Essential Small Kitchen Appliances
Do look through this list of small kitchen electrics and learn about their features. If you won't use it, please don't get one. But, if you are looking for a gift for a foodie friend or relative or you are shopping for yourself, you have come to the right place.
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Buy Only What You Need
Don't Fall for Every New Appliance That Comes Out.
Since time immemorial, folks have been giving and receiving small kitchen appliances as wedding gifts. Waffle irons, blenders, toasters--you name it, it's on someone's gift registry. The amazing thing is, even if the recipients don't cook that much, they love getting these items as gifts!Maybe small appliances evoke a certain charm. Maybe they make us feel like, if we just had the right tools, we could be a gourmet chef. Let me tell you, true gourmet chefs are quite happy with nothing but an aluminum pan and a chef knife.
There is a place in our kitchens for these small kitchen appliances. They do fill a need that many of us have. So, really take a look at the kind of cooking that you do, and buy the appliances that will fit your needs.
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Look for Quality
Buy What Fits Your Needs
Most appliances these days come with so many bells and whistles that it's hard to keep them straight. While some of these extras might be useful, make sure that you do your research and really think about the way you cook. If you're not going to use the sparkly attachments, there is no reason to pay for them.In all cases, look for sturdy construction. Heavier is generally better, especially if the appliance will be used for heavy-duty cooking and mixing or for heating purposes. When buying a food processor or mixer, look for all-metal gearing. There is a trade off here: metal gears are louder, but they will last longer. The alternative is nylon gearing, which has a tendency to strip out quickly.
Ease of cleaning is also a factor. Make sure that there are not too many nooks and crannies into which foods can get stuck. Modern electronic controls eliminate the cracks around the old push-button controls. Try to find appliances that are, at least in part, dishwasher safe as well. If it takes longer to clean the appliance than it did to use it, chances are you won't use it very frequently.
In the case of toaster ovens and toasters, make sure that they have a removable crumb tray. This feature makes these appliances easier to clean and can help you avoid a fire. Too much crumb build up in your toaster or toaster oven, and you could have a dangerous kitchen fire on your hands.
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Don't Buy Small Appliances if You're Not Going to Use Them
You don't need to have the latest and greatest. Really consider how you cook, and then purchase the appliances that will make your life in the kitchen easier.
If You Could Only Choose One Small Electric Kitchen Appliance...
...choose the one that best fits your culinary needs. Not every cook's needs are the same. If you are an avid baker, you'd do well with a stand mixer. If you do a lot of knife work, you might be better off with a food processor.
The Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer
The KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixer is a thing of beauty and a real work horse in the kitchen.
Why You Need One
If you make:
Cookie Dough
Cake Batters
Whipped Cream
Meringues
Bread Dough
Why You Need This One
Powerful 325-watt motor
Pouring shield included
Tilt Head for Ease of Use
Paddle, Whip and Dough Hook Included
Available in a wide array of colors and finishes to complement your kitchen decor
The KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixer is one of the most sought after Kitchen Aid Models. Take care of it, and it will take care of you for many, many years.
The Cuisinart Food Processor
Cuisinart introduced the first food processors to the US markets in the 1970's, and they still make the best. The Cuisinart DLC-2011N PowerPrep Plus 11-Cup Food Processor is a fantastic size for home use.
Why You Need One
If you:
Grind nuts
Make dips and spreads
Make pie crusts
Don't have the greatest knife skills but still need to chop, shred or slice lots of vegetables
Why You Need This One
Wide Feed Tube
Dishwasher Safe
Bowl Locking Feature for Safety
Shatterproof Lexan Bowl
Includes a 45-minute How-To DVD and recipe book
The DLC-2011N PowerPrep Plus 11-Cup Food Processor is a powerful kitchen tool from the ultimate name in Home Food Processors.
The Cuisinart Blender
This Cuisinart SB-5600 Supreme Super 600 60-Ounce 6-Speed Stainless-Steel Blender is truly the gold standard of blenders.
Why You Need One
If you make:
Smoothies
Slushies
Adult Beverages
Pureed soups
Gazpacho
Why You Need This One
60 oz. heavy duty glass jar
powerful 600-watt motor
beautiful brushed stainless steel finish
strong stainless steel blades
easy to use push button controls
If you're looking for the only blender you'll ever need, look no farther than the Cuisinart SB-5600 Supreme Super 600 60-Ounce 6-Speed Stainless-Steel Blender.
The Krups Coffee Maker
The Krups FME4-14 12-Cup Coffeemaker will have hot coffee waiting for you every morning.
