3 Small Kitchen Appliances That Are Actually Worth The Money And 3 That Aren’t
It’s easy to get pulled in by a great number of kitchen gadgets. They promise to make life easier, but as we all know, a lot of them just end up collecting dust. There are few small appliances that really are worth the money. The rest? You’re better off saving your counter space. Here’s a simple, no-fluff breakdown of which ones are actually useful, and which ones I’d leave on the store shelf.
Worth It: A Compact Food Processor (3–5 cup size)
This little workhorse saves serious time. It chops onions, blends sauces, purees baby food, and even kneads dough, all in a few seconds. A compact version is light, easy to clean, and fits in a drawer. You don’t need a giant model to get real use out of it. Once you have one, it’s hard to go back to chopping everything by hand, especially if you cook often.
Not Worth It: Standalone Rice Cookers (For Small Kitchens)
This might be controversial, but unless you eat a lot of rice or have the dedicated space, most rice cookers just take up too much room for a job your stove can handle. Many only do one thing, and cheaper models don’t cook rice better, they just take longer. A saucepan with a lid does the same task and is easier to store. If you want more value, a multi-cooker, pressure cooker, or high end rice cooker is a better investment.
Worth It: An Electric Kettle With Temperature Control
If you make tea, coffee, or anything that needs hot water, this is a game changer. You can pick the exact temperature, it heats quickly, and if you can get one with a goose neck spout, it elevates many coffee-making methods. Unlike regular kettles, this one doesn’t overheat water or leave you guessing. It might not seem like a big deal, but once you have one, you’ll use it every day.
Not Worth It: Juicers
Juicers are an appliance people buy when they’re turning over a new, healthier leaf, but rarely do people actually get their money’s worth out of them. They’re a pain to clean, they waste a lot of pulp, and unless you’re really committed to fresh juice every day, they mostly sit unused. Store-bought juice is often just as good for the price. Plus, blenders can do a similar job with way less mess.
Worth It: A Immersion Blender (With Attachments)
This underrated tool can do a lot while taking up very little space. Blend soups and sauces in the pot, mix dressings, whip cream, or even chop veggies if it has the right attachments. It’s simple to clean and takes up way less space than a regular blender or mixer. It’s also surprisingly powerful, especially the mid-range models. If you’re working with a small kitchen, this is one of the few tools that earns its spot and then some.
Not Worth It: Single-Use Coffee Pod Machines
Pod-based coffee machines are convenient, yes, but they’re not the best long-term option. The pods are expensive, they create a lot of waste, and the coffee quality isn’t great unless you’re paying a premium. A simple pour-over, french press, mocha pot or even a drip machine gives you more control, costs less per cup, takes just as much time, and often tastes better. If you drink coffee daily, the savings of switching from pods to beans add up fast.
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Small appliances can make cooking easier, but only when they fit your real habits. Focus on tools that do more than one job, are easy to clean, and work with your actual routine. Skip the single-use gadgets and trendy buys. Don’t flood your kitchen with things you know you’ll never use, be smart with your appliance choices!
Daniel Mitchell
