Aldi has just added an absolute gem into its Specialbuys collection of bestselling cast iron cookware: a £19.99 bread oven which is a dead ringer for Le Creuset's £265 version (which is beloved by bread makers everywhere). Available from the 5th of November in the middle aisle, this is one limited-edition buy I'm desperate to get my hands on.

I've recently got into making sourdough at home in a big way – a task that you can't rely on one of the best bread makers alone for – and have been fervently researching the kit I need to buy to make my loaves even better.

That led me to eyeing up Le Creuset's Bread Oven, which was recommended by my friend and Ideal Home's previous Kitchen Appliances Editor Millie Fender, who tried it out for us in her Le Creuset Bread Oven review, where she said it helped to make a brilliant loaf of bread.

Here's how Aldi's version, which is part of its longstanding editor-approved line-up for one tenth of the price, stacks up against the Le Creuset classic that's all the rage on bread-making forums (trust me, I've read them all).

I've been researching this Le Creuset bread oven obsessively over the last few weeks, trying to work out if it's worth splashing over £250 on in order to improve my sourdough. My biggest dilemma is over whether this oven really has that much over a standard Le Creuset casserole, which I've managed to get pretty good results out of already.

In the course of my research, I've found that if you're after a dedicated bread baking vessel then Le Creuset's Bread Oven is the ultimate bit of kit to pick up. It has the edge in a few ways including safer loading (you place your dough onto the flat plate) and a shape that lends itself better to preheating when empty and creating that all-important steam trap.

It's important to note that if you're looking for an all-rounder cast iron dish, the consensus is that a standard Le Creuset (or alternative) casserole is the best way to go. My own Le Creuset casserole in Chambray (£405), as pictured below, has been in constant use this winter for sourdough, stews and one-pot meals.

One thing I have been concerned about with using my standard Le Creuset for sourdough is having to preheat it dry for 45 minutes before I pop my dough in as it's not necessarily recommended by the manufacturer. I'm worried that doing this frequently might spell trouble for the enamel layer.

That's where Aldi's sub £20 bread oven comes in, seeming to me like a very affordable investment as a kind of middle ground. It's shape will allow me to experiment with using a bread oven while I decide if I want to take the plunge on Le Creuset's version and its price tag won't break the bank in the meantime.

It's not the only cast iron Specialbuy that Aldi will be stocking up the middle aisle with in December either – the supermarket's £19.99 casserole is back too as well as a range of accessories from as little as £1.99.

This is one lookalike I'm definitely going to be venturing to my nearest Aldi for!

Despite the fact the clocks have only just turned back, many of us are already thinking about our Christmas dinners. Whether you’ve put in your order with your local butcher for a turkey, or pre-booked your festive Christmas shop delivery, now is a great time to get organised.

But have you thought about investing in the best Christmas cookware? Cookware and servingware that doubles up as decor will instantly make your festive tablescape all the more charming, and right now, Primark’s jingle bell-inspired buys are perfect for setting this scene on a budget.

I'm planning to invest in the Christmas Bell Lidded Ramekin (£18). These charming oven-safe pieces of cookware are ideal for serving your seasonal veggies or roasties on the dinner table this Christmas.

Complete with bold red stripes, subtle gold finishes and, of course, a looping garland made up of green foliage and gold bells, the ramekin has been clearly inspired by traditional festive motifs. There is something that feels inherently nostalgic about this design. It looks like something my grandparents would own in the most charming way possible. These are the 6 future family favourite dishes I'd recommend checking out at your local Primark.

While Pirmark does offer a click and collect service, not all of us have a store local to us. If this is the case for you, here’s some festive cookware I’ve fallen in love with that you can shop online.

Alternatives

Embrace tradtion via your Christmas cookware this year. It will make your dining table look and feel all the more cosy.

Ninja is adding an incredibly versatile new slow multi-cooker to its roster of bestselling products and I'm confident you've never seen a kitchen appliance like this before. The new Ninja MultiPot XL 11-in-1 Multi-Cooker is available to buy now for £259.99. I predict it's going to be a big hit in the run up to Christmas.

I've been trying out this cooker, which features three interchangeable cooking pots, for the past few weeks – even using it to cater for a dinner party of nine people. And I've been thoroughly impressed with every setting I've tried including the rice and pasta modes and the slow cooking options. It's main USP? It solves the age-old problem of only being able to cook one element of a meal at a time in your slow cooker.

Here's a closer look at what the MultiPot can do and how it differs from all of the best multi-cookers that have come before it.

The multi-zoned design of this cooker means it has a lot in common with Ideal Home's top-rated air fryer: the Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer. That means instead of being stuck with one way to cook, you're armed with three different ways to bring a meal together.

The first is using the huge 'MegaZone' pot, which has a 7-litre capacity. That means you could comfortably cook 8 portions of food in one go. Or, the more versatile option is using the appliance's two swappable inner pots, which sit side by side and allow you to cook two different dishes using two different settings and temperatures.

Even better, the lid of the cooker is split into two, to allow you to use each pot independently. It also means you can use this cooker for more interactive dishes when hosting, like hotpot or serving up a buffet.

The MultiPot doesn't have a pressure cooker setting if you want more of a classic multi-cooker – the recently released Ninja HyperHeat ticks that box instead – but the versatility of the interchangeable pots is something I've never seen before as a Kitchen Appliances Editor.

The dual-function ability will be a highlight for many for easy family dinners. All in all, the 11 programs for this cooker are: slow cook, sear/sauté, bake, sauce, rice, pasta, mixed rice, sous vide, simmer, hotpot and keep warm.

With this cooker, you can easily cook the carb-based element of your dinner in one side (like rice or pasta) while you use the other to bring together your protein and vegetables – and set it off to all finish at just the right time, too.

So far, I've tested the rice setting on this cooker with great results and used the slow cooker setting with the dual pots for pulled pork in one section and chicken in another for fillings for tacos when hosting.

But that's barely scratching the surface at what you can try with this cooker. The sear/sauté function is a gamechanger for browning meat or crisping other ingredients before you begin slow cooking and was one of the highlights of testing the Ninja PossibleCooker for me so I'm excited to try it out again. The hotpot element, which is a food trend that's taken off in the UK over the last few years, is another thing I'm looking forward to testing.

The ceramic non-stick pot also owes itself greatly to the bake mode, which I want to try out with a sticky toffee pudding or a set of brownies next. Making sweet treats in a slow cooker can open up a whole new world!

After trying it out, I think the multi-zone cooking element is going be a huge hit with Ninja fans. Can you see the appeal in the MultiPot design?

For many, Christmas prep is already in full swing as some festive decor and accessories are already selling out. If you’re in the well-organised camp and are in the market for a festive mug - or just an addition to a growing mug collection - do not sleep on Primark's Christmas slogan mug. It is a dead ringer for Anthropologie’s bestselling Christmas bistro tile mug, with the exception that Primark's version is half the price.

Selling for £12, Anthropologie’s festive bistro tile monogram mug is iconic – and the tiled pattern and monogram detail make the design instantly recognisable. This returning classic is among the brand’s top-selling Christmas ideas year after year – and this year is no exception.

But when I stumbled across Primark’s Christmas slogan mug, retailing for £6, and subsequently showed it to my colleagues, they all thought I was showing them the Anthropologie mug. That’s how similar the design is.

The main difference between the two is that Anthropologie’s mug is a monogram design so you can choose one with your initial. Meanwhile, Primark’s mug features a Christmas slogan in large lettering, reading ‘Merry’, in place of a single initial. That also means that Primark’s design doesn’t have the same personalisation aspect to it as Anthropologie’s. But as I’ve already pointed out, Primark’s selling theirs for half the price of Anthropologie’s.

Another great thing about Primark’s tile mug is that there’s a whole matching tableware range available to shop, too – everything from one of the cutest bow-topped butter dishes I’ve seen to charming plates with a ‘Joy’ slogan. Meanwhile, Anthropologie doesn’t have a matching set to go with its mug this year.

But even though there is no festive bistro tile tableware range available at Anthropologie this time around, there are plenty of other beautiful pieces to shop ahead of Christmas, from charming Christmas cookware to new adorable Christmas mugs to choose from. These are some of my current favourites and top sellers.

Which Christmas mug have you got your eye to celebrate the festive season with once it arrives? It’s just around the corner, and it’s going to be here before you know it.

Back in 2024 the Our Place Wonder Oven was the talk of the town (or maybe that was just amongst kitchen appliance reviewers) because it looked so impossibly cute. We were all getting bored of the best air fryers being big black boxes and then came the Wonder Oven with its adorable pastel shades.

Whilst I reviewed the OG version for a sister publication, I agreed with Ideal Home’s appliances editor, the Wonder Oven is small, and the controls are basic at best. So I’m delighted the brand has launched a bigger Pro oven, with digital controls. It still looks nice and comes in three great colours, but it’s the cleverer, more grown up version.

In a nutshell

The Our Place Wonder Oven Pro will set you back £100 more than the original Wonder Oven, but in my opinion it’s well worth the extra investment. It offers more than double the cooking capacity, making it far more usable, even for smaller households.

Furthermore, the digital controls and automatic preheat offer much greater accuracy than the analogue dial controls on the smaller version. The Pro comes with two additional cooking functions, dehydrate and proof, for most people they’re not game changing added functions, but still nice to have.

I do find it annoying that the accessories can’t go in the dishwasher. And while I would have loved some cooking time and temperature suggestions listed in the manual, I still managed to successfully cook lots of different foods across the various functions.

From roast chicken in under an hour, to perfectly toasted bagels, air fried fish and chips, and beautifully baked homemade cookies, I whipped up a real variety of foods in this oven and on the whole it did a great job. Though it’s worth pointing out that when lots of steam is produced, you can end up with puddles on your kitchen worktop.

Who reviewed this air fryer?

Unboxing and first impressions

Unboxing this oven from its fully recyclable cardboard and paper packaging, was made somewhat easier by the fact that it’s relatively lightweight and easy to lift. I reviewed the blue salt colour which added a fun pop of colour to my beige worktops. It’s nice looking, but not in an attention seeking kind of way.

The accessories can all be stored inside the oven, so it’s neat and tidy when not in use. It comes with a mesh style air fryer basket, a non-stick bake pan, and a wire rack similar to the shelves in your normal oven. There’s also a removable stainless steel crumb tray that slides into the bottom below the heating elements, to catch drips and crumbs.

The steam function is simply an inlet in the top of the oven covered by a cap that you can fill with water to make sure you add the right volume of water into the hole. It’s a basic feature that’s easy to use, though there’s little guidance in the manual on how best to make use of it. It can be used on all functions apart from dehydrate and proof. You just have to add the water after the preheat stage.

The digital touch controls are well laid out and very simple to use. The touch controls make an audible beep when pressed, but thankfully this can be turned off. You can also turn the internal light on and off as needed, making it easy to check browning levels during cooking.

Each cooking function has a preset time and temperature as a starting point. The timer is adjustable in 1 minute increments for most functions (apart from dehydrate). Similarly, temperatures can be adjusted in 5C intervals for most functions. Adjustments are easy with the big dial control on the right.

It’s worth noting that there isn’t a countdown timer for the preheat. The display shows the word ‘preheating’ so you know what’s going on, and once the preheat stage is complete, it beeps and the countdown timer immediately starts. Which means, ideally you have to stay close and pop your food in as soon as you hear the beep. Luckily, the timer pauses whenever the door is open.

One thing that bugs me is the use of American terminology on the control panel. The ‘Broil’ function is what we in the UK would call a grill. It's fine if you know that, but not everybody will, so there’s potential for confusion. Similarly for the ‘Proof’ function, in the UK we usually say ‘Prove’, though this one is admittedly, more of a minor niggle.

Be aware that the instruction manual gives all the details on operation but little-to-no guidance or suggestions on cooking temperatures and times for common foods. So you will have to wing it a bit when it comes to selecting settings.

The accessories all have to be washed before use and it’s at this point you realise they can’t go in the dishwasher, something that’ll no doubt feel frustrating to most busy cooks.

What's it like to use?

Toast function

The first thing I did after setting up, was use the toast function to toast a bagel. Since this setting doesn’t require a preheat, I popped my bagel sliced side up, on the wire rack. And even though my instinct was to put the rack in the upper shelf position, I followed the recommendations in the manual to put it in the middle.

I went with the default time and temperature settings. As it started toasting, and both the top and bottom heating elements lit up, I understood why my bagel was best placed in the centre. It toasts both sides simultaneously.

After three minutes, I enjoyed a nicely toasted bagel that had an appealing golden colour. It’s as quick as a standard toaster, plus it can toast much thicker slices too. So if you wanted fewer appliances in your kitchen, you could ditch your toaster.

Even during this first use, I was struck by how useful the large glass viewing window is. Almost the whole door is a window, which makes it really easy to see inside and keep an eye on your food while it cooks.

Air fry function

I used the air fry function to make jacket sweet potatoes. I’d microwaved them before coating the skin in oil and salt. Then I set the air fryer to 200C. I would have loved a timer to show how long the preheat takes, in this instance it took 5 minutes to preheat to 200C, which is fine, it’s just frustrating not knowing how long you need to wait.

The potatoes were ready in 20 minutes, which is similar to the time they take in my usual Ninja air fryer, and the skin was lightly crisped with good browning.

