Sorry traditional air fryers, glass air fryers are taking the culinary world by storm due to their space-saving and meal prepping capabilities - and Lidl is about to launch the most affordable I’ve seen yet.

In 2026, the best air fryers have a spot in every kitchen, yet most are quite bulky. But the increase in popularity of glass air fryers over the past year shows that these game-changing appliances can work in the tiniest of kitchens.

Landing in stores on Sunday 2 August, Lidl’s Glass Air Fryer is a deadringer for the Ninja Crispi (was £149.99, now £115 at Shark Ninja), and at only £49.99, It’s one of the most affordable Ninja Crispi alternatives I’ve spotted.

Having reviewed the Ninja Crispi, Ideal Home’s Kitchen Appliances Editor Molly Cleary declared she’d only use the glass air fryer from then on. Its easy-to-clean glass containers were found to be excellent for making lunches and meal prep, while its compact size meant it was easy to stash away after use, too - no bulky appliance taking up precious worktop space here. Not to mention it produces unbelievably delicious and crispy results.

The convenience of glass air fryers has seen them soar in popularity, and now it’s Lidl’s turn to deliver an affordable version. If you have Lidl Plus, the Glass Fryer is £49.99, and it is £59.99 without the app discount.

It boasts a transparent glass cooking basket, allowing you to keep an eye on how your food is cooking without opening the drawer (one of the main benefits of glass air fryers over standard ones), and it promises to deliver healthy, crispy results with ease. Lidl also states the machine is easy to clean, which is a bonus. For squeaky clean air fryers, I do recommend the Astonish Air Fryer Cleaner(£2.50, Dunelm) as it is great for cutting through grease.

Lidl’s Silvercrest Glass Air Fryer has four preset programs: air fry, roast, re-fry, and keep warm. Its small glass container is ideal for one portion, while the supermarket says its large container is big enough to roast a whole chicken.

‘I was unsure of the concept of glass air fryers at first, but after testing the Ninja Crispi I was totally won over. I can't imagine a better air fryer design for a student house or a small kitchen in order to feed one or two people,' comments Molly. 'If you're on a tight budget, then this version from Lidl might be worth a try. The glass surface is much easier to clean than a usual air fryer tray and will be so easy to pop into a deep drawer too.'

Glass air fryers are a great choice for people who have small kitchens, students and anyone else who doesn’t want to give up worktop space for bulky appliances. They offer a great vantage point, where you can see how your food is cooking. The detachable glass dishes make meal prep incredibly easy, and the glass is far easier to clean than other air fryers.

Lidl’s glass air fryer will only be available in-store. So, in the case of stock issues or it selling out fast, I’ve rounded up a few more affordable alternatives to shop online.

You can always count on Lidl to deliver an affordable alternative to our favourite appliances. Will you try it?

Ninja has a new multi-cooker to feast your eyes on and I think it's the most capable offering I've seen from the bestselling brand yet.

The Ninja HyperHeat, which is currently down to £149.99 from £169.99, has an impressive 9 functions to get stuck into combined into one sleek appliance.

The setting I'm most excited about is rice cooking – which is something I absolutely loved when I tested what I think is the best multi-cooker on the market, the Ninja Foodi Possible. As well as that, the HyperHeat also has a pressure cooker setting, meaning that it can save you a huge amount of time on meal prep. Here's what else it can do!

The HyperHeat is so called because it has the ability to lock in high temperatures and pressure in order to speed up your cooking process. Its pressure cooking mode is one of its big selling points, alongside the other functions, which are steam, slow cook, sear/sauté, rice, pasta, simmer, keep warm & yoghurt.

If you've never used a pressure cooker before then the big thing to know is that it can seriously save you time in the kitchen. Ninja claims that with the HyperHeat you can cook up to 70% faster than with hob cooking – though you do have to reserve time for the pot to pre-heat. It locks in steam and heat to supercharge the cooking process so that stews or rice will be cooked in record time in your home.

The capacity of this cooker is tailor-made for families, too. It has six litres of space, meaning you can batch cook with it or use it for family dinners. The sear and sauté functions allow you to use the inner pot as a stand-in hob, too – perfect if you need an all-in-one appliance if your kitchen is currently out of action. That's exactly what our Senior Digital Editor, Jenny McFarlane did recently in her temporary kitchen whilst hers was being renovated.

I'm evangelical about the need for a rice cooker in every household – no matter the size – thanks to its ability to help you whip up quick meals with essentially no effort. The reviews from users so far on the HyperHeat, where it currently has a 4.6 star rating out of 5 from 29 people, are overwhelmingly impressed with the rice cooking functionality in particular.

Another benefit of this new Ninja cooker is the included stainless steel reversible rack. Reviewers have been putting this to good use in order to cook across two levels in one pot. You can steam grains in the bottom while your protein is cooked to perfection on top.

Though it might seem counterintuitive in this heat given they have a reputation for being used to make soups and stews, a multi-cooker is actually a great appliance for the hot months. With it, there's no sweating over your hob or lengthy prep times. Instead, you can throw everything into a cooker like this and quickly return to your finished meal, especially if you're using the pressure cooking setting on this appliance.

Whether you're already a multi-cooker convert or not, the HyperHeat certainly looks like an impressive new entry into the category for Ninja. Could you see yourself using this in your kitchen?

There are plenty of affordable ice cream makers hitting the shelves right now, including Aldi's Ambiano Ice Cream Machine for £69.99 and Lidl's Silvercrest version, the Premium Freezy, for the same price.

Though these ice cream machines are unbelievably cheap, as Ideal Home's Kitchen Appliances Editor, I'd recommend spending a fraction more on an easier-to-store alternative that I've tested: Cuisinart's genius FreezeWand (£79.99 via Amazon).

As well as still being wallet-friendly, this is one of the best ice cream makers I've tested for a small kitchen and works like a charm for making sorbets, ice cream and a range of other frozen treats. Here's why I think it's the sweet-treat-buy to beat for most kitchens, including Aldi's budget Ninja Creami alternative.

The ice cream makers recently released by supermarkets with middle aisles we love to peruse are both modelled on Ninja's viral sensation and bestseller the Ninja Creami, which we reviewed way back in 2023. While the Ninja Creami's design has been a huge hit, it's an appliance that takes up a lot of space on a worktop. Even the most dedicated at-home ice cream enthusiast might struggle to give up the space it needs in a kitchen.

That's why I was so impressed by Cuisinart's FreezeWand design, which is perfect for compact spaces. It consists of a stick fitted with a blade that neatly fits into three 240ml pots to churn up your ice cream creation. These pots, which you use to pre-freeze your ingredients, also neatly stack together either in your freezer or in storage – another big benefit of this buy over bulkier alternatives.

When packed down, the FreezeWand measures up at just 30.5cm in height, which makes it supremely convenient for storing. Compare that to the Ninja Creami and lookalikes, which each need around 40cm of worktop clearance at all times (even to store) and there's a clear winner for cosier kitchens.

The functionality on Cuisinart's alternative is impressive too. It can churn up ice cream (and work in mix-in extras like chocolate chips) and sorbet as well as offering settings to make milkshakes and slushies.

The limiting factor to the original Cuisinart wand is the smaller size of the pots to freeze ingredients in. For a family of four, say, a 240ml pot of ice cream definitely isn't going to cut it for an after dinner treat.

If you're interested in mixing up bigger portions of ice cream regularly, that's where the brand's bigger FreezeWand XL comes in (available from Amazon for £99.99). It has the same clever foldaway design but with a larger capacity. Each of its pots can hold 470ml which is extremely similar to the capacity of the Creami pots.

In all of my tests of the Cuisinart FreezeWand I was really impressed with the resulting ice cream and sorbet it created and found the mix-in element worked well too.

If you do have the space, perhaps thanks to a dreamy appliance garage, to host an upright ice-cream maker, then these are the ones I'd recommend. Top marks go to the Ninja Swirl, in particular, which is probably the most fun I've ever had reviewing an appliance.

Which of these would fit best into your kitchen?

Ninja's newest Slushi machine has finally landed on UK shores, just in time for the rising temperatures that have us all longing for a cooling refreshment.

The Ninja Slushi Twist, which is available from today for £419.99 (via Ninja) takes the success of one of its bestselling launches of the past few years and doubles it, with twice the amount of drinks and flavours available to your guests this summer if you choose to buy it. And the best part of all? You can mix them with the help of the machine to make the half and half drink of your dreams!

Yep, this 'dual-vessel frozen drinks maker' gives you the chance to slush two different drinks, all in the same impressively narrow timeframe that I've been wowed by with the original Ninja Slushi during my trials of it. Here's all of the added functionality you get with this buy that offers twice the fun for your kitchen.

The biggest sell with the Ninja Slushi Twist is that you can cater to everyone that comes over to your house for a summer soiree. With the two separate mixing cylinders, you can provide alcoholic and non-alcoholic slushies side by side, as well as different types of drinks altogether. So if someone wants a frozen milkshake while you're sipping on a frosé, it's all possible.

I reckon the fact you can twist together two different flavours of Slush will be hugely popular too – something that was previously only possible if you were picking up a frozen drink at the cinema or the beach.

The combining process works thanks to one very clever feature: a spinning drip tray at the bottom of the machine. This creates that swirled-together effect that makes your two-flavour drink look so tasty. If you only want to dispense one drink at a time, then that's possible too, thanks to the split-handlebar at the very top of both vessels.

As with of all its appliances, Ninja has engineered a catchily-named program to help users get the best from this buy, which is called the Dual SlushAssist. This program will sense the ingredients in each vessel and then apply the settings that relate to whichever function you pick.

As someone who has hosted with the OG Slushi before, another marked improvement with the Twist is that it has an upped capacity. It can serve up 10x 260ml in one go, which is plenty enough for a crowd before you'll need to head inside to refill the machine.

So, if you're looking for a buy that will make hosting an absolute dream and help you cater to all tastes when it comes to drinks, the Slushi Twist might just be the thing you're looking for to cool off with this summer!

Alternative Ninja Slushis

IKEA's newest must-have kitchen buy, the TILLREDA multicooker (available now for £85) is just the thing you need to crack cooking perfectly fluffy rice at home.

With 14 presets, including slow cooker and baking modes, there is a huge amount of functionality packed into this compact little multicooker for its under £100 price tag. If you want to make your small kitchen more capable, you'll want to take a look at all of its functions. Here's what it can do.

The full list of functions is as follows: Manual mode, Keep warm, Slow cook, Rice, Fry/Sauté, Steam, Bake, Boil, Yoghurt, Soup, Stew, Porridge, Oatmeal, Bread rise.

So as well as the ability to use it as a 'chuck all of the ingredients in and set it off' cooker, you can also use the inner pot as a stand-in hob spot and sear ingredients from the high heat. This is something I found immensely useful when I tested Ninja's PossibleCooker with a rice mode – which is by far the most impressive multi-mode cooker I've tried.

If you love simple all-in-one meals, then the ability to saute protein before you add the rest of your ingredients can elevate a recipe by many multitudes. It's also great if you have limited hob access or if your hob (like mine) emits less heat than you might like it to.

I've found lots of people turn to a multicooker like this one when they're without a kitchen for some period of time - say, undergoing a renovation – because it's the closest appliance to having a little mini kitchen wrapped up in one.

As far as the size of this appliance is concerned, it's small stature will be hugely popular with those with more cramped kitchens. At just 21.5cm tall, including for the profile of its slimline lid, this can be placed under a countertop and in even the tightest of corners to add a whole new dimension to your kitchen. For context, the Ninja PossibleCooker that I am a huge fan of is quite a bit taller at 28cm in height and has a bigger capacity more fit for a family.

With the mini size of this IKEA version combined with its varied function set, I reckon it's perfect for 1 to 2 people most of time.

Another benefit of this mini cooker is that it comes with a steamer attachment that slots right into the main bowl so that you can get the most out of that steaming function.

The interface of the TILLREDA looks simple too. It features a small LED screen upon which you can dial through all of the different modes, set your timer and temperature of your cooking program.

This multicooker is brand new on IKEA's website, so there aren't any user reviews from the UK available yet to judge it on. I'm hoping we can get our hands on it to put it through our stringent testing process to see how it performs. But from a first look, it seems like an excellent buy if you're short on space but want to max out on cooking functionality.

If there’s one thing that all this hot weather calls for, it’s a delicious tub of homemade ice cream. And no, you don’t need the Ninja Creami (£169.99, Argos) to do this, as Aldi has just dropped a similar alternative for just £69.99.

Over the past few years, the best ice-creams have become the ‘it’ appliance of any kitchen, even overtaking air fryers in terms of viral popularity. But they can be expensive appliances – until now, at least.

Landing in stores on 16 July, the Aldi Premium Ice Cream Maker is dropping as part of the supermarket’s latest Modern Kitchen range. Here’s everything we know about this star buy so far.

Having been writing about Aldi for a few years now, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t waiting for Aldi to drop an ice-cream maker. Yes, there may have been an Aldi ice cream maker to hit the shelves before, but I’ve been on the lookout a slightly fancier gadget.

And my prayers have been answered, as their new premium ice cream maker is a dead ringer for the Ninja Creami.

More than £100 cheaper than the Ninja Creami Deluxe (£249.99, Ninja), the Aldi Premium Ice Cream Maker allows you to create delicious homemade ice cream, sorbet, milkshake and even frozen cocktails. It’s easy to operate with a self-cleaning function, has an adjustable blade and dishwasher-safe accessories, making clean-up an equally easy job.

There’s not much detail on how the machine operates, however it does look as though it will be easy to use via a simple dial, and we predict that, like the Creami, you’ll need to freeze your ice-cream mixture first. With a Ninja Creami, this is around 24 hours, so bear in mind that you might need to account for some freezing time when preparing your frozen treats.

'Of all of the Ninja Creami rivals that have been released recently, including the cleverly designed NutriBullet Chill and Russell Hobbs' version, this ice cream maker from Aldi is by far the cheapest,’ says Molly Cleary, Kitchen Appliances Editor at Ideal Home.

‘At £69.99, if it works well, it's a total bargain. It has the same 'slot in and mix' design of the Creami and looks like it's aiming for similar functionality with the ability to whip up ice cream, milkshakes, sorbets and other sweet treats. After testing the Ninja Creami Deluxe, I can safely say that this type of appliance is one you'll have a lot of fun with, and though I haven't got my hands on Aldi's version yet, I'm sure it's about to be a hit with those looking to spend a little less!'

Due to the fact that it is under £70, I’m inclined to believe that it won’t be quite as good as the original. However, if you want to try an ice cream maker or have a tighter budget, it’s a good starting point and worth a try.

However, we do think this ice cream maker will sell out like soft serve on a hot day. So, if you can’t track one down, here are a few more affordable options you can shop online.

With 2026 on track for a scorcher of a summer, what better way to cool down than with a delicious, homemade ice cream?

This week it feels like everyone is trying to get ahead and rectify any mistakes they made during the last heatwave. And for me, that means ensuring I have a much better supply of ice than I did during the hottest days of the year last week – especially given that at every supermarket I went to I was greeted by totally bare freezer shelves.

To solve the problem, I must admit I've been eyeing an ice maker (like this one from Amazon for £62.99) that can sit on my kitchen countertop during the hottest days. As I'm not blessed with a freezer with ice-making facilities (or a very big freezer at all!), I think I'm going to have to outsource this need to a standalone appliance like I have with one of the best ice cream makers. Here's why.

Of course, I was desperate for more ice during the heatwave in order to keep my water and other drinks cool in order to rehydrate. But there are lots of other reasons, many of them owing to the hacks I've learnt from my Ideal Home colleagues, for me needing large quantities of ice in the hot weather.

The most pressing of which was so I could enact the cooling hack our News Writer Kezia put me onto last year: placing a bowl of ice in front of my fan in order to mimic the effects of an air conditioner. It's a way to use a fan that actually lowers the temperature of a room and it was a true godsend for my sleep last week when paired with my Dyson fan.

When I do invest in an ice maker I'll also be picking up this £6 fan attachment that we wrote about last week to DIY the air conditioning effect even further. If you own a fan and not an AC, it's an essential! It'll certainly be an upgrade for me from placing my ice in a bowl on a stool.

