Having the best small kitchen appliances makes drink preparation and cooking a whole lot simpler. But which ones to add to your kitchen? It's tough, as there are hundreds of options online. We broke it down to the top 17 kitchen essentials we feel will make you the cook you've always aspired to be…
17 Small Kitchen Appliances You Can’t Live Without
Don’t worry. We have made the work easier for you by listing the top 17 small kitchen appliances and the best brand within each category.
1. Top Quality Knife Set
What’s good about this?
Most people rely on just one knife, while others prefer buying knives separately. As any chef will say, your knife skills determine how good of a cook you are. You will probably need a chef’s knife, a serrated knife, and a paring knife at the very least.
The best top-quality knife set
The Mercy Culinary Genesis 6-Piece Forged Knife Set is an impressive collection of high-quality knives for your kitchen. We love the ergonomic design as well as the non-slip handle that’s great even with wet hands. The precision-forged knife set is NSF certified and comes with a chef knife, bread knife, boning knife, utility knife, paring knife, and a knife holder.
Pros
- Knife holder makes it easy to choose a knife
- Ergonomic and non-slip
- Comes already sharp
- NSF certified
Cons
- History of rust
- Knives need regular sharpening
Summing Up
The Mercy Culinary Genesis knife set is a good starter knife set for your home kitchen. The display is fantastic for a contemporary kitchen.
2. Food Processor
What’s good about this?
A food processor is the Swiss army knife of kitchen appliances. It will process peanut butter, whipping cream, mayonnaise, and even different vegetables. Grab this handy device to prepare your vegetables or cream within minutes.
The best food processor
We couldn’t find a sturdier heavy-duty model capable of serving you better than the Cuisinart DFP-14BCNY 14-Cup Food Processor. It comes with a 14-cup work bowl, rust- and stain-resistant blades, a considerable feed tube, and one-touch operations. These seven food functions will spoil you with choices for what to prepare.
Pros
- Sturdy and durable design
- One-touch operation
- Large feed tube
- 3-year warranty
Cons
- Has some hard-to-clean areas
- Takes a while to assemble
Summing up
A food processor is a handy accessory that speeds up your cooking. With a Cuisinart DFP-14BCNY, you get unmatched reliability and convenience.
3. Hand Mixer
What’s good about this?
Anyone trying a hand at baking should know that mixing ingredients without a hand mixer is a tall order. A lightweight and super-fast mixer gets the job done right. You can use it to whip cream and mix cake batter, and even prepare bread or pizza dough.
The best hand mixer
There are a lot of hand mixers out there. If you want a well-built and high-performance hand mixer, get a Russell Hobbs Retro Style Hand Mixer. It comes with multiple speed settings plus a powerful motor.
Pros
- Easy to clean
- Powerful motor
- Multiple speed options
- Comes with multiple attachments
Cons
- Can be tricky to hold
Summing up
A hand mixer is a handy appliance for anyone who intends to home bake or even prepare pancake batter in the morning. The Braun HM5130 MultiMix is simple, but it mixes all kinds of dough or cake batter.
4. Electric Grill
What’s good about this?
Smoke can sometimes take the fun out of grilling. If you agree, then an electric grill is an excellent alternative for your kitchen. They are smokeless and do a neat job of grilling tastier and healthier food. Be sure to get a small electric grill for your kitchen that’s easy to clean.
The best electric grill
Nothing makes grilling more fun and easier than the Hamilton Beach Electric Indoor Searing Grill. It allows you to sear your meat up to 450 degrees. The electric grill features a lip and a peering window through which you can watch your meat or vegetables cook.
Pros
- Has a large grilling surface
- Comes with removable trays for easy cleaning
- Cover lid brings outdoor grilling taste
- Great temperature controls
Cons
- Teflon comes off in some instances
- Risk of the plastic melting
Summing up
If you want to grill or sear a smaller amount of food fast, an electric grill is an excellent tool. Get the Hamilton Beach Electric Indoor Searing Grill and experience superb indoor grilling.
5. Juicer
What’s good about this?
