I think Next’s Gingerbread hot chocolate serving set is the upgrade you need this hosting season

by Furnishly | Oct 23, 2026 | Design Inspiration

It may still be too early for Christmas cheer for many, but I just spotted what I think is about to be a must-have for the cosiest time of the year: Next’s new Gingerbread Hot Chocolate Station (£45).

This year’s Christmas decor trends have all embraced a return to the traditional motifs of the festive season that we all know and love from our childhood – gingerbread included. And seeing as Next has already had a huge hit with its sellout gingerbread Christmas tree skirt, it seems plausible that this adorable hot chocolate station kit could go the same way.

Here’s a closer look at this set which is sure to delight the whole family once December rolls around if you want to put a charming hot chocolate station idea into practice in your own home.

If Google Trends are anything to go by, there’s a growing appetite for DIY hot chocolate stations in the UK – the term is reportedly up 12% to +18% year on year. If you want to stage your own sweet treat display, then this set feels like something that you’d be able to pull out of storage year after year to make use of.

Dedicated hot chocolate makers, which might have prompted the surge in at-home stations, have been hugely popular since the launch of The Velvetiser by Hotel Chocolat back in 2018. With a jug design that carefully whisks all kinds of chocolate (including your favourite high street bars) into a silky hot drink, these frothers can also double up for use alongside the best coffee machines if you’re a latte lover.

Or, Salter’s The Chocolatier is an alternative kind of appliance that’s been a huge hit with those looking for a more affordable version – I loved it when I tried it out at home. Whichever hot chocolate maker you opt for (or if you’re a purist for the hob method!), a serveware set made for the occasion is always going to be a hit when you’re hosting or just entertaining your own family.

There’s certainly one customer, who has awarded the set a five-star review already, who’s impressed by its quality. ‘It really is lovely and very well made’ said the reviewer. ‘I think the mugs could also be used to hold dipping sauces, hummus, etc. I really am delighted with my purchase and can’t wait to use it over the festive period’.

Given that the nights are well and truly drawing in now, a hot chocolate station might be just the thing to brighten your spirits as we make our way towards Christmas. Can you see the appeal in this whimsical set?

Sorry microwave meals, Tefal is revolutionising solo dining with the UK’s first ‘personal cooker’

by Furnishly | Oct 22, 2026 | Design Inspiration

In the height of summer, I was introduced to Tefal’s latest innovation, the ‘YumMeal ’. At that point in time, the clever appliance was so new (and revolutionary) that it didn’t even have a name. However, it had a clear USP that intrigued me: a ‘personal cooker’ that aimed to make cooking for one easier, and dare I say, more exciting?

The new YumMeal from Tefal combines air frying and induction cooking into one relatively small appliance (23cm x 26cm x 36cm) that looks a little like a waffle maker. It has a built-in enamel bowl that you not only prep and cook food in, but also eat directly out of. It’s designed to be the perfect kitchen-to-sofa appliance, whipping up meals in just 15 minutes- a game-changer for anyone cooking for one.

I currently live with a partner, but before that, I spent a good 10 years cooking for one. Over that time, I grew frustrated that nearly every recipe involved cooking for two, so I’d have to eat it over two nights or force dinner on one of my hungry flatmates. So I was delighted to find that Tefal were finally going the extra mile to make one-person dinners feel celebratory.

While I’m impressed by the YumMeal concept, I do have questions about how likely it is to transform solo dining. It has a RRP of £199.99, which feels steep when you can pick up a compact Ninja air fryer for £109 at John Lewis, the best air fryers are the speedy appliance I usually turn to when cooking a quick dinner for one these days.

However, the cost of Tefal’s new gadget is justified when you consider it’s two appliances in one: an air fryer that can crisp, and an induction hob that can cook and simmer. It essentially replaces a full kitchen ecosystem, with the added perk that the two functions can be used together at the touch of a button.

