11 kitchen appliances that make lunch delicious every day
Bored with the same old lunch everyday? We’ve rounded up the appliances that will inject some flavour – and flair – into your next lunch hour.
These products are hand-picked by our team to help make shopping easier. We may receive payments from third parties for sharing this content and when you purchase through links in this article. Product prices and offer details are not assured, and should be confirmed independently with the retailer. Learn more
With thousands of Australians working from home, or spending more time at home than usual, lunch is one meal we’re not venturing out for quite as much.
RELATED: Your guide to picking a new toaster to suit your household
RELATED: Instant Pot review: the multi-cooker perfect for time poor amateurs
If you’re tired of eating the same lunch day-in-day-out, might we suggest you invest in some kitchen appliances that will add a little excitement – and taste – to your options.
SANDWICH PRESSES
One of the most basic but essential lunch gadget is the sandwich press. Elevate your humble sandwich to gourmet status by experimenting with different ingredients. “Bring a hit of spice or sourness to complement all the rest of the fillings like chilli oil, pickles, gherkins or cornichons,” Jess recommends. “And if you normally have plain white bread, try sourdough, ciabatta, focaccia, baguette, wraps, pita instead.”
Sunbeam Big Fill Toastie Machine, Amazon Australia, $38 (RRP$49.95)
Get the carb to filling ratio right every time with this Big Fill Toastie Maker from Breville. With 25 per cent more room than previous models, you won’t have to think twice about adding extra cheese to your midday meal. Designed to cut and seal, expect perfectly triangular, browned sandwiches every time, with fillings safely encased within; then clean up with ease, thanks to its EasyClean non-stick coating. Feature to love? Its ability to stand upright, giving you more than one storage option. Plus, at its low price, you can’t really go wrong.
Breville The Power Toastie, The Bing Lee, $99
For those with minimal food prep time during the working day, Breville has designed this powerful sandwich press which will get you fed in as little as three minutes. A digital LED countdown timer lets you know exactly how much time is left until your sandwich is pressed - and brilliantly, a Bit More setting allows you to add just a touch more heat if you change your browning preference mid-cook.
DeLonghi 3 In 1 Digital Multigrill, The Good Guys, $299
The beauty of this particular model is its removable aluminium die cast plates, both flat and grill. Not only are the plates dishwasher safe, but each are operated by separate thermostats, allowing you to set different temperatures for upper and lower plates. Adjustable settings allow you to use this one appliance for three different cooking options - contact, open and oven grill.
A five-star review for this multigrill states, “Use it almost daily and love the result every time. Non-stick surface is great and very easy to clean with a rag after use. Would recommend.”
Tiffany 4 Slice Sandwich Maker, $39.99 (RRP$49.99)
Win yourself favours from your housemates with this four-slice sandwich maker. Featuring a non-stick coating plate for easy cleaning, thermostatically controlled heat plates, a cool touch handle and the ability to stand upright, making a tasty lunch for you and your household is a cinch. Plus, you can now get it for a fraction of the usual cost.
BLENDERS
Yes, blenders are superb at whipping up a delicious smoothie but their culinary power extends far beyond this. “Blenders are very versatile and can be used to make so many different things from, smoothies and soups, to sauces and pastes,” says Jessica.
Nutribullet Pro 1000, Bing Lee, $149
Nutribullet has become synonymous with blenders, and with good reason. Blades have been designed specifically for nutrient extraction, with silky-smooth smoothies possible under a minute. Simply push, twist and blend for your healthiest smoothie yet - then when done, twist blades off with ease, rinse with soap and water, and pop your cup in the dishwasher.
Breville The Fresh And Furious Blender, Bing Lee, $249
Surgical grade stainless steel blades and a high torque motor chop and churn ice cubes into fine snowlike ice, giving the smoothest beverage each time. Already, the most common functions are pre-programmed, with Illuminated Smoothie, Green Smoothie and Ice Crush possible with one touch. Complete with five speed settings and a 1.5L capacity, it’s no wonder this blender boasts just shy of a five-star rating with almost 60 reviews.
A user stated in their five-star review, “I make smoothies everyday. Love how this blender really blends even frozen fruit. Fairly quiet for such a powerful machine.”
KitchenAid Artisan Diamond Blender in Empire Red, The Good Guys, $269
The patented stainless steel blades and diamond-shaped jug of this blender create a vortex to deliver the smoothest of beverages - and make enough for the entire household in one go, thanks to its 1.75L BPA-free jug. Expect this blender to last a long time, thanks to its die-cast metal base and powerful, load-sensing motor, which will intuitively adjust power to maintain selected speed. Pre-programmed modes include pulse mode, crush ice mode and special hot foods mode; while four speed settings allow you to chop, mix, puree and liquify at will.