Healthy living is top on everyone’s list in this day and age. What is the number one trend in healthy diets? Juices. You can’t live without a juicer to make healthy smoothies, vegetable juices, and to easily extract lemon and orange juice.
The best juicer
We found the Meuller Austria 1100 Watt Juicer to be a beast for all your home juicing needs. The 3-inch feeding chute makes juicing your favorite fruits quick and easy. The juicer has a remarkable froth separator and juice extraction system.
Pros
- Sleek modern design
- Requires minimal prep time
- Easy to assemble and use
- Cleaning is easy; comes with a cleaning brush
- European engineered, American guarantee, 2 years
Cons
- A bit noisy
Summing up
Getting a juicer is a smart choice if you want to embrace a healthy lifestyle. You’ll pat yourself on the back as you sip a glass of carrot juice you made from the Breville 800JEXL.
6. Deep Fryer
What’s good about this?
When you need to make French fries or other deep-fried foods at home, you might just wish you had a deep fryer. These appliances bring home the restaurant feel while frying your food a lot faster. Impress your family and friends with some homemade French fries and chicken fingers.
The best deep fryer
The Presto 05470 Stainless Steel Electric Fryer allows you to safely fry your food without smoking your house or spattering, thanks to the cool-touch vented cover. It comes with an adjustable thermostat that gives you more control over your frying. The compact size makes it excellent for your small home kitchen.
Pros
- Compact design
- Heats faster and evenly
- The indicator light shows when it’s plugged in
- Doesn’t need a lot of oil
Cons
- Relatively small for a big family
- Doesn’t have somewhere to drain the fried food
Summing up
A deep fryer is great when you don’t want to go out. The Presto 05470 is an excellent option for a small household.
7. Slow Cooker
What’s good about this?
Lots of dishes require slow cooking. Slow cooking is also a great way to make broth from your oxtail or chicken. With a slow cooker, you can whip up a meal without worrying about your partner’s schedule. A slow cooker will save you energy costs compared to an oven.
The best slow cooker
Making soups, stews, broths, and stocks has never been easier. With the multiple cook-time settings, this Crock-Pot 7-Quart Oval Manual Slow Cooker makes cooking fun. Whether you are keeping food warm or working up a roast, the slow cooker has got you covered.
Pros
- Super-versatile slow cooker
- Large capacity cooker
- Highly programmable
- Cleaning is straightforward
Cons
- Can get very hot
- High heat is slow
Summing up
A slow cooker is a handy and cheaper appliance for your roasts. The Crock-Pot 7-Quart Oval Manual Slow Cooker is perfect for large families.
8. Rice Cooker
What’s good about this?
Rice is a staple food in most households. Getting the right cooked-rice results is a work of art by itself. But it doesn’t have to be that hard. A rice cooker lets you make the perfect rice every time.
The best rice cooker
The Hamilton Beach Digital Programmable Rice Cooker and Food Steamer is a useful appliance that doubles as a steamer. Not only does it cook rice perfectly, but it can also steam your veggies or chicken above your cooking rice. It comes with a countdown timer and warming option.
Pros
- Versatile
- Dishwasher safe
- Eight-cup capacity
- 2-in-1 rice cooker and steamer
Cons
- A bit slow
- Some places are hard to clean
Summing up
A rice cooker will impress your family and guests with perfect rice. The Hamilton Beach Rice Cooker and Food Steamer is like two appliances in one, making it a great choice.
9. Blender
What’s good about this?
Can a modern kitchen function without a blender? Definitely not. Blenders offer all sorts of features to simplify cooking. Blenders thoroughly mix ingredients. Or if you want to blend soups or sauces, a blender will do the job. You can even use it to make refreshing juice.
The best blender
The powerful Ninja Professional Countertop Blender comes with a 72-ounce blender pitcher and two 16-ounce cups for smoothies. We love the convenient speed settings — low, medium, high, and pulse.
Pros
- Incredible safety features
- Straightforward button options
- It can crush frozen fruits and veggies or ice
- Lightweight and sleek design
Cons
- So tall it might be difficult to store
- Does not give a smooth result with all ingredients
Summing up
A blender is a valuable addition to your kitchen. Having a Ninja Blender makes juicing faster and efficient.