While an ice maker, much like the Ninja Slushi (which has also been running non-stop in my flat this summer), is hardly a kitchen essential, it can make those unbearably hot days a little more livable – at least, that's according to the reviews these Amazon buys have racked up. I reckon every little helps for when we're faced with the next hot spell!

Small appliances, like kettles and toasters, always seem like quick need-not-want purchases, but why is this the case when they live on our worktops year round?

It pays off to spend some time researching the best kettles and the best toasters that will make those small daily habits run seamlessly, and choosing the right colour for a kettle and toaster comes into that decision.

But what colour should you go for? From classic stainless steel options to retro-inspired pastel hues, these are the shades people always run to for their small appliances, with the latest kitchen trends in mind.

Over the last few years, we've seen more and more colours appear within kitchen appliances. It signifies a larger shift in our homes as we embrace playful colour expression even more, and enjoy the wellbeing benefits that a colourful home provides.

While our cabinets and walls got the memo a while ago, it naturally took a little longer for appliances to catch up. Large appliances, like our ovens, fridges and microwaves are typically in stainless steel, so small appliances followed suit.

'Stainless steel is a consistent, timeless seller in kettles and toasters as it is most compatible with a lot of kitchens,' explains Saul Davies, Buying Director at Salter. However, as appliances themselves got more ambitious (from slushie machines to air fryers), so did the colours of them.

When it comes to kettle and toaster colours, pastel shades have reigned supreme as the alternative option to stainless steel.

'Creams or warm neutrals still perform well as they tend to soften kitchens and are not harsh against fixtures such as brass, silver or gold. We are seeing a demand in pastel or brighter, bolder colours which are mainly shopped by style-led consumers. Our Retro is range we have seen huge success with pink being one of our best-selling colours,' Saul adds.

Cream, pale blue, pink and green shades have been the classic choice for a kettle and toaster, and particularly suit heritage Shaker kitchens where you want to avoid too much stainless steel.

However, in 2026, neutral hues that offer something different to white and cream are rising in popularity.

Softer neutrals, such as beige and earthy green hues, offer a new perspective on kettle and toaster shades. If cream feels too stark for your kitchen, a more subdued shade might be best.

'Sage and olive green is our fastest growing colour and is highly popular over the last 12 months. It is seen to the consumer as a new neutral addition that adds colour without being too risky,' explains Saul.

This is also reflected in Smeg's new matte Moonlight collection - a matte, beige version of their famous retro kettle style that has a much more contemporary look.

'Inspired by the growing popularity of softer, nature-led palettes, the shade brings warmth and tranquillity to the kitchen while complementing the brand's iconic design,' says Niamh Griffiths, senior marketing executive (SDA) at Smeg.

'The muted neutral tone reflects a broader interiors shift towards calm, wellness-inspired spaces and understated luxury, making it an ideal choice for consumers looking to create a kitchen that feels both timeless and contemporary,' she adds.

In 2026, sleek stainless steel kettles are remaining a popular and timeless choice, but as we look towards colour to shape our interiors, reflecting these careful choices in our small appliances is just as important.

Shop kettles and toasters

In 2026, sleek stainless steel kettles are remaining a popular and timeless choice, but as we look towards colour to shape our interiors, reflecting these careful choices in our small appliances is just as important.

Ninja's most stylish colourway, Stone Gold, is having a serious moment right now with the extension of the sellout colour across a huge range of bestselling products. From the Swirl to compact, small-kitchen friendly best Ninja air fryers, the kitchen giant has really outdone itself with this effortlessly luxurious shade.

First released this time last year, this gorgeous neutral shade went seriously viral on TikTok. I was watching out for more stock of the Ninja Dual Zone in this exact colour for months and months until it finally reappeared in October.

If you were one of the lucky few who picked up that stylish colour way back then, or if you just love the look of the range now, then you can finally shop Ninja's other bestsellers in it too, including brand new products thanks to these exclusives that debuted just for Amazon Prime Day. Here's a look at what's available.

Since working on Ideal Home, I've seen Ninja release many special-edition colours to coincide with Prime Day and Black Friday. The most memorable include the range with copper accents which is now a permanent fixture on Amazon due to its popularity.

There's even more colour choice on offer for Ninja's most fun kitchen buys – notably the Slushi and the Creami, which got a pastel make over last year as well as two-tone options inspired by frozen drinks and desserts.

It's not clear yet whether this beige colour will become a permanent addition to Ninja's colourway line up or whether it's only available during Amazon's sales events so if this is the shade for you, I'd recommend snapping it up fast!

The ability to make frozen sweet treats at home, either for pudding or to wow your guests, is something that really comes into its own in the summer months.

A question that I've been discussing a lot with friends and family who are looking to purchase something similar is whether they should opt for one of Ninja's bestselling viral best ice cream makers or an appliance that can whip up slushies and soft serve instead.

The two leading examples of this are the Ninja Swirl and the Cuisinart Frost Fusion – both of which I've used extensively at home. Here's what each of these machines can achieve and which one you should opt for to get the most for your money.

1. Functionality and preparation

It's really important to look at the different settings on offer with whichever sweet treat maker has caught your eye. The original Ninja Creami has less going for it than the Deluxe version which in turn is not quite as capable as the newer Swirl. But the kicker with all of them? Your ice cream or soft serve mix will always require pre-freezing.

Ninja doesn't have an ice-cream maker (yet) that doesn't require you to prepare materials in advance. It does have the Slushi, but that's drinks-limited.

The Cuisinart Frost Fusion is a hugely popular alternative that can whip up frozen desserts on the same day – in our tests we found it could take as little as 30 minutes. Below I've outlined the exact functionality differences between these bestsellers as well as the crucial pre-freezing times required.

There's plenty to weigh up with these speficiations laid out. The Cuisinart is the best option if you want to skip the faff of pre-freezing but the results won't be as firm as you can expect with Ninja's ice-cream alternatives – obviously the day spent in the freezer will do a lot to help your ingredients.

2. Fun factor

If you're considering buying one of these ice-cream makers, chances are you'll want to use it to impress your guests this summer. And while all of them have fun factor, some have more interactive features than others.

As someone who has tested all of the appliances listed above, the Swirl and the Cuisinart Frost Fusion are the most entertaining thanks to their soft serve dispensers if you want ice cream. Or if you're more interested in frozen drinks, the Slushi is far and away the machine you want.

If you've ever paid a visit to Pizza Hut's Ice Cream Factory, you'll know the thrill of trying to master the flow of ice cream and with these two, you can try that at home. Just bear in mind it does take a bit of practice!

The Cuisinart has the fun of dispensing soft serve with the benefit of doubling up as a slushie machine too, so it's arguably the better all-rounder. But for me, you can't beat Ninja when it comes to quality.

3. Price

These appliances are of course not an essential addition to a kitchen, but they're worth their weight in gold on a hot weekend if you're entertaining. My Slushi machine was hardly out of use last summer.

All of them are pretty pricey, but the best value option is Cuisinart's Frost Fusion considering how many functions it has. Ninja's offerings are pricier, yes, but the have the better quality overall and I can see all of the ones I've tested going the distance in my kitchen.

Sales periods help to bring the price of these machines down significantly. Right now, Amazon Prime Day sales offer a good summer window to snag a discount and Black Friday will be an even better time, as these appliances will be less in demand.

This year's summer Amazon Prime Day event (running from the 23rd to 26th of June) is in full swing, and if you want to shop in the savviest way possible, there's a new price-checking tool you need to know about.

For years, one of my top tips as Ideal Home's Kitchen Appliances Editor, who has been working Prime Days as a deal hunter for over five years now, was to use a price checking tool such as CamelCamelCamel to check that you're not being hoodwinked over a 'deal'. Often brands will artificially inflate the price of a product prior to a sales event to then bring it down to its normal RRP to create the illusion of a great deal.

Here's how using this new in-built price checking tool can prevent you from getting a bad deal on one of the best air fryers or coffee machines and help you find a worthwhile one instead.

You can find this new price-checking tool, which was officially rolled out in the UK in May 2026, next to where you see the price of the item you're looking for on Amazon. When you click onto it to see the price history, a pop-up window opens with Rufus, the platform's in-built AI tool.

Within the Rufus pop-up you can see a range of information on the product's price, as well as how it relates to the given RRP. Though this is useful information, I would also suggest going one step further and check Amazon's given RRP against what's listed on the brand page.

When shopping one of the best Ninja air fryers, for example, I would always suggest cross referencing with the brand's own site for a better understanding of prices.

While the tool defaults to a one-month view, it has 6-month and 12-month scope available too which will ultimately be even more useful for assessing how good the discount really is. If the price of the item currently is nowhere near what the lowest price over the last year has been, it's likely that there's been price-inflating taking place.

I check prices on products that I've reviewed every day to see if there's a deal worth writing about, so I have quite a good sense of the general price of different bestsellers, like Ninja's Foodi Max Dual Zone air fryer.

As I write this, the day before Prime Day begins, it's currently sitting at £129.99 via Amazon, which gives you £20 off the usual RRP. But if you click into the year view of the price history, you'll see that in November (during Black Friday), there was a much bigger price drop with the air fryer for sale for under £100. That means that it may well be worth waiting on this one rather than pouncing right now.

In all likelihood, the best deals of this summer will drop during Prime Day itself and during counter-sales run by the likes of AO, Currys and John Lewis. Below you can find the kitchen appliances I think you should bookmark if you're in the market to upgrade your hosting and entertaining game.

Whatever you end up perusing this Prime Day, remember that doing your due diligence will help no end to help you bag an actually good deal. Happy bargain hunting!

Smeg's retro kettle and toaster have become something of a homeware icon. You'll find Smeg's instantly recognisable small appliances on the worktops of the most stylish of kitchens, and we've even given the kettle one of the best kettle top spots - it's a beautiful design that is just as easy to use.

And while the current colours of Smeg's small appliances are timeless, a new trend-focused tone has entered the scene and with it comes a fresh perspective. The retro style has always leaned more traditional, but Smeg's new Moonlight collection has a contemporary look to blend into sleek, minimalist kitchens.

Moonlight, the new matte colourway from Smeg, is 'designed to bring softness, warmth and balance into the home,' says the brand. It reflects a growing trend towards neutral shades, away from classic white or cream, and calmer palettes in our homes.

Typically, small appliances put practicality first. Often in stainless steel or black plastic, aesthetics weren't high on the agenda. Smeg started to change this with their retro kettle and toaster which came in a variety of vintage-themed colours, from cream to pink and blue.

While this has allowed us to be playful with appliances and use them to add to an overall kitchen colour scheme, the statement shades didn't offer much scope for people who favour a more understated design.

The texture also differs from the classic shiny small appliances from Smeg - it has a smooth matte finish which is perfect for hiding fingerprints and allowing your small appliances to sit subtly in the background of your kitchen.

'Smeg's kettle and toaster range is already the height of refined luxury, but this new sophisticated neutral shade is tailor-made for anyone who wants to add a warm colour to their kitchen without committing to a bold colour,' explains Molly Cleary, Ideal Home's Kitchen Appliances Editor.

'The matte finish is not only bang-on-trend but has the benefit of being easier to keep looking clean too. As someone with a white Smeg toaster, I can tell you it needs a lot of maintenance to keep looking fresh. I'm very tempted to invest in a kettle in Moonlight and make them mix and match instead for those reasons!' she adds.

If you love the shape and overall design of the Smeg appliances but haven't found a colour to suit your kitchen then the Moonlight collection is one to try - particularly if you want a fuss-free option that escapes fingerprints.

Shop the Moonlight collection

If you're a Smeg fan like we are on the Ideal Home team, these discontinued Smeg appliances straight from their HQ will inspire your dream retro kitchen.

Haven’t you heard? Lidl is launching a £14.99 ice cream maker, and it’s arriving right on time for the latest bout of hot weather set to hit the UK.

The best ice cream makers enable you to whip up delicious, cooling and even healthy ice-creams and sorbets from the comfort of your own kitchen. Back in December, a new generation of ice cream makers sparked by the now cult Ninja Creami and Slushi's popularity led kitchen experts to agree that ice cream makers were the ‘it’ appliance set to take over from air fryers.

While some ice-cream makers such as the Cuisinart Frost Fusion offer no pre-freezing, they are fairly pricey appliances. Even the Ninja Creami which requires you to freeze the ingredients 24 hours before will set you back £170 at Ninja. What Lidl is offering is an affordable introduction to the world of ice cream makers. Here’s everything you need to know.

At first glance, the Lidl Silvercrest Ice Cream Maker looks very similar to Lakeland’s digital ice cream maker, which is also one of the most affordable models on the market at £44.99. Landing in stores on Sunday (21 June) is arriving bang on time for the latest heatwave.

The Silvercrest Ice Cream Maker is a small, compact appliance, meaning it will not dominate space on your kitchen worktop. This is ideal for small kitchens, where space is limited, and chunkier appliances such as the cult Ninja Creami take up too much space.

The ice cream maker can make up to one litre of ice cream or sorbet, and comes with a small booklet of recipe suggestions to get you started. To use, simply pre-freeze the bowl, then add your desired ingredients through the opening in the lid. This can even be done when the machine is in use.

The beater and lid can be washed in the dishwasher, making clean up easy, and the ice cream container has practical handles for ease of use. Lidl has not listed the machine’s dimensions. Lakeland’s digital ice cream maker also has a one-litre capacity, and our review found the container took up a larger chunk of their freezer drawer, so you should bear this in mind.

To use the ice cream maker, you will need to pre-freeze the included bowl. Again, Lidl hasn’t stated online how long this process will take, but for similar models, this is around 12-hours.

While I haven’t tested Lidl’s ice-cream maker, based on the price, we can expect it to be a fairly basic model. However, I don't think this is a bad thing for those who want to try out an ice cream maker without spending a fortune.

If you are looking for a superior ice cream maker that has multiple functions here are three more models we’ve tried and tested.

An ice cream maker is a perfect summer appliance, helping to keep you cool and offer a sweet treat, too. Would you try Lidl’s or have you got your sights set on a higher-end appliance?

Nutribullet just unveiled its first ever ice cream maker and it looks to be the ideal solution for those battling for space in small kitchens. Yep the shiny, new Nutribullet Chill, which is available to preorder now via the brand's website for £199.99, is the perfect compromise if you're looking for a sweet treat maker that won't overrun your worktops.

Its design upends what we've seen from the most popular ice cream makers of the last few years, including the Ninja Creami (which we've reviewed), by adopting build that's more like a Nutribullet blender than anything else.

This not only makes the Chill look streamlined and ready to pop into a cupboard when not in use, but also solves what I'd argue is the most pressing problem that Ninja Creami fans have: it's not an easy machine to clean. Here's how the Nutribullet Chill aims to solve that.

This ice cream maker, like most out there, requires pre-freezing. That means you'll need to prep your ingredients in the included tubs the night before you want to make ice cream and then freeze them. Most ice cream makers of this type require 24 hours of waiting time unless you want to opt for something like the Cuisinart Frost Fusion, which we recently reviewed, and allows you to make soft serve in under 30 minutes.

Like the ever-popular Ninja Creami, the Chill also uses a rotating blade to cut through your mix and creamify it in order to create a dessert-like consistency. The big difference with the Chill, however, is that the blade is stored within a countertop-friendly base.

This is very good news for those looking to save space in their kitchen. The Ninja Creami is, whilst incredibly impressive in its performance, a very difficult appliance to store on a kitchen countertop as it's very tall. At almost 43 centimetres in height, it didn't fit under my kitchen cupboards. Compare that to the base of the Chill, which is 27cm tall (without the tub attached) and you can see which would be best if you're short on worktop space.

Another issue that long-time fans of the Creami often have is that the blade can be hard to clean, as it's contained within the upper unit of the appliance. Nutribullet aim to solve this with the Chill by making the blade element totally removable and dishwasher-safe. The parts pop out the top of the base in order to be cleaned, as you can see below.

With purchase of the Chill, you'll receive the appliance itself alongside two 450g tubs and matching lids for whipping up whatever kind of sweet treat you like. As with the Creami, a big part of the allure with this machine is that you have complete control over your ice cream ingredients – a must if you have dietary requirements or you want to make healthier family-friendly puddings.