To further put the air fryer through its paces, I made fish and chips. The chips were made from scratch, the breaded fish was from the supermarket freezer aisle. As I always do, I soaked the fresh cut potato batons for 30 minutes, then coated in oil.

I spread the chips out on the wire basket and turned them a couple of times. After 18 minutes I added the frozen fish alongside the chips.

The fish cooked quickly in just under 14 minutes. The crumb was lovely and crunchy and the fish remained moist. The chips ended up being in for just over 30 minutes, I could have taken them out a few minutes sooner but didn’t want them to cool down while the fish was still cooking.

The chips were very good, they had a lovely crisp texture on the outside and were nicely cooked inside. All in all it was a great result and I was impressed that I could fit two portions of fish and chips in the basket.

The air fryer function was my first choice when cooking some chicken thighs. But I was concerned about the thighs drying out due to them having no skin on. So once the air fryer had heated to 190C, I added a cap full of water to the steam inlet.

It’s hard to say how much difference the steam function makes, but the chicken thighs cooked in 12 ½ minutes and remained moist and juicy, so I was happy with the result.

Roast function

I roasted a selection of vegetables on the roast setting at 215C. This time the preheat took 3 ½ minutes. I stirred the veg a couple of times during cooking and was impressed that after just 20 minutes, the heavily loaded tray of onions, peppers and mushrooms had become perfectly roasted, with some lovely charring and caramelising.

Excess steam vents out of the base of the door and the viewing window can fog up with condensation when cooking certain foods. I noticed when roasting vegetables, a lot of steam was escaping, and consequently little puddles formed on the worktop below the door. This is definitely something to keep an eye on, especially if you’ve got wooden worktops that could become damaged if you don’t spot and mop up these puddles.

After my success with the roasted veg, I used the roast function again for a whole chicken. I decided to cook it at 170C and initially set the timer to 60 minutes. The preheat was speedy, taking just 2 ½ minutes. I coated my chicken in oil, and seasoned it with salt and pepper, then popped it on the baking tray on the lowest shelf position.

I didn’t want the chicken to dry out during the early stages of cooking, so this felt like another good opportunity to use the steam function. I poured a cap full of water into the inlet and hoped for the best. Steam is created automatically and I could hear the sizzling sounds as the water was heated inside the oven.

The chicken roasted in 55 minutes. The skin was golden brown and apart from one small area towards the back of the chicken, it was even in colour. The meat was tender and moist. The skin didn’t crisp up quite as much as I hoped for, which could well be due to the addition of the steam at the start, though it’s hard to say.

On the whole though, it cooked quickly and the taste and texture was great. What’s more, there was plenty of space for a large 2kg chicken. I’m not sure if it was due to the steam function or moisture from the chicken, but once again, puddles formed on my worktop below the door. I checked the manual, and it is listed as something you should expect, which is somewhat frustrating.

Broil (grill) function

For a pasta bake that was cooked, but just needed some cheese melting on top, I opted for the Broil (grill) function. Preheating to 230C took 4 ½ minutes. And I was surprised that in just six minutes the cheese was golden, perfectly melted and crisp around the edges. It was super speedy and effective.

The next day I tried the reheat function for a bowl of leftover pasta bake. I popped it in the microwave first for a couple of minutes, then after eight minutes reheating at 175C, the cheese topping had crisped back up and it tasted just like the night before.

Cookies are one of my favourite sweet treats to bake, because they’re best served warm and you really can’t get the same freshly baked, slightly gooey and melty texture from shop bought cookies.

I used the bake setting at 170C and was able to fit six cookies onto the tray with plenty of space to stop them melting into one another. I didn’t bother lining the tray, because the non-stick is really good so I didn't feel the need to.

The chunky cookies took 15 minutes and baked to perfection, I was really happy with the result. And with just a 3 minute preheat, it was much quicker and more convenient than cooking them in my normal oven.

Personally, I’m happy to bake six at a time, because I like to keep the cookie dough balls in the fridge or freezer and bake them on demand. But if you’re cooking for a crowd, you’ll either need a second tray, or to cook back-to-back trays of six at a time.

What's it like to clean?

As I’ve already mentioned, the accessories can’t go in the dishwasher, which is a bit annoying. The wire air fry basket is particularly fiddly to clean by hand and I recommend a brush. Luckily the tray has a good non-stick coating and is very easy to clean.

As far as the inside of the oven goes, the removable crumb tray in the base certainly helps make life easier. After roasting a chicken, I did have to spend some time wiping all the grease splatters from the sides. And I imagine the stainless steel interior will become harder to keep clean after prolonged use.

Due to the heating elements, the top of the oven is virtually impossible to get to, which is a bit frustrating when you can see the grease and food splatters. Luckily, I found the exterior stayed looking as good as new with just the occasional wipe over.

How does it compare to competitors?

The obvious comparison is the smaller Our Place Wonder Oven. It’s £100 cheaper which is a big draw. But even for a two person household, it’s small and depending on what you want to cook, it may not meet your needs. That said, for very compact spaces or single person homes, it could be a great option. So long as you accept that the dial controls are very simplistic.

Alternatively, if you can forego the colourful good looks of the Our Place ovens, you could save some money by opting for a more generic looking model. There are several top performing Ninja air fryers that could fit the bill.

Should you buy the Our Place Wonder Oven Pro?

If you’re choosing between the Wonder Oven and this new Pro version, then I think I’ve already made no secret of the fact that I think the Pro is hands-down the superior choice. It’s a much better investment for many reasons, including the larger capacity and user-friendly digital control panel.

It’s not without faults and for me, the pools of condensation on the worktop are a big annoyance. And I really do wish the accessories could be chucked in the dishwasher. That being said, I like the look of it. And if you want an air fryer oven that’s not an eyesore then I think you’ll be able to get over these niggles.

Let's face it - we all want our kitchens to look much more expensive than what we've actually spent. Whether you're in a rental that needs some polishing or your kitchen reno budget hasn't gone as far as you hoped, there's no need to worry – lighting can be your saviour.

Kitchen lighting ideas are a seemingly small feature, but they're one of the most important. Lighting has the ability to completely alter the ambience of a room, and choosing the right lighting can turn a stark, uninviting space into one filled with warmth.

The same can be said for making a kitchen look expensive. The wrong lighting will cheapen a scheme, whereas subtle, hidden lighting techniques will ooze luxury from every corner.

'Successful kitchen lighting is about creating the right ambience for different moments throughout the day, from practical lighting when preparing meals to a softer, more relaxed setting in the evenings,' says Tom Raffield, founder of Tom Raffield.

A single overhead light might be a useful source of light, but it's not going to help to transition your kitchen from day to night, or from cooking to hosting.

Layered lighting is the key to achieving a scheme that has versatility and easily transitions to meet your needs, rather than causing frustration.

'A considered approach can transform how a kitchen looks and feels, with subtle details like under-cabinet lighting adding warmth and depth,' Tom continues.

While the 3-layer lighting rule is great guidance for creating a dynamic lighting set-up, it doesn't speak to the power of hidden lighting enough.

Adding lamps to a kitchen acts as a source of warmth and adds decor, but sometimes we want all of the perks of illumination without adding more clutter to our kitchens. This is where opting for clever, hidden sources of light comes into play.

For a more seamless finish, integrated lighting can make a real difference. From subtle lighting beneath worktops and along horizontal and vertical recess rails to illumination beneath wall units, shelving and inside drawers, these thoughtful details can shine a light on your kitchen and help create the perfect ambience, while making everyday tasks a little easier,' explains Ntola Obazee, brand director, Kutchenhaus.

Adding thin LED strips underneath shelving, whether open shelving or within cupboards, is one of the easiest ways to add an instant premium touch to a kitchen. It makes built-in cabinetry look much more luxe but also aids visibility.

Hidden lighting along the bottom of cabinetry also adds light to walkways and creates atmosphere - particularly upon evenings spent hosting. Choose where you position this carefully - it will have a high impact when used sparingly around an island to accentuate the centre of the kitchen.

Shop hidden lighting

Autumn is the best time to upgrade your kitchen lighting - for a quick weekend project, I've hunted down the best rechargeable wall lights from Dusk that mean you don't even need to call an electrician.

There is no better investment for cosy season than a cast iron casserole pot. While Le Creuset used to be the only go-to cast iron pan on the market, in the last few years there has been an explosion in the availability of high-quality and affordable cast iron lookalikes. Now IKEA has just entered the group chat with the VARDAGEN cast iron casserole dishes.

When choosing cookware, every kitchen should have a cast iron pan. They can go from hob to oven to table for cooking up soups and stews. They're also ideal for baking bread at home for that perfect crisp crust. However, while Le Creuset's Signature Round Casserole in Meringue will cost you £299 at John Lewis, you can pick up IKEA's VARDAGEN Casserole with lid for £39 for a 4L size.

I use my own Le Creuset casserole pot several times a week in the cold weather season. Whether for baking bread or cooking a one-pot wonder. It works with all hob types. I use mine from the hob to the oven and then take it straight to the table for serving. The amount I use it means it's more than paid for itself. However, if your budget is tighter, the IKEA one is a brilliant price point and comes with a whopping 15-year guarantee. So you'll be using it way into Christmas 2041.

IKEA's cast iron pan promises even cooking, whether on the hob or in the oven. Plus, it's a game-changer for one-pot cooking, since it means less washing up afterwards. Its lid is specially designed to collect steam, which drips back into your food to baste it and add even more flavour.

While I'm yet to use this pan myself, I will say that due to its heavy construction and convenient design with two handles and a stainless steel knob, it shouldn't be hugely different from the OG from Le Creuset. And I know: lots of brands have bought out dupes for the Dutch Oven, but this one is particularly unique because it's wrapped in a 15-year guarantee.

Do bear in mind, though, that this pot can only be handwashed. And because of its sturdy design, it is heavy, so those who might be less able could struggle to lift it in and out of the sink.

What's stopping you from buying a few for Christmas presents? Truly, they'll thank you in years to come when they're still using this pan, week after week. And you'll thank yourself come December for being prepared and shopping smart.

Have you already ticked any Christmas presents off your to-buy list?

I'm sure we all remember the cottagecore trend - pretty pastels, rustic finishes, ditsy florals, and whitewashed floorboards reigned supreme in country kitchens, creating a homely, lived-in look that we knew and loved. Slowly over time, these kitsch cottage-inspired touches have given way to a more sophisticated approach to country kitchens - one that still has its roots firmly in the aesthetic, but is determinably sleeker.

Country kitchens don't have to be situated in a wood-beamed cottage anymore to have the same cosy, inviting effect. Shaker kitchen ideas are for everyone, and the grown-up beaded cabinetry look is making our kitchens feel more design-led.

From earthy palettes to thoughtfully planned storage, these three upgrades to the cottagecore trend will make a country look fit right in to 2027.

1. Choose skinny Shaker cabinets

In trend-led country kitchens, cabinets look much more swish and put together than in old-school cottage cooking spaces.

'Shaker cabinetry has always been a natural choice for country kitchens, with its timeless design and understated detailing lending itself beautifully to the relaxed, welcoming feel of a farmhouse home,' explains Al Bruce, founder of Olive & Barr.

For a more refined look, skinny Shaker cabinetry is perfect. As Al explains, 'Its slimmer frame creates a cleaner, more streamlined finish, while retaining the character and craftsmanship of the traditional Shaker style.'

2. Opt for earthy shades

Colour is just as important when planning a more sophisticated country kitchen. While pale blues and pinks still prove to be popular choices, recent kitchen trends show that we're moving away from pastels and towards earthy hues and natural materials.

'Materials are just as important when creating a country kitchen. Natural wood cabinetry, handcrafted with traditional dovetail joints, adds warmth and character, while soft whites, warm creams, and muted greys provide a timeless backdrop,' Al adds.

'For those looking to add more depth, earthy greens and rich blues pair particularly well with darker woods, such as walnut, creating a scheme that feels both classic and considered.'

3. Plan for modern life

Country kitchens are built for functionality. Whether you're on a working farm or just like to lean into the aesthetic, kitchens have to be practical for modern life, so you need to think carefully about kitchen storage ideas.

'While open shelving styled with ceramics and wooden chopping boards can add character, consider how practical it will be day to day, particularly around cooking areas where dust and grease can build up,' says Nadine Kimani, brand kitchen expert for Kutchenhaus. '

'Instead, introduce one or two areas of open shelving to display favourite pieces, while keeping everyday essentials neatly tucked away behind cabinetry. Kitchen islands and dressers also offer opportunities to introduce decorative touches without compromising on storage or functionality,' she adds.

Looking to start thinking about a new kitchen for 2027? These are the 2026 kitchen colour trends that I predict will have longevity.

It may still be too early for Christmas cheer for many, but I just spotted what I think is about to be a must-have for the cosiest time of the year: Next's new Gingerbread Hot Chocolate Station (£45).

This year's Christmas decor trends have all embraced a return to the traditional motifs of the festive season that we all know and love from our childhood – gingerbread included. And seeing as Next has already had a huge hit with its sellout gingerbread Christmas tree skirt, it seems plausible that this adorable hot chocolate station kit could go the same way.

Here's a closer look at this set which is sure to delight the whole family once December rolls around if you want to put a charming hot chocolate station idea into practice in your own home.

