Looking for a Christmas gift they'll really love? CTV British Columbia Consumer Reporter Chris Olsen shows you some top rated best bets for around the home.
CTV News took an informal poll of holiday shoppers and found some common favourites when we asked which household gadget they liked getting the best.
One woman mentioned her Kitchen Aid.
"For making cookies, and I think that would probably be our favourite," she said.
Another woman cited a hand mixer "because you can do so much with it."
Consumer Reports recommends the Kitchen Aid Classic for $400. And, if you prefer a hand-held mixer, the Kitchen Aid 5 speed for $70.
A blender was another kitchen item that topped the list.
Consumer Reports gave top marks to the $580 Vita Mix -- great for smoothies.
For under $100, an Oster 18-speed with all metal drive and digital display was a best buy.
In coffee makers, the Cuisinart Brew Central DCC1200 got top marks. It rated excellent for brew performance, convenience, and it has an easy to handle carafe.
And if you want a machine without a carafe, the Hamilton Beach Brewstation 12-cup Summit Ultra was rated even higher, scoring 93 points out of 100 in Consumer Reports' testing.
It holds 12 cups.
And what about a toaster that actually browns evenly? The $55 Hamilton Beach digital 22502 is recommended and even has a bagel setting. For a family, consider a four slice toaster -- again Hamilton Beach topped the ratings. A non-digital version sells for $60. Digital is $10 more.
If you think a toaster oven fits the bill, the $230 Cuisinart model TOB195BCC is top rated -- it also has a convection oven feature and rated very good for toasting, baking and broiling and has a three-year limited warranty.
And if your loved one is trying to get their five to 12 servings of fruit and vegetables each day, consider a juicer. The Hamilton Beach Big Mouth Pro for $100 is a Consumer Reports best buy.
A cordless drill is another household item every home should have. So handy!
Consumer Reports recommends a number of styles and sizes, The 18-volt Porter-Cable cordless drill is a Consumer Reports best buy for as little as $150. For bigger jobs, Consumer Reports also named 18-volt drills from Hitachi and Bosch as best buys with maximum power, speed and run time. And at the top of the ratings overall is the 18-volt Dewalt.
If you're shopping for a slight person, the 18-volt Makita is the lightest, which gives it an advantage in handling.
And a favourite household gift doesn't have to cost a lot. One shopper told CTV News her favourite household gift was a $20 herb keeper which keeps those expensive herbs fresh longer. They are available at your local kitchen supply store along with other budget priced gifts to consider like bottle openers and vegetable peelers.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Chris Olsen