If I'm being fussy, I would say that I'd love this new Nutribullet to also feature a Slush mode – but appliances that can make ice cream and slush are rarer to find. If that's exactly what you're looking for you might want to hold out until the release of the much anticipated Dualit Ice Cream Maker instead.

With more hot weather on the way, I can guarantee you that a frozen-treat maker like this will fast become your favourite kitchen appliance if you choose to take the plunge. You'll get more use out of yours than you'd think!

Alternatives

Glass air fryers are the newest kitchen appliance on the block and if you're short on space, you'll want to know all about them. Not only do these smaller versions of the best air fryers have the benefit of being non-toxic, but some also give flexibility to those who want to cook and store foods in the same container to save space and time.

If you're a meal prep obsessive, then you've probably heard about the Ninja Crispi already – which I awarded five stars to in my review – but if you've found it a little out of your price range, with an RRP of £149.99, then I have good news for you.

There is a range of glass air fryers hitting the market right now, all with modular designs. Here's how they work and three reasons why you might want to take part in this new batch cooking trend.

1. The benefits of glass for cooking

The Ninja Crispi was a viral hit when it launched thanks to the fact that its glass material makes for perfect social media clips (like this one via Ninja's Instagram).

Whether you want to watch a block of cheese melt in quick time or see what it looks like when a frozen croissant springs into life, the 360 vantage of the Crispi certainly makes for an interactive cooking experience. But when I tried it, I found there's plenty of practical reasons for opting for glass over the usual air fryer basket when it comes to cooking too.

If you, like me, hate getting to the end of a work day and being stuck for what to make for dinner, then meal prep is the answer. The fact that you can cook meals in the Crispi and then pop them straight in the fridge is a winner for this, especially in the larger 5.7 litre size as it allows for more than one portion.

The 'take the shelf out' hack that I learned from Jamie Oliver is perfect for this too. You can cook an entire lasagne, pasta bake or a batch of brownies directly into the glass and then store your leftovers without any dish transferring.

If you like the sound of that effort-free cooking but you're on a budget then Salter's new Crisp & Go, which is strikingly similar to the Crispi, is a lot more affordable and so far has only gleaned 5 star reviews, both via Amazon and Salter's website.

I got a first look at it recently at Salter's unveiling of it and I was impressed by its size and versatility, though the control panel is not quite as sleek as Ninja's. For the price however, I think it's going to be a hit.

2. Ease of cleaning

If you're the designated washing-upper or dishwasher-loader in your house, then glass has many benefits over your usual air fryer basket, too. In my testing, I've found it's a much easier surface to keep from getting grimy long-term, and day-to-day is much easier to wash by hand too. I've also become obsessed with using Fairy's Skip the Soak Spray (£3.86 at Amazon), too, which easily lifts anything that might be troublesome off the glass surface.

All of the portable, glass air fryers featured above have dishwasher-safe glass containers, which is a real treat. Compared to how gross air fryer baskets can get after a long time (even with frequent cleaning), switching to glass has been a revelation in terms of cleanliness for me.

3. Ease of storage

There's always a debate as to whether an air fryer deserves a place on a kitchen worktop. While I think an air fryer is arguably the most useful kitchen appliance out there, I understand people's desire to find ways to hide their air fryer.

With these modular glass air fryers the ability to stack and store the parts is built in. When not in use the smaller container can slot into the larger one and the air fryer lid can be stored alongside it. It's small enough that it'll fit into a compartment of standard kitchen cupboards with ease.

While this air fryer is marketed as portable, I personally don't think it's the kind of thing you'll want to carry around in your bag with you. But I do think it's the air fryer to opt for if hiding it for most of the time is high on your priority list.

So if you want something that's tailor-made for making lunches and dinners for the week ahead easier as well as an appliance that's easy to stash away, I think one of these glass buys will do a wonderful job.

Summer is on the way and I’m already scrolling through ice cream recipes for fresh inspiration. I reviewed the Cuisinart Ice Cream and Gelato Professional two years ago and despite not really having room for it (read more on that below), there’s no way I’m letting it go. Because I still think it’s one of the best ice cream makers you can buy.

While I use it year round, it definitely comes into its own in summer. From tasty healthier frozen yogurts, to indulgent ice creams that impress my guests, it’s the appliance I didn’t realise I needed. But as a fan of ice cream, there are so many fun flavours to try, I don’t think I’ll ever get bored of it.

In the last two years, I haven’t discovered anything new about the machine itself. It has continued to perform as it did from the get-go. But here are the four main reasons why it’s still in my life and won’t be going anywhere.

1. I can make ice cream on a whim

So many other ice cream appliances require forethought and planning. Often you need to freeze a bowl 24 hours before you plan to make the ice cream. So there’s little room for ice cream spontaneity - unless you leave the bowl in your freezer permanently, and who has freezer space for that?

This Cuisinart version freezes as it churns, there’s no pre-freezing required. So if I wake up in the morning and it feels like an ice cream day, I can create homemade ice cream that’s ready to eat by lunchtime. For this reason I get far more use out of it than I would if I had to freeze a bowl in advance.

2. It helps me avoid nasty ultra-processed ice creams

In an ideal world, I try to avoid ultra-processed foods that contain lots of chemical additives. And when you read the list of unpronounceable additives on the label of many (not all) shop bought ice creams, they fall firmly into the category of foods I’d prefer to avoid.

Having my own ice cream maker means I am in control of the quality of the ingredients I use. I can make stunning flavours with wholesome ingredients that have some nourishing qualities and nutritional value.

Furthermore, the flavour of ice cream made with real ingredients like real strawberries simply can’t be beaten by a synthetic flavour or additive. And I get to have fun trying new or unique flavours that you can’t buy in the shops. I stir pureed raspberries through peach frozen yogurt and not only does it look incredible, but it’s an amazing healthy treat.

3. I can make multiple batches back to back

This was something I noted in the original review, and it’s still true now. If I’ve got the ice cream maker out and it’s on my worktop, I usually enjoy making up a couple of different flavours, or sometimes an ice cream and a sorbet. Being able to make more than one batch in a day is absolutely one of the reasons I continue to love this machine.

After the first batch, I just have to wash the bowl and paddle, then I can immediately set it going again to create another flavour. Whereas the ice cream makers that utilise a pre-frozen bowl can usually only be used for one batch, then the bowl has to spend a few hours back in the freezer before you can make more.

4. It’s great for impressing friends and family

When I proudly offer up homemade ice cream to friends, I’m secretly hoping they don’t realise just how little effort I’ve had to put in. This ice cream maker is incredibly easy to use, so it almost feels like cheating when I take the credit for being a domestic goddess. Having said that, there’s something about home made ice cream that never fails to impress.

My guests always assume I’ve gone to lots of effort to produce this wonderful treat, when in reality, I’ve usually only spent a few minutes preparing the mixture before letting the ice cream maker do all the work.

I recently tried a new recipe for salted caramel ice cream, it was a bit more effort than usual so my friends were even more impressed when I told them I made the salted caramel myself, and needless to say, it went down a treat! But my absolute best ever result is a coffee ice cream I made recently, I can’t get enough of it.

The downsides?

The biggest downside for me is that I don’t have space for it. Honestly. I’m not joking, I store it in our garden office. My kitchen only has space for the everyday essentials, and this isn’t one of them. It’s bulky and only used occasionally, so I have to store it elsewhere and bring it into the house as and when I need it.

However, my lack of space hasn’t put me off keeping it. I could have kept hold of a smaller one, with a freezable bowl, but I really wanted this one, because I knew I would use it more than one that required pre-freezing a bowl - and I was right.

Oh, and before you assume I have loads of random, lesser used appliances stored in the garden office, I don’t. This is the only one. I even cleared a special space for it so that it would be easily accessible!

The Smeg name has been synonymous with stylish kitchen appliances for many years now in the UK, but in Italy, the brand's heritage and influence stretch back much further.

That's something I learned first-hand last week on a trip to Smeg's incredibly impressive HQ, based in northern Italy, where I got access to a treasure trove of trademark pastel kitchen appliances.

As Ideal Home's Kitchen Appliances Editor (and owner of a beloved Smeg toaster and kettle set), the part of the tour I most enjoyed was glimpsing all of the now-discontinued or limited edition pieces from Smeg's collection – many of which are now extremely rare.

As well as Smeg bean-to-cup machines and even air fryers in a palette of gorgeous colours, these were the Smeg appliances from the HQ that I was totally enchanted by on my trip – and I think you will be too!

1. A Barbie pink hidden dishwasher

I'm usually so busy reviewing small appliances that I don't have time to appreciate all of the wonderful large versions out there, but there was one thing on my tour of Smeg HQ that caught my eye immediately.

This Barbie pink waist-height appliance is masquerading as a fridge with its retro door, lettering and handle but behind the facade you'll find a compact washing machine and sink set up that would complete any quirky pink kitchen scheme.

If the Barbie dream house was fitted with a washing machine, this would most certainly be it.

First released in 2006, this washing machine has become a cult collector's item – and for good reason. If your home isn't big enough for a utility room, you have to get inventive with hiding your washing machine instead and this compact buy solves that problem in real style.

The inside of the outer door also has two hidden storage compartments, so there's even more of an incentive with this machine if you love things being neatly tucked away.

As Smeg moved away from large freestanding appliances to focus on built-in units and those kettles, toasters and coffee machines that we all know and love, they stopped making this popular pink machine. But luckily they kept the much-loved colourway, so if you do want to add a pop of pink these are the Smeg buys we've tried you can buy it in.

2. Smeg x Fiat 500 drinks fridge

Next up is a true centrepiece, one that you can find in Smeg's HQ in Italy and London, that I'm sure will make you do a double take. The Smeg x Fiat 500 Drinks Fridge features the front half of a 50s version of this classic Italian car.

But underneath the bonnet, rather than finding an engine, you'll find a swish mini fridge that is more than capable of holding enough drinks to throw a fabulous party.

This very pricey design collaboration between these two Italian powerhouses was never a mainstream commercial product sold to consumers, but it still holds a huge charm when you see it in person.

It's not just Smeg HQ where you can find one of these fridges, although they are exceptionally rare. So if you do spot one out in the wild, you can impressive everyone with your knowledge of this cult classic design piece.

3. Snoopy & Disney special editions

One corner of Smeg's Italian showroom is dedicated to the brand's best known creation: the iconic single door retro 50s style fridge. And while I was perusing all of the styles and colours, I noticed two very different versions.

The first was a fridge with Disney's very recognisable Mickey Mouse plastered across it, closely placed near another that featured character Snoopy, from the American cartoon strip Peanuts.

So what's the story behind these cartoon-inspired fridges? The Disney collection came first, released in 2018, and saw the creation of 90 Mickey Mouse inspired fridges – one to celebrate every year since Mickey's inception. It was a huge hit with customers, and the extremely low number of fridges made mean this is a big time collector's item.

Following in the footsteps of Mickey's success, Snoopy's mini fridge was released in 2020 (and then re-released in 2022) and uses the backdrop of the Smeg fridge door as a cartoonist's easel. If you were to find either of these fridges in the wild these days, they would definitely fetch a pretty penny.

It wasn't just the archive that I got a glimpse of at Smeg's HQ – I was also wowed by the brand's new and wonderfully sleek Isola range, which features induction hobs and cooker hoods.

Combining old cult classics and new cutting edge appliances, it seems there's so much more from Smeg still to come and I for one can't wait to see what's next!

This week, the coveted Ninja Creami is landing in Lidl’s middle aisle, but before you rush off to your local store, I’ve found the summer must-have appliance cheaper at both Amazon and John Lewis.

Landing in stores on Sunday (24 May), Lidl will be stocking the much-loved Ninja Creami (which we've reviewed) for a limited time. And it couldn’t have come at a better time, as the UK expects a heat wave to hit over the weekend.

If you haven’t already discovered the joy of making your own ice cream at home, I’d say it’s time to get to know it. But as always, if you plan to head to Lidl, you'd better be quick, as when it’s gone, it’s gone.

Lidl is undoubtedly known for its middle-aisle bargains, which range from the weird to the wonderful and everything in between. Most recently, their chic Lidl sun lounger, which looks like it came straight from the grounds of a posh hotel, made a bid to be the best sun lounger you could buy this summer.

Now, the budget supermarket is welcoming The Ninja Creami, and it’s perfect if you’re looking to whip up healthier ice-creams this summer. The Ninja Creami was first reviewed by our Digital Editor,Rebecca Knight, back in 2023. Impressed, she even commented in the review that friends and family had to stage a ‘mini-intervention’ to stop her from raving about the appliance.

Producing creamy homemade ice-creams, sorbets, smoothie bowls and milkshakes, this sleek appliance went viral after its launch. It looks more like a blender compared to a traditional ice-cream maker and works completely differently, requiring you to freeze your mixture before churning. Plus, with an abundance of ‘healthy’ protein-packed recipes on social media, it became a quick favourite with the health-obsessed, too.

The Creami usually retails for around £199.99, and Lidl is selling it for £159. However, it's also on sale for even less than that right now at Amazon and John Lewis.

So, on this occasion, Lidl is to be beaten on price. Because of this, if you’re looking to snap up the Ninja Creami, I’d suggest buying now while it is on sale, as these are the best prices I can find.

Or, if you’d like something a little brighter, you should consider opting for the pastel Ninja Creami’s, which provide a sure way to add a splash of colour to your kitchen ideas. These Creamis are not on sale, costing £199.99 at Ninja. Right now, the stunning Spiced Lemon Meringue and Sugared Blueberry Apricot are available.

Alternatively, here are a few more affordable ice-cream makers.

In this instance, we say don’t head to Lidl - snap up the Ninja Creami while it is on sale at Amazon and John Lewis.

Deep and rich colours such as burgundy reds, soft beiges and even moody purples have become a big breakout kitchen colour trend this year, and KitchenAid has jumped on the bandwagon with the colours of its new upgraded Artisan Plus Tilt-Head 4.7L Stand Mixer.

The new addition to KitchenAid's line-up of the best stand mixers has an RRP of £699, and is available in five new gorgeous colours: Sun Dried Tomato, Oat, Mint Julep, Wild Blueberry and Iron Ore. It also comes in the classic shades: Porcelain White, Juniper, Medallion Silver, Feather Pink, Cast Iron Black and Pebbled Palm.

But the colours aren't the only update. The new design also boasts extra handy features to make it easier to bake your favourite treats, including an interior bowl light, which means you'll always easily be able to see the ingredients in your bowl, down to the very bottom, no matter whether you're mixing at 9 AM or 9 PM.

I swear by my stand mixer (a Kenwood). It's one of those appliances that's a bit like Marmite — you either use it loads, and couldn't live without yours, or it sits in a cupboard getting dusty until it's someone's birthday. Mine is used once a week, so I'm firmly in the camp that a good stand mixer, like the KitchenAid Artisan, is worth the investment.

An integrated bowl light might not sound like a major development, but my Kenwood stand mixer has an integrated light, and I can vouch for its convenience when checking that your ingredients are properly mixed. Gone are the days of having to use my phone flashlight to peer into the bowl.

The new Kitchenaid Artisan Plus also offers 2 speed control modes and 11 preset speeds, all of which are easy to navigate. It offers a 1⁄2 fold speed to gently incorporate your ingredients once first added to the bowl, which makes for less mess on your worktops.

Paired with a 4.7L bowl with a precision-welded handle, each of these stand mixers comes with stainless steel accessories — a dough hook, a wire whisk, plus a double flex-edge beater with silicone edges and a flat beater. Yes, these are all dishwasher-safe (including the bowl) and better yet: they're all rust-resistant, too.

We're big KitchenAid fans here at Ideal Home, having rated the classic KitchenAid Artisan Mixer a 4.5/5 star rating in our review.

It's safe to say that a KitchenAid is a great way to add a pop of colour to your kitchen worktops — albeit an expensive one. If you can afford to treat yourself to one of these new designs, then why not? Right now, I need to stick with my trusty Kenwood Stand Mixer, which is admittedly an incredible piece of kit, but it's not the most aesthetically pleasing appliance around.