If Google Trends are anything to go by, there's a growing appetite for DIY hot chocolate stations in the UK – the term is reportedly up 12% to +18% year on year. If you want to stage your own sweet treat display, then this set feels like something that you'd be able to pull out of storage year after year to make use of.

Dedicated hot chocolate makers, which might have prompted the surge in at-home stations, have been hugely popular since the launch of The Velvetiser by Hotel Chocolat back in 2018. With a jug design that carefully whisks all kinds of chocolate (including your favourite high street bars) into a silky hot drink, these frothers can also double up for use alongside the best coffee machines if you're a latte lover.

Or, Salter's The Chocolatier is an alternative kind of appliance that's been a huge hit with those looking for a more affordable version – I loved it when I tried it out at home. Whichever hot chocolate maker you opt for (or if you're a purist for the hob method!), a serveware set made for the occasion is always going to be a hit when you're hosting or just entertaining your own family.

There's certainly one customer, who has awarded the set a five-star review already, who's impressed by its quality. 'It really is lovely and very well made' said the reviewer. 'I think the mugs could also be used to hold dipping sauces, hummus, etc. I really am delighted with my purchase and can't wait to use it over the festive period'.

Given that the nights are well and truly drawing in now, a hot chocolate station might be just the thing to brighten your spirits as we make our way towards Christmas. Can you see the appeal in this whimsical set?

In the height of summer, I was introduced to Tefal’s latest innovation, the ‘YumMeal ’. At that point in time, the clever appliance was so new (and revolutionary) that it didn’t even have a name. However, it had a clear USP that intrigued me: a ‘personal cooker’ that aimed to make cooking for one easier, and dare I say, more exciting?

The new YumMeal from Tefal combines air frying and induction cooking into one relatively small appliance (23cm x 26cm x 36cm) that looks a little like a waffle maker. It has a built-in enamel bowl that you not only prep and cook food in, but also eat directly out of. It’s designed to be the perfect kitchen-to-sofa appliance, whipping up meals in just 15 minutes- a game-changer for anyone cooking for one.

I currently live with a partner, but before that, I spent a good 10 years cooking for one. Over that time, I grew frustrated that nearly every recipe involved cooking for two, so I’d have to eat it over two nights or force dinner on one of my hungry flatmates. So I was delighted to find that Tefal were finally going the extra mile to make one-person dinners feel celebratory.

While I’m impressed by the YumMeal concept, I do have questions about how likely it is to transform solo dining. It has a RRP of £199.99, which feels steep when you can pick up a compact Ninja air fryer for £109 at John Lewis, the best air fryers are the speedy appliance I usually turn to when cooking a quick dinner for one these days.

However, the cost of Tefal's new gadget is justified when you consider it's two appliances in one: an air fryer that can crisp, and an induction hob that can cook and simmer. It essentially replaces a full kitchen ecosystem, with the added perk that the two functions can be used together at the touch of a button.

The YumMeal is not quite as easy as shoving a ready meal in the microwave, something I do also turn to when my partner is out for the evening, which is why I can’t see this product replacing them in my small kitchen. But I think where this appliance shines is as an investment for students who are trying to claim space in a shared kitchen or anyone who lives alone and hates reheating leftovers/enjoys being more creative with dinner.

If I still lived alone, I can see myself batch-prepping ingredients at the start of the week, and then using the YumMeal to make cooking from scratch as quick, easy and cost-effective as possible. Tefal also included the recipe for a one-person lemon drizzle cake as part of the launch, which piqued my interest for those days when you’re craving a single-portion sweet treat.

I haven't personally tested the YumMeal, but from what I saw when it was being demoed at the Tefal showcase, it has alot of potential. I can't wait to put it to the test and see if it really could replace the microwave meal for kitchens across the UK.

Alternatives

As a Kitchen Editor, I spend the majority of my days ogling at some of the most beautifully designed kitchens. And when doing so, I noticed that there was a common feature stringing them all together: wall lights.

This small touch has a huge impact, particularly at this time of year when evenings and mornings get darker. In my opinion, one of the easiest ways to combat inevitable SAD is to instead lean into creating cosiness - and ample kitchen lighting ideas will help you to achieve this.

But needing to call in an electrician isn't personally on my huge list of things to accomplish before Christmas, which is where these ingenious rechargeable wall lights come into play. More and more stylish options for rechargeable wall lights have cropped up, and in my opinion, Dusk is dominating the market.

All for under £40, with many less than £30, these kitchen trend-led rechargeable wall lights will add the ultimate finishing touch to a cooking space, and all you need to do is drill them into the wall.

Wondering how to build the perfect kitchen lighting scheme? The 3 layer rule will guide you all the way to an illuminated and inviting space.

Jamie Oliver is back – this time with a new book (and an accompanying TV show!) with a simple aim: showing you how to cook balanced, tasty meals at home in 20 minutes flat.

And if you thought that the famed British chef's foray into the world of the best air fryers last year with his book Easy Air Fryer (£13 via Amazon) was a flash in the pan, then think again. He's been turning to his trusty air fryer in his new book to cut down cooking times, proving that one of these ultra-convenient appliances is the way to go in the long term if you're time-poor but committed to eating well.

Here's how he's been using his air fryer (and pressure cooker too!) to get his meals under that all-important 20 minute mark.

The star recipe I've found so far in the new book is Jamie's 'Air Fryer Arancini' which, in Jamie's words, relies heavily on getting the cooking process going as quickly as possible. For this, there's no better appliance for Jamie to call on than that of his trusty air fryer. That's no surprise given how much faster they are to preheat, as well as cook in general, versus a standard oven.

The air fryer that Jamie used in his TV show, the Tefal Easy Fry Dual Air Fryer & Grill (£147.99 via Amazon), is one that we've tested here at Ideal Home. And one of the things our expert Home Economist liked most about it during her review was that it didn't even need a preheat setting to beat her oven on cooking times.

In the recipe, which also features helpings of courgette, the speedy cooking time is achieved thanks to the arancini spending just 15 minutes in the air fryer which is significantly less than the usual baking time in an oven.

As well as using an air fryer to cut down cooking times, Jamie also employs the use of a pressure cooker to whip up a bolognese in under twenty minutes. The pressurised element of something like an Instant Pot can often make people anxious to use them but just like an air fryer, they're a genius buy if you're all about cutting down on food prep time.

In the recipe Jamie uses his pressure cooker on high heat to cook his mince and veg in 10 minutes flat, leaving him plenty of time to get on with other parts of the meal unobstructed. When our reviewer Helen tried the Instant Pot Pro (which is rated as the best multicooker in our guide) she also used the high pressure setting to cook a lentil curry in quick time, proving how handy these appliances are for cutting down the actual time of cooking.

If you want more inspiration on how to whip up tasty, healthy meals for the whole family this autumn then tune into Jamie's 20 Minute Meals on Mondays at 8pm on Channel 4. He'll be cooking recipes from his new book in one unedited shot to make sure they're actually timely for you to make at home!

If there was any uncertainty about whether display cabinets were making a comeback in 2026, let Michael Sheen’s be an example that this dated trend is perfectly suited to a modern home.

You’ve probably been keeping up to date with Michael Sheen via his stint on the hit BBC show Celebrity Traitors, but I’ve also taken the opportunity to have a nosey around his social media for home decor tidbits, and I have to say his kitchen storage ideas are impressive.

If you’ve been wondering how to style a display cabinet, Michael's is a great example of how vintage storage solutions can blend seamlessly into a modern home, and how good storage can make your kitchen look more expensive.

In a snap celebrating Mother’s Day on Instagram, what immediately jumped out to the Ideal Home team was Michael’s gorgeous arched wood display cabinets at the back of the room. I was immediately reminded of Anthropology’s cult Fern Ash Wood Marble Top Storage Cabinet (£2,498) or the more affordable Habitat Collins Arched 4 Door Display Cabinet (£370). Although I must note that Michaels is most likely vintage.

While these types of display cabinets have typically been associated with the kitchen ideas of our grandparents, nostalgic decor has been having a major comeback across the interiors world for the past few years. Not to mention, curved display cabinets are an excellent way to add some architectural interest to a kitchen - especially if you’re a renter.

‘There’s a real misconception that all traditional furniture looks dated, but this isn’t the case at all. Michael Sheen's display cabinet is a perfect example of this. It’s got all the elements of a traditional cabinet, but with a few modern twists,’ comments Chloe Barrow, head of creative Interiors at Laura James.

‘Right now curved furniture is trending everywhere. We’re seeing it in sofas, coffee tables, and even architecturally in doorways. The way Sheen’s cabinet curves adds a brilliant modern design element to an otherwise traditional piece. Simultaneously, the wooden framing is classic. It’s a great fit for a country home or for anyone who loves the ever-popular farmhouse style, and it's definitely making its comeback.’

And Michael’s cabinet in particular works because it helps soften his kitchen-dining space, adding depth and drawing in the eye.

‘I love the arched top; it gives the cabinet an almost architectural presence, like a built-in alcove, and softens all the straight lines in the room. I also like the rich, warm wood tone against the light, neutral walls - it anchors that corner of the room and adds depth. It’s also the right size for where it is; big enough not to be engulfed in the space and still be a statement piece, but it doesn’t project out and dominate the room,’ says Laura Rich, interior designer at Furniturebox.

‘It’s classic and antique-looking, and being used to display glasses, it will reflect the light beautifully.’

How to style a glass display cabinet

An important thing to note about a glass display cabinet is that its inside will be on show (unless you opt for fluted glass), so it’s important that you keep it organised. Luckily, there are many ways to organise a kitchen cupboard - even if it is one you’ll have on display.

‘Styling them properly is key, otherwise you’ll end up with chaotic cabinets on show for all your guests. I always recommend using the rule of three. For example, you might want to pop a tall wine bottle at the back and have two spirit bottles in front of various lower heights. This is going to be really pleasing to the eye, instead of shoving everything in wherever it fits as you might normally,’ says Chloe.

Laura agrees, pointing out that an open display cabinet should also be used to display items you actually want on show. In Michaels’s case this is his glassware, which works perfectly in the context of a kitchen.

‘I prefer glass-fronted cabinets to store things that I’d be happy to have on show in the house - like Michael Sheen’s glasses. It’s then aesthetic and practical, keeping things dust-free and organised, but it also turns everyday objects into something worth looking at,’ she says.

‘Glassware, bar bottles, ceramics or inherited trinkets belong in a glass-fronted cabinet. The items need to be considered to ensure the cabinet becomes a curated display. Don’t cram everything in together, though, leave a bit of breathing space on each shelf, group items by colour or height, and mix the practical with a few personal pieces.’

Shop the trend

Michael Sheen's curved glass display cabinet proves that a typically 'dated' trend can work in modern spaces. Let this be your sign to proudly display your glassware.

Ninja's first ever air fryer microwave has dipped back out of stock but it looks like more is on the way – you can sign up to receive a notification when more becomes available for £359.99 via the brand's website. After selling out completely shortly after it was first released, it's still proving very popular with shoppers.

If you're looking to save worktop space by combining the convenience one of the best air fryers with the reheating powers of a microwave then the Ninja Crispi will absolutely tick your boxes – it earned 4.5 stars in our recent Ninja Crispi air fryer microwave review after being put through its paces by our expert Home Economist Helen McCue.

Not every microwave air fryer combo is made equal – some of the early iterations we tried out here at Ideal Home were not worth the money spent on them – but the Crispi Ninja has finally cracked the code (and the John Lewis own brand take for £179.99 looks pretty good too). Here's a closer look at why this hybrid buy was a sellout success the first time around.

One of the things that impressed our reviewer Helen most about the Ninja Crispi was that it managed to harness the power of one of the best Ninja air fryers without compromising on microwave ability. In fact, it combines the best of both worlds with its FusionCrisp setting which allows you to use the two modes in conjunction to seriously speed up meal times. According to Helen, this hybrid setting is where this appliance 'really shines'.

Another thing that stands out about the Crispi is that it's easy to use with controls that don't take a learning curve to figure out. If you've used any Ninja appliance before you'll know that user experience is always prioritised over complication.

The news of the release of the Ninja Crispi was very well received here in the UK, where kitchens tend to be smaller and multi-functionality is always appreciated. Though this combi model isn't exactly small, it will allow you to condense two spots on your worktop into one, freeing up valuable space.

If you're a fan of a streamlined, tidy kitchen, there will be plenty of appeal in this fairly sleek product. Below, you can find some of the other microwave-air fryer alternatives that have a similarly positive user rating.

If you're interested in investing in the Crispi to simplify your appliance set up then I'd recommend acting sooner rather than later – this is certain to be a second time sellout!

If you're a lover of festive homeware but want to indulge in something that's built to last then Christmas cookware might be the way to go. Not only are they perfect for use during the biggest job of the day (the cooking!) but they're destined to be used year after year too.

As Ideal Home's Kitchen Appliances Editor I have the fortunate job of reviewing the best cookware year-round so I know what I'm looking for when it comes to products that'll go the distance. And I love a little bit of whimsy thrown in the mix too, so I've been eagled eyed looking out for the Christmas versions bound to spark joy once December comes around.

Even if you think it's far too early to think of December yet, these cookware pieces are worth a peek as you start envisioning your table setting for the 25th. Here's all of my favourite picks for making cooking and serving on the day a more festive affair!

