Should these kitchen gadgets be on the “nice” or “naughty” list this holiday season?

LMQC Nutritionist blogger, Jeni Tackett, shares her tips on which kitchen gadgets should be on your shopping list this holiday season.

‘Not every kitchen gadget is a keeper … make sure you check out the features and the reviews online.

Tis the season to shop for your family and friends. Are holiday kitchen gadgets on your list?

An Air Fryer, Instapot, or Ninja Foodi may be just what your loved one wants and could mean a healthier 2022. But these gadgets are only as healthy as the ingredients you put in them.

So don’t forget … when you grocery shop, spend time in the produce section, stock up on beans, and pick lean meats or plant based proteins for a healthy meal.

Here are some pros and cons to the most popular kitchen gadgets this year:

CORSORI Air Fryer (opens in new window)

The air fryer is a like a deep fat fryer combined with a convection oven. Foods are “fried” using hot air instead of hot oil.

The food is able to be “fried” from all sides due to the fry basket which is similar to a deep fat fryer.

Pros:
• You can has crispy food that tastes like it is fried but does not have any added calories from oil.
• Adults and children will enjoy the taste of air fried foods.
• You can increase your veggie intake by sticking vegetables in the air fryer.

Cons:
• Don’t be tempted to air fry unhealthy foods. Make sure you are putting mainly whole foods in the fryer: potatoes, vegetables, lean meats, etc.
• Frozen French Fries and tater tots have oil already added. Instead, try air frying fresh potatoes.
• Avoid adding oil to foods in the air fryer since the purpose is to cut back on added oil.

Instapot (opens in new window)

An instapot is a pressure cooker that is able to cook foods more quickly by creating a seal which allows for higher temperature cooking. An instapot is able to cook foods much more quickly than an oven or crockpot.

Pros:
• Helps you to eat healthier and have meals ready when you get home from work.
• Can be used to meal prep for the week. You can use your instapot on the weekend to meal prep for the work week.
• Easy to cook grains and beans: quinoa, brown rice, steel cut oats, and all variety of beans. You can up your fiber intake in a snap with an instapot!

Cons:
• You have to make sure to use healthy instapot recipes. If you put unhealthy food in the pot then you will have an unhealthy meal.
• You cannot tinker with the recipes. You have to follow the recipe and put everything in the pot and then wait for the result.
• Timing may be off for some recipes, so make notes as you try new recipes.

Ninja Foodi (opens in new window)

The Ninja Foodi does it all: grills, air fries, dehydrates, roasts, and bakes foods.

Pros:
• You can grill year round. Living in the Midwest makes outdoor grilling in the winter uncomfortable. You may eat healthier year round if you grill up lean protein and veggies no matter what the weather.
• You just plug in the Ninja Foodi and do not have to worry about propane or charcoal.
• Lots of functionality in one gadget. You do not have to have a separate air fryer, grill, dehydrater.

Cons:
• At $180, the Ninja Foodi is more of an investment then other kitchen gadgets.
• You need ample counter space as the Ninja Foodi is a large gadget.
• As with the air fryer and instapot, if you want to eat healthier make sure you are grilling, air frying, and baking healthy foods. Think lean means (chicken breast, pork tenderloin, turkey breast) and vegetables.

‘Not every kitchen gadget is a keeper … make sure you check out the features and the reviews online.

Pros: • You can has crispy food that tastes like it is fried but does not have any added calories from oil. • Adults and children will enjoy the taste of air fried foods. • You can increase your veggie intake by sticking vegetables in the air fryer.

Cons: • Don’t be tempted to air fry unhealthy foods. Make sure you are putting mainly whole foods in the fryer: potatoes, vegetables, lean meats, etc. • Frozen French Fries and tater tots have oil already added. Instead, try air frying fresh potatoes. • Avoid adding oil to foods in the air fryer since the purpose is to cut back on added oil.

Pros: • Helps you to eat healthier and have meals ready when you get home from work. • Can be used to meal prep for the week. You can use your instapot on the weekend to meal prep for the work week. • Easy to cook grains and beans: quinoa, brown rice, steel cut oats, and all variety of beans. You can up your fiber intake in a snap with an instapot!

Cons: • You have to make sure to use healthy instapot recipes. If you put unhealthy food in the pot then you will have an unhealthy meal. • You cannot tinker with the recipes. You have to follow the recipe and put everything in the pot and then wait for the result. • Timing may be off for some recipes, so make notes as you try new recipes.

Pros: • You can grill year round. Living in the Midwest makes outdoor grilling in the winter uncomfortable. You may eat healthier year round if you grill up lean protein and veggies no matter what the weather. • You just plug in the Ninja Foodi and do not have to worry about propane or charcoal. • Lots of functionality in one gadget. You do not have to have a separate air fryer, grill, dehydrater.

Cons: • At $180, the Ninja Foodi is more of an investment then other kitchen gadgets. • You need ample counter space as the Ninja Foodi is a large gadget. • As with the air fryer and instapot, if you want to eat healthier make sure you are grilling, air frying, and baking healthy foods. Think lean means (chicken breast, pork tenderloin, turkey breast) and vegetables.