A functional kitchen with convenient appliances can make or break a vacation. Whether you're travelling, heading off to college or moving to a new home, having a core bank of kitchen gadgets that travel with you can make any transition easier — and even fun.
You don't want to have to bring your entire kitchen every time you're on the go, so you should know which tools deserve a spot in your suitcase or trunk: a cordless blender, an air fryer that fits on a shelf or storage containers that don't leak. Here's how to select key kitchen essentials that can go the distance without weighing you down.
tl;dr
- You shouldn't have to sacrifice performance for portability. Look for gadgets built to travel, not just tools that happen to be small. That way they’re good enough for use at home or away.
- Shopping for kitchen gear works best when you can actually see the gear in action before you buy it.
- Sticking with trusted brands from QVC pays off when a gadget is going to get knocked around in a bag or a car.
Built to go the distance
The best travel-friendly gadget isn't necessarily the smallest one; it could be a compact gadget with a robust, durable build or one with smart features that make it intrinsically portable.
The Ninja Blast, for instance, is a rechargeable, cordless blender that doesn't sacrifice power. Its stainless steel BlastBlades can easily handle ice and frozen ingredients, it won’t leak thanks to its leakproof sip lid and it’s small enough to fit in most car cup holders. Plus you’ll get 15 blends of smoothies, dips, dressings and even salsa from a single charge — perfect for longer road trips.
The same goes for the Ninja Crispi, a glass air fryer that’s small enough to fit on a dorm-room countertop or shelf but still crisps, bakes and air-fries like a full-size fryer. And the Caraway glass food container fits in a cooler or backpack without leaking everywhere.
Shop before you buy, from wherever you are
Buying a kitchen gadget online is a gamble, especially when you're trying to picture how it'll actually look and work in a smaller space. The safest way around this is to see the product being demonstrated, whether that's on the main QVC TV channel or through its In the Kitchen and David's Recipe Corner channels. If you miss it live, every product shown on air lands in the Items Recently On Air section on the QVC website, or you can see demo videos and playback videos on the individual product pages. It’s the closest thing to trying an appliance yourself, and you can go back and see the gadgets in action multiple times before deciding whether they’re worth buying.
Names you already trust
You want to trust that your kitchen appliances and gadgets won't break, especially if you're taking them on the go. And it's easier to trust a brand with a track record. Opting for names you already trust from retailers that have stocked them for a long time means you’ll get a decent run of reviews to read — not to mention quick and easy support if something needs replacing or troubleshooting down the line.
QVC's kitchen selection leans deliberately on established names such as Ninja, KitchenAid, Caraway and Le Creuset, so you can feel confident in your purchase and have a trusted place to return when you’re due for your next kitchen upgrade or planning your next trip.
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