Of course, there are classic names that will always serve you well when it comes to cookware – my trusty Le Creuset casserole dish has been in constant use already this autumn. But if you're looking for a standout budget pick, the Salter Chester Casserole Set was well-loved by our expert reviewer Helen McCue.

Hopefully these Christmassy cookware buys have you feeling in the festive spirit as you begin to plan out your feast for the day!

It’s fair to say that when it comes to the best air fryers, Ninja dominates all the lists. I’ve reviewed, and been impressed by, several of Ninja’s air fryers. But the brand is new to the microwave scene.

Combination style microwaves have always been a bit hit and miss, they can be infuriatingly complicated to use, or simply a bit rubbish. Often they end up just being used as a microwave, with all other functions being abandoned or ignored.

Ninja has a great reputation for innovation, and for creating appliances that combine multiple functions in one, so can they finally crack the nut and bring us a microwave with combination functions that are actually worth having?

Who reviewed the Ninja Crispi Microwave Air Fryer?

In a nutshell

The Ninja Crispi Microwave manages to offer lots of functionality without being complicated or confusing. It can air fry, microwave, grill, and more, and I could access all the functions and settings without constantly having to check the manual.

There are five different air frying settings, and these rely on using a glass basket that you slide into the top part of the microwave. It’s hefty, and won’t be suitable for everyone. But it is at least dishwasher safe and free of non-stick coatings and forever chemicals.

The Ninja Crispi also includes all the settings you’d expect from a standard microwave and performs as expected, thoroughly heating everything from porridge to soup. But it’s when combined with the air fryer in the fusioncrisp function, that this multifunctional cooking appliance really shines.

I successfully used the fusioncrisp function to cook a whole roast chicken, lasagne, and baked potatoes. And in case you’re wondering, the standalone air fryer functions are just as good as other Ninja air fryers. In short, Ninja strikes again, with another outstanding appliance.

Unboxing and first impressions

The box that was delivered to my front door was big and heavy, if you need to move it any distance, it’s really a two person lift. And so it follows that when I managed to get it out of the box and onto the worktop, I wasn’t surprised that it’s a big microwave. But I think that’s to be expected given that it offers so many functions.

It’s a flatbed microwave so there’s no turntable to worry about. Instead, you get a 5.2 litre glass basket (Ninja call it a basket, but it’s essentially a big deep glass dish). Plus there’s a crisper plate insert that goes inside it. These are the only accessories and are for the air fry and fusioncrisp functions only.

The glass basket slots into rails near the top of the microwave, it can sit on the base, but for most uses, the advice is to slot it into this higher position near to the air fry heating element and fan.

I was surprised by the weight of the glass basket, so I popped it on my kitchen scales and it weighed in at 2.5kg. So when it’s full of a family sized lasagne or a roast chicken, it’s going to be a bit of an arm workout lifting it in and out of the microwave.

The fusioncrisp function is the one that Ninja makes a big deal about in the quick start guide, most of the recipes are based around using this function. Essentially it’s a two stage cooking function that combines microwave cooking with air frying.

It’s selected with the fusioncrisp button and then you adjust the microwave cook time and the air fry cook time, you can’t adjust the power levels or temperatures when using this function. Thankfully they provide cooking charts with loads of suggested cook times for various foods, so it’s not all total guesswork.

There are five air fryer functions to choose from. Air fry can be adjusted from 150- 240C, whereas Max Crisp is fixed at 240C. Both air bake and air roast allow temperatures between 120 - 210C. The air grill can be set at 200C, 230C, or 240C.

The microwave power levels can be adjusted from 10% to 100% in intervals of 10%. There are also eight microwave presets. These require you to put in the weight of the specific food and then the cook time is predetermined based on the weight.

There’s a light button so that you can turn on the interior light as and when required, though the dark coloured door doesn’t make for the clearest viewing window. The door opens by pressing the big button at the base of the control panel, and there’s a childlock function that can be engaged if that’s a concern.

True to form for a Ninja appliance, the control panel and user interface are very straightforward and intuitive to use. I found I quickly got to grips with all the settings without having to keep referring back to the manual.

There’s also plenty of inspiration in the form of recipes and cooking charts provided in the quick start guide, so unlike some older style combination microwaves I’ve reviewed over the years, getting started with it doesn’t feel daunting or complicated.

What is it like to use?

FusionCrisp

I usually microwave then air fry baked potatoes, so the combination fusioncrisp function did the same thing without having to move them between two separate appliances. I could only find suggested cooking times for standard potatoes, so used these as a starting point for the two sweet potatoes I was cooking.

The Ninja recipe said to microwave for 14 minutes, but I opted for 10 minutes and kept the suggested 10 minutes of air frying. I’d normally air fry my potatoes for 20 minutes, so this time felt short, but I put them in and crossed my fingers.

It doesn’t microwave and air fry simultaneously, it completes the microwave part first, then the air fryer kicks in. Plus it beeps at the crossover point, in case you want to add anything or stir your food.

When the timer went off, the potatoes were nicely softened but not as well crisped as I wanted, so I ended up air frying them for a further 10 minutes. It was a good result, it’ll just take a few goes to nail the timings.

With instructions on how to cook a whole chicken using the fusioncrisp function, I decided to give it a try. The timings listed for a 1.5kg chicken are 30 minutes of microwaving followed by 45 minutes of air frying. And while this is faster than the 1 hour 40 minutes it would otherwise take in the oven, I’m not sure about microwaving a whole chicken for half an hour.

You can’t slide the glass basket onto the upper rails when there’s a whole chicken in it, so this is one of the few times they recommend just sitting it on the base of the microwave. I adjusted the times on the fusioncrisp setting and then left it well alone during cooking.

When the timer went off, the chicken was beautifully cooked, juices were running clear and the skin was a crisp, even golden brown. The meat had a great texture, it was soft and succulent, it was an all round good roast chicken. My only complaint was a bit of drying on the tops of the legs.

My final big test for the fusioncrisp function was a veggie lasagne. There’s a lasagne recipe in the inspiration guide, but I chose to use my own tried and trusted recipe, I based the cook times on those listed for Ninja’s lasagne recipe.

You have to make the lasagne in the glass basket, which does mean you can’t do any other air frying until you’ve eaten it all or decanted it and washed the basket up. Aside from that, the recipe cook times are for 20 minutes microwaving and eight minutes air frying, using the fusioncrisp function.

Yet again, I was dubious about the long microwave time, but that seems to be the theme with these fusioncrisp recipes. When the timer went off, I decided to air fry it for an additional five minutes, just to make the top more crisp and golden.

The lasagne was cooked through, which is pretty impressive given the raw lasagne sheets. And it’s a great shortcut in comparison to oven baking, plus I enjoyed the fact that the top still developed those chewy cheesy bits around the edges.

It worked and it was tasty, a good option for a speedy weeknight dinner. But for me, it lacked the depth of flavour that you get from a lasagne that’s been bubbling in the oven for ages, so I wouldn’t make the switch to this method permanently.

Air fryer

Obviously chips go hand in hand with air fryers and it wouldn’t be an air fryer review without making them. I cut potatoes up into fresh chips and soaked them in cold water for 30 minutes before drying and coating in oil.

I set them to air fry at 200C and gave them a stir every seven minutes. They ended up taking 24 minutes. The result was good, fluffy potato, and golden and crisp on the outside, just as good as I’d expect in my usual air fryer.

For roasted tenderstem broccoli and asparagus, I popped the lightly oiled veg into the basket and started the air fry setting at 200C. It took just eight minutes and the vegetables were beautifully softened with some browning and crisping.

I’m currently obsessed with healthier snacks and so used the air fry function a couple of times to make crispy roasted chickpeas and crispy roasted edamame beans. Both times they roasted on the standard air fry setting at 200C for just 10 minutes.

The Max Crisp setting is designed specifically for frozen foods that might benefit from extra crunch. I was in two minds about whether to use it for frozen breaded fish as I didn’t want to overcook the fish, and the cooking temperature is fixed at 240C.

Thankfully, the fish cooked beautifully with an excellent crunchy crumb and moist and tender fish inside. What’s more, the two pieces of frozen fish cooked in an impressively speedy 14 minutes.

Air grill was my go-to setting for cheese on toast. It worked perfectly, melting the cheese in minutes, without having to preheat it first.

I make homemade granola every week and cook it on the bake setting of my Ninja Combi. As baked things go, this felt less risky than attempting a cake or other baked goods. I popped my granola in the glass basket and selected 175C, then came back to it after 10 minutes to give it a stir.

Apart from being quite difficult to stir thoroughly without fully removing the basket, the granola was very well toasted on the top. I turned the temperature down to 165C and had to stir it every five minutes because the top layer kept browning and toasting really fast. I took it out after 25 minutes.

My main take away from cooking the granola is that this air bake function feels quite fierce. And a delicate cake would be a gamble. Hopefully Ninja will publish some recipes for this setting, as there’s currently nothing to go on in the inspiration guide. Incidentally, there is a chocolate fudge cake recipe, but it’s for the fusioncrisp function.

Microwave

To defrost a bowl of frozen edamame beans I took advantage of the defrost preset. I dutifully weighed them and selected 200g, then when I pressed start, I was surprised that it started counting down from 17 minutes. I stopped it after eight minutes and they were nicely defrosted, so I’d say no matter what you’re defrosting, definitely check it regularly as it might be ready before the timer goes off.

The porridge preset cooked my 300g of oats and milk for four minutes, which, after a good stir and a little bit of standing time, turned out to be pretty accurate. I was just thankful that there was no boiling over and associated clean up of spilt milk.

Arguably, you don’t need a preset to reheat a mug of cold tea, but I used it nevertheless and my mug of cold tea was piping hot in under two minutes. For a bowl of soup I used the soup preset and it was perfectly heated in under three and a half minutes.

The soften butter preset is particularly handy and took my 200g block of butter from fridge cold, to spreadable in just over a minute. Most of it was the ideal spreadable texture though there was a small pool of oil from some butter that got overly melted. Nevertheless it was a better result than my usual guesswork when trying to soften butter in the microwave.

During the time I had it in my kitchen, I used it for plenty of other incidental tasks like reheating and defrosting and it always worked as expected. Personally I gravitate towards adjusting the power level and choosing my own cook times, rather than making use of presets, but either works well.

What's it like to clean?

Because there’s not a turntable, it’s easy to wipe over the base of the microwave and keep it clean. Cleaning all the splattered oil from roasting a chicken, took a few minutes, but with a spritz of kitchen spray and a good cloth, it wasn’t hard work.

There’s also a 20 minute clean cycle that you can run periodically when it requires a deeper clean, you just have to add water to the glass basket and then give it all a good wipe at the end of the cycle.

The accessories are dishwasher safe, though due to the size of the glass basket, sometimes the available space in my dishwasher meant that I ended up cleaning it by hand. You have to wait quite a while for it to cool down, and it's definitely heavy and cumbersome. Some burnt on roast chicken residue required a good soak and scrub, but otherwise, it wasn’t tricky to clean.

I noticed the door-open button marked with fingerprints, as do the parts of the door that I naturally touched when closing it, as well as the areas around buttons on the control panel. So I found myself giving it all a quick wipe or buff with a microfibre cloth quite frequently.

How does it compare to similar models?

The size of the glass basket does limit the air frying capacity of the Crispi Microwave, so larger households might want to consider a big capacity air fryer instead. The Ninja Foodi Flexdrawer air fryer offers 10.4 litres of air fryer capacity and is designed with the flexibility to split that capacity into two independent cooking zones.

If you want a multi-functional air fryer, but don’t necessarily need it to be a microwave, you should definitely consider either the Ninja Speedi or the Ninja Combi, both of which combine several cooking modes that make them far more functional that a standard air fryer.

Should you buy the Ninja Crispi Microwave?

In some ways it’s hard to conclude that such a big microwave is actually a space saving appliance. But truly, if you currently have an air fryer as well as a microwave on your worktop, then this will absolutely free up some space.

The microwave works well, there’s not a great deal to say about it, the standout is the air fry function and using the two together. The air fryer surprised me and was much better than I expected. In some ways it outperformed my current Ninja air fryer, in fact, it could at times be a bit fiercer than expected. So it may take some adjustment.

The heavy, cumbersome glass basket will be a deal breaker for those that don’t have the strength to keep lifting it in and out of position. But the big upside is that this glassware is free of worrying forever chemicals. On the whole though, the takeaway is that if you’re in the market for a combination microwave, this is a great buy.

There is very little worse than a kitchen with stark, blue-toned lighting. It can feel like an assault on the senses, and while it might provide illumination for cooking, there are other ways to achieve this while also creating an inviting kitchen lighting scheme.

Layering is the key to kitchen lighting that delivers in terms of both practicality and style. You can't rely on one overhead light - there needs to be multiple sources of illumination that serve very distinct purposes in your cooking space.

Here's why the 3-layer lighting rule is the secret to success.

'The three-layer lighting rule combines ambient, task and accent lighting to create a kitchen scheme that feels balanced, practical and welcoming,' explains Massimo Buster Minale, founder & creative director at Buster + Punch.

When planning a kitchen lighting scheme, it's good to start with one main source of lighting, otherwise known as ambient lighting.

'Ambient lighting illuminates the space as a whole, providing a consistent foundation, while task lighting offers more focused illumination above worktops, islands and food preparation areas,' Massimo adds.

