Countertop Kitchen Appliances
Meal preparation can be made easier and faster with countertop kitchen appliances. Countertop kitchen appliances, like an appliance to brew your coffee, can make your space more enjoyable. Often, you don’t know how much you will appreciate a dedicated appliance until you own it. Dare I say that some small appliances make cooking more fun…slicing, dicing and heating in that special way that makes it more enjoyable, fancy and actually better.
I know that an appliance can definitely dice much better than I can. Today’s countertop appliances are not the gaudy, clunky appliances of yesteryear, most are gorgeous…stainless, retro and color coordinated to your kitchen. They bring aesthetic appeal as well as greater function to your kitchen.
Air Fryer
The Air Fryer is the new must have in today’s kitchen. We love our air fryer for anything from the kids chicken nuggets and french fries, to brussel sprouts and easy desserts. It is often a multi-function appliance that does a superior job to cooking in your oven and much easier than and less mess than frying with oil.
It definitely produces a crispier product than alternative cooking methods. They even have air fryers that pair with your phone and can start without touching the machine. Our family has a Ninja air fryer and we use it on a regular basis. We love that it is easy to use and clean. The CORSORI is a best seller on amazon and is better suited for smaller spaces.
Stand Up Mixer
When I got married, this was the first thing that we registered for. It only came in white then. Now, the sky is the limit in colors and finishes. It can be modern and sleek or retro. If you enjoy creating baked goods, this is the countertop appliance for you. It is worth taking up the space on your counter and it doesn’t have to be an eyesore.
This appliance has all the needed attachments to save your hands and arms from kneading and mixing. The golden standard is the classic kitchen aid in black or white, but also comes in fab mod colors. A less expensive version that gets great reviews on amazon is the Kitchen in a Box stand up Mixer. This also comes in several colors and may be more appropriate for apartment living.
Coffee Maker
If you are a coffee drinker, then a coffee maker is of course a must. In our house, we have a cold brew drinker and a drip brew drinker. So, we own both of the setups. Since we have a split brew household, we love the single serve Keurig coffee makers both for the speed and so we don’t have to brew an entire pot for one person. We do own a full pot coffee maker as well for entertaining and holidays.
Our favorite Keurig (and we have tried them all) is the Keurig K-Supreme Plus Coffee Maker. We love the taste it produces and you can fill the well so it lasts for many days for one person. If you are looking for fun colors, the Keurig K-Mini is a must. Our favorite 12 cup coffee maker for entertaining is the Cuisinart 12 Cup Programmable Coffeemaker with Thermal Carafe. We love the thermal carafe and the sleek styling.
Blender
The blender has taken on a whole new life in my house now that I have teenagers. Smoothies and protein shakes are always whizzing in the blender in my house. We own the ninja and highly recommend it. It is a professional grade and is used a lot in my house.
My family loves the to go cups. You make your shake right in the cup, pop off the top and go. Another great option is the Vitamix A3500 Ascent Series Blender. It blends just about anything like a dream and cleanup is simple.
Toaster
In our home we have both a toaster oven and a toaster. Our toaster oven is highly used for anything from pizza to small casseroles, but when it comes to toasting everyone prefers the toaster. Toasters have come a long way. They are fast, accurate and look great on your counter. There is a toaster out there to match your kitchen decor.
The highly rated Cuisinart Metal Classic in Brushed stainless is our favorite. We own this model in my house. It has two presets that you can leave for your favorite two items. It is fast and easy to clean with two pull out crumb drawers. We could not talk about toasters without mentioning the Mueller Toaster. A great value, toasts great, is available in 4 colors and the retro style is simply adorable.
Bread Maker
I owned a bread maker 20 years ago and they are making a comeback thanks to TikTok. They are so much better this time. They are sleek, easy to use and take up much less counter space. So user friendly, today’s bread machines make creating a loaf of bread fun.
Use them for bread but also fun items like jam and pizza dough. An amazon best seller, the Cuisinart Bread Maker, has a vertical bread pan that really helps on counter space. If you are looking for retro colors, the Neretva comes in green and mint green.
Toaster Oven
I don’t know about your family, but my family could not live without a toaster oven. They do take alot of space on the counter, but it is the most used counter appliance in my kitchen. Toaster ovens are a breakfast favorite. From English muffins, to pizza, to left overs, they really do save on heating up the big oven.
Our favorite low profile oven if you are short on space is the Breville Mini Smart Toaster Oven. It has one button easy functions to make your mornings quick and easy. The Cuisinart TOB Chef’s Convections Toaster Oven has all the bells and whistles. It even comes with a pizza stone.