Did any of these fancy colourways convince you to upgrade?

Dualit just became the latest homeware brand to release an ice cream maker with a difference – with it there are no requirements for pre-freezing and you can use it to whip up slushies as adeptly as a gelato.

This shiny new machine, which comes from the heritage British brand known for its appliances 'created for a lifetime of use', will be available to buy from the 1st of June for £349.99 (via Dualit).

Having tried many of the best ice cream makers in the last few years, as well as a whole host of slushie machines, including the Ninja Slushi, I've noticed one thing about the slew of new ice cream makers on the scene: they're perfect for impatient people.

Where previously you'd need to pre-freeze your ice cream ingredients for a period of time (sometimes up to 24 hours), Dualit's new machine allows you to complete the entire process in under 30 minutes.

Dualit is arguably best known for its toaster and kettle sets – after trying dozens, I awarded the brand the accolade of the best matching set in our buying guide – but this expansion into ice cream makers is indicative of the growing popularity of at-home entertaining appliances.

And this ice cream makers USP, the fact that it involves no preparation time, is a huge bonus to anyone looking to spruce up their next dinner party or BBQ. As the cost of dining and drinking out steadily rises, there seems to be a growing appetite for appliances that can allow you to make treats at home.

The Dualit Ice Cream Maker features the following modes: Ice Cream, Gelato and Sorbet, Frozen Yoghurt, Slushies, Cooling mode and Manual stirring.

The option to manually stir the ice cream is said by Dualit to be to 'allow users to refine texture and consistency depending on the recipe'. There's also an interlock lid, which allows you to add in all sorts of additional ingredients including chocolate chips, fruit or nuts – all while the machine is still churning.

You can keep your ice cream creation perfectly frozen for 30-60 minutes with this machine too, which would be absolutely perfect for when hosting a dinner party.

Dualit isn't the first to try its hand at perfecting the at-home frozen treats maker. Recently we've reviewed a version from Cuisinart, the FrostFusion, which can create soft serve dispensed in a style that will make you nostalgic for the Pizza Hut Ice Cream Factory of your youth (or certainly of mine).

Add to that the fact that GreenPan has also recently released their take on proceedings with the Frost Ice Maker (which features a holder for ice cream cones!) as well as Russell Hobbs entering with the Chilluxe and you can see that there's plenty of competition in the market at the moment. Here's a closer look at the other no-pre-freeze machines released in 2026.

If you just can't wait for June to try Dualit's version, then there are plenty of worthwhile sweet treat makers around to keep yourself refreshed in the meantime but I'm definitely excited to see how this excellent British brand puts their stamp on ice cream!

Salter, one of the oldest homeware brands in the UK, has released its alternative to Ninja's sellout Slushi machine, just in time for the summer weather. It's brand new Slushie Maker, retailing for £179.99 via Salter's website, is capable of turning drinks of your choice into slush in as little as 30 minutes and boasts an impressive 2.5 litre capacity.

I tried a fair few slushie makers last summer, my favourite of them all being the Ninja Slushi, but affordability is a huge factor for people thinking of investing in this type of appliance designed for entertaining.

That's why Salter's version, with its £179.99 price tag, as opposed to the Ninja Slushi's £299.99 RRP, might be very appealing to some. Here's a closer look at this cut-price alternative.

These two machines have the exact same capacity of 2.5 litres, but I'm guessing that before you get to how much you can slush, you're more interested in the programs of these machines as you weigh them up.

It's here again that both of these machines match up. Both have 5 programs, Slush, Frappé, Cocktail, Milkshake, Juice.

So far, so similar. It'll be in the time taken to achieve your desired level of slush that I'm predicting these machines may slightly differ. When I've tried the Ninja Slushi in the past, the process takes place very quickly to get your drink frozen – for me, it's never taken more than 30 minutes.

Salter advertise that their machine can also take as little as 30 minutes, so I'll be intrigued to put that to the test to see exactly how look it takes compared to Ninja's version.

In terms of size, these two again measure up very similarly, with considerable storage space needed if you want to stash one of these machines away when not in use. The design stakes of each machine are pretty different, with Ninja's version having more to offer in terms of colourways and sizes.

This is Salter's first foray into slushies, with just one model available so far whilst Ninja have just launched an XL and MAX versions of their bestselling Slushi machine, which are perfect for those who love catering to a crowd, as well as a slew of different colourways.

Right now you can snap up the Ninja Slushi MAX in a neutral cool-toned Mocha colour, whilst superfans are desperate for the brand to restock the OG size in the viral Stone shade. Last year Ninja also released very popular pastel versions, which had two-tone accents across the machine.

With either of these machines hosting and cooling down on a hot summer's day will be a lot more enjoyable this summer (as I found out last year!), so now all you need to do is decide whether you're going to save or splurge on your slushie machine.

You've probably already heard of an ice cream maker. They're similar to the ones you catch a glimpse of through your local ice cream van's window, just a little more worktop — and budget — friendly.

In the main, there are two types of ice cream makers to choose from. Pre-freeze ice cream makers only churn the ice cream once it has been frozen in your freezer. Self-freeze machines do all of the work for you — simply add your ingredients and it'll freeze and churn them into ice cream, fast.

I've tested both, and when it comes to convenience, a self-freeze machine is second-to-none. Specifically, the Cuisinart Frost Fusion Ice Cream Maker is great as it's multi-functional and can also make frozen drinks.

I've been using this Cuisinart ice cream maker in my kitchen for the best part of a month now. I've used all of the 6 preset programs, from sorbet to frozen wine — yes, it's seriously versatile! And here are my honest thoughts. Firstly, be sure to consider where it will live before you invest, as although it's slim, it's tall, so it needs some worktop space.

In a nutshell

If you want an ice cream maker that's multi-purpose, this is your girl. It can make slushies, sorbet and ice cream. And it's easy to clean afterwards, thanks to its self-clean cycle. While testing, we made one of each drink/dessert type, so 6 things in total, and I came to the conclusion that it manages to freeze drinks better than desserts (soft serve and sorbet), while the lower the alcohol content in those drinks, the more they froze.

The fastest the machine worked while testing was 14 minutes, and that was to make frappuccinos. We also noted that the serving sizes noted on the recipes in the manual were a little off — you can pretty much half the servings.

All in all, it's intuitive, looks great on your kitchen worktop, and it's a steal considering it can make much more than ice cream. It also keeps drinks frozen for up to 16 hours, and for ice cream, it can keep for 30 minutes.

Specifications

• Model number: ICE201U
• Pre-freeze or self-freeze: Self-freeze
• Accessories: Drip tray, star tip (for soft-serve)
• Functions: 6 - Soft Serve Ice Cream, Slushy, Sorbet, Frappe and Frosé
• Settings: 5 frozen levels (not applicable for ice cream or sorbet)
• Dimensions (cm): H45 x W18 x D47cm
• Bowl capacity: 1.6L

Unboxing the Cuisinart Frost Fusion Ice Cream Maker

While the box that this ice cream maker arrived in was sizable, it was easy enough for me to carry. It wasn't too heavy, so I managed to pick it up and lift it onto my worktop without needing any help.

Upon opening the box, I was impressed with the lack of packaging. There were two cardboard inserts to keep the machine from rattling around; otherwise, the only other packaging was a plastic bag. This bag was recyclable (02 HDPE) and wrapped around the main unit.

The star tip comes separately and isn't initially attached to the machine. You'll find info in the manual for fitting it to the machine, but this part is only for use when in soft serve mode.

First of all, you need to wash all of its removable parts in soapy water and dry them before first use. Otherwise, all that's needed to assemble the machine is to attach the removable drip tray, which is simple. Then you need to slide the auger inside the machine and fit the dispenser assembly and paddle onto the front of it. It's clear how to do this as there are arrows and lock symbols to show where it needs to sit.

Other than that, you need to place the ingredient funnel tray and cover at the top of the machine. After this, you're set to start mixing your ingredients.

Note: the machine must be placed in the spot you'll be using it and left upright for 4 hours before use.

Using the Cuisinart Frost Fusion Ice Cream Maker

The only thing you need to do ahead of using this ice cream maker is to prepare your ingredients. Some recipes require your hob, others need a blender, so be sure to check ahead of time. Once your mixture is ready for use, you pour it into the machine via the ingredient funnel. Turn the machine on, and using the touch screen, you can select one of the preset modes. Press the bar button at the bottom of the screen to cycle through these 6 modes.

Then comes the choice of firmness — there are 5 options. Press the snowflake button to increase the firmness. Once chosen, press the play button. You cannot choose the firmness of soft-serve ice cream or sorbet. The machine will then get to work, and once ready, it will beep. After that, it will automatically go into its Keep Cool mode.

While there isn't a timer countdown on the LCD control panel, you can check the status of your treat by looking at the firmness progress bar. The status it's currently at will correlate to the bar that's flashing. If it isn't flashing, then it's ready, and you may have missed the beeping noise.

Overall, it's pretty intuitive to use, and I had zero issues with any of the programs.

Making soft serve ice cream

There are two recipes for soft serve in the manual — vanilla or chocolate —, and I decided to give vanilla a try. It requires only 5 ingredients and claims to serve 8. You need to attach the star tip to the machine before serving this ice cream so that it swirls.

I ended up having to make this 3 times, as the first time it took so long and never froze properly. After 1 hour, I was still waiting for it to beep. I concluded that the recipe must have exceeded the maximum capacity level for ice cream, as this is 900ml, whereas for frozen drinks it's 1300ml.

The second time, I halved the recipe, and it was below the minimum fill line. I turned the machine on, and it did work as it bleeped to signal it was ready for serving, but it wasn't super frozen. And it just about served 2 people.

The third time I made ice cream, I made the full recipe and poured it into the max ice cream line (900ml). It sat slightly below the line for maximum ice cream capacity.

The ice cream took around 30 minutes to be ready to serve. When served, with the star tip fitted to the machine, it was frozen but soft. It swirled great and tasted amazing. It served 5-6 people, which I was impressed with.

After 30 minutes, the machine bleeped to signal that the keep cool setting was ending. The ice cream had melted slightly by this point, but it was still swirling.

Making a wine slushy

A frosé on a summer's day, is there truly anything better? The recipe in the booklet serves 12 and took 40 minutes to make. It was nice, but admittedly not my favourite drink ever. It'd be great for serving at a party, but again: it wouldn't serve 12 — maybe 6 at a push.

This slushie definitely frose better than the margaritas, perhaps because the alcohol content was a lot lower, as it requires just 750ml of rose.

I did like it, but it's not something I would drink every day. I love that the recipe contains fresh strawberries making it almost healthy for you. Also, the thickness was really great! Easy to slurp through a straw yet it didn't melt very fast.

Making a frappucino

You can find two frozen coffee recipes in the manual. I decided to make the Frozen Sweet Latte. You need to balance the sugar with the other ingredients correctly, or the recipe won't freeze. This one apparently made 8 servings, so I decided to half the measurements to prevent throwing any away.

The recipe asked for 4 teaspoons of sugar, 275ml of whole milk and a double espresso shot. Immediately, I didn't think this was enough coffee to feed 4 — that's half a shot of espresso in each drink.

I set it to the most frozen setting, and it took just 14 minutes to be ready, so I was impressed by its swiftness! However, this definitely was not 4 servings; it fed 2 of us. Arguably, this was the most frozen drink I made in this machine.

Making a slushy (no alcohol)

Choose from a pink lemonade slushy or a cherry cola slushy if you're going from the manual. I used this machine for a pink lemonade, which was a hit with my nephews, and this drink definitely froze better than the 2 alcohol-based beverages, probably due to the lack of alcohol in its ingredients.

Using the entire recipe, I added the mixture to the machine, and it sat just above the ice cream's maximum capacity line, which is 900ml. I switched it on, and after exactly 30 minutes, it was ready for serving.

The taste was really nice and subtle, not like a slushie you'd get for the kids in a soft play (thankfully!). It was frozen, but not in large chunks; it did melt very fast.

Making a frozen cocktail

I made Margaritas in this machine 3 times. Yes, we loved them that much. They're also so easy to make, with a recipe included in the manual. It depends on how many servings you make, but having followed Cuisinart's recipe for 10, it took just 25 minutes to freeze the ingredients to the highest setting.

This frozen cocktail tasted great; there's no doubting that. But it wasn't as frozen as the other drinks we'd made, plus it melts fast, and it definitely didn't serve 10 — we got maybe 5 servings. At the end, I noticed there was still some liquid left in the machine, which just wouldn't come out through the dispenser, making a messier cleaning job.

Making a sorbet

There are 2 sorbets to choose from in the manual: tangerine or mango. I chose mango, which, surprisingly enough, didn't require many ingredients, but it did need some preparation — a blender to turn the mango chunks into a liquid. It claims to serve 8 and took just 16 minutes to beep and signal it was ready. This recipe did actually serve quite a few people, perhaps not 8 but definitely 5-6.

Consistency-wise, this sorbet was soft. It was essentially soft serve sorbet. I also found that it was very thick — when I poured it into the ingredient funnel, it struggled to strain into the machine. You cannot choose a thickness level for sorbets, BTW.

Undeniably, the taste of the sorbet was great. It wasn't quite as frozen as I'd hoped it would be, though. So, if you want this machine mostly for making sorbets, then be prepared that you might need to play around with ingredients or branch away from the manual.

What's it like to clean?

Handily enough, there's a rinse setting on this machine for after use. It requires you to empty the machine of the liquid first, and then you need to add warm water via the ingredient funnel until the machine is at its max capacity.

Press the rinse setting button and press play. This setting takes roughly 5 mins. After, you need to dispense the water out of the machine like you would a slushy, into a jug of some sort.

Once emptied, the machine can be dismantled. Remove the drip tray and soak it in warm, soapy water. Then take the ingredient tray and the cover out of the machine and soak this, too. Also soak the paddle and the auger. Once soaked and rinsed, they can be put back into the machine when fully dried.

I did notice that this machine was harder to clean after making ice cream than slushies. This is because the ice cream is thicker, and in the case of the vanilla flavour, it requires vanilla essence, which is oil-based, so harder to rinse clean.

You can put the auger in your dishwasher — but this is the only dishwasher-safe part, and it's suitable for the top rack only.

How does it compare to other ice cream makers?

You can really only compare this ice cream maker to other self-freeze ones. Similar machines that we have reviewed are the Cuisinart Ice Cream and Gelato Maker and the Sage Smart Scoop.

In comparison to the other Cuisinart model, this one offers a lot more functions. The Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker and Gelato Maker is £199.99, therefore £100 cheaper than the one I've tested. It offers just 3 modes, which are Gelato, Sorbet, Frozen Yoghurt. Its capacity is smaller, too, at 1.4L vs 1.6L. Something to consider, especially if you often host large families and groups. Both are pretty sizeable machines and come in a stylish white colourway.

When comparing this to the Sage Smart Scoop, price is a big deal breaker, as this machine is a whopping £369 (via Sage). It has 5 preset programs, including Sorbet, Frozen Yoghurt, Gelato, Ice Cream, and Keep Cool. It can keep your dessert churned for 3 hours once it's ready, which is a winner.

Should you buy the Cuisinart Frost Fusion Ice Cream Maker?

If you're looking for an ice cream maker that's nothing but convenient and also super versatile, then this is a great buy. You might have to play around with some of the ingredients, depending on what you're hoping to make, but overall, the machine is a game-changer because it can keep drinks frozen for 16 hours — and ice cream for 30 minutes.

We did find that the recipes included in the manual were slightly inaccurate when it comes to portion estimates. Some say they serve 8, but actually only serve 4. We had great results on all of the slushie drinks, alcohol and zero-alcohol, but noticed that the zero alcohol drinks froze a little better. The sorbet was a little disappointing as it wasn't very frozen, but it tasted great. The soft serve took 3 tries, but in the end, it came out perfectly swirled and soft.

It's definitely worth the £300 price tag because of its intuitivity alone, and the fact that it has a self-clean function is also a big winning point. Its small footprint means it won't take up much worktop space, and its white colour means that it'll look great while sitting there, too.

