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Holiday hosting can be stressful, especially when you’re left with a mound of leftovers that can either become a gift or a burden depending on how prepared you are. According to the USDA, American households waste approximately 30 to 40 percent of food, especially during the holiday season.
But having a well-equipped kitchen featuring essential tools—such as reliable food storage containers, a quality microwave for quick reheating, and an air fryer to breathe new life into day-old dishes—can help. You’ll preserve leftovers, reduce waste, ease post-holiday stress, and maybe even save money.
Be sure to stock up on these kitchen items to better handle holiday leftovers.
Food Storage Containers
Photo: Amazon
Let’s start with the basics: leftover storage. The iDesign Recycled Plastic Refrigerator Bin Set features BPA-free, shatter-resistant bins made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled plastic. These clear plastic containers are designed to have a modern, clean look and integrated ledges and handles for stacking and streamlined organization. The set includes one berry bin, one small divided bin, one large divided bin, two small bins, one egg bin, and one bottle storage bin.
What our tester says: “We found that these clear plastic containers keep food fresh in the refrigerator for about a week. We liked how well they stacked on top of each other, making them ideal for efficient storage in tight spaces.” —Debbie Wolfe, Product Tester and Writer
Hot Plate
Duxtop 1800-Watt LCD Portable Countertop Burner
Buy at AmazonPart two of a large family feast? The Duxtop Countertop Burner Induction Hot Plate is a compact single burner, making it possible to work on a larger feast more than what your stovetop typically fits—and store between uses. It is designed with two types of cooking modes: power and temperature. In power mode, 20 preset power levels give you control over how quickly the top-rated hot plate heats. In temperature mode, 20 preset temperature settings allow you to set precise temperature settings for common cooking methods, such as frying or sautéing. Last but not least, we like how easy its nonstick glass surface is to clean.
Microwave Convection Oven
Breville Combi Wave 3-in-1 Convection Microwave
Buy at AmazonGo beyond just zapping leftovers in the microwave. More than just one of our favorite convection ovens, the Breville Combi Wave 3-in-1 Convection Microwave also works as an air fryer, microwave, and even indoor grill. This model’s Element iQ system intuitively cooks food—one less thing for home chefs to worry about. It also comes with a Fast Combi and Cook from Frozen preset, a Power Smoothing inverter for even heat distribution, and a controllable turntable. There are also functions such as Smart Cook, Smart Reheat, Smart Defrost, a Bit More, and +30 Instant Start buttons, all of which are displayed on a control panel and large digital display.
Food Processor
Cuisinart Mini-Prep Food Processor
Buy at AmazonIf you’re looking to reimagine your holiday fare, consider a food processor to make quick work of mincing fresh herbs or pureeing roasted vegetables into a new soup dish. The Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor is ideal for small food preparation, from chopping herbs to finely grinding hard cheese. Its versatility lies in its efficient 250-watt motor and special auto-reversing SmartPower blade, which will process both soft and hard foods in the 24-ounce work bowl.
Air Fryer
Instant Vortex Plus 6-in-1 6-Quart Air Fryer
Buy at AmazonAir frying offers a great way to reheat your favorite appetizers and sides. The Instant Vortex Plus 6-in-1 6-Quart Air Fryer stands out given its speed, versatility, and ease of use. It boasts six preset programs: air-fry, roast, broil, bake, reheat, and dehydrate. EvenCrisp technology gives food a crispy exterior and tender interior while using up to 95 percent less oil than deep frying. This powerful air fryer features an extra-large air fryer basket and convenient touch control display so you can access your favorite settings with the tap of a button. Best of all, cleanup is a breeze because of the dishwasher-safe fryer basket.
Slow Cooker
Breville BPR700BSS Fast Slow Pro Slow Cooker
Buy at AmazonWhen serving up a fresh side to accompany your reheated main, try the ever-versatile Breville Fast Slow Pro Slow Cooker. With 11 functions, it can take the place of a slow cooker, pressure cooker, rice cooker, stockpot, and a long list of other devices. Its easy-to-read bright digital display keeps you apprised of everything going on inside the cooker, from its internal temperature to the pressure level. The display also changes color as the device moves through pre-warm, cook, and warm, so you can check the status of your dish from across the room. Finally, the included steam basket and rack expand your meal options.
Countertop Oven
Ninja 12-in-1 Smart Double Oven
Buy at AmazonThe Ninja 12-in-1 smart double oven is a countertop oven with two independent cooking sections for cooking or reheating. The sections are sealed, preventing smells from transferring between them—that means savory dishes and sweets can both be on the menu. And if the name didn’t give it away, this countertop dual oven features 12 cooking functions for the ultimate versatility. Use just the Top Rapid Oven for quick snacks, sides, and sheet pan meals; the larger Bottom Convection & Air Fry Oven excels at larger roasts, bakes, and air frying. You can also sync both independent ovens to cook a full-course meal that finishes cooking at the same time with Smart Finish technology.
Compost Bin
Epica Kitchen Countertop Compost Bin
Buy at AmazonAnd for what’s leftover after the lefotvers, we recommend a countertop compost bin. Epica’s cylindrical design boasts a 1.3-gallon capacity, making it the ideal size for most households, while still slim enough to conveniently tuck into the corner of a countertop. This bin is molded from one piece of stainless steel, ensuring it won’t leak. The material also doesn’t absorb smells, and a replaceable activated-charcoal filter in the airtight lid increases odor control. (Bonus: The bin is dishwasher-safe and the filter can be handwashed between replacing it every 6 months.)