The YumMeal is not quite as easy as shoving a ready meal in the microwave, something I do also turn to when my partner is out for the evening, which is why I can’t see this product replacing them in my small kitchen. But I think where this appliance shines is as an investment for students who are trying to claim space in a shared kitchen or anyone who lives alone and hates reheating leftovers/enjoys being more creative with dinner.

If I still lived alone, I can see myself batch-prepping ingredients at the start of the week, and then using the YumMeal to make cooking from scratch as quick, easy and cost-effective as possible. Tefal also included the recipe for a one-person lemon drizzle cake as part of the launch, which piqued my interest for those days when you’re craving a single-portion sweet treat.

I haven’t personally tested the YumMeal, but from what I saw when it was being demoed at the Tefal showcase, it has alot of potential. I can’t wait to put it to the test and see if it really could replace the microwave meal for kitchens across the UK.

Alternatives

Jamie Oliver’s secret weapon for fast weeknight meals might already be on your kitchen worktop

by Furnishly | Oct 22, 2026 | Design Inspiration

Jamie Oliver is back – this time with a new book (and an accompanying TV show!) with a simple aim: showing you how to cook balanced, tasty meals at home in 20 minutes flat.

And if you thought that the famed British chef’s foray into the world of the best air fryers last year with his book Easy Air Fryer (£13 via Amazon) was a flash in the pan, then think again. He’s been turning to his trusty air fryer in his new book to cut down cooking times, proving that one of these ultra-convenient appliances is the way to go in the long term if you’re time-poor but committed to eating well.

Here’s how he’s been using his air fryer (and pressure cooker too!) to get his meals under that all-important 20 minute mark.

The star recipe I’ve found so far in the new book is Jamie’s ‘Air Fryer Arancini’ which, in Jamie’s words, relies heavily on getting the cooking process going as quickly as possible. For this, there’s no better appliance for Jamie to call on than that of his trusty air fryer. That’s no surprise given how much faster they are to preheat, as well as cook in general, versus a standard oven.

The air fryer that Jamie used in his TV show, the Tefal Easy Fry Dual Air Fryer & Grill (£147.99 via Amazon), is one that we’ve tested here at Ideal Home. And one of the things our expert Home Economist liked most about it during her review was that it didn’t even need a preheat setting to beat her oven on cooking times.

In the recipe, which also features helpings of courgette, the speedy cooking time is achieved thanks to the arancini spending just 15 minutes in the air fryer which is significantly less than the usual baking time in an oven.

As well as using an air fryer to cut down cooking times, Jamie also employs the use of a pressure cooker to whip up a bolognese in under twenty minutes. The pressurised element of something like an Instant Pot can often make people anxious to use them but just like an air fryer, they’re a genius buy if you’re all about cutting down on food prep time.

In the recipe Jamie uses his pressure cooker on high heat to cook his mince and veg in 10 minutes flat, leaving him plenty of time to get on with other parts of the meal unobstructed. When our reviewer Helen tried the Instant Pot Pro (which is rated as the best multicooker in our guide) she also used the high pressure setting to cook a lentil curry in quick time, proving how handy these appliances are for cutting down the actual time of cooking.

If you want more inspiration on how to whip up tasty, healthy meals for the whole family this autumn then tune into Jamie’s 20 Minute Meals on Mondays at 8pm on Channel 4. He’ll be cooking recipes from his new book in one unedited shot to make sure they’re actually timely for you to make at home!

Ninja’s sellout alternative to an air fryer is finally back in stock – here’s why you’ll want to snap up the 2-in-1 appliance asap

by Furnishly | Oct 21, 2026 | Design Inspiration

Ninja‘s first ever air fryer microwave is now back in stock, available for £359.99 via the brand’s website, after selling out completely shortly after it was first released.

If you’re looking to save worktop space by combining the convenience one of the best air fryers with the reheating powers of a microwave then the Ninja Crispi will absolutely tick your boxes – it earned 4.5 stars in our recent Ninja Crispi air fryer microwave review after being put through its paces by our expert Home Economist Helen McCue.