When you use an appliance every day, it's vital that you make the right decision. From style to functionality, and of course not forgetting price, it's important to find the right kettle and toaster that will suit your space but also stand up to the test of many cups of tea and plates of toast.

As a picky kitchen editor with unusually strong opinions on appliances, I'm pleased to say I've found the perfect pair in the ProCook kettle and toaster. Chic, subtle and genuinely good at what they're designed to do, I have very little bad to say about my chosen small appliances.

Now that I've lived with them for two years, using them both almost every day, I thought it was high time to dive into my thoughts as to why they make it onto the lists for the best kettles and the best toasters. Here's why they get my seal of approval.

Choosing a kettle and toaster shouldn't be such a tough decision, so I was surprised when I was struggling to find an option that I wanted to invest in. I was finding that the styles I liked, such as the KitchenAid kettle and the Smeg kettle, were a little over my budget and more affordable alternatives didn't have the same sleek design that I wanted.

For most of us, kettles and toasters sit out on the worktop permanently so a stylish design was something that I considered a top priority. I wanted it to go with my existing appliances which were a stainless steel coffee machine and stand mixer, while also being neutral enough that I wouldn't go off the colour in years time.

So when the opportunity to try ProCook's kettle and toaster, which were brand new in their product line two years ago, came up, I was eager to give them a try.

Two years on and I can safely say that I couldn't be more thrilled with my choice. Sure, there are a few drawbacks, but the kettle and toaster still look great and work superbly well every day.

The selling point of the ProCook kettle and toaster for me was the style. I chose the stainless steel toaster and grey kettle, which don't match completely but still give a cohesive look and blend in with other appliances.

The stainless steel toaster is prone to fingerprints, but with a wipe down, it looks good as new and has no scratches.

The kettle brews quickly but does have the tendency to be a little bit noisy, so this is something to bear in mind if you find yourself boiling the kettle late at night or early in the morning.

One other issue I have found is with limescale in the kettle. It's important to note that I live in London which is notorious for hard water, so this might not be a problem if you live in a softer water area. However, it has marked the metal in and around the spout which makes it look more worn.

For the price, these are truly minimal faults that are expected over the course of two years of daily use. With a regular wipe down, the toaster looks pristine still and has had no functional issues.

Overall, the ProCook kettle and toaster are stellar buys that fit the perfect gap between stylish and well-priced.

Shop more ProCook kettles and toasters

No one needs the daily stress of small appliances that don't work well or need replacing within a year - buying well and buying once is the secret to a stress-free kitchen.

Aldi's kitchen range is always coming up trumps with small, affordable problem-solving buys. The next example that deserves its moment in the sun (or the air fryer) is the supermarket's new dedicated range of accessories for everyone's most time-saving appliance – all priced at just £2.99 each.

Available in store right now, this line of accessories for the best air fryers is going way further than previous iterations thanks to its versatile set of designs, including liners without sides.

These flat-laying inserts are the perfect buy to pick up if you've previously despaired over how to master cookies or pizza in liners with raised sides or if your existing inserts have lost their non-stick coatings after years of use. Here's a closer look, as well as alternatives you don't have to rush to the Specialbuys aisle in order to nab.

The flat liners are the star of the show here for me, especially after my many failed attempts to bake cookies in my air fryer and immediately having them break as I try to lift them out of the basket.

Aldi's version has a raised helper grip on one side to make them easier to lift off an air fryer plate, which can also help when reheating pizza or pita breads. But it's not just the ability to properly cook flat foods that people are loving this type of liner for.

In the reviews of versions from John Lewis and Dunelm, it's clear that many customers are using these liners as a stand-in for their old air fryer trays (which is the insert that sits in the bottom of the basket).

After you've had an air fryer for a few years, these elements can lose their non-stick coating, especially after countless washes or turns through the dishwasher, and these affordable liners are offering people an easy alternative to getting a whole new appliance.

'Because the plates on my ninja are no longer non stick they make a very good alternative,' reads one review of the Dunelm liners, while another says that 'These are amazing products. Saves my plates getting broken'.

John Lewis' air fryer liners are slightly different, with two mesh liners and two silicone within the multipack. These can be cut to the exact size of your dual-zone air fryer, which is great if you don't have a massively popular model, so that you can customise them to your needs.

Unsurprisingly, Aldi's versions are the cheapest on offer, and it's not just the flat liners that they've designed either. If you've got a sweet tooth, you might be tempted by the waffle and doughnut maker moulds instead, which are also priced at just £2.99.

The waffle version is available in two different sizes, in case you only have a very compact air fryer. Or if you'd rather stick with the traditional air fryer liner design (as they're great for self-contained foodstuffs, like a lasagne or a cheesy pasta bake) then there's some size choice available to you there too.

If you're yet to try out an air fryer liner and your appliance is in need of a bit of a refresh, then I'd definitely recommend trying out a reusable one rather than the disposable versions. They're better for the planet and for everyday use!

Stacked air fryers are a huge help for cutting countertop clutter and there was one standout product that started the whole vertical cooking trend: Ninja's DoubleStack air fryer.

Released in 2024, it was a triumph for tidy kitchen lovers who also couldn't bear to lose out on the merits of one of the best Ninja air fryers. I definitely count myself as one of its fans – it's yet to be superseded on my kitchen worktop.

But, while it's undoubtedly one of the best air fryers out there, at £269 I totally see why it's too expensive for many. That's where Salter's £99 alternative – the VertiCook – comes into the frame. I've tried both to show you the difference in the two given their relative RRPs.

1. Quality of controls

A huge pro to dual-zone air fryers is the ability to program each drawer at different temperatures or for different cooking times (or to do both at the same time). But of course, to get there, you need to punch in the controls first.

To put it plainly, this is harder to do with Salter's more affordable version than it is with the NinjaDoubleStack. Both use vaguely confusing language on their control panels (unless you have a natural knack for knowing what VertiCook Ultra or DoubleStack Pro mean off the bat), but that learning curve is definitely a little steeper with Salter's product.

The control panel with the VertiCook favours symbols for the presets over words which I'm not such a fan of, especially when I'm in a rush.

Trying to match the small images with the presets is a bit laborious compared to Ninja's alternative, where the 6 settings (Air Fry, Max Crisp, Roast, Bake, Dehydrate, Reheat) are plainly laid out in words instead and you use the air fryer's control knob to select the right one.

As I mentioned before, this is a learning curve so if you do end up opting for Salter's version, it's definitely something you can get to grips with quickly. Our tester Annie didn't have an issue with it in her in-depth review of the VertiCook View model from Salter in her review, which is extremely similar.

One of the big pros of spending more money on Ninja kitchen appliances is that they're so easy to use, which means on the controls front, there's a clear winner for me.

Winner: Ninja's DoubleStack

2. Evenness of cooking

The fan, which is the element in an air fryer that allows it to cook food so fast, is recalibrated in a stacked design – sitting along the back rather than at the top of the unit.

In my experience, this can prove to be a little problematic when it comes to the evenness of cooking, as it means you must shake the contents of each drawer more frequently to stop food at the front cooking more quickly (which is where the heat, pushed from the fan, ends up gathering).

With my Ninja DoubleStack, this means I have to stay vigilant with shaking and turning food to prevent burning (as it's super powerful) and I found the same with the Salter VertiCook when I took it for a spin at our test centre. Our reviewer Annie also found that shaking was imperative with the VertiCook for everyday family cooking in her review.

In the VertiCook's favour however, I didn't find that kind of heat unevenness when I tried it with a shorter cooking task (baking breakfast muffins).

In short then, it's unfortunate that both of these air fryers have a bit of an issue with cooking evenness that means you must be vigilant with keeping an eye on cooking progress. Neither have shake reminders either, which is a missed oppurtunity. For the higher price, I'd like to see more from Ninja.

Winner: Salter's VertiCook

3. Overall finish

It's my job to try and tell people why it's worth buying one, but even I can admit that an air fryer isn't the most sightly of kitchen appliances. That's why the design of a stacked version appeals to many – they're easier to make space on a countertop for or even to hide away, if you so wish.

If you have no choice but to keep yours out on display, the finish and look of an air fryer is going to matter a lot. And I think both Salter and Ninja's offerings bring a lot to the table on the looks front (within reason).

My DoubleStack is white, which makes such a difference to the brightness of the kitchen in my rented flat, especially given that my toaster and kettle are the same sahde. You can also pick it up in Grey, Black or Black with gold accents.

Salter's range is similarly impressive within the Vertical range, especially with the offering of faux wood accents on the handles to match the brand's Toronto kettle and toaster range.

The overall winner is hard to award here, as the value of Salter's range is just so good (there are so many excellent picks under £100), but I think Ninja has the edge on the quality of finish overall with the handles and drawers.

Winner: Ninja DoubleStack

The winner

For me the Ninja DoubleStack, which is the original stacked air fryer, has to win the battle here. It's more expensive by miles, but it's more enjoyable on the whole to use (especially if you'd reach for it multiple times a day).

That's not to say Salter's version isn't worth your time, especially if you're on a budget. I've been super impressed every time I've tried it given the price and I love the option to pick a colour to suit your kitchen. For under £100, it's a great option for those looking to save on space.

Ninja just launched its bestselling Slushi machine in two new configurations that size up the number of drinks you can serve at once – the Slushi XL and the Slushi Max, both available now. Just in time for the spring sunshine (fingers crossed!).

I'm all in for the OG Ninja Slushi after trying it last year – I even installed one at the Ideal Home Christmas party so I could convince the rest of the team – and the brand has answered my prayers with these supersized versions.

My main gripe with the original 1.9 litre capacity Slushi after testing it was nothing to do with its performance but instead the fact that it would be empty after one round of drinks if I was hosting for more than six people.

That's all change with these souped up 3.7 (XL) and 4.4 litre (MAX) upgrades. Here's a closer look.

Let's get down to what you and I really want to know: how many drinks can each one make during your next summer soiree?

Well, let's assume that you, like me, are serving frozen margaritas (what else?) in a 200ml coupe glass. With those workings, with the XL you can get through 12 servings and with the MAX, 16. That means that your guests can go back for a second round before your Slushi needs a refill.

All of the much-loved settings from the original Slushi remain: the 'RapidChill' tech (which means you can go from a room temp mix to slush in under 30 minutes), the WhisperChill tech (which means you can hear your guests when hosting) and the all-important functions: Slush, Frozen Cocktail, Frappé, Milkshake and Frozen Juice.

Each drink is also adjustable in terms of consistency with the controls on the front of the machine, depending on how frozen you want your slushie.

Even as a lifelong slushie lover (the best part of a day spent at the beach, in my opinion) I was fairly skeptical before I tried the Slushi out on actually installing one in my kitchen. But it turned into a real focal point for summer hosting, especially when your guests can dispense themselves a frosé without you needing to step in and serve them.

I'm going to be trying out the XL side by side with the original Slushi to see how the extra capacity actually makes a difference but as far as the concept goes, I'm always going to be sold on more drinks that people can serve themselves at a dinner party!

There's a new bargain slushie machine on the market – LOGIK's Frozen Drinks Maker, which is now just £109 down from £299 at Currys – and it's available at the best price I've seen yet for this kind of summer-ready kitchen appliance.

Last year I had the lucky job of testing and writing about all of the frozen treat makers that arrived in the UK which don't require you to pre-freeze a thing. Now in 2026 they seem to be an even bigger trend, with people looking for more ways to host at home.

Here's a closer look at this slushie maker with five modes in total (slush, cocktail, milkshake, juice slush and cold drinks) and how it stacks up to Ninja's original viral machine.

Before last year, grabbing a slushie was only really possible at the seaside or the cinema – unless you wanted to install a pricey professional-grade machine in your house.

The arrival of the Ninja Slushi changed that, with its built-in compressor meaning that you could go from a fizzy drink or premixed cocktail to a fully fledged slush at home in less than 30 minutes. As I learned when I tested many of these drinks makers last summer, as long as there's some sugar content in your chosen drink, it'll slush up nicely.

LOGIK's Frozen Drinks machine offering might not have the Ninja branding, but it does look like a solid performer for its bargain price. From five user reviews to date via Currys, it's earned a 4.8 star rating, with all of the comments positive. One reviewer said that their 'great grandchildren love it' and that it's 'been in constant use'.

At this price and with those glowing user reviews, if you're in the market for a Slushie machine that you can use all summer long then this seems like a bargain one to pick up.

If you love slushies and soft serve, then a more multi-functional buy might be even better for you. As well as the excellent Ninja Swirl (which does require prefreezing) I tried Cuisinart's Frost Fusion last year which allowed me to make a Mr Whippy style cone in under 30 minutes at home. Here's a full look at those two side by side as well as a new pick from GreenPan, which has just been released.

With so much choice out there already (and it's only spring!), one thing is for sure: its looking like a soft serve and slushie summer. Now all we need is the weather to come good...

Last summer I was tasked with the extremely fortunate task (especially given the many heatwaves we had) of testing frozen treat makers for Ideal Home. And I learnt a lot about exactly what you want from this kind of machine.

From the Ninja Swirl to the copycat Slushi-style machines, there was plenty of choice out there for refreshing at-home beverages and desserts. But the one machine that really captivated readers was the Cuisinart Frost Fusion (£249.99 at Amazon) which is kitted out with an impressive six different functions.

So, if the sound of making Soft Serve Ice Cream, Slushy, Sorbet, Frappe or Frosé at home in under 30 minutes appeals, you might just like this machine too. Here's how it's been upgraded from the original cuisinart frost fushion softer serve maker I tried last year.

When I tried this machine last year, I had to test its big claim out first: the ability to make soft serve in under 30 minutes.

The entire process, from unboxing to enjoying a Mr Whippy style ice cream at home, took under an hour which I was seriously impressed by and the half an hour claim for soft serve was definitely true. Though my cone was perfectly serviceable, I did note in my first try of this machine that dispensing the ice cream was a little challenging with quite a quick flow of soft serve to deal with.

That's all changed with the improvements on this year's version – Cuisinart tells me that the 'smart dispense control function has been refined to deliver smooth and consistent servings with ease'.

And that's not the only tweak. Cuisinart claims this version is quieter (thanks to an improvement to the motor), easier to clean (with a self-rinsing function) and that switching between the many modes is easier thanks to the addition of self-cleaning.

If slushie machines and ice cream makers are anywhere near as popular this year as they were last summer, it would be a good idea to snap yours up now before they start to sell out again. Below you can find a shortlist of the other frozen treat essentials I trialled last summer.

And the functionality with this one from Cuisinart (with those six different settings) gives it serious edge when it comes to value for money. Mine's a Frosé, if you're making...

I didn't know how much I'd use my stand mixer until I first used it for a batch of blueberry muffins. Now, I drag this hefty appliance out of my pantry at least once a week, and I can truthfully say that it makes baking (especially with a toddler in tow) a lot more convenient.

If you're looking for the best stand mixer to level up your baking, I imagine your dream buy is a KitchenAid stand mixer. However, one of these capable gadgets can set you back £100s. In fact, it's a challenge to find a decent stand mixer under the £100 mark. Which is why I was shocked to spot that Aldi has bought back its stand mixer for under £40 in two pretty colourways.

The Aldi stand mixer is an appliance that returns to the specialbuy aisle every year, and this year it will be available to buy from 19th March. However, in the past, it has always been priced at £39.99. But this year, not only does it have £10 off, but the Ambiano Classic Stand Mixer is now available in two pastel shades, including pastel pink and butter yellow.

The Ambiano Stand Mixer gets top points for its design, but do its features stand the test, too? Ideal Home's Digital Editor Rebecca Knight picked up an Aldi stand mixer three years ago, and is impressed by its ability to quickly whip up a banana bread or battenburg. However, while she does use it to knead bread, she flagged that it does jump around the worktop in the process.

Fitted with a 5L steel bowl, it's a great size for the £30 price tag, and it has all of the add-ons a £100+ machine would boast. It lifts to remove the bowl, it has a handy splash guard (which even some expensive models don't come with), and its screen is easy to read. It's wrapped in a 3-year guarantee, too, so you can buy with peace of mind.

