11 of the Very Best Kitchen Tools That Came Out in 2021
This year was a big year in terms of new kitchen gear. It felt like, every time we turned around, there was a new pan, coffee maker, or knife hitting the market. Of course, newer doesn’t always mean better. So we spent a lot of time this year testing out recently released kitchen gear. If we had to estimate, we’d say we spent more hours testing new gear in 2021 than we ever have during any other year. While there were some duds, there were also lots of winners that make life in the kitchen even just a little bit better. What are these winners? We’ve listed them out below.
1. Keurig K-Supreme Plus SMART Single Serve Coffee Maker
Our resident coffee expert tested this new machine out and had this to report: “As someone who loves to tinker with a coffee recipe, I think this new Keurig machine and the app are fantastic ways to get K-Cup-lovers experimenting.” Unlike other pod machines, this one lets users adjust the cup size, temperature, and strength of any coffee pod. It’s great for people who want a convenient and customizable caffeination situation.
Read more: Keurig Just Launched a Brand-New Coffee Maker That’s the First of Its Kind — And I Got to Try It
2. Our Place Perfect Pot
Made by the same people who make the Always Pan (the super-popular skillet that’s designed to replace eight pieces of cookware), the Perfect Pot is also a bunch of things in one. It’s a big pot, yes. But it can also be used as a Dutch oven, a steamer, a braiser, and more. It comes with a lid (of course), a roasting rack, and a wooden spoon that has notches on the back so it easily rests on the pot’s handles.
Read more: Of All the New Cookware We Tried in 2021, This Is Our Favorite
3. Great Jones King Sear
Great Jones came out with their first cast iron skillet this year and it’s just as gorgeous as the rest of the line. It’s 12 inches and has two pour spouts and a generously sized helper handle. We loved using it to sear steaks, brown meatballs, bake cornbread, and more. Bonus: The skillet comes in Blueberry, Broccoli, and Mustard.
Read more: Great Jones Just Launched Its First Cast Iron Skillet — And I Got to Test It Out
4. KitchenAid Light & Shadow Artisan Stand Mixer
This isn’t a new model, but it’s a new design. So while it works just like the usual artisan stand mixer, it does so with a sleek, new look. It has a sand-colored, matte body (which “mirrors sand in an hourglass,” the company says) and a studded, three-dimensional black bowl (although you can opt to buy it with one that’s stainless steel). It’s limited edition, though, so get it while you can.
Read more: KitchenAid Just Launched a New, Limited-Edition Stand Mixer — And It’s Absolutely Stunning
5. Made In Nonstick Sheet Pan
It’s no secret how much we love a nonstick sheet pan around here, so we were pumped when Made In came out with one. The body is made from commercial-grade 3004 aluminum, so it’s extremely durable yet lightweight. It’s a game-changer for delicate puff pastry and hearty roasted vegetables. And it’s truly a cinch to clean.
Read more: Made In Just Launched the Perfect Nonstick Sheet Pan and, Trust Us, It’s Going to Sell Out
6. Misen Kitchen Shears
A good pair of kitchen shears can do more than you’d think. You can use them to snip twine, mince herbs without bruising them, debone chicken thighs, open up crab shells, and more. These new shears have stainless steel blades — which are micro-serrated to make smooth, straight cuts and prevent blade slippage — and roomy, ambidextrous handle loops. The blades come apart for cleaning, and you can get a pair for just $15!
Read more: This Popular Cookware Brand Just Launched $15 Kitchen Shears — and They’re Selling Fast!
7. Material reBowl
Material makes our favorite plastic cutting boards (made of recycled plastic and renewable sugarcane) and the brand launched bowls, earlier this year, made of the exact same stuff. They’re lightweight, large, and stunning. The reBowls are sold individually or in sets of two and are available in a pink-tan Clay, a light blue Azure, and yellow-ish Sand.
Read more: If You Love Material’s Famous Cutting Boards, Wait Until You See Their Brand-New Bowls
8. Misen Cutting Board
Speaking of cutting boards! Misen came out with wooden cutting boards in three sizes (small for $30, medium for $50, and large for $70) to go with their knives, which happen to be some of our favorites. If you have the space, get the large, because it features a groove on one side.
Read more: The Brand Behind Some of Our Favorite Knives Just Launched a Must-Have Cutting Board
9. Material Table Knives
Have you ever seen prettier table knives? We think not. And they’re just as sharp as they look. They feature straight blades (instead of serrated) and a well-balanced handle.
Read more: One of Our Favorite Small Kitchenware Brands Just Launched Gorgeous Table Knives
10. Made In Bakeware Set
Designed in collaboration with iconic chef Nancy Silverton, this bakeware line includes a rectangular (9×13), square (8×8), and oval (5×10) baker, which can be purchased individually or as a set. We’ve tested the pieces to bake brownies, roast vegetables, and make mac and cheese — and we were blown away every time. These porcelain heat evenly and are oven-safe up to 500°F. They’re also microwave-safe, so you can reheat, say, a casserole or gratin in a hurry.
Read more: I Tried Made In’s Beautiful, Brand-New Bakeware — Here’s My Honest Review
11. Le Creuset Harry Potter Round Dutch Oven
Calling all Harry Potter fans: At the beginning of November, Le Creuset launched its newest Harry Potter collection, available at Williams Sonoma. And it’s magical. There are 10 new products, but we’re especially fond of the Dutch oven, which is understated yet still features a gold lightning bolt (as the lid’s knob).
Read more: Le Creuset Just Launched a New Harry Potter-Themed Collection and It’s as Amazing as You’d Expect