If you have a kitchen island, opt for a pendant over this area to ground the space and create a practical source of light. Layering in smaller sources of light will then help to create atmosphere and tactical lighting in dark corners and work prep zones that need it the most.

It's important, however, that this primary source of light doesn't feel overwhelming. Layering is key, rather than one source taking over.

'Kitchens don’t need to be flooded with light to feel inviting. The key is to layer warm, considered lighting throughout the space. Add task lighting for practical areas like the worktop and hob, so you have ample light for meal prep,' explains Tom Raffield, founder of Tom Raffield

Layering a pendant with wall lights and lamps dotted around a kitchen creates a complementary scheme that softens the overall mood and adds warmth across the whole space.

It's not just the type of light fitting that you need to consider in a kitchen, but also the colour of the bulb and how bright each type of lighting is.

'By adding dimmer switches and considering the warmth of the light bulb, each layer can be adjusted to suit different moments throughout the day, transitioning seamlessly from a functional cooking space to a relaxed and intimate dining area,' Massimo adds.

Consider using different circuits for ambient and task lighting so that they can be controlled and dimmed separately. When cooking, a brighter ambient light might be necessary but once you're eating and hosting, softer task lighting comes into its own.

Shop kitchen lighting

Lighting is a small tweak that can make a huge difference. This autumn, think about where else in your kitchen you can add useful illumination to, like these pantry lighting ideas.

The time for hunkering down at home is nigh - with the end of British Summer Time right around the corner, I'm turning my attention to wholesome cooking at home, and setting the perfect scene in my kitchen for doing so.

Lighting is the most powerful tool in achieving a cosy atmosphere in a kitchen. At this current moment in the day-time, I have 4 lamps on in my open-plan kitchen, with each one making my cooking space feel like a warm embrace. And with my living space and kitchen located so closely together, I've realised that the best kitchen lighting ideas are those which take inspiration directly from our living rooms.

As the most inviting and comfortable rooms in the house, it makes total sense to take the lighting styles we use in a living room into our kitchens too. Here's exactly how I'm taking inspiration from living room lighting in my kitchen for a warm and inviting ambience.

1. Don't be scared of fabric shades

Fabric lampshades have always been something that you're warned against using in a kitchen. Cooking comes with the potential for spills and fumes, which can both leave their mark on a fabric shade - but this doesn't mean you have to completely rule it out.

A fabric lampshade is a great way to add softness to a kitchen, as well as providing texture and pattern potential. As long as you position it away from the main cooking zone, it's still possible to use a fabric shade.

I would add a fabric lampshade to a rechargeable lamp that is either tucked in a corner near cookbooks or at the end of a worktop so that you can easily transition it to the dining table.

2. Add sculptural lighting

Style comes first in a living room, so this allows us to be a bit more experimental with lighting design choices. But why should this be contained to only one room when our kitchens could benefit from it too?

'Pendant lighting works too above the kitchen island, not only because it gives the opportunity to add a sense of personality to the space, but also because it creates a distinct lighting zone that can feel more intimate,' says Al Bruce, founder of Olive & Barr.

'If you’re looking for something that won’t date as interior trends come and go, keep it simple with a row of clear glass or white pendants. Those looking for a bolder statement should consider large industrial-style pendants that will add depth to the space as well as a contemporary contrast to kitchen cabinets.'

3. Use lighting to highlight decor

Whether you have a built-in bar in your living room, a dresser unit with your favourite treasures or a display of photo frames, lighting is often added to these corners to highlight decorative moments.

'We're used to seeing lighting built into living room shelving to highlight books, artwork and decorative pieces, but it can work just as well in the kitchen,' recommends Ntola Obazee, brand director for Kutchenhaus.

'Adding subtle lighting to open shelving or glazed cabinets is a lovely way to show off glassware and ceramics, while bringing a softer, more relaxed feel to the space. It works particularly well in open-plan homes, where you want the kitchen to feel like a natural extension of the living area,' Ntola adds.

Lighting doesn't have to be expensive to be effective - I can't get enough of this £35 Dunelm Posie lamp that would be perfect for a cosy cooking space.

TV personalities Jamie Laing and Sophie Habboo have shown off their striking marble kitchen on Instagram, and it's a masterclass in 'confident luxury'.

This year’s kitchen trends have all focused on rich, striking colour palettes. Dramatic stone and contemporary features, and one of the best examples of this is Jamie and Sophie’s kitchen. Not only is their cooking space perfectly on trend for 2026, but it’s also a good example of the classic, quiet luxury kitchen trend, which never goes out of fashion.

If you want to nail an old money look in your kitchen, Jamie and Sophie are good examples to follow. So, I asked experts how to get the look.

Posting a humorous video to Instagram, Jamie documented himself dancing on his kitchen worktops, but I was more impressed with the stunning design of the kitchen, which included a gorgeous blue-veined marble backsplash and table, scalloped dining chairs and cosy lighting.

‘The marble does the talking and everything else steps back. Creamy cabinetry, a planked ceiling and aged brass keep it soft. The lighting is the real clever bit: wall lights and shelf lights glowing at eye level instead of harsh spotlights overhead. That’s why it feels so warm at night rather than showroom cold. The scalloped, upholstered stools add personality against all that stone, and the handmade ceramics make it feel lived in, not just styled,’ commented Lisa Hensby, founder and creative director of Lisa Hensby Design & Build Studio.

Lisa describes the style of this couple’s kitchen as ‘Modern country with a heritage feel,’ stating there is enough drama in the stone that stops the space from looking ‘twee’. The marble is indeed a real show-stopper.

Luxury tile manufacturer Ca' Pietra supplied the tiles for the kitchen floor and says the kitchen has a ‘lovely Mediterranean influence running through the design, but with a distinctly British country-house twist.’ This isn’t the first time either the couple have opted for the brand. You can also see Ca' Pietra tiles in Sophie and Jamie’s gorgeous old money bathroom.

‘Marble is one of those materials that will never really go out of fashion. It's been making kitchens look fabulous for centuries, and I can't see it retiring quietly anytime soon! But the secret to getting marble right is knowing what to pair it with. Too many polished, statement surfaces can make a kitchen feel a little precious, whereas introducing something softer and more characterful gives the whole room a chance to relax,’ says Grazzie Wilson, head of creative at Ca’ Pietra.

‘That's what I particularly love about Jamie and Sophie's kitchen. The marble brings the glamour, but the Buscot Limestone flooring from Ca’ Pietra brings the warmth, texture and that gorgeous, lived-in feeling. The large-format flagstones have a beautifully softened, slightly weathered appearance, so rather than feeling like a brand-new kitchen where you're frightened to spill your coffee, it has the character of somewhere that's been loved for years.’

How to get the look

‘If you're trying to recreate the look, my biggest piece of advice would be to start from the floor up. Flooring occupies such a huge amount of visual space that it can completely change how everything else feels. Choose a natural limestone with warmth and variation rather than something too uniform, and don't be afraid of texture. The tumbled edges and etched finish of Buscot give it that wonderful, gently aged character which works particularly well alongside statement marble,’ says Grazzie.

‘And have a little fun with the details! In the pantry, the same Buscot limestone has been used in a smaller format with cabochon detailing, which is a lovely example of how you can give different spaces their own personality while keeping everything connected. That's the trick to a really beautiful kitchen. Not everything needs to shout for attention. Sometimes it's the quieter materials doing all the hard work.’

If you’re planning a kitchen renovation, it’s also a good idea to draw inspiration from the room, rather than trying to recreate Sophie and Jamie’s kitchen completely. Especially when you consider how your lifestyle may differ.

‘Choose one hero material and give it room. If marble everywhere isn’t in the budget, put it on the splashback or a single shelf, where you’ll see it most and wear it least,’ recommends Lisa.

‘Be honest about how you live. Marble is porous and will mark from lemon juice, red wine and, yes, the odd footprint! If you want a worktop you don’t have to worry about, a strongly veined quartz or porcelain gives you the look with far less upkeep.

‘And plan it properly from the start. Stone templating, wiring for wall lights and joinery all need agreeing before the first trade arrives, or you’ll be paying to undo work.’

Get the look

If you've been dreaming of a modern country kitchen, Sophie and Jamie's is one of the best examples you can follow.

Kitchen islands are one of the most convivial areas of a kitchen - the place where the whole family comes to gather, whether on a slow Saturday morning or a busy weeknight evening. For a zone that encourages people to linger, getting the seating choices right is absolutely crucial.

Bar stools are one of the easiest ways to increase the seating options in your kitchen. They tuck in neatly under the edge of an island and when chosen well, can add to the overall kitchen aesthetic. So when I spotted the Jovie barstool from Dunelm, I knew it was worth raving about for country kitchens.

It's not always easy to find a stylish choice that isn't going to break the bank, and for £109 per stool, this beech wood Dunelm stool will complete your kitchen island ideas.

While some of the best bar stools on the high street offer different types of styles for varying kitchen aesthetics, a lot of them offer a similar rattan-seat look.

For those with country kitchens, or homeowners who want to lean into this aesthetic through smaller touches, the Jovie bar stool is ideal. Made from solid beech wood, it's a genuinely well-made piece of furniture that will last, benefiting both your wallet and creating a nostalgic backdrop to family memories over many years.

Scallop details have been a big kitchen trend for years now, and I love how the Jovie bar stool taps into this in a subtle way. Leaning into the trend too heavily will put a timestamp on your interiors, while this small scalloped back combined with the timeless wood construction means it won't date.

Many bar stools with a country aesthetic are more heavily influenced by rustic designs, and are usually backless. These types of bar stools are easy to tuck under the edge of an island, but if you're using them for daily dining, they aren't the most comfortable option.

In my opinion, the Jovie stool has it all - a well-made construction, a touch of the most popular trends, and a comfortable design that will encourage people to linger for longer. And for £109, it's hard to go wrong.

Shop bar stools

If you're on the hunt for a kitchen island as well as bar stools, then Dunelm also has the ultimate affordable solution - their Francis kitchen island is £250 and has a chic Shaker aesthetic.

Lavazza's shiny pod coffee machine, the Tablí, solves the biggest problem with single-serve coffee: excess waste. Now available via John Lewis for £133 (down from £199.99) this machine is the first of its kind on the UK market to feature no casing and no waste – just 100% coffee within a clever pressed tab.

I tried this machine out at Lavazza's pop-up in central London to see this new technology for myself. I went in sceptical but came away impressed by every detail I learned about this new coffee system.

If you're a lover of the best pod coffee machines but keen to cut out the waste that comes with the process, I think the Tablí is bound to impress. Here's why.

As Ideal Home's Kitchen Appliances Editor, I've reviewed a lot of pod coffee machines over the last five years. One complaint consumers often have about this type of machine altogether is the hassle of getting rid of empty pods.

While there's more availability to recycle them now (thanks to schemes like Podback), Lavazza's aim was in creating this machine was taking the responsibility out of the hands of the customer and instead making something that doesn't have any waste parts to be discarded of at all.

That's where the star of the show, the clever Tablí tabs, come in. Each one is made with 100% pure coffee, according to the brand, and yet has somehow been formulated into a slim, robust puck that acts like a normal pod once its inside your machine.

Once your coffee has dispensed, what you'll have left at the end of the process is just coffee grounds – no other waste. These can be disposed of via your usual food waste bin, compost bin or onto your plants that love coffee grounds to promote their growth.

I think this genuinely faff-free process will be of huge appeal to anyone who is looking to upgrade their existing pod machine. I've tried a few Lavazza machines before – I think the Desea might be the perfect entry-level coffee machine – and the coffee quality itself is stand out too.

These new pods – or tabs as you should really call them – are presented in gorgeous new packaging (which you can see via the Lavazza website), with an array of blends available.

Of course, given that this is a system that hasn't been done before, if you do decide to invest you'll be locked into this specific system. Lavazza's subscription system is pretty inviting, with options that vary depending on how much coffee you drink, but it's not as easy as just picking up any old Nespresso-compatible pods in the supermarket.

If you're a person who cares about cutting down on pod waste however, or would value the 100% coffee taste that comes with these clever tabs, then a subscription might be a small price to pay for an upgraded everyday experience.

The tagline for the Tablí is 'the future is 100% coffee'. And given how well thought out and executed the system seems to be, it's easy to imagine this being a much-imitated new machine. Could you be swayed to switch to the Tablí?

My small kitchen is deceiving with its wall of what looks like cabinets. However, hidden behind the doors and drawers are a fridge, freezer, washing machine, dishwasher and very little storage space for cookware and kitchen utensils. I only have one drawer I can easily store pots and pans in, so to help me streamline my collection, I asked our Cookware Editor, Molly Cleary, how to choose the best cookware.

I mentally prepared to work out how to squeeze a full set of the best saucepans into the tiny drawer, but instead she pointed out that with the right multitasking pan, a small frying pan and a good cast iron casserole pot I could get away with owning just three pans/pots.

Funds are tight at the moment, as I've just paid for a wedding and bought my first home, so I can't splash out a fortune on top of the range pans. However, I don't want to throw money away on pans that will be flaking and need replacing in a year. These are the three she recommended that hit the sweet spot between quality and affordability.

1. Multi tasking pan - Lakeland 10-In-1 Tri-Ply Only Pan Pro

In the last few years, there has been an explosion in all-in-one pans on the market. Our Place were the pioneers with their Always Pan (£125), but in the last year, more affordable options have appeared, including Molly's top pick for me, Lakelands 10-In-1 Tri-Ply Only Pan Pro.