If you can't get to your local Aldi or are worried your store might have sold out, then I come with better news: the Salter British Bakes Stand Mixer is a hearty mix of the Ambiano Stand Mixer and a KitchenAid Stand Mixer, and this comes in yellow, pink or cream — plus it's on sale with 25% off at Amazon.

Aldi pastel mixing bowls

The standmixer isn't the only thing landing in Aldi next week. For keen bakers, Aldi is selling lookalikes for the iconic Mason Cash mixing bowl for less than £10.

For those not in the know, Mason Cash are the 'it' mixing bowl. You will find them in the Great British Bake Off tent, Mary Berry's kitchen and basically any baker worth their salt will have one of these ceramic mixing bowls.

However, a Mason Cash bowl is an investment piece, costing around £30 for the original Cane Mason Cash mixing bowl on Amazon. Aldi has replicated the look of the prettier meadow collection, with a floral design in four pastel shades: pink, green, lilac or blue.

All of them are dishwasher safe, and there is also a batter bowl available in the four colours for £9.

The whole collection will only be available in Aldi to shop from the 19th March.

It seems that John Lewis is eyeing up IKEA's crown when it comes to affordability with the launch of its £150 air fryer microwave, which is just £1 more expensive than the Scandinavian retail giant's version released a few weeks ago.

As Ideal Home's Kitchen Appliances Editor I've seen the appetite for microwave air fryers growing massively, with people looking to save money and worktop space by combining these two essentials into one purchase.

But can the power of the best air fryers and the best microwaves really be combined efficiently? Here's a look at the specifics of this John Lewis air fryer microwave so you can decide for yourself.

Just last week premium Italian appliance brand Smeg dropped its very pretty pastel microwave air fryer while Ikea's GÅTEBO version caused a flurry of excitement last month before prompty selling out. So, one thing is for sure: shoppers like the idea of getting two functions for their money with this style of appliance.

While Smeg's offering is more of an attempt to replace the need for a built in oven altogether, this John Lewis version looks much more like a standard microwave. It's boxy and finished in stainless steel with its basic control panel running along the right hand side. While it does feature an LCD timer, its programmed via buttons and a control knob.

This appliance features 14 Air Fry Menus & 10 Presets Menus, which means that plenty of foods, like chips and vegetables, should be able to be cooked at the touch of just one button. It also has one-touch defrost settings as you would expect.

We haven't been able to get our hands on this combi appliance to test just yet, but we're hoping to try it out for ourselves to get a grip on how the air frying works alongside the expected microwaving features.

The price tag of this John Lewis own-brand product is seriously competitive, especially when compared to other appliances of this type sold via John Lewis. Sage's Combi Wave retails for £359 while Panasonic's version is £349 on sale.

If you've been looking to snap up an air fryer microwave without breaking the bank, it seems that this John Lewis version is the (in-stock) one to go for. And if it doesn't quite fit your kitchen aesthetics, I'm sure there are plenty more appliances of this type coming down the line this year. Keep your eyes peeled!

A brand new Ninja air fryer has arrived on the scene: the Ninja Crispi Pro (available from today for £249 via Ninja).

Its tagline promises that this is the 'XL glass air fryer designed for non-toxic prepping, cooking and storing' and I was lucky enough to get hold of a sample early to let you know if that's actually the case.

Ninja is routinely ahead of the curve when it comes to tapping into cooking trends and fun and imaginative colour ways, but this upgrade to one of the existing best Ninja air fryers goes even further than that with its somewhat kooky, futuristic design. Here's how it works and the upgrades it offers on the original Crispi (which we reviewed this time last year).

Increased functionality

The original Ninja Crispi was a kind of weird sell – it doesn't look or operate like a normal air fryer and one of its USPs is puzzlingly, portability – but it went down a storm with Ninja fans on its release. Plus it held up to the hype upon testing, earning itself a spot on my list of the best air fryers (which is only 3 products in total).

But one of the big bugbears people had with it was the rigidity of the functions. On the OG Crispi, there were just 4 modes: Air fry, Roast, Reheat, Keep Warm and each of these came with a preset temperature attached which wasn't changeable.

That's all changed with the Crispi Pro, which boasts a souped up control panel (complete with separate temperature and timing buttons) and three new modes: Max Crisp, Prove and Dehydrate. Max Crisp is a fan favourite mode from the brand's larger air fryers (like the FlexDrawer) which has a preset temperature of 200°C.

The standard Crispi also had a much simpler LCD screen, which just counted down minutes until cooking completion. The Pro version is much more user friendly if you're not used to an air fryer just yet.

More cooking space

The capacity of the Crispis works differently to other Ninja air fryers, as all of the cooking is done in glass containers over standard drawers. It makes it so easy to food prep and store foods in them, though the capacity was a bit of a limiting factor in the old version with the maximum cooking space being 3.8 litres.

With the XL, this is amped up to 5.7 litres, though the container felt much bigger than that when the Crispi arrived. It's paired with a 2.4 litre version too, which is good for single portions. These are made interchangeable thanks to a small fitting that you can slot into the back of the unit which holds up the smaller container to the heat element.

So far in the limited tests I've done (with my full review still to come) I've found the larger container much more useful, though I haven't utilised it to its full ability yet. I'm sure it could fit a small joint of meat or something similar, which I'll be giving a go soon.

With oven chips it worked well, though you're limited to the space across the crisper plate inside – with something like a dual zone air fryer you can obviously pack more across two zones.

But for a single or two person household, there's plenty of space. The Crispi Pro also seems like it would hold up very well in a student kitchen situation and of course remains so useful for food prep thanks to the fridge-ready glass containers.

It's available in pink!

While the original Crispi was eventually released in a number of pastel colours, only more neutral shades were available on the launch. That's not so with the Crispi Pro, which looks like it'll include a pink option from the offset. Perfect if you're looking to execute a pink kitchen colour scheme!

Could you see yourself giving the Crispi Pro a go? Or is it a little too modern for your liking?

Prue Leith's career in cooking spans the writing of bestselling recipe books, a long stint as a much-loved judge on The Great British Bake Off and now... air fryer advice, of course.

For many, taking to one of the best air fryers isn't a straightforward process. In fact, they can take a bit of getting used to – with Nigella Lawson's gradual warming to these ultra-useful appliances serving as just one example – even despite all of their well-documented time-saving benefits.

Luckily Prue Leith has imparted some excellent advice for those out there who have invested in an air fryer but might not be using it as much as they need to get their money's worth – and it's all about placement. Here's what she had to say.

During an appearance on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show to promote Prue Leith's Cotswold Kitchen, the culinary star discussed her newfound appreciation for air fryers, after initially shunning them.

Prue told of how she was loaned an air fryer by a friend but was skeptical of their merits – stating that she couldn't see what appeal it held over using her oven or a simple frying pan instead. But in time, she was encouraged to at least give one a trial run.

To get into using it, Prue had one simple tip that made all the difference: moving it to 'where she could see it', rather than hiding it away in her kitchen. Once it was more visible to her, Prue says she started to understand the benefits of an air fryer everyone had been raving about for so long.

For Prue, the biggest highlight is the ease of cleaning of an air fryer's small removable baskets over the monumental task of cleaning an oven (which let's be honest, gets done far less than all of us would like to admit to).

In the clip, Prue discusses the pitfalls of the high maintenance of an oven, saying 'If you've roasted something in the oven, the oven is a mess. And it takes longer to clean the oven than it did to roast the chicken!'.

The renowned chef goes onto say that with an air fryer, she likes how there's no such fuss. 'So the wonderful thing about an air fryer' Prue says, 'it's like a non-stick frying pan – you just rinse it.'

If you've struggled to get into using your air fryer – maybe you received one as a gift or invested a little while ago – switching up your placement of it can help tenfold. I reckon one of the worst places to put an air fryer if its gathering dust is somewhere out of your direct eye-line, so if you can sacrifice a little bit of worktop space (even as part of a trial run) then I'd recommend giving it a go.

Of course, we'd all love to have the space for an appliance garage in our kitchens (or even pantries!) but if your space is a little on the cosier side, like mine, then there are other innovative solutions I've seen work. Below you can find a selection of product ideas that might help you kick your air fryer usage into gear.

Can you see yourself converting to using an air fryer like Prue Leith has? These appliances can certainly save you a lot of time and clean-up energy if you do.

Ninja's bestsellers may often be imitated, but that never stops the brand from bringing out new innovations with even better designs. The newest addition is the BlendBoss (which on first look I thought looked just like a Stanley Cup and a NutriBullet had a baby), a compact blender available in an array of pastel colours.

I got my hands on it to give it a try before its official release via the Ninja website in order to test claims that it has 'total crushing power' to rival even the best blenders from the likes of Vitamix, despite its cute, compact looking base.

If you're always taking drinks on the go, the tumbler cup with a leakproof pop-up cap is designed to be just the thing to sit into your car's cupholder or to pop into your day bag. Here's what I thought of the hottest new Ninja appliance, which is bound to become its next viral hit – especially when you learn it has as much power as the top-rated blender we've ever tried, the Vitamix A2500i, which retails for around £400 more.

Out of the box, the first thing I noticed about the BlendBoss is that the squat little base is heavy. That's not all that surprising when you learn that there's a seriously powerful motor hidden in there, but it does give you the first inkling that this isn't a looks over substance blender.

The base and the tumbler look even better in person – I especially love the Lavender shade that I tried it in – with the matching butter yellow accents adding so much against the two-tone lilac.

This blender is smart too. Along the base, there are four buttons – three of these are 'IQ' programs, along with a standard pulse setting, including blendIQ, smoothieIQ and icecrushIQ.

In my first try of this blender, I tried each one to test out whether these 'intelligent programs' could actually sense a difference in the consistency of what I was trying to blitz up. First up was a simple smoothie with frozen fruit and milk.

Auto programs on blenders can be hit or miss, but the results of the smoothie setting here were very impressive. Just when I thought the program had stopped, the blender would whirr back to life and finish the process and the resulting smoothie has a great texture to it.

The suction feet on the base of the blender meant that there was no shakiness to the unit, though the sound levels were what you would expect with any standard appliance like this (rather loud).

I found the hands-free nature of the 'IQ' settings to be a real bonus. In an everyday setting, it means you can prepare other things without having to oversee the blender –a winner for busy weekday mornings.

Another test I ran was making houmous. Not everyone is interested in owning one of the best food processors, either due to budget or space, so it's always useful if you can find some of the some functionality in a blender unit. I used 'blendIQ' for this one and the results were very good considering the capability of the blade. I'd be happy to have served this houmous at a dinner party for sure.

The ability to make crushed ice is another selling point of the BlendBoss – perfect for cocktail evenings or desserts. It won't shock you that the extremely powerful base makes easy work of ice, though, of course, the smaller cup size is a bit limiting if you're crushing for a crowd.

In person, the other thing that really impressed me about this blender was the finish of the flip cap lid. These tend to be a bit flimsy or temperamental (and prone to come mysteriously undone in your bag), but after a good shake and attempts to thwart the system 'accidentally', it didn't budge. So far, so leakproof.

All in all, it was very hard not to be impressed by this small but mighty blender on my first spin with it. Could you see the BlendBoss earning a space on your worktop? Unlike the newly released supersized Ninja Crispi Pro XL, It won't need much room, that's for sure!

KitchenAid has unveiled its new colour of the year for 2026 as spearmint, a minty green shade with a 'sand-texture' finish.

Each year, KitchenAid announces a new colour of the year, which its best stand mixer, the Artisan Mixer 4.5L, will be available in for £699, alongside several other appliances. As masters of beautifully coloured kitchen appliances since 1955, KitchenAid is usually at the forefront of the latest kitchen colour trends. However, I think it's safe to say they don't always get it right.

While some colours of the year will continue to be lusted after for years to come and result in a dozen copycats, others are swiftly forgotten. However, this latest colour of the year has divided the Ideal Home team, with half of the team impressed by its 'anti-trend' and timeless look and the other half unconvinced by the 'dated' colourway.

'It feels a bit dated'

I will start by saying I love green, adore it. On my desk right now, I can see three different things I own in various shades of green. However, I was disappointed by the new KitchenAid colour. Rather than fresh and uplifting, it feels very 2016, and not in a good way.

For all my love of green, this spearmint shade in a kitchen feels a bit dated and out of sync with all the colour trends we're seeing at the moment. I would have put my money on a grown-up primary or a rich earthy colour, but this pastel green shade feels a tad like the ghost of Great British Bake Off's past. My favourite part about this COTY is the sand-texture, but even that doesn't make up for it.

Last year, we did see minty shades try to break out as a trend in the summer homeware collections; however, they never quite landed as a look with longevity. Unlike KitchenAid's Colour of the Year 2025, a gorgeous yellow shade, which I think will go down as a classic, I reckon this is a colour we'll be politely forgetting about in a couple of months.

'I like its retro edge'

After the bland nothingness of Pantone’s Cloud Dancer Colour of the Year (the TLDR is it’s literally just white), I’m so glad there’s at least a little substance in KitchenAid’s unveiling of Spearmint as the chosen shade for 2026.

As a purveyor of kitchen appliances, I’m all for people choosing ones that bring a point of focus or intrigue into the mix, rather than just opting for all white everything. This minty shade can do just that, even if it is startlingly similar to Pistachio, which is one of the brand’s bestsellers.

It has a bit of a retro edge from where I’m standing, which certainly ticks the ‘refreshing’ box for me that KitchenAid are going for.

There's a new air fryer on the scene: Tower's 'Elite' Flexi Drawer model, which has swept in with the stylish good looks and game-changing design of competitors that usually have a much higher pricetag. This new buy is currently on sale for the bargain price of £99.98 on Amazon, down from £149.99.

If you're looking to elevate your experience of one of the best air fryers at home without breaking the bank, then this new release is worth your attention. As well as a sleek digital control panel, it's has a lot in common with our top-rated air fryer ever, the Ninja FlexDrawer (as per our five star review), when it comes to versatility.

Here's a closer look at why this multi-zone air fryer has an exceptionally handy design for family cooking.

So what is a multi-zone air fryer? Essentially, it's a mini oven with removable dividers but unlike your built-in oven, which you divide into zones horizontally using racks and trays, it has attachments that allow you to split it up vertically into two sections.

With this all-important divider, you can switch on the the Tower Elite air fryer from one megazone to two disparate ones easily. You can then program each side to a different temperature and to run for different times – an excellent weapon to have in your arsenal if you're cooking for fussy eaters.

Another key feature of this air fryer is the ability to match and sync up the sides, so that you can bring everything to the table, still hot, at the same time.

If you're less of a button pusher and more of a dial-user, there's an amped up version of this air fryer on sale made with you in mind: at £149.99 via Amazon, it is a little pricier but might be more intuitive to program.

Both versions have preset cooking programs, which are built-in to help you easily get the right temperature and timings for whatever you're cooking whether it's fries, chicken or a whole pizza.

If this air fryer is anywhere near as good as the model it bears so much similarity to (the Ninja FlexDrawer) it might be worth a try in your kitchen. After all, our expert reviewer called the original multizone air fryer 'worth every penny of its premium price tag'.

All that's left to decide now is which one to install on your kitchen wortkop.

Authentic restaurant-quality pizza is no longer something we have to leave the house for, as pizza ovens become more and more popular kitchen appliances. And landing in stores today (5 February) is Lidl’s Silvercrest High Temperature Pizza Oven (£59.99), which might be one of the best budget pizza ovens we’ve ever seen.

You’d be forgiven for thinking that the best pizza ovens are best used in the summer. Yes, wood-fired or gas pizza ovens should only be used outside due to the carbon monoxide and fire risk, but some electric ovens, including Lidl’s latest offering, are perfect for use on your countertops, meaning delicious pizza is on the menu all year round.

If you fancy whipping up delicious pizzas in minutes, this is a middle aisle treat just for you. So, read on to find out how this oven shapes up.

This isn’t the first Lidl pizza oven we’ve seen, with the brand launching an affordable alternative to the Ooni Koda 12 Gas-Powered Pizza Oven (£299 at Argos) back in the summer. However, this latest innovation differs as you can use it indoors.

Reaching temperatures of 400 degrees, expect Italian-style pizzas in just a matter of minutes. The oven heats from the top and the bottom, and has an adjustable thermostat, allowing you to control the temperature.