Nutri Ninja Auto-iQ One Touch Blender, Harvey Norman, $149
The 1000 watt electric motor and patented Pro Extractor blades of the Nutri Ninja Auto-iQ One Touch Blender alone are brilliant facets to recommend this appliance - but coupled with AutoIQ Technology, with unique pulsing, blending and pausing patterns, you can truly be assured that everything you put into blender comes out to a smooth consistency. Purchase comes with three interchangeable cups, ranging from 500-900ml, so you can make enough blended drink no matter how many people working from home.
PIE MAKER
Using frozen puff pastry as your base and pre-cooked filling, using a pie maker at home during the day will mean your gourmet lunch can be ready in no time.
Sunbeam Pie Magic 2 Up, Bing Lee, $49
Instead of popping out of the house to pick up a Four ‘N Twenty from the local servo - we’ve all done it - turn last night’s leftovers into today’s delicious lunch with this compact pie maker from Sunbeam. A complementary pastry cutter easily cuts both the large round bases and smaller tops; while the extra deep, easy-clean plates on the maker allows for extra fillings.
Sunbeam Pie Magic Traditional 4 UP, $75 (RRP$79)
If two pies just aren’t going to cut it, this four-pie alternative will save you time, with your own tasty pies ready within 12-15 minutes. Crimper seals around edges keep pies locked in (and beautifully decorated); while its non-stick plates can be cleaned with a simple wipe of a damp cloth.
Close to 150 users have given this pie maker a five-star rating, one commenting, “Excellent value for money. Solid construction, and produces meal size pies. Very easy to use.”
WAFFLE MAKER
Regardless of whether you’re a sweet tooth or not, treat yourself to waffles for lunch for something unexpected. “Waffle machines are a fun way to switch it up for lunch,” says Jessica. “You can make savoury waffles with ham and cheese for lunch or go sweet adding ice cream and fruit as an ‘at-home brunch’ afternoon snack or dessert after dinner.”
Breville The No Mess Waffle Maker, Bing Lee, $169
This waffle maker has been designed with the intention of minimising splatter - and therefore the need for clean-up - with a circular moat catching and cooking excess batter. A browning control allows for seven different settings, permitting waffles to be made from light and fluffy to golden and crispy; and never worry about raw centres, thanks to thermal engineering that distributes heat evenly across the plates.
Just shy of a five-star rating on Bing Lee, one reviewer stated, “Great little machine, makes lovely waffles, cooked how you like them thanks to the temperature control.”
WHICH KITCHEN APPLIANCE SHOULD I INVEST IN FIRST?
According to home cook, recipe creator and food influencer Jessica Nguyen a great place to start is by purchasing a sandwich press.
“A sandwich press is the perfect way to step up your lunch game and there are endless possibilities and variations to make a delicious gourmet sandwich, toastie or even heat up some bread,” she says.
“Keep it simple with a grilled cheese toastie, but always smear some butter or olive oil on the exterior of your bread so the bread can fry and get super crispy.”
WHAT FILLINGS SHOULD I PUT IN MY TOASTED SANDWICH?
Don’t restrict yourself to the classic ham and cheese toastie (though truly, there are few things as satisfying). Last night’s leftovers can be made into today’s lunch with only a sandwich press and two slices of bread, with everything from beef lasagne, roast lamb and baked beans working as fillings.
RELATED: 15 incredibly luxe working-from-home toasties
Looking to invest in new cookware for your kitchen? We’ve rounded up the best in cast iron pans, pots and skillets here.
Then read our reviews of the latest in kitchen appliances, including the much raved about Instant Pot and ultra-luxe Philips Premium Air Fryer XXL.
Lastly, take a look at news.com.au Coupons, for deals from the most trusted brands, including Harvey Norman, Woolworths and Dell.
Tried & Tested: Gozney Arc XL for ‘perfect’ pizza
The brand behind the beloved portable Roccbox and the luxe Dome pizza oven have finally brought out an oven for the average home user. But does it live up to the hype?
‘Fantastic’: We try the TikTok-viral Ninja Creami
Does it live up to the hype? With millions of views over on TikTok, these are my honest thoughts on the Ninja Creami.
$79 ‘small but mighty’ blender and more top-rated stick mixers
These immersion blenders making cooking so easy you could do it all with one hand.
Top 10 microwaves to buy, including ‘favourite’ for bargain-hunters
Whether you're heating up leftovers or cooking a full three-course meal, these are the microwaves impressing home cooks.