10 Tested Kitchen Tools My Partner Won’t Let Me Give Away

My partner has great taste — not only in choosing me, but also in the kitchen tools he loves. Since I test kitchen products professionally, he gets his hands on some pretty nifty gear, which he can become surprisingly attached to. After some miscommunication about which tools he liked and didn’t like, I now know I can’t donate any more kitchen gear without consulting him first. Right now, his obsessions include our Breville electric water kettle and Sweese teapot, which have been keeping us warm with tea all winter. I’ve also learned my lesson about his Bentoheaven bento boxes and our Spiegelau IPA glasses: Those are strictly off-limits. It goes to show you that even someone who doesn’t cook often can have kitchen tools they like to keep around for convenience and performance. From understated glassware to high-end appliances, here are all 10 of the kitchen items my partner won’t let me get rid of.

Best Partner-Approved Kitchen Tools Overall

Made In Cookware 8-Inch Ceramic Nonstick Frying Pan

I recently wrote about Made In’s ceramic egg pan because it’s easy to store, use, and clean. Apparently, my partner agrees, because it’s the only nonstick frying pan of ours that I’ve seen him use consistently. During my most recent kitchen cleanout, neither of us let this make the giveaway list.

Sweese Porcelain Teapot with Infuser

While pouring hot tea on a cold day, my partner has said, “I’m so glad we didn’t give this away.” The spout drips just a bit at the beginning of a pour; however, we still love this teapot. The porcelain keeps tea hot for long periods, the handle on the stainless steel infuser basket never gets hot, and the 27-ounce capacity pours us four servings per brew.

Breville Smart Kettle Luxe Water Heater

The Sweese pot-brewed hot tea wouldn’t be nearly as convenient without a top-tested electric water kettle. We’re loving the Breville for its 1.7-liter capacity and brushed steel design. Not to mention, brewing tea requires no mental gymnastics: The machine offers presets for oolong, green, herbal, black, white, and even French press.

Bentoheaven Bento Box

My partner used to commute to work and would pack this double-decker bento box into his RTIC lunch cooler all the time. The cutlery compartment, sauce dish, and elastic strap are what sold him on this years ago, but the dishwasher-safe construction and separate cold and hot containers are what keep it around.

Breville Die-Cast Smart Toaster

Deemed “the Rolls-Royce of toasters” during our toaster tests, this 2-slice machine clasps your bread, bagel, poptart, or other toastable item and secures it between the heating ranges. My partner especially loves its lower settings that heat gently and evenly, for when he wants hot bread that’s not slice-your-mouth-up crispy.

Spiegelau Craft Beer IPA Glass

My partner and I use these beer glasses for any hoppy beverage, but we have our preferences. He doesn’t drink kombucha in any other glass, and I don’t drink IPAs in any other glass. Its honeycomb base facilitates aeration during the pour, while its bulbous body traps aromas — a truly ingenious design.

Gevi V2.0 Countertop Ice Maker

Ever since I began testing countertop ice makers, my partner has said he never wants to go back to freezer ice. The Gevi creates little, chewable ice nuggets that are perfect for filling drinking glasses to the brim, just how we both like it. Pro tip: Use distilled water to keep your machine clean for longer between cleaning cycles.

De’Longhi Rivelia Automatic Espresso Machine with Grinder & Milk Frother

I’ve subjected my partner to several coffee maker tests, and there are probably several more to come. For now, the best espresso machine we’ve ever tested is this De’Longhi Rivelia. It stores, grinds, doses, and tamps coffee grounds automatically. Then it brews drinks from espresso to caffè lungo, plus milk-based options. And we don’t go a day without using the glassware in the LatteCrema Cool Upgrade Set.

Kalamera 24-Inch Beverage Refrigerator

Having earned the best overall in our beer fridge tests, this beverage refrigerator has become an integral part of our common area. Not only is our refrigerator no longer occupied by sodas, mixers, and wine, but guests also don’t need to see our entire fridge space just to grab a beer. Next time I test a new fridge, my partner and I will have a long conversation on how to keep this one around.

Le Chateau Crystal Wine Decanter

This wine decanter may be my partner’s favorite barware item that I’ve tested. After tasting the decanted wine side by side with wine from the bottle, the difference was clear and unignorable. Plus, when entertaining, wine from the decanter looks so much more chic.