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Ovens & Ranges

Just for Mom: Our Favorite Kitchen Gadgets Under $100

If your mom loves to cook, here's how to make her day this Mother's Day.

An assortment of cooking gadgets. Credit:

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Is it Mother’s Day already? Are you sure? It seems like they keep moving it up each year, or maybe I’m just a bad son. I’m probably just a bad son. Oh well.

Don’t be a bad son. Or daughter. Be good, and do good by your mother. Get her something nice, like a seafood dinner, a yoga class, or a nice bottle of wine.

There are already too many Mother's Day buying guides to keep track of, but we here at Reviewed.com know one thing: Modern kitchen gadgets make cooking a lot more fun, and a lot less stressful. And they make great gifts.

So show your foodie mom some appreciation and buy her a fun new tool this year. At the very least, you can use it to cook your mother a special dinner of her own this May 11th.

(And if you didn’t pick up on that, Mother’s Day is May 11th. Repeat: Mother’s day is May. Eleventh. That’s 5/11/2014.)


Bodum French Press ($34.99)

Everyone loves French presses. Okay, maybe not everyone, but if you don’t it’s probably because you’ve never tried one. They’re quick, simple, and easy to clean. More importantly, they produce far better coffee than standard drip machines.


Sodastream Starter Kit ($79.99)

The appeal of Sodastream is not just that it allows you to make your own syrupy-sweet sodas (though it does). It’s also that you can make sparking water, tonic, and, well... anything else you want to force some carbonation into. (Carbonated orange juice? Love it.) It's a tool that's sure to appeal to active moms on a health-conscious diet. And hey, it’s fun too!


Avocado Cuber ($17.95)

This little gizmo is just a fantastic idea, and it's simple as can be. While I can't say I've ever had trouble cutting an avocado with a knife, for folks who eat a lot of avocado it could be a real time-saver. And it costs less than $20. Enough said.


Cuisinart Hand Mixer ($59.99)

Stand mixers, especially the iconic KitchenAid Artisan series, are gorgeous machines. But they’re also big, heavy, and expensive. Who really has the room in their kitchen? A hand mixer might be a good idea for avid bakers who want rugged KitchenAid quality without having to renovate the kitchen to install more storage.


OXO Smooth Edge Can Opener ($21.99)

This nifty little can opener solves one of the most annoyingly 20th century issues in our 21st century kitchens: jagged edges on tin cans. The OXO Smooth Edge Can Opener cuts around the side of the can instead of snipping the inside of the top, creating a—you guessed it!—smooth edge that doesn't run the risk of cutting you. Not convinced? Check out the video for a demonstration.


Cherry Wood Cookbook Holder ($34.95)

A cookbook stand is simply a must-have for people who a) cook a lot and b) still use cookbooks instead of a tablet or laptop. This one sports a beautiful cherry wood base and an acrylic splash guard, so your mom's favorite cookbook won't get stained when molten pasta sauce leaps out of the pot.


Olivewood Salt Keeper ($49.95)

Using artisan, large-grain salt (or simple kosher salt) is all the rage these days, and this little salt container is a gorgeous way to make sure it's close at hand. The olive wood evokes some sort of Caribbean paradise with hammocks, huge ceiling fans, and thatched roofs. And there's no one saying it can only be used for salt. You could buy several of them and set your mom up with a whole spice bazaar.


Corkcicle Wine Chiller ($24.95)

Here's another clever idea. The Corkcicle is an icicle-shaped protuberance that extends into a wine bottle from an attached stopper. The idea is that you store it in the freezer, then plug it into your wine to help keep it chilled on a warm day. Not a bad idea with summer edging ever closer. Sure, it’s a nauseatingly silly name—but it's a refreshingly cool idea.


Breville Juice Extractor ($99.95)

Juicing is all the rage these days—it's a fad that's supposed to get you the most possible nutrients from your fruits and veggies, all while giving your body a good cleanse. If you’re willing to spend a bit more on mom, this Breville juicer is a fun way to promote good health, and get in her good graces.


Crock-Pot ($59.99)

Chances are, your mom already has a Crock-Pot. But if she doesn't, what are you waiting for? These slow cookers are remarkably cheap considering how much use you can get out of them. They're most useful in winter—when chili, stews, and soups are on the menu—but that doesn’t mean one wouldn't be put to good use all year round.

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