10. Carbon Steel Wok
What’s good about this?
If you love single-pan meals, you need a carbon steel wok in your kitchen. Carbon steel woks heat up much faster than ordinary woks. A carbon steel wok cooks veggies in a flash. And cleanup is just as easy.
The best carbon steel wok
Cook your wok recipes faster using Souped Up Recipes’ Carbon Steel Wok. This 12.5-inch diameter carbon wok works great on an induction plate, electric stove, a gas stove, or other heat sources thanks to its flat bottom. The heat-resistant wooden lid and handles let you check your veggies safely.
Pros
- Comes with a lid and spatula
- Heats faster
- An incredible flat bottom design
- Great aesthetics
Cons
- Seasoning comes off
- The wooden handle could be better
Summing up
This carbon steel wok makes stir-frying your vegetable and wok recipes easy and fast. Souped Up Recipes offers a well-balanced and beautiful wok for your home kitchen.
11. Coffee Maker
What’s good about this?
Some people love strong coffee, while others prefer weak or decaf. Whatever your preference, a coffee maker is a must-have appliance to make your mornings easier.
The best coffee maker
If you are looking for a contemporary, sturdy model, we recommend the Hamilton Beach 2-Way Brewer Coffee Maker. This coffee maker enables you to enjoy an entire carafe or a single serving of your favorite ground coffee, just the way you like it.
Pros
- Programmable
- No-spill carafe
- Multilevel cup rest
- Makes great-tasting coffee
Cons
- Does not save programmed settings
Summing up
This coffee maker gives you the convenience of a programmable timer, so your coffee is ready when you wake up. It includes a brew-strength selector to make your coffee how you like it.
12. Induction Cooktop
What’s good about this?
An induction cooktop is a must-have kitchen appliance if you are looking for safe and innovative cookware. This cooktop’s refreshing design enhances your kitchen’s look. Even better is its ability to heat up quickly, which results in faster cooking times.
The best induction cooktop
The Duxtop 1800-Watt Portable Induction Cooktop Countertop Burner is a versatile cooktop with a vast array of features. It uses a magnetic field spot that automatically adjusts to your pan’s size to provide direct, efficient cooking heat. It tends to cook food faster than even the best gas stove. This appliance also comes with multiple safety features to prevent injuries.
Pros
- Lightweight and portable
- Beautiful and quality build
- Fast heating and cooling
- Durable and easy to clean
Cons
- Inaccurate on low temperatures
Summing up
The Duxtop 1800-Watt Portable Induction Cooktop is a superlight, efficient, and safe product. And cleaning is a breeze.
13. Toaster Oven
What’s good about this?
If you want to eat a healthy diet but don’t want to ditch your favorite fried foods, an air fryer is your best friend. This air fryer/toaster oven combo is a one-of-a-kind appliance that can revolutionize the way you cook.
The best toaster oven
The Cuisinart TOA-60 Convection Toaster Oven Airfryer is an innovative kitchen workhorse with seven functions. This versatile appliance that lets you air fry, bake, broil, toast, and convection bake. You can cook all your meals in it with less time and effort than in an ordinary oven.
Pros
- Convection capabilities
- Integrated timer
- Large, roomy interior
- Heats up quickly
- Extra accessories
Cons
- Takes up a lot of countertop space
- No replacement knobs
Summing up
More than a toaster, the Cuisinart TOA-60 is a multi-purpose kitchen appliance that lets you cook or prepare food the way you like.
14. Ice Cream Maker
What’s good about this?
Want to enjoy tasty ice cream year-round? With an ice cream maker, you can prepare yours from scratch and enjoy it with loved ones within minutes. We know a reliable, old-fashioned ice cream maker with some modern touch.
