Worthwhile small kitchen appliances

[JohnL]

We’re working on the budget for the kitchen rehab. If it’s not mentioned we already have one (like a mixer for instance).

[JimFoxvog]

A waffle iron is the only one I use at all regularly. We have a toaster oven but probably don't use it every year. The small appliances that we use regularly aren't listed. Toaster, blender, food processor, and (a new acquisition) an immersion blender. And a food dehydrator -- but maybe it doesn't count as small.

[the-real-steve]

We bought a restaurant grade waffle maker and haven't looked back. You may already have one, but a skillet with a lid. Discovered this way too late.

We also have a commercial grade griddle. Wife fussed a little when we got it, but she hasn't looked back!

[barnhart]

We don't have any on that list.

[Ken]

I use an instant pot A LOT for making soups and curries and that sort of thing. Always just in the pressure cooker mode. They are ideal for pressure cooking but less than ideal for rice cooking, slow cooking, or sauteing. If you make lots of soups and stews then they are great.

We also have a toaster-style air fryer. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ninja-Foodi- ... /202833621
Which we also use all the time, especially for re-heating smaller dishes. Basically anything you would put in the larger oven but want to save on time and electricity. I think the toaster-oven style of air fryer is much more useful than the other style that is deep and narrow.

We also have a dedicated rice maker which we use a lot and it makes markedly better rice than the Instant Pot which also has a rice making mode.

Nothing else on the list we have or use much.

[R7ehr]

We bought a restaurant grade waffle maker and haven't looked back. You may already have one, but a skillet with a lid. Discovered this way too late.

We also have a commercial grade griddle. Wife fussed a little when we got it, but she hasn't looked back!

What waffle maker? Do you have a link?

[QuietlyListening]

We have a combo toaster oven, air fryer convection oven. I use it mostly as a toaster and a small oven to not have to use the larger oven in the summer or if I have something small to bake. Saves electricity and in the summer keeps things cooler.

[Robert]

The one thing we have that gets used a lot is the electric pressure cooker in our house. Love it and use it at least once a week and often several days a week.

[mike]

My wife really likes the Instant Pot as well. Maybe next to the electric skillet and the toaster, it is the most used small appliance.

[Ken]

My wife really likes the Instant Pot as well. Maybe next to the electric skillet and the toaster, it is the most used small appliance.

Instant Pots make a fabulous electric pressure cooker. That is really all I ever use mine for. For cooking soups and stews mostly.

They make a mediocre slow cooker because they only heat from the bottom compared to a generic cheap crock pot which heats more gently from all sides. For slow cooking you are better off just using a generic cheap crock pot. It does a better job of keeping the ingredients simmering gently at low temperature.

They make a mediocre rice cooker as well because they don't monitor moisture and adjust cook times and temperatures on the fly like the "fuzzy logic zojirushi rice cookers which make fabulous rice every time.

They also are mediocre for sauteing. A lot of Instant Pot recipes call for sauteing in the Instant Pot as one of the steps for making a stew. I never do that, I just saute on the stove with a frying pan and dump the ingredients into the Instant Pot for cooking after.

If you have a tiny dorm room or apartment and only have room for limited things then the Instant Pot can be successfully used for all those different purposes. But in a normal size kitchen it really only shines as a pressure cooker. At least that is my experience.