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Alice Zaslavsky cook’s starter Kitchen guide
November 10, 2025-4 min read
Written by cook: Alice Zaslavsky
The kitchen is one room we’re guaranteed to spend hours of the day, whether grabbing a quick bite from the fridge as you shoot through to a morning meeting, or pottering away on weekends with the grandkids, jam burbling on the stove.
Which scenario sat closest with your reality, and when was the last time you took the time to optimise that space to what you need?
If you’re a proficient, passionate home cook looking for the latest gadget to up your game, or if you’ve ever felt like cooking was a chore or a bore, then it’s time to treat yourself to a new nifty thing or two to relight your fire.
No matter what kind of cook you are, here’re five of my fav bits of kitchen tech worth harnessing, all of which you’ll find at The Good Guys:
Want to learn more about Alice? Check out our Cooking appliance hub!
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Induction cooktops
For consistent heat on the hob
If there’s one kitchen gadget I get the most emails about, it’s induction cooktops! When I was choosing a cooktop for my TV kitchen, we chose an induction, both for functional/practical reasons (no open flames were allowed plus induction’s so easy to wipe clean between takes). I’ve tried induction cooktops with both knobs and digital displays, and my preference is for the digi, only because it means a one-wipe cleanup. Bringing big pots to the boil is lightning fast, and even wok cookery is possible on modern induction cooktops, which is a total game-changer. If you’re thinking about making the switch but aren’t quite ready to lug your cooktop out the door, a portable induction hob is a useful place to start. It’s even something I’ve got on standby when I want to extend my cooktop beyond its capacity when we’re preparing big meals for family and friends!
Self-Cleaning Ovens
Make cleaning your oven a cinch
If you’re resisting crispy-crackling, burnished brassicas or any manner of splattery cookery in your oven because you’re worried about the clean-up, it’s time to get around the pyro-clean! With the press of a button, these ovens heat to up to 500°C, carbonising any grease and grime, meaning you can just wipe and go. Some ovens provide catalytic, or hydrolytic cleaning options, where steam is used to soften baked on food so you can wipe it right off, and it’s worth seeking this out if you’re in the market for a steam oven.
Air-Fryer
For the ultimate crispy chippies!
The brilliance of an air fryer is the quick heat-up time and rapid air circulation, which means dinner’s on the table quicker, and crispier, without the need for as much oil. Air fryer technology’s come a long way, too, and these days, many come with multi-zones and multi-functions, so it’s worth checking if yours has modes like steam or dehydrator included. And if you’re in the market for a new oven and would prefer to sample these features without going full air fryer evangelist, many ovens feature air-fryer settings now, or you could consider a space-saving multifunction microwave with air fryer capability.
Dishwasher
For fuss free wash-ups, on your schedule
Sometimes the barrier to cooking is the dread of the clean-up, which is why every cook will benefit from a dishwasher! Modern dishwashers are amazing! You can pretty much put everything in (except your knives!!) and they come out spic-and-span, without using as much water as hand-washing, and with impressive energy efficiency too. Many dishwashers have smart sensors, adjusting water use and cycles to what’s inside, and you can even schedule the wash to start at off-peak energy hours, or operate some dishwashers remotely through an app.
Rice cooker
Fluffy, restaurant-quality rice is worth the cupboard space
It may seem like one of those appliances that’s going to take up valuable cupboard or bench space, but once you’ve tried the tender fluffiness of rice cooker rice, it’s much easier to justify the real estate. Gone are the days of ‘single function’ rice cookers too! Look for bonus features like steaming inserts to do your veg at the same time, and don’t forget that these machines are designed to cook any grain – whether that’s buckwheat or barley, to perfection too. If you’re an extra adventurous cook, rice cookers are also useful for making black garlic at home, which is one of my favourite flavour bombs!
