Small Kitchen Appliances

How many small appliances does the average household need? Look around and start counting. You will be surprised how quickly the numbers add up.  Now I need to qualify just what constitutes a small appliance. I started to say anything that fits on the kitchen counter, but realized someone will say does a microwave count? My answer is no. Lets just consider those that plug in and can be moved around easily.

Depending on your counter space you must choose carefully those that are most frequently used. Number one is probably the coffee pot and next the toaster. Here you have a choice in the pop-up style or toaster oven. From personal experience I highly recommend a toaster-oven style. They have improved these over the last few years and are so much more flexible. They even have convection capability, timers and a special setting for pizza. This is almost as wonderful and the popcorn setting on the microwave!

When space is at a premium the under-counter styles can be very helpful. I love my electric can opener and it is mounted under the cabinet. Also I have a cordless, under-mount single-beater mixer that comes in very handy for small jobs. This stays charged and ready for use. If you bake much you probably have a larger stand mixer.

           The heavy-duty ones can weigh over 20 pounds, so they usually must be left on the counter top for convenience of use. There are lightweight stand mixers if you look past the big boys and I can tell you from experience mine will mix two cakes at once and lives on the pantry shelf.

Moving on to specialty appliances. Some appliances have very specific tasks and others duplicate pans you already have. I admit there is no way around a waffle iron. If you and your family like homemade waffles then just bite the bullet and buy a waffle iron. Most of them come with extra plates for grilling sandwiches or recently the panini style of mixed meat sandwich could be prepared on this appliance. You will need the type of waffle iron whose hinge allows for thick sandwiches to be grilled. There is a little-known special appliance called a Brisker. The Brisker looks like a breadbox and is often mistaken for one. Do not put bread in it. A Brisker has a small low level heat element in it that keeps crackers, cereals, nuts, chips and such items fresh. Around the coastal areas, where high humidity is prevalent, this is a nice thing to have.

The slow-cookers or Crock Pots are a handy appliances some people would not live without, but could you do the same thing with your oven? I guess it would depend on how long you will be absent or how much you wanted to cook of one item.

Electric woks are a kind of a specialized appliance, if you only think in terms of Asian cooking, but as a deep fryer with a controlled temperature it works for small amounts of frying. It takes less oil and has a nice drip rack on the side.  For frying fish or shrimp for a small group, using a wok is easier than getting out a big deep fry cooker and using a large amount of oil.

Have you been counting as you read this piece? Think about some impulse item you might have picked up or maybe you received as a gift but never really used it much. Is it taking up storage space in your kitchen? I haven’t even mentioned blenders, food processors, multiple Crock Pots of different sizes, food grinders and the list goes on. It is easy for these items to fill up space until your shelves and or cabinets no longer offer any workspace – I am going to get rid of at least one Crock Pot!