The best ice cream maker
From its design to functionality and user-friendliness, the Nostalgia Electric Bucket Ice Cream Maker With Easy-Carry Handle lets you churn the best ice cream ever. It can flawlessly whip up to 6-Quarts of frozen gelato, yogurt, or creamy ice cream. Just add your ingredients to the aluminum canister, place it in the middle of the bucket, layer it with ice and salt, and let the electric motor start. Your ice cream will be ready to serve in just 20 minutes.
Pros
- High capacity
- See-through lid
- Convenient carrying handle
- Easy-to-clean plastic bucket
Cons
- Must use salt and ice
Summing up
The Nostalgia Electric Bucket Ice Cream Maker is a handy appliance that churns up your favorite ice cream fast. The best part is that it’s easy to operate.
15. Digital Scales
What’s good about it?
A food scale is a necessary part of a modern kitchen to measure the weight of your ingredients before you cook.
The best digital scale
The EtekCity Food Scale is a versatile product that weighs both solid and liquid ingredients. This reasonably priced scale packs a lot of features into its compact and lightweight design. It includes a clear display and an auto-off function. The tare function deducts the weight of the food container to provide accurate food weight readings. This scale is aesthetically pleasing and is undoubtedly everything you need in a digital kitchen scale.
Pros
- Aesthetically pleasing
- Tare function shows you the accurate weight of your food
- Compact design takes little counter space
- Portable and accurate
Cons
- The display backlight turns off after a few seconds, making it hard to read.
Summing up
If you are looking for a precise, accurate digital kitchen scale, the EtekCity Food Scale is a safe bet. Not only is it compact, but it’s also accurate.
16. Electric Griddle
What’s good about this?
Having the right electric griddle can make your mornings a lot easier. With a griddle, you can cook your sausages, bacon, eggs, toast, and hash browns all on the same surface, saving you both time and energy.
The best electric griddle
One electric griddle that we highly recommend is the Presto 07061 22-inch Electric Griddle. This griddle’s wide cooking surface makes feeding a large crowd a breeze. Its premium nonstick surface ensures a no-mess cooking experience and easy cleanup, and it reduces the need for added oil or fat.
Pros
- Easy-to-use temperature dial
- Energy efficient
- Comes with a one-year warranty
Cons
- It is heavy and bulky
- Its nonstick surface is susceptible to damage
Summing up
With the Presto 07061, you can whip up an easy hearty breakfast for your family all at once. Cleanup is just as easy.
17. Air Fryer
What’s good about this?
If you love the taste of deep-fried food but are looking for a healthier alternative without all the oil, consider getting an air fryer. This appliance cooks food to taste deep-fried but requires little fat.
The best air fryer
One of the best air fryers in the market is the COSORI Air Fryer, Max XL 5.8 Quart, a sophisticated air fryer that comes with 11 one-touch preset cooking modes.
The COSORI Air Fryer’s sleek, compact design offers a capacity of nearly 6 quarts. And you can air fry everything from onion rings to French fries to chicken nuggets to okra. You can also link the device to your smartphone via a mobile app to receive cooking alerts and reminders.
Pros
- Cooks fast using less heat than a stove or oven
- Fries food without too much oil
- Easy to use and clean up
- It comes with lots of enticing recipes
Cons
- It is bulky
- It is expensive
Summing up
The COSORI Air Fryer might be the best choice if you want fried food cooked fast with easy cleanup.
Why Every Aspiring Cook Needs These Appliances
You've heard the expression “a good craftsman never blames her tools” right?
When you have the right cooking appliances, cooking not only is a wonderful experience, you can turn out amazing food for yourself and your family.
If you landed on this site you obviously have an interesting in the sous vide cooking method, but we know you like to experiment with all types of cooking and that's why we put together a list of all the small kitchen appliances that will make you a kitchen wizard.
Summing Up
Cooking at home just got a whole lot easier with these 17 small kitchen appliances you can’t live without.
These appliances come with nifty features to help you prepare sausages or coffee or ice cream or juice — whatever you like, fast and efficiently. They’re lightweight and user-friendly. You don’t have to splurge on top-of-the-range products; these products are affordable. And a manufacturer’s warranty backs each product.
Order your next high-tech, efficient kitchen appliance, and watch how your time in the kitchen improves.