Priced at £85, it isn't cheap, but it is a bargain compared to similar stylish stainless steel pans that are non-stick AND can be used with metal utensils. You heard that right: you can scratch away at this with a fork or metal spatula without concern. Previously, you needed a pan with an eye-watering price tag from HexClad (starting at £120) or the Our Place Alway Pan Pro (£170) for that capability.

It has the perfect shape to be used for everything from boiling pasta and searing steaks. You can also steam vegetables in the steamer basket that comes with the pan. Our cookware reviewer, Helen, loved the Lakeland 10-in-1 Only Pan in her review, calling it 'a robust all-purpose pan '. But she warned that it needs to be hand-washed to prolong the pan's life.

2. Frying pan - George Home Tri-clad Frying Pan 28cm

While the multitasking pan will do most jobs for you, Molly still recommended that I invest in a smaller non-stick frying pan for when you want to fry an egg or toast up some seeds or croutons. Her top affordable pick is the George Home Tri-clad Frying pan, which is another new-generation non-stick pan that can be used with metal utensils.

It is one of the lowest prices you'll find for a pan like this. It delivers all the benefits of cooking with stainless steel, without the sticking-to-the-bottom challenges that put many people off this cooking material.

3. Cast iron pot - Salter Shallow Cast Iron Casserole Pot

To round out the list, Molly recommended I buy a versatile cast iron pot. Her top tip was to opt for a shallow one over the classic round pot, which you'll find is actually far more useful. You can use them on the hob as a sauté pan, or in the oven for a pie, pasta bake, or even cooking up nachos.

If you have £289 to buy the Le Creuset Cast Iron Shallow Casserole, they are a worthwhile investment. However, Molly had another affordable alternative she recommended for me, the Salter Chester Cast Iron Casserole Pot. Our reviewer, Helen, tested out the Salter Chester Cast Iron Casserole Pot, which comes in at a more purse-friendly £44. She was impressed by the results and called it a bargain for how sturdy and versatile it was. It also comes with a lifetime guarantee!

You don't need a sprawling and expensive pan collection to be a whizz in the kitchen, I'm quickly learning that just a few well chosen good quality options are all you need to be nail that Jamie Oliver or Ottolenghi recipe.

Paint colours, and companies, have quickly become a 'if you know, you know' status symbol in the interiors world. While I'm well acquainted with Farrow & Ball's famous shade names, Edward Bulmer was less familiar - but started cropping up more often in the most stylish of kitchens.

Kitchen colour schemes are one of the biggest decisions you'll make in your cooking space. Paint is an investment of both time and money, so choosing a shade that will stand the test of time is key. But you also want it to pack some personality and create a warm hub that will invite the whole family in.

Edward Bulmer's 'Clove' feels like the perfect fit. It's a warm beige that has hints of pink, while remaining a neutral. Here's why you should consider it for your kitchen.

Choosing the right paint for your kitchen can be one of the most difficult decisions. The colour is one thing, but understanding the right finish for your kitchen is another - you want to ensure your choice of paint stands the test of time in terms of both taste and practicality.

Edward Bulmer paint is unique in that it combines beautiful, heritage-inspired shades with an eco-friendly approach. They have a 100% natural, plastic-free, and plant-based formulation that prioritizes building breathability and indoor health - and the paint has been used to decorate some of the biggest stately homes in the country, so you can be sure that it has lasting power.

'Clove' is a shade that I've seen popping up more frequently, and it offers a more earthy alternative to the ever-popular Farrow & Ball 'Setting Plaster'.

Warm neutrals are an easy bet for a kitchen colour scheme, but opting for a shade with more depth than cream is key for creating an inviting and visually interesting space.

'Clove is a wonderfully versatile neutral, with an earthy richness that comes from its red oxide pigment. Much like the spice it's named after, it brings depth without being overpowering. It has more character than a conventional beige, making it a lovely choice for interiors that feel both welcoming and considered,' explains Ellie Owen, colour consultant at Edward Bulmer.

Earthy hues are a big kitchen trend for 2026 and heading into 2027. Colours with muted, warm, and earthy undertones make for a lived-in atmosphere that is ideal for a cooking space. It's all about creating a kitchen scheme that feels like it's always been that way, even if it's newly designed.

'Clove works particularly well in kitchens, where its earthy tones complement natural materials and traditional joinery. We particularly love it on walls, where it creates an inviting backdrop for oak, limestone, marble and aged brass,' Ellie adds.

The clever thing about Edward Bulmer paint is that you can customise the opaqueness of the paint. 'For a softer look, Clove 40% offers a lighter interpretation of the same colour. It's also a wonderful choice for colour drenching, used across walls and woodwork to envelop the room in colour and create a cohesive scheme,' Ellie says.

This is particularly useful for those who perhaps have a north-facing, dark room and would prefer a lighter interpretation of the shade to lift the space.

Edward Bulmer paints all work beautifully well together, too - so creating a cohesive scheme across your home is simple. Interior Designer, Fenella Jane, shows exactly how easily this can be achieved, with a home packed full of muted Edward Bulmer shades that are subtle but work towards creating a colourful home.

Shop the look

Earthy shades are a sure-fire way to add warmth to a kitchen, and it works just as well in a utility. This is the inviting colour palette to try in your utility this autumn/winter.

It's Bread Week! And, inspired by The Great British Bake Off and the cosiness of autumn finally creeping in, we're feeling seriously inspired here at Ideal Home to either revive or restart (myself included) our sourdough starters.

As seasoned product testers, we've tried pretty much every sourdough starter gadget out there – all of which are designed to take the unpredictability out of the process.

From keepers, like the SourHouse DoughBed, which stabilise the temperature of your starter in order to keep fermentation healthy to the best cookware worth its weight in gold, these are the gadgets our bread-loving team of writers swear by.

Baking sourdough at home may have been a flash in the pan for some during the pandemic but those who have stuck at it have been rewarded with a huge explosion of sourdough specific gadgets to help them in their process.

The biggest area of innovation has to be with tailor-made sourdough keepers – which are engineered to keep a starter at the optimal conditions for a better bake.

Sourdough yeast and lactobacilli (a crucial bacteria in the bread) thrive when kept in temperatures of around 24 to 26°C. If your kitchen is colder than that, the growth your starter needs will slow to crawl while a too-hot environment can cause it to over-ferment.

Brod & Taylor's sweetly named Sourdough Home Plus has been helping our Content Editor Holly Cockburn keep her starter thriving.

'This sourdough home really takes the guess work out of keeping sourdough alive,' says Holly. 'I personally find the whole process of keeping a sourdough starter quite overwhelming, so being able to control the temperature is a game changer. I can also see it being really beneficial once winter rolls around and it becomes harder to keep our homes at the right temperature.'

With its fridge-like design, it's a fairly sleek gadget that you can keep an eye on in your kitchen so that your starter is never neglected out of sight.

While Brod & Taylor's home is perfect for maintaining your starter, SourHouse's DoughBed is the thing you need if you struggle with the fermentation or dough proofing stage. Fitting large dough batches (up to 1.5kg), it uses a heated element to create the optimal temperatures for rising. Once it's ready, you can bake in the DoughBed too.

Helen's verdict on the keeper after using it was that it gave her the power to bake better bread. 'I now completely get how useful it is to have a consistent temperature during the ‘bulk prove’ phase,' Helen said after using it. 'If the temperature is always the same, it instantly removes one of the variables that can affect the rise.'

The result? 'I’m not exaggerating when I say that the cooked loaf was easily the best I’ve produced in months,' said Helen. 'The rise was good, the texture was much less dense than I’ve been getting recently and it had a great shape.'

To round things off, I have to give a mention to the most coveted cast iron casserole for baking sourdough: Le Creuset's specialist Bread Oven.

As well as having the ability to double as must-have decor in your kitchen, it has a design that lends itself to better bread. It's shape means that there's a tight internal volume, which leads to more steam than in a standard casserole dish getting trapped in. That makes for loaves that expand much better. Our reviewer Millie was pretty sold on its merits.

If Bread Week has also left you feeling inspired to try out a loaf this weekend, these are the sourdough gadgets we'd recommend for getting a head start!

If you own a double drawer air fryer, you might be familiar with the feeling of frustration that comes with dishes not fitting into the separate, smaller baskets. That's where Pyrex's clever new Ideal Air Fryer Glass Baking Dishes (£15.90 from Amazon) can swoop in to save the day, as I found out when I tested them in my own kitchen.

Kitted out with a detachable stainless steel handle, you can pick up these clever heavy-duty glass containers for all sorts of recipes. From lasagnes to pies, these dishes are great for anything on the saucier side that you don't want to leak out. They're also incredibly useful for saving your air fryer baskets from getting too greasy and deteriorating at double speed.

Here's a closer look at why these clever dishes are a great buy if you use your air fryer as frequently as I do.

The USP of these new dishes, the removable stainless steel handle, has made a big difference to my day to day air frying use. That's because previously I was using standard containers which require quite a bit of shimmying around with a tea towel to get in and out unscathed.

The clip on, clip off handle means you can forgo all of that and safely lift your dinner and out of each basket fuss-free. As this is Pyrex, the glass itself is also of a very high quality and I'm trusting it'll last in my kitchen.

As opposed to silicone air fryer liners that I've tried, these dishes are a lot easier to clean (and can go straight in the dishwasher). That means that even if you're cooking basic things like chips, you can use this container to contain mess.

These aren't the only innovative air fryer dishes I've seen recently. I really like the clip on handle system with these Pyrex but there are other products you can pick up to add convenience to your kitchen too. Here's a round-up of the others I've had my eye on recently too.

If you want to keep hold of your air fryer for as long as possible I can recommend one of these clever dishes. Can you see yourself investing in one for dinners this winter?

As soon as we found out De'Longhi was releasing a cheaper alternative to it's top-rated Rivelia machine, we couldn't wait to get our hands on it. The Italian brand is a worldwide leader for home baristas, with a fleet of premium machines for every type of coffee lover, so expectations were high.

Having tested a few coffee machines, many of which happen to be from De'Longhi, I was the right person for the job. Looking to upgrade from my De'Longhi Scultura – a workshorse of a manual espresso machine – I was keen to test contenders for the best bean-to-cup coffee machine, especially if they are come with cold brew and iced coffee options.

In a nutshell

I'm quite particular about my coffee, so I wasn't sure an automatic would be able to offer the level of customisation I need in my brew. However, with my work-from-home coffees sometimes taking as long as 15 minutes to make in my existing machine, I definitely needed speed. The De'Longhi Rivelia Start has not only impressed me for convenience, making my flat white in just a couple of minutes, but the taste leaves no complaints.

Saving money by omitting touch-screen displays and smart bean-adaptation technology, has helped De'Longhi create a brilliant alternative to the De'Longhi Rivelia which we rated five stars. It comes in at a price point that feels well justified when you can make flat white, latte, cappuccino, espresso, American, filter, cold brew and iced coffees in just a couple of button presses. And it can pour hot water or steamed milk for your guests, too.

It comes with some great design features like swappable bean hoppers, hidden storage and a slick look that comes in several colourways. Overall, it offers a lot of functionality and quality in an afforadable and neat little package.

Who tested this coffee machine?

Unboxing the product

This compact machine is fairly light (just under 10 kilograms), but comes with a few accessories to negotiate during unpacking. The two hoppers, milk tank, water tank, and part of the drip tray were wrapped in (recyclable) plastic bags to prevent scuffs, but other than that, everything is neatly packaged in cardboard. You also need to locate the water testing kit for setup, and put the cleaning tabs away for future use.

I initially couldn't find the scoop, but this is stowed in a handy integrated storage space on top of the machine, along with a spare nozzle for hot water and a place to add grounds. There is also a brush for keeping this area clean (more on that later).

Overall, the machine looks smart, and despite being predominantly plastic, the combo of smooth and textured finishes adds to a premium look. The neat footprint adds to the slick look, and while I received the Onyx Black colourway, the Sand Beige and Jade Green options would have looked at home in my cottage kitchen.

I also like that more utilitarian parts like the grounds inlet and nozzle/milk carafe attachment are hidden when out of use. There is a clever sliding panel for the latter. When the milk carafe is in place, it is somewhat less appealing, but it is never left attached to the machine.

Though compact, the machine does need a fair bit of headspace for the hopper, but being just under 40cm high, the unit will fit under most cabinets – even with the 15cm use clearance factored in. Note that the control panel is on top, so it needs placing where this will be easy to view, and could impact use for shorter users or those who use a wheelchair.

Getting started

Unpacking and construction took under 10 minutes once I had washed some of the parts and allowed them to dry. This gave me a good opportunity to read the instructions.

You get a visual quick-start guide and can also scan a QR code on the machine and instructions for more info. Though some parts of the quick start guide were very easy to follow, I always follow the recommendation to read the main guide for anything not covered. In this case, the main instructions explained that you have to run through several functions, before you are able to pull a drinkable coffee.

This configuration and cleaning element took a good 40 minutes, extended by my need to watch a few of De'Longhi's videos to check I understood the instructions correctly. If you are not familiar with coffee makers, and have never used a bean-to-cup, it could well take longer.

