An air popper uses heated air to pop kernels without any oil, while a traditional popcorn maker, like a stovetop pot or an electric stirring popper, uses hot oil and a mechanical stirring arm. Air poppers use an internal fan to circulate hot air through the kernels so they can steam and pop. Traditional popcorn makers use a heated base with the kernels and cooking oil added. A motorized arm continuously stirs the mixture to ensure even heating and help the kernels pop.

An ice cream maker is worth getting if you’re someone who makes frozen desserts on a regular basis and wants to control which ingredients are used. Using your own ice cream maker lets you mix unique ingredients, add special mix-ins and control how much sugar is included. If you have dietary needs, you can make dairy-free, vegan or low-fat ice cream options at home.

A yogurt maker is worth getting if you eat yogurt regularly and want a reliable way to maintain a precise incubation temperature to make it. Using a yogurt maker allows you to have consistent results when making yogurt because it can hold the exact warm temperature needed for bacterial cultures to thrive. This helps prevent weak and runny batches. Some models use individual jars, letting you make single servings and different flavours at once. Lastly, yogurt makers let you control what ingredients are used so you can avoid artificial flavours and excess sugar.

A fondue set is used for making and serving fondue, where guests cook or dip bite-sized pieces of food into a central, heated pot. The pot can be filled with things like cheese, chocolate, broth or oil. The key components of a fondue set include the pot, the heat source and long fondue forks used for dipping. Fondue is an interactive form of dining and can encourage conversation and mingling within groups of people.