Do you have any of 2018’s must-have kitchen gadgets?

So you’re a foodie. You’ve got 500 cookbooks, avidly watch Masterchef (although you prefer the hardcore Australian to the UK version, and your cupboards are laden with truffle oil, jars of the finest white beans, tins of Valencian paprika and bars of single origin chocolate.

But…do you own any of this year’s must-have kitchen tools? We asked the experts at Infusions for Chefs in Rougham (suppliers to Michelin starred restaurants in the UK and beyond) to let us in on what we should be experimenting with in 2018. Maybe it’s time to start dropping some hints for Christmas?

Made popular in the 1970's for producing squirty cream, Lee Cooper at ICE likes to use it make savoury mousse Picture: Neil Didsbury (Image: Archant)

1.Vacuum Sealer by Sous Vide Tools

If you haven’t heard of sous vide, it’s basically a posh way of saying ‘water bath’. Ingredients are bundled up in a neat plastic parcel and immersed in water heated to precisely the correct temperature to yield the best end result. It’s a pretty fancy way of cooking meat to tender deliciousness, and can give excellent and interesting results with fish and veg. This machine has a moist/dry setting and an elevated sealing platform to stop liquid entering the chamber – you don’t want your gravy going everywhere. It’s quite compact and easy to use for sealing your ingredients in before using the second item on our list…

2. IVide Circulator

With hints of apple, this smoked mackrel was delicious thanks to the smoking gun gadget Picture: Neil Didsbury (Image: Archant)

Sous vide machines can be very pricey, coming in at several hundred pounds. And where would you put it anyway if you’ve already got a Kenwood mixer, food processor, juicer etc? This handy device (around £100) is similar in size to a hand blender and simply pops into your saucepan. Using an app pre-loaded with over 600 recipes, select the correct temperature and time, then sit back and let it work its magic.

3. Sage Smoking Gun

Get all the impact of smoke, without mucking about with fire or biscuit tins! Simply put wood chips in the chamber, set light to it and transform fish, cheese, meats, sauces, nuts, cocktails and more in only 30 seconds. Use oak with strong meats such as lamb or beef. Sweet hickory is perfect for ribs or chicken. Maple is very subtle, and ideal for any poultry. And apple wood chips will give you deliciously smoked cheese.

Steaks become so succulent after spending an hour in hot water thanks to Ivide Circulator Picture: Neil Didsbury (Image: Archant)

4. Everdure Cube

From Heston Blumenthal himself comes this portable charcoal barbecue. Many kitchens are investing in super-trendy Big Green Eggs, but they are prohibitively expensive for the average home cook. This one is compact, cool to touch, comes with storage areas for your food and coal, and gets going pretty quick. Use it just outside the kitchen door (don’t smoke yourself out) when you want those charcoal vibes without making a big fuss about it. Or chuck in the car for beach visits and picnics.

Vaccum seal meat in seconds thanks to this nifty gadget Picture: Neil Didsbury (Image: Archant)

5. ISI Gourmet Whipper

This will turn you into one of ‘those’ people – a show-off. But you won’t care as you delight your friends with frothy soups, light sauces and homemade aerated chocolate. If it was good enough for Ferran Adria at El Bulli, it’s good enough for you!

The Sage smoking gun is a favourite of Lee Cooper, development chef at ICE Picture: Neil Didsbury (Image: Archant)