First, you have to do a water test to check your water hardness and tune the settings accordingly with a couple of button presses. This tells the machine how it might need to adjust brewing to compensate, and how often the machine will need descaling. This is a quick dip-test, and it determined my water to be medium-hard: a surprise to me, as our water is known to be hard. I have since found out our readings are fairly low compared to a lot of Italy where De'Longhi machines are designed.

Then, you have to make a series of drinks (including milky drinks using the milk carafe), to prep the machine for use. This includes five hot coffees; three steam/milk cycles (using the carafe); three hot water cycles; and three cold brew cycles. This uses a lot of coffee and seems long-winded, but it rinses the system and calibrates the various pressure and temperature controls that help the machine work automatically. It also clears the grinder, which is tested before sale and might contain some bean residue.

This process also got me used to operating the machine so that I was ready to make my first coffee. All I had to do was place my mug under the adjustable coffee spout and press one button for a flat white.

The 'Morning Rush' test

Whenever we test a coffee machine, we prioritise the Morning Rush test. This is to see how quickly you can prepare two milky coffees, back-to-back. With the De'Longhi Rivelia Start, I can make two flat whites in just under four minutes (three minutes 59 seconds), including the time taken for the machine to prime, and do a cleaning cycle after making the coffees. With my prior espresso machine – a non-automatic – this would take me at least 10 to 15 minutes.

I tend to have an extra shot, and again, the process is impressively quick. Each shot takes an extra 30 seconds, so our usual Sunday morning order of two double flat whites can be made in exactly five minutes.

Having the milk carafe means I don't even need to attend to the steamed milk. There is a froth adjustment dial on top to keep the process hands off. This allows you to select minimum for light foam (just hot milk), medium for creamy froth (latte and flat white), to maximum for a thick cappuccino foam. It decants straight to mug, so no fancy latte art, but gives good results and allows you to do something else while your coffee is made – perfect for busy mornings.

User experience

This machine is very easy to use, and I quickly worked my way through the range of hot, cold, milky and straight coffees on offer. Most drinks are one or two button presses away, and the machine primes automatically. The control panel has pictorial icons that make it easy to understand. There isn't an overwhelming menu of options, yet you have a good level of customisability.

However, it can take a little while to learn everything to take full advantage of the range of tweaks you can make with this machine. To reduce costs compared to the original De'Longhi Rivelia, the Rivelia Start doesn't have a touch screen menu, so changing things like drink length or temperature requires you to learn the correct sequence of button presses.

For example, the temperature is controlled by pressing 'settings', then the 'Milk/Hot Water' button, then using the 'Intensity' setting (the beans) to choose low, medium or high heat. It would therefore be fair to assume 'the beans' are used to control any other low-to-high options, but they are not. They do change water hardness; auto-off time; and whether you want the machine to beep or not; but drink size is a different process altogether.

This is not a dealbreaker at all. It just means you will want to download the full instructions to your phone (via QR code on the machine) and have them to hand until you know the ropes.

The De'Longhi Rivelia Start also has a set of warning lights to help you properly use and care for your machine. Again, you will need the instructions to hand until you are fluent in what all of these mean.

What is great about this machine is that it is really straightforward to make classic coffees, but doesn't remove all of the tinkering some of us enjoy with a non-automatic espresso machine. You can still adjust the grind size if needed, and control coffee and milk ratios to your preferences – or you can press a button and leave the machine to making a very decent cup of coffee based on its factory settings.

Other features

As mentioned before, this machine can make iced coffees (espresso over ice), as well as cold brew. There is a button for iced options to adapt the extraction temperature which works well, though I prefer a slow-extraction cold brew for the best flavour. For an additional cost (£99.99 including four glasses on the De'Longhi website), you can get a cold carafe to froth cold milk into your drink. It would be nice to have this included, but it isn't essential for enjoying the cold coffees the machine makes.

It also has the benefit of swappable hoppers so you can switch to decaf in the afternoon, or have different beans for different tastes. The 'Bean Switch' system is designed to purge any grounds so you only the new grounds for your next cup.

Coffee quality

The De'Longhi Rivelia Start does not have Bean Adapt Technology – a feature in smart De'Longhi machines that optimises the grind, dose and temperature for specific beans – but still pours a well-rounded and delicious coffee. I used Cafe Direct Honduras Arabica beans (available at Ocado) and as expected, the result was a smooth and chocolatey coffee that was enjoyable as espresso and punchy enough in milky drinks. The coffee spout can be moved close to the mug to help produce a golden crema that lasts well.

The default settings did make a slightly smaller and milkier drink than I like, so I have learned my go to is a flat white with an extra shot and a slightly shorter dose of milk. I also upped the temperature because I am a slow sipper and like my coffee a bit hotter. It didn't overextract the coffee or impair flavour.

The filter coffee was initially a bit weak for me, but I had been a bit cautious with the amount of ground coffee I added to the machine because the instructions warn against using too much. After an adjustment the results were much better. And I like that you have the choice to do ground and bean-to-cup with this machine.

The milk frother is also effective. It creates a glossy milk that looks like the 'wet paint' standard needed for a good microfoam. Because of the carafe, you do lack the finesse of a machine that froths and allows you to free-pour, but this option is more aligned to my lack of latte art skills.

Noise test

This is where the machine does let itself down a little. It isn't deafening by any means, but some of the best bean to cup coffee machines we have tested are only 60 decibels in use. This one averages 66 decibels, hitting around 75dB when it grinds and maxing at 82 when it ran out of milk at the end of a froth.

This is similar in volume to a hair dryer – loud enough to be a bit jarring at 6am.

What's it like to clean?

Autoclean runs every time you turn the machine on and off, rinsing the pipes and tubes that deliver your coffee. I keep a small glass under the coffee spout for this as it reduces the frequency of drip-tray emptying. The milk carafe also alerts you to turn the dial to clean after each use, emitting a bursts of steam/water until the nozzle is cleared. The carafe can store milk in the fridge for up to two days, after which you need to give it a thorough clean.

I find the drip tray and coffee ground container need emptying every 10 coffees or so. The drip tray has an indicator on the tray to keep an eye on, but the machine will alert you when the coffee ground tray is full.

On top of that, you need to do a circuit drain if you leave the machine for three days or more (easy to do at the press of a button). And you must run the start-up process of using the steam, hot water and coffee functions to clear the interior when you return.

Deep cleans are recommended every 30 days, and the machine will alert you when it needs descaling. Both processes run automatically with minimal intervention and a deep clean takes a few minutes, while the descale can take up to 30. For cleaning, you will also be prompted to remove the brewing unit for rinsing. The brush included with the machine comes in handy here for cleaning housing and fiddly spaces.

Some parts are dishwasher safe and some aren't. Those which aren't are labelled as such, but I have tended to hand wash everything to be on the safe side. The exterior of the machine wipes clean easily, and aside from the metal grill over the drip tray which does show water stains, nothing marks too badly.

How does it compare to competitors?

At under £600, the De'Longhi Rivelia Start is one of the most affordable automatic bean-to-cup machines, including iced coffee and cold brew options. You do have to pay nearly £100 for the cold carafe to froth cold milk, but it is not essential to enjoy iced drinks from this machine.

A comparable model for a one-touch range of coffees like this is the Ninja Autobarista. That comes in at around £150 more as it has Grind IQ – Ninja's equivalent of Bean Adapt. You could alternatively get the Start's predecessor and our current top-rated coffee maker – the De'Longhi Rivelia which is also £150 more. It can fine-tune based on your beans and has a touch screen that offers a little more guidance than the Start. However, I feel that Bean Adapt is not something you would know you were missing unless you had it before, and the controls on the Start are plentiful for easy everyday coffees.

Should you buy the De'Longhi Rivelia Start Coffee Machine?

If you were looking for an automatic coffee maker that has cold coffee options, the De'Longhi Rivelia Start is a very smart buy. It is quick and offers plenty of customisation, alongside easy operation once you get used to it. Busy families will appreciate the speed with which you can make several coffees, and it will soon earn its worth for homeworkers partial to takeaway barista drinks.

The noise is a tolerable drawback and worse when beans, water or milk are running low – in other words, don't let it dissuade you. And, the machine looks good with a better range of colourways than most brands offer. From the masters in Italian coffee at home, you can't go far wrong with the De'Longhi Rivelia Start.

Pantries are the star of the show in any cooking space. Whether you have a double-door built-in pantry or you're lucky enough to have room for a walk-in pantry, it becomes the kitchen workhorse and a design focal point.

While kitchen pantry ideas create integral storage for ingredients and small appliances (appliance garages aren't going anywhere), the design features need to match this level of functionality.

This is why pantry lighting ideas are crucial to ensuring your pantry is as practical and swanky as possible. From rechargeable lamps to motion-censored cabinet lights, these are three simple tweaks that will take your pantry to the next level.

1. Add a lamp

Pantries aren't just a kitchen storage idea for your spices and cupboard essentials, they also become a work zone for morning coffee and toast preparing.

Those early starts ned to be well illuminated, and task lighting easily sets the mood for cosy, slow mornings. A rechargeable lamp is perfect for adding a warm glow to a work surface in a pantry, and it can be transferred to other areas of the kitchen for added versatility.

Choose a slimline style or a lacquered design so you don't need to worry about splashes and spills.

2. Add wall lights to larger pantries

Lucky enough to have a walk-in pantry? You'll need ample illumination for this sacred space. Rather than feeling like a storage cupboard, adding the right lighting will turn a walk-in pantry into a dedicated room of its own.

'For larger walk-in pantries, semi-flush ceiling lights or smaller pendants can work really well. Exposed bulbs or simple lighting designs can also bring a little personality to the space, without getting in the way of storage,' says Nadine Kimani, brand kitchen expert for Kutchenhaus.

Combine a smaller pendant ceiling light with wall lights so you can vary the level of illumination depending on the time of day.

3. Think about motion sensor lighting

'Good lighting makes a big difference in a pantry, helping you to see what you have and make the most of your storage space,' explains Massimo Buster Minale, founder and creative director of Buster + Punch.

Consider how you use your pantry on a daily basis - which drawers are opened the most? Where is it difficult to reach? Answering these questions will help you determine where lighting is needed the most.

'Motion sensor lighting works particularly well in smaller cabinet-style pantries, illuminating shelves as soon as the doors open and making it easier to find what you need,' Nadine adds.

Now is the time to make some tweaks to your kitchen ahead of a winter spent hunkered down at home - these pantry storage buys are ideal for a quick weekend declutter.

As the dark evenings roll in, all I can think about is how my kitchen desperately needs more lighting. I despise having the big light on, particularly as I have an open plan kitchen layout, so finding alternative ways to add light without creating a stark environment is essential.

A warm glow is what I have my heart set on for this autumn and winter - setting the mood in a kitchen with task lighting and interesting, design-led lighting fixtures makes for an inviting and invigorating cooking space.

Whether you're starting your kitchen lighting ideas from scratch or looking to add a few new touches for the season, these ideas will offer you plenty of food for thought.

1. Sculptural moments

Kitchens put practicality first in so many ways, and lighting can be a great opportunity to have fun from a design perspective. Statement pendant lights are often trending, but look for styles with a sculptural element for maximum impact as we head into 2027.

'Decorative lighting is a great way to add a little personality to a functional space. Create a focal point in the kitchen by introducing a sculptural pendant light or wooden chandelier above the kitchen island,' says lighting designer Tom Raffield.

'Not only will this add style and elegance, but it will also illuminate the heart of the kitchen, where everyday life unfolds - from early morning breakfasts to relaxed evening dinners,' he adds.

2. Mix materials

Brass has reigned supreme in recent years, and while we still love the antique-effect that this tone brings, mixed metals are adding even more dimension to kitchens. Don't be too matchy with the metals in your cooking space - adding some variation makes for a lived-in scheme that feels curated over time.

'Don't be afraid to mix materials; it's often the contrast that makes a room feel alive. I love pairing warm wood with marble, glass or metal in a piece of lighting; it's a simple way to bring that layered feel into a space,' Tom explains.

'Bring those same materials in through smaller touches too; something as simple as a hand-carved wooden bowl or a set of marble coasters can do so much to create rhythm in a room.'

3. Portable task lighting

Rechargeable lights have taken over, and I couldn't be happier about it. I feature them in every room in my home, but the kitchen is by far the best spot. They offer so much versatility, and can be the difference between a stark kitchen and one that feels warm and inviting.

'Portable lighting offers a more flexible approach to illuminating a space. Rather than relying solely on fixed ceiling or wall lights, portable lamps can be moved around as needed, whether you want to brighten up a kitchen island, add light to a dining space or create a warmer glow on the worktop,' explains Massimo Buster Minale, founder and creative director of Buster + Punch.

'As the seasons change and the temperature drops, these versatile lights allow you to adapt the atmosphere, creating a more cocooning feel without compromising on function or style,' he adds.

As we head into 2027, I'm reflecting on some of the biggest kitchen trends from 2026 that will stand the test of time - these should offer plenty of inspiration.

If one thing this year’s Celebrity Traitors has done besides bringing pure joy into my evenings, is that it has piqued my curiosity about the cast’s interior design choices. After having had a little snoop around this year’s celebrities' homes, I’ve been impressed by Rob Beckett’s contemporary teal kitchen - and interior design pros say this colour choice suits both modern and period homes. Rich colour palettes have been a standout of this year’s kitchen trends, and Rob’s teal kitchen is a brilliant example of how you can take a darker shade and make it look fresh and modern.