Not every microwave air fryer combo is made equal – some of the early iterations we tried out here at Ideal Home were not worth the money spent on them – but the Crispi Ninja has finally cracked the code. Here’s a closer look at why this hybrid buy was a sellout success the first time around.

One of the things that impressed our reviewer Helen most about the Ninja Crispi was that it managed to harness the power of one of the best Ninja air fryers without compromising on microwave ability. In fact, it combines the best of both worlds with its FusionCrisp setting which allows you to use the two modes in conjunction to seriously speed up meal times. According to Helen, this hybrid setting is where this appliance ‘really shines’.

Another thing that stands out about the Crispi is that it’s easy to use with controls that don’t take a learning curve to figure out. If you’ve used any Ninja appliance before you’ll know that user experience is always prioritised over complication.

The news of the release of the Ninja Crispi was very well received here in the UK, where kitchens tend to be smaller and multi-functionality is always appreciated. Though this combi model isn’t exactly small, it will allow you to condense two spots on your worktop into one, freeing up valuable space.

If you’re a fan of a streamlined, tidy kitchen, there will be plenty of appeal in this fairly sleek product.

If you’re interested in investing in the Crispi to simplify your appliance set up then I’d recommend acting sooner rather than later – this is certain to be a second time sellout!

The prettiest air fryer on the market just got upgraded – Our Place fixed the one thing holding the original back

by Furnishly | Oct 6, 2026 | Design Inspiration

Air fryers are not pretty things, on the whole, but Our Place’s new Wonder Oven Pro (available from today for £295) might just be able to change your mind on the aesthetic value of these ever-useful appliances.

When the brand’s first-ever take on one of the best air fryers, the Wonder Oven, was released in 2024 it kickstarted a trend for better looking appliances with wider colour options. As per my review, though its charms are hard to resist, it is very small and therefore suitable for one to two people only.

That’s where the Wonder Oven Pro comes in with a much bigger capacity and jazzed-up controls (compared to simple knobs on the original). Here’s a full look at this devilishly sleek new appliance from one of my favourite cookware and tableware brands.

Our Place is a brand best known for its colourful (and practical) Always Pans, which have a shape that make them so useful for everyday, multifunctional cooking. It’s also my go-to for tableware, as well as making my favourite pan ever: the Always Pan Titanium Pro.

Compared to its compact predecessor, the Wonder Oven Pro has a huge capacity to make use of for all kinds of at-home cooking – 30 whole litres of space!

This is designated across three racks inside the oven, which is similar to the popular style of toaster ovens you often find on worktops in North American kitchens. And there are eight cooking modes all in all: air fry, bake, roast, toast, grill, reheat, proof and dehydrate. That last one will be particularly handy as Christmas gets closer so that you can make candied orange slices at home all December long.

A very impressive upgraded user interface will be another big draw for anyone looking to upgrade their existing air fryer set up too. It features digital controls including a timer and adjustable temperature element as well as buttons for each of the aforementioned pre-set programs. These are great for anyone who is new to air frying to allow them to get to grips with timings.

As with its smaller counterpart, this oven also features a steamer element. Situated on the top lefthand corner, the steamer element should help inject moisture into your food during cooking rather than leaving it dry. It’s particularly good for foods like salmon and plenty of different veg.

One of my favourite things about the original Wonder Oven was the huge range of accessories that its kitted out with including an air fryer basket, which is perforated to allow your favourite foods to get that all-important crisp.

It’s the same story with the Wonder Oven Pro, which includes that same air fryer basket, a bake pan, wire racks and crumb tray. Also available to buy separately will be the brand’s Baker’s Kit and Chef’s Kit, which give this oven even more uses in your kitchen.

Of course, colour range is always a huge draw with any Our Place product and I’m sure that these three striking shades will be a hit with anyone looking to brighten up their worktops. Hopefully there are even more colours to come, too!