Espresso machine
Now, an espresso machine might seem like an extravagance, but if it is your drink of choice and you purchase one frequently, a machine of your own could end up being a money saver. If you are looking for a compact espresso maker, the Calphalon Compact Espresso machine has a sleek and slim design. It gets great reviews for taste and ease of function.
The Breville Baristas Express Espresso Machine is relatively easy to get going (as far as espresso machines go), even for a first timer.
Microwave
The almighty microwave. We can’t write an article on countertop kitchen appliances without mentioning the microwave. A staple in American kitchens, the microwave oven is not always hung or stashed underneath a counter. It is sometimes placed front and center on a counter. We not only want it to function superbly, but look good while it is zapping our latest takeout order. It is used today for quickly re-heating, cooking or defrosting.
You will want to look for convenient preset buttons – anything from popcorn to a baked potato. Also, size is important. If you are limited on space, you want to make sure it can at least fit a full size dinner plate. Two of our favorites both have the wanted functionality in two different looks. One is stainless steel with pre programmed menus for items like pizza and potatoes, one touch access buttons and includes an air frying capability…bonus! The second option has a cool, retro look with similar functions as the stainless steel option, but no air fryer functionality.
Slow Cooker
Everyone needs the classic slow cooker. With all of the super easy recipes on Pinterest these days, a slow cooker makes it easy to whip up dinner for the family without having to be there at the time.
We love our Hamilton Beach crock pot. It has a great display and is simple to clean. We throw the crock right into the dishwasher when we are finished. It has a meat probe that will turn the crockpot off to warm when the temperature is reached.
Soda Maker
The soda maker recently made an appearance in our household at the time I am writing this article. We have had the Soda Stream Terra for about 6 months and I have to say that it has almost replaced our canned soda purchases.
Simple to operate, I usually fill the bottle with sparkling water from the soda stream and place that in the fridge next to the flavorings. That way, I can add whatever flavor I feel like at the time I am pouring a glass. My favorite is the strawberry watermelon. If I need a little pick me up, they have some energy drink flavors as well.
Electric Kettle
A must have for frequent tea drinkers, electric kettles are now modern and sophisticated. The kettles of today are beautiful too. A great addition to your counter to add a little character.
The COSORI Electric Kettle has an adorable gooseneck and is rated 5 stars with around 15,000 reviews on amazon. If you are looking for something a bit more utilitarian, the Mueller Kettle might fit the bill and is a great value. With it’s LED technology, you will know at a glance when your water is done.
Juicer
If you can’t go a day without your custom juice, a juicer might just be the counter gadget for you. Juice shop juices are hugely expensive and may have added sugars that you did not want in the first place.
The Hamilton Beach Juicer gets great reviews and is reasonably priced. The Breville Juice Fountain Cold Plus Juicer is more expensive, but a bit more sleek and streamlined if you intend to leave it out on your counter. The Breville is very fast and easy to clean.
Can Opener
Everyone needs a can opener, but do you need an automatic countertop can opener? If your hands find it difficult to use a manual can opener, then an automatic can opener will definitely help you out.
The Hamilton Beach Electric Automatic can opener will take up very little space on your counter. It is reliable and easy to use in a sleek, stainless steel design. Automatic can openers have always been a useful item in the kitchen.
Food Processor
Food processors have been around for awhile and make slicing, shredding, dicing and kneading effortless. It is important that a food processor is easy to use and clean or you are likely to forgo the food processor for the manual method.
Our first pick is the Cuisinart 14 Cup Food Processor. It rates very high among users and the parts are dishwasher safe. The Ninja BN601 boasts a high power at 1000 Watts and can process some of the most challenging ingredients.
Coffee Grinder
When beans are not ground properly, a poor cup of coffee will result. We have found that burr grinding results in a better cup of coffee because you get a more uniform grind. You can dial in your grind to get the perfect cup of coffee for you.
With almost 45,000 reviews and almost 5 stars at the time of this article, the Cuisinart DBM-A Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill has a large hopper so you won’t have to worry about doing multiple grinds.
Ice Maker
If you have a backyard oasis or pool where everyone loves to gather, an ice maker may be a welcome addition to your kitchen. It is something that you wish you had had earlier – ice always at the ready for cold drinks.
The Frigidaire EFIC189 Compact Ice maker is perfect for those hot days or a companion for nursing injuries. Have fresh ice in minutes. It comes in several colors and stainless steel to blend in seamlessly with your kitchen.
Electronic Garden
Electronic indoor gardens use hydroponics to grow the plants. Hydroponics use water based nutrients instead of soil. So, there is little to no mess. The SereneLife Smart Indoor Garden System is a great value and can hold up to 6 pods.
Whether you have a small kitchen or a grandiose kitchen, countertop kitchen appliances can make you kitchen run more efficiently. More importantly, dedicated appliances can make you a better chef and make cooking more fun!
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