Kitchen Needs

Half term starts soon for most schools in England. Which means several days of “Dad, can we make something tasty!?” before you’ve had your tea. The last thing you need is one more big appliance eating the worktop space, when you’ve got small hands in the kitchen too.

Here are three gadgets that give kids (with you right there) something easy to make and actually want to eat, without taking up too much space when the holiday’s over.

A toastie press that doesn’t take over the worktop

Cheese toasties are the easiest thing in the world to let a child “make” themselves, as long as the appliance is small enough that a bit of supervision doesn’t mean standing over a worktop hog. The PIFCO 750W Sandwich Toaster is built for small kitchens: a basic non-stick press with a cool touch handle and a ready light, nothing you need a manual for.

Good to know

It’s a straightforward 2 slice press, not a deep fill one, so it suits a flat cheese toastie more than a thick, overstuffed one. It’s also plastic bodied rather than stainless steel, which is exactly how it stays this light and this cheap.

A doughnut maker that’s so easy to use

There’s a particular kind of half term pride that comes from pouring batter into holes and watching it turn into something with a hole in the middle. This 1400W Mini Doughnut Maker can make up to 16 small doughnuts at a time. It’s a compact family baking appliance, and not much bigger than a toaster.

Good to know

This model is a generic appliance rather than a big name brand, so don’t expect a glossy instruction booklet or a long warranty. You’re also making the batter from scratch, there’s no cheat setting, so budget 20 minutes before anyone gets to eat one.

A pancake maker that stands on its end when you’re done

If toasties and doughnuts have already had their turn, the Giles & Posner EK4629 Flip & Stack Pancake Maker is a flat, 1000W hot plate for crepes and pancakes, the kind you fill and roll rather than flip in a pan. It’s tabletop sized and stands up on its end once it’s cool, so it doesn’t claim a permanent spot next to the kettle.

Good to know

It needs a 5 to 8 minute preheat before the first pancake goes anywhere near it, so it’s not an instant fix for a sudden “I’m starving”. Spreading the batter thin enough takes a go or two as well. The first pancake is rarely the best one.

None of these need a cupboard of their own. Wipe them down, let them cool, and they go back wherever they came from until the next wet afternoon calls for them. The pictures above are illustrations of each type of gadget rather than photos of the exact ones, so the real thing will look a little different.

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