You might not need an ice cream maker or a pizza oven—but they sure make the every day fun, whether you’re looking for a special way to end the week or are hosting a dinner party.
For Good Housekeeping’s 2027 Kitchen Awards, our culinary experts in the GH Kitchen & Cooking Lab tested an assortment of kitchen gear that feel like treats worth investing in. These winners—from insulated wine tumblers for enjoying a drink outside to cute (and durable!) dinnerware to craft ice makers and beyond—earned a spot for their standout performance. They impressed our experts in lab tests, including assessments for ease of use and innovation, and wowed at-home testers, who agreed they’re all worth buying.
This RTIC insulated tumbler keeps cold drinks cold, and the ceramic lining prevents a metallic taste and makes cleanup easier. Its soft-touch exterior and tapered design make it comfortable to hold, and the cover for the drinking spout snaps shut to prevent spills.
TEST RESULTS: The temperature of liquid in this tumbler increased by just 1°F in six hours, the best result of the 11 cups we tested. At-home testers were also impressed with the temperature-retaining results. One said, “My drink stayed cool the entire time it took to get to a barbecue,” and another noted, “It definitely kept my shake cold for an extended period of time.”
This ceramic dinnerware set from Thyme & Table is stylish, with delicate gold rim detailing. It comes with four bowls, four salad plates, and four dinner plates for less than $50. The dishes are all microwave- and dishwasher-safe.
TEST RESULTS: At-home testers liked the neutral-toned design. One called it “sophisticated,” and another said it was “trendy.” Everyone found the dinnerware durable and said it held up to daily use during the testing period with no scratches, chips, or stains.
PackIt’s tote features the brand’s signature gel-lined walls, which allow you to turn the bag into a cooler without additional ice. Just fold it down and store it in the freezer before your next grocery-shopping trip or outing. The wide rectangular shape offers ample room for ingredients of all sizes.
TEST RESULTS: Testers used this tote to bring food home from the grocery store and drinks to the beach. They said it kept ingredients cold and liked how much they could fit in it as well as how “it folded very flat” for storage.
This Cuisinart machine is one of the smallest ice cream makers we’ve ever tested. It creates half-pint servings and comes with three cups to fill and freeze in advance. It has ice cream, sorbet, milkshake, slushie, and mix-in settings.
TEST RESULTS: All testers enjoyed using this machine to make delicious, inventive desserts. One said, “The homemade products were a big hit!” Another said it prompted their family to skip trips to the ice cream shop.
Nutribullet has a compact footprint yet lets you choose from five presets: ice cream, gelato, frozen yogurt, sorbet, and smoothie bowl. It comes with two 16-oz containers (with lids) for freezing and blending ingredients, and it’s available in five colors.
TEST RESULTS: GH’s Kitchen Lab analyst made vanilla ice cream and peach sorbet in this ice cream maker, and both came out with a good creamy consistency. Both testers who were new to ice cream making and those who were experienced with it found the process easy to use and more streamlined than with other ice cream makers because they could blend directly in the cup.
Black + Decker’s ice cream maker looks like an appliance you’d typically store on your counter, making it more likely to remain accessible for frequent use. It’s slim with a smooth control panel, and has ice cream, lite ice cream, sorbet, gelato, yogurt, milkshake, mix-in, and re-spin settings. It comes with two pint-size containers and costs less than half the price of popular competitors.
TEST RESULTS: All testers found this ice cream maker easy to use. They also liked that it came with recipes—some required more steps than others, but one tester said, “The extra straining of the strawberry mixture was worth it to get smooth, seedless results.”
Insulated cooler totes such as this new 20-liter from Yeti are a convenient way to keep ingredients cool on the go. The straps are long, and there are large pockets on either side for extra storage. The top folds down and snaps shut with a magnetic closure.
TEST RESULTS: The bag opened wide and accommodated various sizes of containers in our evaluations. Its material wiped down nicely both inside and out. Several testers said it kept their ingredients cold for hours, and one said it kept ice frozen for more than 24 hours.
The Bartesian is like a single-serve coffee maker for alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages. This compact version lets you make cocktails and mocktails using the capsules of your choice and two different alcohols at a time.
TEST RESULTS: Testers liked the convenience of being able to make cocktails without purchasing all the extra ingredients. One tester said, “It delivers high-quality results with minimal effort.” Another liked the consistency the machine offered. The margarita, lemon drop, and old-fashioned capsules were favorites, even for some testers who called themselves “drink snobs.”
This unique machine from Euhomy makes clear ice spheres easily on your countertop. Choose from “Crystal Mode,” which takes 90 minutes to make three balls, or “Rapid Mode,” which takes 45 minutes. It can store nine balls at a time that can be used in any type of drink, including cocktails, water, and coffee.
TEST RESULTS: It produced large ice spheres, as promised, that were slow to melt—and there was a clear difference in quality between the two settings. It was helpful to be able to track the progress of the ice making on the machine’s screen.
Most pizza ovens are intended for outdoor use, but this electric one from Ooni lets you bring the cooking inside. It has a small footprint but can make 12-inch pizzas with three presets for Neapolitan, Thin & Crispy, and Deep Pan as well as two customizable options. Its temperature range is 70°F to 850°F.
TEST RESULTS: Pizzas came out with crisp bottoms and bubbly, blistered crusts on the Neapolitan setting, and the cheese melted evenly. Testers enjoyed using it for more than just pizza; salmon and veggies were some standouts made in it.
A compressor cooler allows you to keep food cold without ice when you plug it in and essentially works like a second refrigerator. This one from Travoca operates on 12V and can be used as a fridge or a freezer. It has a removable divider that allows you to create dual temperature zones and can run between -4ºF and 68ºF.
TEST RESULTS: We were impressed by its heavy-duty materials. Analysts highlighted how the lid opened on either side and was removable for entertaining. It took 20 minutes to cool to 32ºF in our tests; testers said it was able to switch between temperatures quickly too.
The Stanley Tucci by GreenPan pizza oven is rated for indoor and outdoor use. It can reach temperatures up to 850ºF and can be used at temperatures as low as 350ºF. It has a rotating pizza stone that sets it apart from some competitors.
TEST RESULTS: Pizzas ended up crisp and thoroughly cooked in our tests. Our culinary pros highlighted how the pizza stone pulled out when opening the door, making launching the pizza into the oven easier. The rotating stone made for even baking, and the window on the door was great for watching the whole process.