Why You Need One
If you:
Drink Coffee
Entertain Frequently
Why You Need This One
Timer function
Sleek design
12-cup carafe
Pause and Serve feature
If you are a coffee drinker, you cannot go wrong with the Krups brand. Purchase a Krups FME4-14 12-Cup Coffeemaker. You will love it.
The Dualit Toaster
The Dualit 25375 Lite 2-Slice Toaster will look great on your counter top and will make toast just the way you like it.
Why You Need One
If you toast:
bread
bagels
crumpets
toaster pastries
English Muffins
Why You Need This One
High wattage=quick toasting
Extra-Wide Slots to accommodate everything from thin-sliced bread to bagels
Slide-out crumb tray for easy cleaning
High Lift Mechanism makes it easy to remove even small items from the toaster
Stylish black and polished stainless steel body
The Dualit name means quality
Commercial rating
The Dualit 25375 Lite 2-Slice Toaster won't take up much space on your counter, but it makes a big impact in both style and features at a price that won't break the bank.
The Oster Toaster Oven
The Oster 6-Slice Convection Toaster Oven offers the speed of convection in a compact design.
Why You Need One,
If you:
Cook small meals
Like to serve warmed bread with dinner
Have kids--make English muffin pizzas!
Don't like to reheat pizza in the microwave
Why You Need This One
Convection fan means faster cooking
Holds 6 slices of bread for toast
2 rack positions
Thermostat ranges from 150 to 450 degrees, F
Non-stick interior with removable crumb tray for ease of cleaning
Baking pan and broiler insert are included
Comes in 4 colors to complement any kitchen decor
While a toaster can be handy, a toaster oven is so much more versatile. The Oster 6-Slice Convection Toaster Oven not only toasts, but reheats, broils and bakes. The convection function cuts down on cooking time and increases browning.
The Kitchen Aid Immersion Blender
The KitchenAid KHB300 Hand Blender is one of those appliances you might not realize you need until you buy one.
Why You Need One
If you want to:
puree sauces or soups right in the pan
make mayonnaise or other emulsified sauces
grind nuts or chop hard cheese
Why You Need This One
Immersion depth of 8 inches
Blade and shaft detach and are dishwasher safe
Comes with a whisk attachment for whipping cream or egg whites
Variable speeds for all your blending and pureeing needs
I love the KitchenAid KHB300 Hand Blender. It does everything a blender can do, but it's safer to use, especially with hot liquids. No need to pour hot soup in a blender; just puree right in the pan!
The Kitchen Aid Hand Mixer
The KitchenAid KHM9PWH 9-Speed Professional Hand Mixer gives you the power you need to make batters without having to get out heavy duty mixer. It's portable and light weight--perfect for smaller mixing jobs.
Why You Need One
If you:
bake cakes occasionally
need to whip just a couple of egg whites or half a cup of cream
Why You Need This One
lightweight yet powerful motor
digital display
9 speeds
Easy to clean
Comes with stainless steel beaters and whip attachments
If you are an occasional baker who does not need or want a heavy duty stand mixer, the KitchenAid KHM9PWH 9-Speed Professional Hand Mixer is the answer for which you might be searching.
The Presto Electric Skillet
The Presto 06852 16-Inch Electric Skillet with Glass Cover offers a self-contained, thermostatically controlled alternative to a frying pan.
Why You Need One
If you like to:
braise
poach
make chili
make pancakes
pan fry or deep fry food
Why You Need This One
16" base with high sides=large capacity
Tight-fitting, tempered glass lid lets you see what's cooking
Automatically maintains a consistent temperature
Fully immersible once you detach heat control=easy to clean
One of the great things about the Presto 06852 16-Inch Electric Skillet with Glass Cover is the thermostat. Set it to maintain higher temperatures for boiling and frying. Set it to maintain lower temperatures for poaching, braising and stewing.
The Most Important Small Electric Kitchen Appliance
People have strong feelings about which kitchen appliance is the most vital or necessary. Here's your chance to weigh in.
You Don't Need Every Small Electric Appliance!
Choose your small appliances wisely; make sure that they can multi-task, and buy well-made equipment. Do your homework, and your small kitchen appliances will last you for years.
Small Appliance Showdown!
KitchenAid or Cuisinart
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byKA all the way, baby!
KitchenQueen says:
Wow--that's like asking, who's your favorite child? The only reason I lean more towards KA is because of all the cool attachments they make for the stand mixer. It's like a swiss army knife for your kitchen!
Posted December 30, 2008
PotatoChef says:
Great Article!! Both brands are top notch and I would be happy with either one. My wife uses the Kitchen Aide hand mixer quite a bit. It is over 3 years old and still works fine.
