10 Things You Need to Have the Coziest Winter Ever

Some people can’t get through winter without their snow pants and their annual ski trips. Serious home cooks like you? Well, you can’t get by without lots and lots of homemade soups, stick-to-your-ribs toasty sandwiches, and deep red wines. To help you get as cozy as possible, we decided to round up our favorite winter tools and gadgets. Stock up now and we’ll talk about ice cream makers and grill tools in a few months—we hope.

1. Instant Pot 6-Quart Duo Plus, $120

You’ll pull out your Instant Pot all year round, but you’ll especially want to use it in the winter. See, the seven-in-one multi-cooker is key for making pasta, soup, risotto, and more. We even have an exclusive line of Instant Pot Starters so that you can spend more time snuggled in front of the fireplace and less time hunched over a cutting board.

2. Whirley Stainless-Steel Induction Popcorn Maker, $50

We give you full permission to hunker down with a good book or movie for the next few hours. Just don’t forget the popcorn! This old time-y, hand-cranked stovetop popper makes up to six quarts of perfect popcorn in less than three minutes. The patented stirring system keeps the kernels in constant motion so that they won’t stick or scorch. Add butter to taste (see number 7 on this list) or try any of our special popcorn seasonings (we even teamed up with Questlove to make three exclusive flavors).

3. Kitchen Torch, $50

Even if you’re not one to make crème brûlée all that often (or ever), you still need a kitchen torch. For one: It’s a good tool to experiment with to really understand and see first-hand how heat can transform ingredients. Secondly, it’ll come in handy when you want to melt cheese or brown the top of tarts. And third: It’s the secret weapon to making our Brûléed Cappuccino.

4. Williams Sonoma Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate, $12

Hot chocolate basically is the definition of a cozy winter. Salted caramel hot chocolate? That’s even cozier! Inspired by the hot chocolate served in Parisian cafés and made with a custom blend of Guittard’s finest semisweet and milk chocolates, this mix is as fancy as it is indulgent. Of course, we have a few other hot chocolate mixes, should you find yourself craving something different.

5. RBT Electric Corkscrew Wine Opener, $100

A glass of red wine (carefully consumed) on the couch? Yes, please! To make that happen, you’ll need this electric corkscrew. The only thing better than the way it looks is the fact that it automatically gets to work as soon as you put it on a bottle of wine—no dealing with buttons or levers—so it’s extra useful when you’re snuggled up and feeling lazy.

6. Le Creuset Classic Tea Kettle, $100

This Le Creuset tea kettle is just as classic as the brand’s signature Dutch oven. For good reason, too: It’s gorgeous and it’s one of the most effective tea kettles out there. It boils water in a jiffy, lets you know when it’s ready, and is extremely easy to pour out of. Plus, it comes in nine fun colors.

7. All-Clad D3 Tri-Ply Stainless-Steel Butter Warmer, $70

As its name implies, this cute little stainless-steel saucepan is just the right size for melting butter (for, say, baked goods or that popcorn we mentioned earlier). But it’s so much more than just a butter warmer. In it, you can warm syrup, hard-boil a few eggs, heat up soups and sauces, or reduce berries to top a slice of pie.

8. Cuisinart Griddler Five, $100

A good sandwich is the answer for summertime lunch, which means that a panini is the answer to winter lunch. Honestly, how good does a gooey grilled cheese sound right about now? That’s where this Griddler comes in. You can use it as a panini press, a griddle (Sunday morning pancakes!), or even as a grill (because who doesn’t crave a burger in February?).

9. Staub 6-Quart Cast-Iron Round Wide Cocotte, $280

If you have plans to make any stews, braises, or chili, you really do need a Dutch oven. Staub is one of the best names in the business and this six-quart option is sure to be just the right size for any recipe you decide to make. This is the kind of pot you can let simmer on the stove all day long.

10. Breville The Smart Oven Pizzaiolo Pizza Oven, $800

No need to brave the cold to go pick up a pizza. This indoor new pizza oven from Breville reaches up to 750°F and cranks out pies that’ll rival the ones from your favorite takeout place. Because you can’t really have a Netflix night without a piping hot, cheesy pizza.