Where To Buy Kitchen Appliances For Less
Good deals that won't break the bank
Most people don't have the budget to snatch up every cool kitchen gadget, because, let's face it, there are a lot of them. But Monoprice, a consumer electronics juggernaut best known for its cables and antennae, is getting in on the home-cooking space—and it's looking to change all that.
Enter Strata Home, the site's suite of amazingly cool and supremely affordable kitchen gadgets. Here's what's great about each one.
① Sous Vide Precision Cooker 800W ($70)
If you haven't been able to find a sous-vide cooker that fits your budget, this one is the least expensive we've seen yet. That price is especially impressive, because this model promises 800 watts of power, a built-in timer, an LED touch screen and an adjustable clamp that attaches to almost any pot.
Photos: Monoprice
② Vacuum Food Sealer ($80)
When you're into sous-vide cooking, pickling or preserving leftovers, a vacuum sealer can be a lifesaver. This model has different sealing and vacuuming options, as well as a built-in cutter. It even has an automatic marinade feature that infuses flavors in just 20 minutes. If you want the full sous-vide experience, Monoprice offers a cooker/sealer bundle that's $15 cheaper than making separate purchases.
③ Bread Machine ($50)
Even if you can't imagine baking your own bread, this machine is also useful for cakes, sticky rice, and even, rather curiously, jams and rice wine. It has a gluten-free option, a warmer and an adjustable 15-hour timer—think freshly baked bread as a wake-up call.
④ Portable Induction Cooktop ($50)
Light and portable, this gadget cooks food quickly without an open flame or hot metal. Compatible with any magnetic cookware, the cooktop has eight power settings (ranging from 200 to 1,800 watts), eight temperature levels (ranging from 140 to 460 degrees) and a built-in timer.
⑤ Robotic Vacuum Cleaner ($200)
Monoprice has made the robot revolution affordable with this device, which features a bagless design, a 3.9-amp motor and four cleaning modes. It also comes with a remote, so you can be in full control of your metal minion at all times.
⑥ All-in-One Pot ($70)
You can stop waiting for the Instant Pot to go on sale. This six-quart machine packs in 1,000 watts, eliminating the need for a separate pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer and more.
Rachel Cericola is a freelance writer who lives in the perfect spot in New England, convenient to both Boston and Providence. Follow her on Twitter at @rachelcericola.