Paired with exposed stone and wood cabinetry, Rob’s combination of texture and colour is a masterclass example for anyone struggling to come up with contemporary kitchen ideas. Experts say this design is ahead of the curve for 2027’s kitchen trends. Here’s why.

Not only has blue been a huge colour trend this year, but it also makes for a beautiful kitchen colour scheme. This is because teal is a versatile shade that largely suits any space, and combined with natural wood and stone, it becomes a grounding blue kitchen idea.

‘Teal is doing the heavy lifting in a kitchen like this, and the stone and wood either side of it are what stop it becoming a novelty,’ comments Cassie Jones, brand manager at Masterclass Kitchens

‘Stone gives you a cool, hard surface that holds the colour in check, and wood puts back the warmth the stone takes out. That triangle is why the room reads as considered rather than bold for the sake of it. Take the wood away, and it turns cold. Take the stone away, and the teal has nothing to push against.’

Cassie also points out that Rob’s kitchen is a good example of what a ‘contemporary kitchen’ looks like in 2026.

‘It is a good example of where contemporary kitchens have got to, which is not quite the same as being a contemporary kitchen in the old sense,’ she says.

‘Contemporary used to mean flat, handleless and grey. Now it means a mid-tone colour on the cabinetry, natural materials used honestly, and texture doing the job gloss used to do. Five years ago this would have been called a statement kitchen. Today it sits closer to the middle of the market than the edge of it.’

What’s more, Rob’s kitchen has serious trend potential in 2027. If you’re looking to renovate your current kitchen, it’s a good example to look to if you want a space that remains on trend over the next few years.

‘I really like the combination of teal, natural wood and stone. The teal brings depth and personality, while the wood adds warmth and the stone gives the space a more refined, premium feel. The combination of textures with darker, warmer colours is the predicted trend for 2027 interior design, so Rob is ahead of the curve,’ says Lucy Darke, senior designer at Nolte Kitchens.

Teal is also a great choice for a blue kitchen, if you’re struggling to choose between airy blue shades or going bold with a dark navy kitchen. It offers the drama of a deeper shade, but retains a balanced feel that is often found with lighter tones.

‘Teal is one of the better colour choices you can make, because it sits between blue and green and borrows the calm of one and the warmth of the other. That is why it ages better than a flat navy or a strong green, and why it works in both period and modern homes, which very few strong colours manage,’ concludes Cassie.

‘The thing I would advise against is scale. Teal belongs low and central, on an island, a run of base units or a set of tall cabinets, with a neutral above it. Run it across the wall units as well, and you lose the light at eye level, and a kitchen that felt rich in the brochure feels heavy by the second winter. The colour is almost never the problem. How much of it there usually is.’

Get the look

Teal is a bold choice, but in Rob's kitchen, it really pays off. Would you try it?

Café curtains have quickly become one of my favourite speedy ways to add character to a kitchen. Whether it's to hide a washing machine or replace a cupboard door, they're a simple way to create a welcoming, country-inspired look, while also distracting from visual clutter.

Making your own is always an option, but for those of us short on time, Dunelm has the ultimate ready-made undercounter curtain - and it's finally back in stock. The chic blue and white Linford stripe was so popular that it sold out, but luckily, this £15 cupboard curtain is back - and there are other colours and styles to choose from, too.

Here's why it could be the perfect addition to your kitchen.

Café curtains have been a big kitchen trend in 2026, and I predict this cottage-inspired look will definitely continue into 2027. The bistro window treatment idea adds an easy touch of character, so why not continue this look to your cupboards too?

Swapping a cupboard door for a cupboard curtain, or adding one to open shelving or large appliances, has a bigger benefit than simply aesthetics. It's a handy way to distract from clutter and place style at the heart of your kitchen, rather than letting the practical features take over.

Dunelm's under-counter curtains makes this trend even more accessible. £15 gets you the premade curtain, and all you need to do is purchase a tension rod (like this one for just under £10 from Amazon).

It's entirely possible to DIY one yourself, if you're ready for a weekend project. Earlier this year I made a café curtain for my kitchen window, and the same method would apply for a cupboard curtain.

However, Dunelm has made it almost pointless to make your own, with the price being so low for the ready-made version.

I'm a huge fan of the blue and white stripe, and it will add a French-inspired bistro look to any kitchen. However, if it's not quite your colour scheme, these three alternative styles below might pique your interest.

Shop more cafe curtains

Looking to explore more kitchen trends for 2027? These are 3 colour trends that will offer serious staying power so you can be sure your money goes further.

Tom Kerridge's cookware collection with M&S has proved very popular with shoppers and the range just got even bigger, with the addition of products tailor-made for Christmas 2026.

I enjoyed a preview of the Michelin-starred chef's collaboration with M&S last year and I knew that the best cookware designed by the man himself would be a hit. Our impressed reviews of the 3-Piece Cast Iron Set and the multifunctional Stainless Steel Saucepan proved that this is certainly more than a celebrity name stamped on products.

Now, you can also pick up some essential roasting buys from M&S that have all been stress-tested by Tom Kerridge – just time in time for hosting season to begin. Here's a look at the shiny new picks.

Another hugely popular pick from the collection (which actually sold out multiple times last year) was the 2-in-1 Wooden Butcher's Block (£50 via M&S). It's crafted with two built-in sorting compartments for chopping up food and has fluting built into it for meat carving too, so that the juices flow out neatly. It's another buy that really comes into its own for Christmas.

I can't wait to see these new picks from the Tom Kerridge collection on show at the new M&S Pantheon on Oxford Street, which has a dedicated space to show off these cookware bestsellers. Can you see yourself investing in one of these picks for Christmastime?

Autumn is the perfect time to take stock of your kitchen and spend a weekend doing a good ol' declutter. As we spend more time inside throughout the winter, and much more time cooking from scratch, making sure the insides of your cupboards and drawers are clutter-free will make life much easier.

Luckily, Amazon Prime Day is here, which means that some of my favourite organisation tools are even more affordable. Tidying can only get you so far, and sometimes you need to invest in storage solutions that will keep your kitchenware organised for the long haul.

These 8 kitchen organisation picks all combat different frustrations around your cooking space, so that in no time at all, all of your kitchen storage ideas will function seamlessly.

Struggling for space? These small kitchen storage ideas will help you declutter for the new season.

A coffee advent calendar is a fun way to get into the festive spirit without breaking the bank – as these two buys from Nespresso and GRIND prove. For £29.95 (via GRIND) and £40 (via Nespresso) respectively, these calendars will infuse your morning coffee with a touch of cheer come the month of December. But which one is the right fit for you? I got my hands on both to find out.

While Nespresso's calendar is catered towards the owners of the best Nespresso machines, GRIND have three options available: old-style Nespresso pods, ground coffee and whole beans.

Here's a closer look at what each of these affordable calendars is offering ahead of the most generous time of the year, just in case you're thinking of treating the coffee lover in your life!

The first thing to know is that while Nespresso's calendar is available both for those who use Vertuo pods and the older version, GRIND's calendar is only available for those using the smaller original pod. From there, the two calendars are pretty different, as I realised when I got my hands on them.

Here's a table breaking down the crucial differences between the two calendars.

If space is at a premium in your home, the first thing to note is that the GRIND calendar is much more compact than the Nespresso, especially once both are unfurled. Especially as Christmas can be a cluttered time already, it's worth bearing in mind for any potential gift recipients.

Grind's offering is more colourful than Nespresso's with its depiction of a bustling old-timey general store, packed full of coffee treats and other foodstuff. Nespresso's design is much more pared back, with elements of detailing from Swarovski on the inner edges contrasting the lime green colour.

The doors to the Nespresso advent are an array of different sizes, reflecting the variation of treats on offer inside (including a travel mug for the final day, which ordinarily costs around £25 on its own). Grind's are much more uniform, as well as smaller, as it's just the 26 pods on offer here.

The different flavours on offer might be the biggest draw for any potential buyers. Grind's flavour menu includes a whole host of 'dessert-style' pods which I think sound absolutely fantastic. From House Baileys to House Sweet Miso blends as well as Pumpkin Spice, there's plenty of different notes built around an espresso base to trial.

Nespresso's offering features five flavoured blends using the brand's Barista Creations style, ranging from roasted caramel to hazelnut and of course paying homage to pistachio – the flavour of the year.

Both of these calendars make for an affordable yet impressive Christmassy treat, but the real decision comes down to what you're looking for in a coffee-based gift. The Nespresso option is best if you're looking to capitalise on a full-sized gift along with the pods while Grind's offering is a little easier on the wallet. The preference in design will be personal, but the playfulness of Grind's version has taken my fancy for sure.

Do you see either of these calendars as good gift ideas?

As Ideal Home's Kitchen Appliances Editor, I'm in the lucky position to have tested every single one of Ninja's bean-to-cup coffee machines (all of which are on sale at fantastic prices this Amazon Prime Day).

Yep, I've tried them all – from the shiny, new Ninja Luxe Café Mini (which is just perfect for small kitchens) to the OG Luxe Café Espresso Machine. And every single one has ranked among the best bean to cup coffee machines I've ever tried.

The combination of user-friendly controls (straight from the best Ninja air fryers playbook) and features that usually cost a lot more to have (like auto milk frothing) make Ninja's line of machines incredibly good value. Even if you're a beginner, they allow you to master the art of coffee at home and make drinks that will simply wow guests to your home.

My favourite of the bunch has to be the Ninja Luxe Café Mini 2-in-1 (was £479.99, now £399 via Amazon). It gives Sage machines a run for their money while remaining compact enough for small kitchens. If you need something bigger, you can find the rest of my top-rated picks below compiled into a table so that you can compare them easily.

Now that you've got the basics down, you can get a closer look at what each machine looks like (for the all-important styling of your kitchen) and get the low down from my testing of each machine.

How I tested the best Ninja coffee machines

I've been testing coffee machines for Ideal Home for five years now, which has given me plenty of experience with a huge range of products from a variety of different brands. I tested Ninja's first-ever coffee machine release here in the UK and have had my hands on all of the upgrades and new launches ever since.

Our guide to how we test coffee machines has the full detail on our process, but Ninja coffee machines have a language and suite of features of their own. They are far and away the most user-friendly machines I've ever tried – reviewers often comment on how their machine turned them into a coffee lover after having no prior experience. And the range of drinks on offer make them very family friendly. You can mimic coffee shop drinks very easily.

They also offer features that real coffee experts are used to paying much more for in high-end machines, including automatic tamping and a huge number of milk frothing settings.

It’s a cosy season, AKA one of the best times of the year to get going in the kitchen (especially if you dig comfort food). And cosy home cooking is made all the easier with one of the best slow cookers at your fingertips.

If you haven’t already been won over by the brilliance of a slow cooker, then I’m going to convince you to try. Especially as Lidl will be stocking the classic Crockpot for just £18.99.

I swear by my Crockpot slow cooker for autumn cooking - actually, scratch that, I use mine all year round. And if you’ve been on the fence about getting one, here’s why I think not only are they worth it, but you’ll struggle to find a better price than at Lidl.

Lidl can be a goldmine for finding our favourite brands at low prices. You will often find the best mops and even the best vacuum cleaners nestled amongst the Middle Aisle bargains. And I was particularly excited to see that the 3.7L Crockpot slow cooker was joining the line-up.

Landing in stores on 11 October, this Crockpot slow cooker is perfect for cooking for up to four people at once, or batch cooking. It has three heat settings - low, high and warm - to take any complication out of cooking, and the stoneware bowl is also suitable for your oven and dishwasher.

I was given my Crockpot by my mum at university. It’s the one thing she sent me off with, and now it’s the one thing I recommend for anyone else leaving the nest. Call it slow cooker maths, but I quickly found that batch cooking via my slow cooker considerably cut down my food bills, reduced takeaway consumption and saved me time. Plus, when you consider how much it costs to run a slow cooker, you learn it’s actually the cheapest kitchen appliance to run.

Not to mention that I’ve had my slow cooker for around seven years, and it still cooks like a dream. It takes up little room in my small kitchen, and it’s so easy to clean, too. As I write, my slow cooker is currently cooking batches of chicken tikka masala, which I prepped on my lunch break and will provide lunches for myself and my partner this week.

I have considered upgrading my slow cooker to the Ninja Foodi Possible 8-in-1 Slow Cooker (£116.99 at John Lewis), because it offers more cooking functions such as searing, baking and cooking, which widens the cooking possibilities in my kitchen.

The Crockpot will only be available in-store, so if your local Lidl sells out or doesn’t have it, I’ve tracked down a few more affordable options you can shop for online.

If you haven't got a slow cooker, now is your chance to fix this - and Lidl is making it so affordable to do so.

Air fryers are not pretty things, on the whole, but Our Place's new Wonder Oven Pro (available from today for £295) might just be able to change your mind on the aesthetic value of these ever-useful appliances.

When the brand's first-ever take on one of the best air fryers, the Wonder Oven, was released in 2024 it kickstarted a trend for better looking appliances with wider colour options. As per my review, though its charms are hard to resist, it is very small and therefore suitable for one to two people only.

That's where the Wonder Oven Pro comes in with a much bigger capacity and jazzed-up controls (compared to simple knobs on the original). Here's a full look at this devilishly sleek new appliance from one of my favourite cookware and tableware brands.