The oven comes with an adjustable time, which goes up to 15 minutes, and has an automatic switch-off mode, giving you a little more peace of mind. It has a fan for temperature regulation, while its hinged lid with integrated handle makes it easy to use.

Also included is a removable ceramic pizza stone (which has a diameter of 30cm) and two pizza peels. Its compact nature means it can also be tucked away on your countertop or inside kitchen cupboards when not in use. Plus, this oven comes with a three-year guarantee from Lidl.

We haven’t tested the Silvercrest High Temperature Pizza Oven, but we do know it is worth buying a pizza oven based on the excellent models we’ve tested. And our best-rated indoor pizza oven is the Ooni Volt, which we branded a game-changer for those who don’t have a garden.

Perfect for use in apartments and flats or when it is too cold for outdoor cooking, the Ooni Volt (£499 at Lakeland) is an electric pizza oven that is simple to set up, easy to use and produces restaurant-quality pizzas at home.

It is considerably more expensive than Lidl’s model, so if you have a strict budget in mind, I wouldn’t be against recommending Lidl’s pizza oven. I would predict that it will be far more basic than Ooni’s, but Lidl's middle aisle products have always pleasantly surprised me in the past.

Alternatively, I’ve found a few more indoor pizza ovens that have great reviews.

Listen, if pizza is one of your favourite foods, then you’d be a fool to pass on the chance to enjoy restaurant-quality pizza whenever you fancy it. I’m just saying…

Nigella Lawson has long been a home-cooking inspiration, but one ultra-popular kitchen appliance that took her a while to convert to was the best air fryer.

With the exciting news that the food writer extraordinaire is now set to feature as a judge on the next series of The Great British Bake Off, it's hard to believe the chef last graced our screens way back in 2023 with Nigella's Amsterdam Christmas on the BBC.

In that program, she made genius use of Amazon brand COSORI's 5.5L Air Fryer (which was £99.99, now £78.67 at Amazon) to turn chicken skin into crackling for her biriyani recipe like a seasoned air fryer pro.

But it wasn't always smooth sailing with her air fryer, with Nigella admitting earlier that year that she had been a 'longtime doubting hold-out' when it came to these game-changing countertop ovens. Here's a closer look at the air fryer that made her a convert.

In the Christmas special, Nigella uses a red version of COSORI's 5.5 litre air fryer in order to put the finishing touches to one of her festive recipes.

As she comes to plate up, she says that she's 'whopped' her chicken skins into her air fryer at its max temperature and right on cue, the crackling emerges perfectly crispy and ready to top her dish.

This particular air fryer is especially good for jobs like crisping as it has a clever detachable basket which you can pull away from any oil that's formed in the bottom of the appliance. That means healthier air fried foods and a more convenient method of serving.

The COSORI's screen is also extremely easy to program, with a simple touch screen with icons, which surely helped Nigella get over her beginner's air fryer fear. In September 2023, she had posted a blog entry on Nigella.com detailing her journey with air fryers, confessing that she 'borrowed an air fryer from a friend' in order to try out recipes from Poppy O'Toole's The Actually Delicious Air Fryer Cookbook (now £10, was £20 at Amazon).

It seems it was this fantastically-reviewed cookbook that sparked Nigella's turnaround on air fryer altogether, calling herself a 'convert' and saying it 'banished my fear, eradicated my doubts, and led me to discover how to use the air fryer in a way that suits me'.

Nigella's change of tact with her air fryer shows that sometimes all it takes is a good cookbook and a little bit of courage to change the way you approach cooking.

Here's to hoping an air fryer week might one day grace the Bake Off tent so we can learn even more from Nigella when it comes to these super convenient appliances.

Ninja has finally dropped the BlendBoss (a blender and tumbler duo) in the UK and the pastel colours are absolutely worth your attention.

Now available (and unexpectedly on sale) for £92.58 down from £125.96 via Amazon, the BlendBoss has been a huge hit over in the US thanks to its compact, easy to store base and large, portable matching tumbler.

The pastel colour range is another huge draw, including a bright green Watermelon Bubblegum shade (£129.99 at Ninja) and a lush Lavender Lemonade (£129.99 at Ninja) version. Here's a sneak peek of everything this blender is capable of before it inevitably causes a frenzy with NinjaKitchen fans.

So make makes this blender 'the boss'? Well the low profile base is the first tick for me, with its squat design not only looking so convenient to store while also reminding me of the bubble plates trend that isn't going anywhere soon.

And though it's small, it looks like this blender packs a serious punch – it has a 1200-watt motor base that can crush ice to snow and 'blend all your favourite ingredients', according to Ninja.

Then there's the large tumbler that comes as standard with this blender which is bound to be a hit. Water bottles of this type have grown gargantuan over the last few years, so why not combine that with your smoothie cup too? The small base to the tumbler should also make these cups cupholder friendly too.

The biggest sell for me with the BlendBoss (aside from the very funny name) is the selection of pastel colours on offer to buy it in. I love using a kitchen appliance to bring a pop of colour to a kitchen and Ninja has nailed the shade range with this blender.

Each tumbler has multiple pastel colours on its body, with the blender base coming in one of the five on offer. In total, there's Cyberspace (blue), Watermelon Bubblegum (bright green), Stone (grey), Lavender Lemonade (pastel purple) and Blue Raspberry (bright blue) to choose from.

I'm hoping to get my hands on the BlendBoss soon to give you my verdict on its power and suitability to your kitchen worktop. Are you tempted to take the plunge with Ninja's newest release?

You might be able to say goodbye to burnt toast for good with the arrival of the Cuisinart SimpliTouch XL Colour Touch Toaster (for £59.99 via Cuisinart) which has features I've often wished while making my morning bagel.

Kitted out with a 'vibrant colour touchscreen' complete with a six shade toast menu, this snazzy appliance is cutting straight to the heart of the burnt breakfast conundrum.

From lightly golden to deep brown, the gradient scale engineered within this toaster should, in theory, stop the guesswork that sometimes occurs with even the best toasters and deliver your toast to you perfectly done, every time. Here's a full overview of its features.

The big USP of this toaster is the shade menu, which Cuisinart claims is as easy to use as tapping your chosen toast colour and waiting for it to emerge. The six toastiness levels range from a very light shade to a deep golden, so if you're more of a charred toast lover, then you'll have to move outside of the included settings.

It's unclear how the technology within this toaster works, or if the shade menu is simply a visual aid to go alongside a timer setting, but the huge colour touchscreen across the side of this appliance certainly looks impressive.

It's not just your standard loaf of bread that's catered to with this toaster – the shade menu can also be used when toasting your favourite sourdough, bagels, muffins and fruit breads with dedicated settings for each. The bagel setting in particular sounds intriguing, with the temperature set so that the inside of your bagel is toasted while the springy top is maintained by only being lightly warmed.

At the bottom of the screen you'll also find buttons for defrosting slices, adding an extra 15 seconds to finish your toast off and a setting for using one side of the toaster at a time.

The 'XL' in the name of this toaster refers to the appliance's extra large slots, which Cuisinart claim are 40% bigger than the market average – 14cm x 17cm compared to 12 x 14cm.

I've tested dozens of toasters in my time as Ideal Home's Kitchen Appliances Editor and I've never quite found my dream toast setting. With the easy visual guide on this toaster, I might be about to find my go-to shade.

Could you see yourself finding this built-in shade guide handy?

Slow cooker season is honestly one of my favourite times of the year, as I wheel out my trusty CrockPot to prep countless healthy, nourishing meals to get me through winter. But if you’re late to this party, don’t worry, as Lidl is selling a 6.5L CrockPot for under £30 - and it’s on sale now.

I’m a firm believer that the best slow cookers deserve a spot in every kitchen. Absolutely ideal for batch cooking (which saves you time and money), slow cookers are also energy-efficient and lock in loads of flavour in your meals.

If you’re new to the world of slow cookers, this CrockPot offering at Lidl is a great choice. I’ve owned mine for the past six years and happily wheel it out every weekend for some more batch cooking. Here’s everything you need to know.

I’ll start by saying that this CrockPot model is quite basic, making it a great starter slow cooker, or for anyone that doesn’t need the extra bells and whistles that come with many-function slow cookers such as the Ninja 8-in-1 Foodi PossibleCooker (£119 at Amazon).

But I will say it cooks like a dream. My mum gifted me my CrockPot slow cooker when I was 19, and six years later, it remains my favourite kitchen appliance. I’d even go as far to say that I like it more than my air fryer.

It is the perfect size for meal prepping or large families with a capacity of 6.5L, making at least six portions. This CrockPot also has two cooking modes - low or high, as well as a keep warm function. It has a removable ceramic bowl, which makes clean up easy and is dishwasher safe. However, you should avoid using it on the hob. I have also found this model to be lightweight and easy to store.

The low function is great for slow-cooking over eight hours, while the high function needs just four hours. I have found this slow cooker to be great for casseroles, pulled pork, pie fillings, chilli, bolognaise, curries, and noodle dishes. And if you’re ever short of recipes, the Bored of Lunch 6 Ingredient Slow Cooker recipe book (£10 at Amazon) is great for inspiration.

For me, slow cooking saves me loads of time. Call it slow cooker maths - by dumping my ingredients in the pot and letting the CrockPot do all the work while I go about my day, I spend less time slaving over the stove every night.

And if you want to save any more time, Jamie Oliver has revealed a great slow cooker tip, whereby you simply stop lifting the lid as your food cooks. And by investing in a slow cooker, you won’t have to worry about checking your food every half hour.

Now, I love my CrockPot and won’t be replacing it until it dies on me (which I doubt will happen anytime soon). However, if I were looking for an upgrade, these are the models I would consider.

Slow cookers don’t need to be bulky or expensive. A simple model that gets the job done well can also be a kitchen hero.

We're firmly into slow cooker season now which means I'm rooting around for recipes, tips and tricks to make my prepped dinners tastier and easier to pull off.

If there's one celebrity chef who has long championed using one of the best slow cookers to cut out the faff it's Jamie Oliver, whose no nonsense cooking approach is the perfect antidote to the January slog.

And it turns out, he has one simple piece of advice when it comes to using a slow cooker that I've been failing to follow for years. Here's why this mistake might be making your slow cooker meals take longer and how to fix it.

Jamie Oliver's simple slow cooker tip

Cutting out superfluous ingredients and simplifying recipes has long been on Jamie Oliver's cooking agenda and a slow cooker is the perfect appliance to do that yourself at home too.

In Jamie's article on tips to nail your slow cooker recipes, he suggests picking cheaper but flavoursome cuts for your stews and one-pot meals as well as browning your chosen meat beforehand to boost the quality of the finished product.

But the tip that I related to most was in fact the most simple: leave your slow cooker alone whilst its working.

I confess I've been making this mistake for many years – I constantly check on my dinner by lifting its lid and doing a taste check every so often. This, according to Jamie, isn't an outright diaster, 'but every time you lift the lid the cooking time will increase'. And as Jamie says, 'if the lid stays on the moisture in the pot is retained'. That's essential if you want succulent slow cooker results.

Jamie's other tips are seriously worth heeding too. He advises picking the longest setting your slow cooker has if you can (usually 8 hours over the standard 4) as it will 'give all those flavours even more time to develop and the result will be even better'.

I've tested many slow cookers in my time as Ideal Home's Kitchen Appliances Editor and I've always found that going as low and slow as possible yields the tastiest dinners.

I recently tested a truly standout slow cooker that has the perfect features for following Jamie's tips, the Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker, and my five star review of it is testament to how useful it is for easy meals.

Now that I know I need to cut out obsessively checking on progress inside my slow cooker the glass lid on the PossibleCooker is going to be even more useful. Alongside its 8 functions and multiple timer settings, it's a great tool for seriously getting into slow cooking.

I'm gearing up to spend the rest of January bulk prepping with my trusty slow cooker and thanks to Jamie's tip, my mealtimes are set to benefit. Are you looking to get ahead with batch cooking this winter?

In honour of the New Year, and the many resolutions made, committing ourselves to a healthier lifestyle, Aldi has launched its healthy kitchen range - and amongst the goodies, I spotted a 6.5L air fryer for under £35.

One of the best things about owning one of the best air fryers is that it makes healthy cooking so easy. Negating the need for oils, air fryers produce crispy, tasty food without the extra calories - ideal if you're using the New Year to kickstart a diet or healthkick.

On sale now, it’s no secret that the Aldi air fryer is one of the supermarket’s most popular specialbuys. And it’s for this reason that I think this bargain kitchen hero will sell out fast.

Given the popularity of air fryers, they have become more accessible over the past few years, with shoppers now able to pick up some of the best air fryers for under £100. However, what Aldi is offering is a 6.5L capacity air fryer under £35 - and that is pretty impressive.

We’re not only pleased that this cult air fryer is returning to stores because of its price. Its huge 6.5L capacity makes it larger than most supermarket budget air fryers (which are normally around 4L), and means it’s big enough to handle cooking for large, busy families without fuss.

Not to mention, it has temperature control ranging from 40 to 200 degrees and 11 preset functions to choose from, so you can use this appliance for everything from roasting a chicken to baking brownies - although of course, not at the same time.

As you would find on higher-end models, this air fryer also has a sleek touchscreen for ease of use and an impressive keep-warm function to stop food from going cold. It also has a detachable non-stick frying rack, again increasing the number of different meals you can create.

As well as the air fryer, Aldi is also selling Air Fryer Liners (£3.49) to make clean-up even easier. These silicone liners slot happily into your air fryer, preventing sauces, marinades, batters and crumbs from making a mess of your appliance. They are much easier to clean than the air fryer baskets.

Aldi’s air fryers are always popular when on Specialbuy, so I don’t think these will be around for long. So, if your local store has sold out, or you don’t have one local to you, these are the affordable air fryers we recommend.

If you haven’t yet invested in an air fryer or are looking to replace an older model, for £34.99, Aldi is certainly worth a try!

For anyone who bakes bread at home, you'll know that getting the temperature right for proving can be one of the trickiest parts. I live in a poorly insulated, single glazed home so finding the the perfect temperature, especially in winter, can feel impossible.

While there are gadgets aplenty out there, the other issue I (and most of us) face is that I'm working with an especially small kitchen, meaning I don't have the room for bulky appliances, especially if I'm not using them every single day. So when I discovered the Brod & Taylor Folding Proofer & Slow Cooker, available both on Amazon and through the brand itself, I couldn't have snapped it up quicker.

I was a little skeptical initially, after all I see a lot of kitchen gadgets in this line of work. However, within a few days I couldn't see myself continuing my sourdough era without it.

It's a very simple, no-frills design, when it's erected it's essentially a plain white box with a clear viewing window and digital temperature controls. Inside you have a rack and a water tray (which is super handy for injecting a bit of humidity into your dough).

However, when not in use the whole things folds completely flat. And by flat I mean down to 7cm, which is around the height of a tennis ball or a credit card. This means it's slim enough to slide into even the most awkward of storage spots. In fact, mine actually lives underneath my sofa!

So far, I've mainly been using the Brod & Taylor Folding Proofer for sourdough and it's now become such an integral part of my system that I think I'd struggle to bake without it.

When in Proofer mode, the machine provides consistent warmth with temperature you can control to the degree from 21-49ºC. Since my flat is so cold, this means my starter and dough can get up to actual room temperature within minutes, without me having to turn my heating on.

My dough now rises more predictably, more evenly, and in a shorter amount of time. There’s far less guesswork involved thanks to both the consistent temperatures and the fact I can peek in through the window to keep an eye on things without disturbing the process. It’s no exaggeration to say this gadget has improved my bread more than anything else I’ve tried so far.

While I've not done my own test using a smart plug (I've got the Tapo, £7.99 at Amazon ready to go though), the brand say that the Brod & Taylor Folding Proofer only uses between 1 and 3p per hour.

So if you were turning on the heating or using an oven on a very low heat in an effort to proof your dough you could potentially be saving a lot on your energy bills by making switch.

