The kitchen can, at times, be a rather daunting destination for us men. The good news is that it’s never been a better time to get familiar with the kitchen, and, all the glorious gadgets it can include. Cooking food has never been easier thanks to cookbooks, chefs on TV and recipe apps. Tesco offer a wide range of kitchen appliances that can mush, mix, marinate and caffeinate everything from pieces of meat to cups of coffee.

For the ultimate experience with handy kitchen electronics, consider investing in a few of the following to turn the kitchen into a creative, efficient and delicious space.

Fridge/Freezer

No home is complete without a place to keep things cold! A good fridge freezer is one that has a tight seal, preferably an energy efficient endorsement, and one which can keep everything from tender lettuce to bottles of beer cold and refreshing.

Keeping a well-stocked fridge/freezer is a great way to avoid unnecessary trips out for fast food, and to prompt some culinary creativity upon viewing the contents. When preparing food, it’s never sensible or economical to prepare a dish for one from scratch so it’s a good idea to make some extra portions and freeze so that there are always home-cooked ready-made meals waiting to be eaten on busier nights, or to take for lunch at work.

Stoves and Ovens

Gas or electric, convection or traditional; both stoves and ovens come in many forms. In most homes the two are combined, making them an efficient, multi-functioning unit that can do so much more than just warm things up. Getting familiar with the heat settings on a stove, is a key task for any new cook.

For meticulous and experienced culinary enthusiasts, gas offers a level of heat precision that electric may not possess, but that’s not to say electric doesn’t work just as well. Ovens should be a good size, able to fit a roasting pan inside at the very least, and should again be as energy efficient as possible; this can be encouraged by never leaving the door hanging open, and only placing properly sized pots on respective hobs so that it’s difficult for heat to escape up the sides.

Blenders

Now that we’ve got the big basic items covered, it’s time for the fun stuff. A good blender can cost a pretty penny but is well worth it in the end. Many of the higher end ones can literally last a lifetime and have powerful motors allowing them to macerate, pulverise, pulse and of course blend, with ease. Some men may think a blender is exclusively for preparing a post-workout smoothie but many models come with pre-set programs for soups, purees and even frozen desserts which make it a versatile and highly functional addition to any kitchen.

Crock Pot

Also known as a slow cooker, the Crock Pot in its historical iteration has the potential to turn men right off. However the fundamental principle of ‘set it and forget it’ has seen a renaissance in domestic settings in recent years. For busy chefs who want to eat home cooked food but don’t always have the time – there are endless recipes available for this incredibly easy appliance. The slow cooker is also a great way to ease into cooking for those who are new to it. With minimal prep and almost zero supervision, guys can chop up a few ingredients, throw them in the cooker and then return at dinner time for a hearty, and healthy home cooked meal.

Espresso Makers

For many people, life simply cannot carry on without a decent cup of coffee or tea in the morning (and then regularly throughout the day). There are several different coffee/espresso appliances but perhaps the most efficient is a single cup Espresso maker. These come with individual espresso pots that simply fit into a machine and are pressed and prepared incredibly quickly. They’re a great way to start the day and minimise mess on all fronts!

Stocking a kitchen full of useful, creative and efficient appliances can be a fun and interesting process. Consider what you use the kitchen for most, what some favourite foods are. Evaluate your general level of cooking competency and where you’d ideally like to be in the future. Investing in a few key items that will make food and drink prep efficient, and easy can turn cooking from a chore, into a great way to spend an evening in no time at all.