Posted December 30, 2008
groovyoldlady says:
Kitchen Aid. I've had mine for YEARS and it stands up to ANYTHING. I wuv it with all my heart! Mwa, Mwa, MWA!!!! (Those are kisses. Yes. I AM weird. Thank you for noticing.)
Posted December 30, 2008
I'm a diehard Cuisinart fan!
Niko says:
I may be wrong, but I think RobotCoupe was the first company to bring food processors to the U.S. But it's Cuisinart that won the food processor contest and that's what I have. I don't have the room or the desire for a KA stand mixer. DO have room for a Vita Mix blender on the counter, though.
Posted March 09, 2009
jfield says:
I'm on the fence here, folks. I like KA for a mixer and Cuisinart for a food processor. I just try not to let them see each other!
Posted December 30, 2008
Find Your New Stand Mixer on Amazon
Other Cool Kitchen Appliance Lenses
There are many wonderful lenses spotlighting different small kitchen appliances. Check out these.-
Kitchen Aid Stand Mixers
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If you are looking for kitchen aid stand mixers for your favorite stand mixer with best price for new & discount mixers by kitchen aid, here you can review or buy kitchen aid stand mixer by choosing from the best selection from all kind of kitchen ai...
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Red Kitchen Essentials
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Red is the hottest color for kitchen accessories right now. Super popular red appliances look good in almost any kitchen but look especially great when placed on the counter in an ultra white or basic black kitchen. These red kitchen appliances also...
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Food Processors
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Food processors are a must for all kitchens. A good food processor can save you a ton of time and make cooking easy as they cut, chop, mix, dice your food. While most have motors, there are some manual devices available. Food proces...
Other Kitchen-Related Blogs
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- Fireplace doubles as pizza oven | Appliances & Kitchen Gadgets ...
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- Dacor Kitchen Appliances |Home Improvement
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Fill Their Empty Kitchens. Your Donations Count.
A Non-Profit Foundation, Planet Gumbo and their "Planeteers" provide hope and sustenance to folks in need by feeding the needy--body and soul.
Make Yourself Heard!
Please leave a comment or ask a question. I appreciate the feedback!
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Reply
- steven-g steven-g Jul 22, 2009 @ 11:28 pm
- Live and die by Cuisinart... sure they're a bit pricey but worth every penny...
great info and pics on this lens... excellent work
sg
Free Credit Report
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Reply
- ChineseKitesforKids ChineseKitesforKids May 6, 2009 @ 10:00 am
- This is a great lens. Kind of a one stop shop for all your cooking appliance needs. What I love about your lens is that you are so honest. People need to stop buying small appliances they don't use. Starting with ME! I buy every gadget they pitch on TV. LOL Exquisite lens, you get an easy 5 stars! Check out my lens for teaching Sign Language to babies and toddlers.
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Reply
- Jewelsofawe Jewelsofawe Feb 7, 2009 @ 1:49 pm
- Love this lens.
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Reply
- Francis Francis Feb 4, 2009 @ 9:27 am
- Great site! I love the "battle" concept here. Also a grewat choice of putting up Don't Buy sogns if you don;t need small appliances. I bought a magic bullet off an informercial, it still collecting dust. lol
If you have tie check my site http://www.HomeOvens.com it is a reiew site. Thank!
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These Lensmasters Know Their Food
These lensmasters focus on what interests them. And lots of what interests them is food and how to cook it. Check them out.Folks are Twitterin' about Kitchen Appliances
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- stp1101n
- Are You Looking for Commercial Kitchen Appliances? on http://ping.fm/LOsYl
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- SLIMMphoto
- @The_Legend_KN I love NFM! Best deals in town. We just got all new kitchen appliances there. Plus I picked up 3 Jay Z albums while there.
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- GCBNow
- $3 Dollar kitchen appliances at #Target, THAT'S CRAZY, Save more money, if u have a gift card, Check your Balance Here http://bit.ly/BZ4K8
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- sincereLee
- @queen_kathleen, I am jealous! I'm furnishing my kitchen in hello kitty appliances next year!
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- rockbandit
- I think Hurra Torpedo's cover of "Total Eclipse of the Heart", using kitchen appliances, always cheers me up! http://dave.ly/kitchenrock
Some Kitchen Appliance Bookmarks
Take look at these bookmarked kitchen sites.
- Let's get organized! - Hello Kitchen Design
- 10 Simple Freezer Tricks to Save You Time and Money - Winter - Lifehacker
- Declutter and Purge Your Kitchen to the Necessities, the Checklist - Cleaning - Lifehacker
- The Ten Dollar Pot Rack | Wise Bread
- Victorinox Chef's Knife Performs Like a $100+ Knife for Much Less - Kitchen - Lifehacker
by jfield
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