tales of the magical Excalibur dehydrator and wondered whether it was worth the hype. The Excalibur is not an appliance to be taken lightly – in size or price – and I was curious how it would compare to lower-end dehydrators, as well as the practicality of owning one as an apartment dweller. It's not without drawbacks, but I am ready to declare my allegiance. More

How do you store your butter? If you're like me, you're constantly slicing off a tablespoon here and there for baking or cooking, and then tossing that opened stick back in the box. But this is a good way to make your butter go stale or taste off quickly. Enter a smart, tiny solution: The Butter Saver. More

From time to time, a reader writes us with feedback on a kitchen product they particularly like. Today's reader product review: The OXO food mill. A food mill is a terrific tool for blending sauces and jams, making mashed potatoes, and getting rid of tomato skins and seeds. Here's what reader John has to say about his OXO food mill! More