Although bread baking is clearly what this proofer excels at, it’s far from a one-trick appliance. The Brod & Taylor Folding Proofer also has a Slow Cook mode which you can adjust between 29 and 90ºC. With this function you just pop your own pot directly on the heating plate to act as a slow cooker your casseroles.

Beyond that, the gadget is designed for fermenting yoghurt, kefir and other cultured foods, as well as melting chocolate or gently warming cheeses. I can also see it being useful as a plate warmer or even a gentle keep-warm station when hosting.

I'm far from the only one elated with this product, ‘This product has made more difference to my bread making than any other product [...] The bread is now more consistent and the whole family are enjoying fresh rolls or bread every day,' reads one Amazon review.

Another says, 'This is a superb product. At last I can control my dough temperatures. Results so far on yoghurt, sour cream and dough have been astonishingly good.'

However, nothing is perfect and, for me it's that the controls and power socket are positioned on the same side, which can make things a little awkward depending on the layout of your kitchen. The other downside is the price as if you only bake once in a blue moon and already have a slow cooker, then it may not be worth it. But for regular bakers it quickly earns its keep.

If you’re on your sourdough journey and are frustrated by inconsistent proving in cold UK homes, the Brod & Taylor Folding Proofer is a genuinely game-changing piece of kit. Plus, maybe most importantly of all, it doesn’t demand permanent counter space thanks to its clever folding design.

For me, it’s become an essential part of my baking routine and my sourdough has never been better.

Ah, Christmas, a time most special for getting all your loved ones together under one roof, and one of the best bits - the Christmas dinner, of course! And when cooking for the masses, a little extra help is always appreciated - but is it socially acceptable to bring your air fryer to Christmas dinner?

The best air fryers have revolutionised how we cook in this day and age. I’m not lying when I say I couldn’t function without mine. And one thing these hand appliances are a Godsend for is cooking a roast dinner.

With some models able to roast a bird, and guaranteed crispy potatoes and parsnips, using an air fryer to help with your festive food preparation is a no-brainer. But if you’re heading to a loved one's this Christmas, I wanted to find out if it’s socially acceptable to bring your trusty air fryer with you to lend a hand.

Is it socially acceptable to bring an air fryer to Christmas dinner?

The concept of bringing an air fryer to your host’s Christmas dinner may seem like a good idea if you’ve been enlisted to help with the cooking. If you can’t live without your mum’s roast potatoes, it makes sense to ask her to help you with them on the big day. Plus, it means the host isn’t confined to the kitchen on their own, whilst everyone else is enjoying a Bucks Fizz in the living room.

A second air fryer (assuming the host already has one) means you can cook more food at one time. For example, you can use both machines to handle the roast potatoes, parsnips, carrots and pig in blankets (and more if you have one of the best dual-zone air fryers).

Of course, it can be a little tricky lugging a bulky air fryer to a second location, so we’d recommend a smaller, portable model like the Ninja Crispi (£129.99 at Amazon). But don’t let the size fool you, our review found the machine to be seriously impressive.

This all sounds great, right? And it is, provided you’ve discussed this with the host ahead of arrival. In other words, don’t just show up with your air fryer.

‘A quick message to the host beforehand makes all the difference. It shows you are bringing it to ease the pressure, not to take over. Hosts usually appreciate anything that frees up oven space or speeds up the sides, especially in smaller kitchens where every centimetre of worktop matters,’ says Gemma Logan, Christmas party expert at Book a Party.

‘When it is offered politely and used with good humour, bringing an air fryer feels like turning up with an extra pair of reliable hands. In that spirit, it sits comfortably within the modern, collaborative Christmas and rarely raises an eyebrow.’

Asking makes all the difference, and if your host accepts, it makes it perfectly acceptable to bring your air fryer to Christmas. It’s when you don’t ask that this act can start to be thought of as rude.

‘It's only rude if you march in without saying hello and start taking over by air frying everything in sight. It's also rude if you make little jibes that the host's cooking can't be trusted and that your air fryer is here to save the day. Framing it as a backup or saying 'you bought a little extra help if needed' will be appreciated,’ says Pippa Masson, a freelance Christmas party expert at Book A Party.

Alternatively, an air fryer can make a wonderful gift for your host - especially if they love cooking. If you’re planning to lend an extra pair of hands and an appliance for this Christmas dinner, the key is to ask first. This way, everyone is a winner.

John Lewis has released their annual How we Shop, Live and Look Report, and with it comes a bold prediction for 2026. The retailer predicts ice-cream makers will overtake air fryers as the ‘it’ kitchen appliance.

There’s no denying that ice-cream makers saw a huge surge in popularity, especially during the summer months, with shoppers racing to get their hands on the coveted Ninja Swirl or the rival Cuisinart Frost Fusion, which allowed families to serve up homemade 99s.

But to overtake the best air fryers in popularity? It’s a bold prediction, but one that is seemingly becoming true. Here’s why.

The John Lewis report found an increase in ice-cream maker sales of 17% in 2025, stating that the sales were likely to increase again in 2026 due to the social media trend of using the appliance to make protein-heavy ice creams and frozen smoothies.

A big driver behind the revival is also the new sleek appearance. While ice cream makers used to be big, bulky and noisy, the arrival of the Ninja Creami (£169.99 at Ninja) back in 2022 has transformed the market, making space for sleeker appliances that fit neatly on or under a kitchen worktop.

While air fryers have been a kitchen staple for a number of years now, John Lewis is expecting ice cream makers to reach the same level of cult status.

‘Air fryers remain a kitchen staple, but ice cream makers are quickly becoming the appliance of the moment. At John Lewis, sales of ice cream machines rose by 17% in 2025, while across the John Lewis Partnership, Waitrose has seen double-digit growth in its No.1 ice cream range - driven by quality, flavour innovation and nostalgia,’ says Karen Sime, Kitchen Appliances Buyer at John Lewis.

‘The category has been given fresh momentum by social media, where ice cream makers have gone viral, inspiring a wave of at-home experimentation. From classic flavours to protein-rich frozen smoothies, customers are embracing indulgence with control, knowing exactly what goes into every scoop.

‘While they may not replace everyday essentials, ice cream makers are carving out a lasting role in the kitchen - less about necessity, more about creativity, comfort and moments of joy at home.’

However, not everyone is convinced, considering that while an air fryer can be used in place of an oven, an ice cream maker will get its most use during the summer months.

‘It is unlikely that they will become more popular as air fryers, as air fryers are something that can be used daily in the place of an oven. Although ice cream makers will still probably be popular, they are considered to be more of a niche or novelty appliance that is used occasionally instead of every day,’ says Steve Larkin, a kitchen expert from Kitchen Door Hub.

So, while it’s unlikely that ice cream makers will overtake air fryers in terms of popularity, they are still receiving the same viral hype air fryers received a few years ago. Because of this, we can expect to see them become more and more popular next year, especially as they mean we can create fresh, healthier desserts.

If you want to get ahead of the trend, these are the ice cream makers, tried and tested by us, that we recommend.

One thing is certain, ice cream makers will continue to spike in popularity in 2026. But will you be adding this star appliance to your kitchen?

Let's be honest, the drinks are as important as the food at Christmastime and properly come into their own when New Year's rolls around. And if you're a frozen margarita fan, there's one appliance above any other that can help you perfect your cocktail offering for guests: a Slushie machine, the most affordable of which is a brand new product from Tower (for £179 via Amazon).

Of course, the original Slushi machine was dreamed up by Ninja (and is newly available in an array of different pastel colours). But if you're looking for a cheaper option, Tower's version comes in a lot cheaper compared to the Ninja's RRP of £349.99.

Of course, there was no better occasion to test Tower's debut Slushie machine than the Ideal Home Christmas party, so here's how we got on with this affordable Slushie alternative.

It's a simple process to get this Slushie machine unboxed and up and working – the first real learning curve comes with getting the right sort of drink to input into it to get slushed up.

Low sugar or diet drinks should be skipped with this machine – there needs to be a certain sugar content to get things freezing correctly – but carbonated or non-carbonated drinks will both work wonderfully with this model.

As with other Slushie machines I've tried, Tower's version is equipped with a thickness setting. That means you can change the consistency of your drink (once you've chosen whether you want a Slush, Cocktail, Frappe, Milkshake or Wine) to your liking. For something like a frosé (frozen rosé wine) you want more of a liquid base whereas something like a frappe is served icier.

This Tower machine works very quickly, so it's not something you need to prep hours in advance of hosting. Simply add your ingredients, leave to freeze for around 30 minutes and serve (or allow your guests to self serve) via the 'Easy Pour Tap'.

The frozen margaritas from this Slushie machine certainly went down a treat with the Ideal Home team and as far as a first try goes, this affordable option has our seal of approval ahead of the busiest hosting time of the year. You can find other options we've tried, tested and loved below if you want to shop around ahead of New Year's Eve.

Would you make space for a Slushie machine in your kitchen?

If there's one celebrity chef you can rely on for air fryer hacks, it's Jamie Oliver. Even before the release of his appliance-specific cookbook Jamie was a champion of the best air fryers for speedy, convenient cooking. And now he's turned his attention to the ever-useful kitchen appliance for dealing with Christmas leftovers too.

While some might scoff at the idea of turning away from their traditional bubble and squeak recipe on Boxing Day, this air fryer hack is one way to turn cooking after Christmas into a quick affair – in fact, Jamie says it's a method that takes him just 20 minutes.

You don't need any extra equipment to take advantage of this approach, though I can definitely recommend Jamie's Easy Air Fryer cookbook (now £13 at Amazon) if you want all-year-round inspiration. I've been turning to my copy for meal ideas all the time.

Jamie Oliver's Boxing Day air fryer hack

If you end up staring down your leftover carrots and potatoes after the big day in desperate need of a little inspiration, Jamie's advice is straightforward: 'simply chuck it in the air fryer!'.

In a video posted to his Instagram, he shows himself chopping his veg and then folding it all together into bite sized balls which go straight into his air fryer tray. Not only is it convenient to serve if you're hosting but it's also super quick.

Jamie's full recipe can be found via his website and though he uses his trusty Tefal air fryer (of which he has his own model) for his patties in his video, any drawer-style version will work. Just remember to set it to air fry at 190°C for 15 minutes.

This isn't the first time one of Jamie's air fryer techniques has helped me to cut down on time spent sweating over a hot stove, as I've also been adopting his 'take the tray out' approach to my trusty appliance recently too for all-in-one meals.

Finding inventive ways to use your air fryer might feel like a foreign concept if you've owned one for a few years now, but a good cookbook definitely helps to spark new ideas.

When Boxing Day rolls around I'm definitely going to be trying this trick out to make sure nothing goes to waste. Will you be giving this one a go too?

KitchenAid has unveiled a new monochrome colour scheme for its bestselling Artisan stand mixer: Porcelain White. The announcement of this pared-back shade comes alongside a shiny new studded ceramic bowl, making this pair the ultimate kitchen buy for anyone with a pristine white kitchen.

It's no secret (and has been proved by our in-house testing protocol) that KitchenAid produces some of the best stand mixers out there, and where the brand really excels is in forward-thinking design. And seeing as Pantone's colour of the year has just been controversially announced as the very white Cloud Dancer, you could say KitchenAid is ahead of the curve.

Here's what the full collection (including the brand's excellent coffee machines) looks like in the shade.

KitchenAid is branding this mono-white mixer as one that 'captures the calm of clean design'. And its rejection of colour is bound to reignite debates around whether all white kitchens are back in vogue – we didn't quite have that on our bingo card for paint trends for 2026.

Away from the monochrome look, I think the star of this particular KitchenAid is its studded bowl. The brand has been getting more innovative with this element of their mixers in the last few years – the Evergreen series with the walnut bowl was one of my favourite product releases of 2024.

The KitchenAid Artisan is a true workhorse mixer, I learnt as much during my KitchenAid Artisan standmixer review, but this all-white version is not the one you'll want to pick up if you're more of a messy baker. I can't imagine this ultra clean-look version will be replacing the colourful pastel Artisan mixers that adorn The Great British Bake Off's tent any time soon, either.

If you still favour a white kitchen colour scheme over any other, this mixer will tick all of your boxes. It's a minimalist dream!

If you know a frozen drinks fan then the perfect Christmas gift just dropped for you to snap up: the Ninja Slushi Insulated Bubble Cup with Lid & Straw (£19.99 via Ninja).

The popularity of the Slushi, which is now available in a myriad of pastel colours, shows no sign of slowing down and with entertaining season now well and truly upon us it's no surprise that Ninja has dreamed up the perfect accessories to go with it.

I'll admit that before I tried the Slushi I thought it was more of a gimmick than a must-buy but if you love to host, you'll love this party-ready appliance and these new cups solve my biggest gripe with it – the drinks melting too fast as you're hosting. Plus, if you pick up the Slushi right now for £249.99 via Ninja, you get a pair of cups thrown in.

This affordable Slushi accessory is already a hit with Ninja's loyal followers with nearly all of the colours of the Bubble Cup already selling out. Whilst the Purple, Yellow, Sea Glass and Bright blue shades are no longer available, you can still (for now!) snap it up in Grey, Black and Denim Blue.

Each of the Bubble Cups features an insulated cup and a domed lid with a straw. All of the parts are dishwasher safe (as well as many parts of the Slushi) which is good news for easy cleaning up.

This collectible accessory range matches Ninja's new Slushi colours too. Whilst most of the limited edition shades are sold out via Ninja's website, there are a few other retailers where you can snap up a colourful machine. I've listed the colours still left and where you can buy them below.

With a month of entertaining ahead, it's well and truly Slushi season now!

Presenter and current I’m a Celeb star, Vogue Williams, frequently blesses my Instagram algorithm, sharing recipes and glimpses into her home life. And it was during one of her recipe tutorials that I spotted Vogue was making a huge air fryer mistake - and it turns out I’m guilty of it, too.

It seems the best air fryer is an important part of any working kitchen these days, as everyone from the top chefs to our favourite influencers and ourselves uses one to whip up quick, easy and healthy meals. Honestly, I’m not sure what I’d do without mine.

But these handy appliances are not indestructible, unfortunately. And if, like Vogue, you're guilty of storing items on top of your air fryer, air fryer experts want you to stop right now.

In an Instagram post demonstrating how to make chicken dust chicken and broccoli, I was quick to spot Vogue’s cult Ninja Foodi (was £119.99, now £99.99 at Argos). It’s easily one of the best budget air fryers as well as one of the best Ninja air fryers, and a popular choice in the kitchen amongst members of the Ideal Home team (myself included).

One reason the air fryer stood out to me is that it’s currently less than £100 at Argos, which is the lowest price we’ve ever seen this year, and the other was that her toaster was stacked on top of it.

‘Vogue's Ninja air fryer has been a bestseller since its launch in 2020, and even though we've tested dozens here at Ideal Home in the years since, it's remained our favourite two-drawer model. That's because it's supremely powerful and has plenty of room for family cooking as well as a good mix of settings. The 200-degree setting Vogue is using is the MAX CRISP function – a favourite in our tests too!' Molly Cleary, Ideal Home’s Kitchen Appliances Editor, said.

But Molly was also quick to tell me that placing a toaster on top of the air fryer was a big air fryer mistake. In fact, when I asked, experts quickly told me that you should not be putting any items on top of your air fryer. Given that there are currently two cookbooks on top of mine, I’m also making this big mistake.

‘It’s not the best idea to store anything on top of an air fryer since they get very hot at the top and sides while in use. Storing items can just cause heat damage, and since many models vent through the top, blocking this area can simply lead to overheating,’ said Isabella Forgione, small appliance expert at AO.com.

‘Keeping items on your air fryer will also put pressure on the lid or drawer mechanism over time and reduce its lifespan. In future, it’s a far wiser idea to always keep the top of your air fryer clear and treat this appliance the same way you would your oven or hob.’

And specifically a toaster? Absolutely not.

‘You should refrain from storing other appliances like your toaster on top of an air fryer. For the same reasons, storing smaller appliances could block vents, damage the casing or even force overheating in some instances. You should really be storing your appliances separately and not stacking any of them,’ says Isabella.

Air fryer essentials

Well, that’s me off to find a new home for the clutter currently sitting on top of my Ninja air fryer. Have you also been guilty of making the same mistake?