In the absence of actual things to get excited about – you know, holidays, festivals, concerts – the most exciting things to come from summer 2020 were the weird and wonderful food combos.
Remember the fancy Mayonnaise range from Heinz? Or the delectable sounding Crunchy Nut Butter from Kellogg’s?
Well this confusing offering has got us scratching our heads and we’re not entirely sure we’re going to want to try it.
Depending on whether you’re a marmite lover or not is likely to influence how you feel about this: Marmite HOUMUS.
That’s right, you can now dip your breadsticks and soldiers into a blended chickpea version of the yeast extract, and we’re not sure how to feel about it.
It’s available to buy from Tesco for £1.50.
Another not-so-appetising product of the Great Food Renaissance of 2020 was the saucy ice cream offerings from Heinz. The condiment giant announced in June that it was launching special ice-cream kits that combined some its’ most famous sauces with the dessert favourite.
CHECK OUT the best kitchen gadgets
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AmazonYou can pretty much make anything from a green goddess smoothie to posh pesto in this bad boy, so get shopping.
Pros
- Sleek and compact design
- Superb range of applications
- Really easy to use and simple to clean
Cons
- Smaller capacity than other models
- Some folks reported a slight plastic smell when it's in use
AmazonThere's nothing more satisfying than coming home to a slow-cooked meal. It's the ultimate lazy cooking gadget, and this one is a stellar pick.
Pros
- Three heat settings for all your needs
- Easy to clean, so it won't be long before you can use it again!
- Compact enough to tuck away nicely in a cupboard
Cons
- Bigger families might need a higher capacity
- No warming function
John LewisRrp: $175.00
Boiling water is a cooking essential (even if it's just so pasta cooks quicker!) We love this cult-favourite Smeg kettle which will look hella chic in your kitchen. Even Mrs Hinch is a fan.
Pros
- Retro design looks soooo good
- Features a stainless steel limescale filter to keep it looking good
- Fantastic 1.7L capacity
Cons
- High price point
- Cable is a little on the shorter side
John LewisListen, you might think you can eyeball that cake recipe, but let's be honest, you have no idea what 200g of flour even looks like. So PLEASE for the sake of cakes buy these cute scales.
Pros
- We love the natural bamboo look
- Made with FSC-certified bamboo
- Includes a rechargable battery and charging cable!
Cons
- Some issues with difficult buttons
- Reliability might not be up to par with other Salter products
VonShefUrm, did anyone say brunch? Impress your pals with homemade brunch waffles ASAP from this fab waffle maker.
Pros
- Non-stick coating makes this super easy to clean
- Sleek, elegant design
- Brilliant price won't break the bank
Cons
- Be careful not to overload with waffle mix!
- Packaging isn't great
LakelandA reliable timer is something that every budding chef needs in their kitchen - plus you can stick this one on your fridge.
Pros
- Magnet is super useful
- Amazing value for money
- Super easy to read LCD screen
Cons
- Not the prettiest design
- You can only have one timer running at a time
AmazonIf you own one of these, you may as well apply for Masterchef, tbh. Use it to grate parmesan, zest lemons and generally show off your cheffing skills.
Pros
- So versatile and easy to use!
- Also available in red and green
- Reusable protective cover keeps you from grating your hands as you reach into the cupboard
Cons
- Price makes it clear that this is a luxury item
- You probably won't be using this one every day
LakelandThe best garlic press on the market, IMO. Say hello to gorgeously garlicky pasta sauce and goodbye to achey fingers.
Pros
- We love anything that makes using more garlic easier!
- Steel charmber can be removed for easier cleaning
- You don't even need to peel the cloves beforehand!
Cons
- Does have a little bit of garlic wastage
- Plastic handles will show some wear and tear with heavy use
John LewisIf you're using all your brand spanking new gadgets to make delicious things, you need some mixing bowls, right? Plus these have lids, so no need for separate tupperware.
Pros
- Lids are mega convenient
- Nesting design saves on storage space
- Dishwasher safe, so cleaning is easy!
Cons
- Lids need to be washed by hand
- Not the most exciting colours
AmazonIf baking is number one on your self-isolation hobby list, this electric hand whisk is ESSENTIAL for the creamiest buttercream and the fluffiest cakes.
Pros
- Lightweight and compact
- Great value for money
- Literally so easy to use
Cons
- Beaters have been known to break
- Light colouring means it does get dirty pretty quick
This blender is a fab and budget friendly way to create artisanal soups, pesto and other fancy things, all for under twenty quid.
Pros
- Really versatile - you can use it for so much!
- Fab price point
- Much easier to store than a bulky countertop blender
Cons
- Plastic material can sometimes pick up splashback
- Not as heat resistant as more expensive metal offerings
John LewisIf you're willing to drop some coin on a kitchen gadget, this KitchenAid is the absolute dream. Bake Off, anyone?
Pros
- Such an adorable range of colours on offer
- Stunning design and elegant construction
- You can make so many different things in this!
Cons
- Definitely not our cheapest pick
- The sheer variety of attachments can be overwhelming
John LewisThis mini food processor will create curry pastes and marinades from scratch and blitz onions in seconds. So go on, add to basket, chop chop.
Pros
- So quick and simple to use
- Cleaning isn't a hassle at all
- Compact, space-saving design
Cons
- Pretty loud when in use
- Lid can be a little hard to get off
John LewisOkay, so it's not a high-tech gadget, but honestly this will make your life so much easier.
Pros
- Cheap price, choc full of time-saving power
- We love the lemon-yellow colouring
- No pips at all, which is so nice!
Cons
- A bit big for those of us with small hands
- Does require some pretty firm wrist action
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Yeah, v. weird.
“This summer is looking different for many of us, and while we might be staycationing or staying at home more than in other years, it doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the joys of a good ice cream. Heinz sauces are here to help,” said David Chalbert, senior brand manager at Heinz Sauces.
“We give you the ultimate summer mash up; Heinz Creamz. A DIY ice cream kit, with an added summery squeeze of one of your favourite Heinz Sauces. So, you needn’t miss out on one of the sauciest of sweet treats (or six!) during a summer of social distancing.
“We know it might seem like a bit of a crazy combo to some – but with Heinz always at the forefront of innovation, anything is possible.”