Bethenny Frankel says these are the two 'most underrated, affordable kitchen gadgets'

If there's one thing we can count on Bethenny Frankel for, it's her honest opinion. Whether she's reviewing handbags or dishing about which skin-care products she loves, the former Real Housewives cast member (and TikTok superstar) is not one to mince words. Now, I understand the appeal of her style and beauty hot takes, but as a former professional baker who writes about all things kitchen-related, I was especially intrigued by a recent video of hers. It was called "Best most underrated affordable kitchen gadgets," so naturally, I clicked instantly.

In the video, Frankel discusses two of the kitchen tools that, in her opinion, deserve more appreciation: a mini rice cooker and a Braun immersion blender. And you know what? She's got a point. These days, air fryers and Instant Pots get all the love, and while I'm a fan of both, there's something to be said for a pint-size appliance that's a pro at cooking grains and a handheld tool that makes pureeing a piece of cake. Here's hoping this is only the beginning of more Bethenny kitchen content, aside from chicken salad taste tests (if you know, you know).

Now, many people might think of a rice cooker as a single-use appliance that'll unnecessarily take up space in the kitchen — but don't be misled by the word "rice" in its name. "This is so inexpensive, so efficient," says Frankel. "From rice to quinoa to even other things ... like, there are secret uses for it. Cooks rice to perfection, though."

Wait, "secret uses"? Yes! This small yet mighty machine makes some mean grains, but you can also use it to make smaller portions of soup, stew, pasta, vegetables, pudding ... in fact, there's not a whole lot you can't cook in it. Yes, you can make all of these things in an Instant Pot, but I, for one, don't always feel like lugging mine out just to make a small amount of food. A mini rice cooker is also ideal for dorm rooms and smaller kitchens, and this one — which has over 33,000 perfect ratings — can keep food warm after it's cooked without overheating it.

"This is a mini rice cooker, but it is more versatile than that," wrote this fan. "It not only cooks a serving of rice for one or two people, but can make about a pint of many kinds of soup. I cooked my oatmeal, a vegetable soup and, believe it or not, a stuffed bell pepper. ... My guess is this is great for dorms and lunch rooms. Of course, you have to rinse it out, and then it is back on the counter looking cute."

"I've never been great at cooking rice in a pot, but the Dash rice cooker changed everything," raved another. "It's easy to use, cooks perfect rice every time and is super simple to clean. I love its compact size and cute design — it doesn't take up much space in my kitchen. If you're tired of burnt or mushy rice, this little cooker is a game changer. Highly recommend!"

"Perfect small-size rice cooker," gushed a generally pleased buyer. "You genuinely can't mess up when using this. My only very small critique would be the warm function ... I just wish it had a timer to turn off after 20 minutes or so. If you forget that it's going, the bottom of the rice might turn out slightly overdone. Not a big deal, though, because every other bit of it is perfectly cooked, even when left to stay on warm for longer than intended."

As for Frankel's other holy grail — "an old-school immersion blender," as she calls it — I have to agree; this is one of my favorite tools ever. Hers is a no-frills model from Braun, and she says, "I've had it since there were dinosaurs walking the earth." Speaks to durability!

What I love about these handheld gizmos is that they allow you to puree ingredients right in the vessel they're cooking in. There's nothing I loathe more than having to hoist a heavy pot of hot soup and haphazardly pour the contents into a blender, hoping I'm spared from splatters. With this, you just stick it into the pot and blitz away; I also find that it offers me more control when it comes to determining how chunky or smooth I want things.

But wait, there's more! (Said in my best infomercial voice.) This blender comes with a cup, which I like to use to make homemade whipped cream in. Seriously — I've sworn off using a whisk and a bowl, only to tire out my arms before the cream's gotten thick. I just pour the cream into the cup, submerge the end of the blender and start pulsing until it's the consistency I want. It always turns out dreamy and luscious, and takes no time (or effort). Plus, an immersion blender — one without "a briefcase full of 75 attachments," as Frankel jokes — takes up even less room than a mini rice cooker.

Thousands of Amazon shoppers swear by this one. "I've been looking for an immersion-type blender for a while and finally decided to try this simple and sturdy Braun," explained one convert. "I absolutely love it. I've been using it to make my matcha green tea, hummus, creamed soup and homemade dog food! Solid and sturdy, yet easy to use and clean."

"Much better than my old one," shared another. "Heavy, as in not a lightweight, flimsy thing. Does an excellent job pureeing, blending and, most importantly, making mayo in no time. Easy to clean."

"I've owned a variety of different wand blenders over the years, from brand-name to cheap generic, and this one beats them all by leaps and bounds," said this mostly content reviewer. "The two halves meet together solidly, so there is no wiggling of the wand as you blend. ... If I were to give any critique, it would be to the mixing cup, which is a little on the short side for my preference, but that's pretty minor."

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The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.