13 Top Kitchen Tech Holiday Gift Ideas (A)

If you're looking for an alternative to your noisy, and messy juicer- you've found it. The Omega 8004 is Omega's answer to an efficient machine that will tackle just about any type of fruit or vegetable, and will even grind coffee and other beans. When using this product, I found it very easy to operate and even easier to clean. Usually, when using machines with many detachable parts, I can never get it fully clean - but that wasn't the case here! 

Pro(s): This machine is very quiet, and can handle bunches of leafy greens with ease and grinds just about anything - including some non traditional juicer-made items such as coffee, salsa, and ice cream - to name a few. I consider this product to be "heavy duty" and found that I was getting the maximum amount of juice out of my ingredients.

Con(s): I only wish the feed shoot size was a bit wider so that the items wouldn't need to be cut into such small pieces. It is a bit of a splurge gift item, but if you're buying for someone who enjoys juicing- this is a thoughtful gift that they can use for years to come.

Price: $259.99

This is no Secret Santa gift, and is a definitely an extravagent present, but the Vitamix 780 is the gift that will keep on giving. I first heard about Vitamix from my grandmother who has owned her machine for over 30 years - talk about getting your money's worth! This is Vitamix's latest model that features an LED control panel made of hardened glass to resist cracks and scratches. It also has easy-tap buttons. After trying the machine several times, it is easy to see why my grandmother is so faithful to the brand.

Pro(s): The 780 features 5 pre-programmed settings that provide walk-away convenience and ensure consistent results for smoothie, frozen dessert and soup options. The machine and its parts are easy to clean. You simply put tap water in the pitcher after you finish blending, with a drop of dish soap, and blend it on the base for a few seconds, and then pour it into the sink. I enjoyed making soup and nut butters for holiday entertaining. Vitamix also has an excellent customer service team. 

Con(s): If you want a more chunky consistency, you need to pay close attention to the blending process, and not walk away. The 780 is efficient in blending anything down to a smooth product, and needs to be used on pulse if you don't want this result. The price could be seen as a con, but it really seems like the Vitamix lasts long enough to get the value out of your cost. If you'd like the power of a Vitamix without the higher cost, Vitamix has several other models available, including personal blenders that start at $259.00.

Price: $719

The concept of a bread maker is something that might be a bit traditional with the variety of store-bought options available, but nothing compares to fresh homemade bread. This machine brought back childhood memories of waking in the morning to the smell of fresh bread from my mom's bread machine. The Cuisinart 2lb Convection Bread Maker is very easy to use, and has 16 preprogrammed menu options, three crust colors, and three loaf sizes, which offer over 100 bread, dough, sweet cake, and even jam choices. 

Pro(s): Among its many features, the bread maker has low carb and gluten-free preset menu options and comes with a number of recipes. The timer is a very helpful feature because it allows you to mix and bake the bread while you are away so that you can come home or wake up to fresh bread. The bread maker is extremely easy to clean, and does not have many pieces. 

Con(s): This bread maker is quite compact compared to the one my mother used, but measuring at 16.5 inches x 10.25 inches x 12 inches, it does take up space on any surface, so I would definitely consider where it will be stored. The bread machine gets pretty hot, and thus creates a bit of a darker crust, even on the medium setting, so if you do not want a dark crust, use the lightest setting.

Price: $149