Before You Buy
A few questions can help you start your search for a new appliance.
- Do I have enough counter/storage space available for the product I'm considering?
- Is it available in the color/finish I desire?
- Is it easy to clean/maintain?
- Are safety ratings and reports available to guide me?
Air Fryers
- Air fryers offer fast cook times and crispy foods. You don’t need much oil for cooking, offering a healthier alternative to fried foods.
- Air fryers are available in two models, basket style and oven style. Air fryers with baskets feature a handled pull-out basket that makes it easier to toss and flip foods. Air fryer ovens use a perforated tray to cook food. Some have multiple racks for cooking more at a time.
- Choose size based on how much food you plan to cook. If you have a larger family, you’ll want a larger capacity.
- Digital controls make it easy to set cooking times and preferences.
- Air fryers with additional features, such as dehydration and baking modes, let you do more with a single appliance.
Blenders and Juicers
- Watts determine speed and power, ranging from 200 to 1,500.
- Higher wattages pulverize ice, frozen fruits and nuts more easily than lower wattages.
- Carafes range from 4 to 9 cups and are available in glass, which is heavier and offers transparency for easy monitoring; stainless steel, which is nonstaining; and plastic for light weight and handling safety. Look for bisphenol A (BPA)-free plastic to reduce exposure to carcinogens.
- Removable juicer tops make it easy to add items while blending.
- Detachable bases and blades on blenders and juicers make cleaning easier.
Tip
Check the manufacturer’s specifications carefully to find out if your appliance of choice is approved for use with both hot and cold liquids.
Coffee, Tea and Espresso Makers
- Whether you choose single-serve or full-pot brewing, make sure your appliance is pod compatible for added convenience. Coffee pods are prepackaged coffee units that eliminate the need to measure loose grounds and use coffee filters.
- Some brewers accommodate both single-serve cups, pods and loose ground coffee within a single unit.
- Popular features to consider include integrated bean grinders for the freshest-tasting coffee, temperature adjustment for those who prefer tepid or extra-hot coffee, coffee strength selectors, water filters and permanent coffee filters to reduce landfill waste.
- 24-hour programmability, pause and serve, and automatic shut-off are convenience features that are helpful when you're getting ready for work or entertaining guests.
Toasters and Toaster Ovens
- Toasters come with four to six slice openings, with the option of extra-long or extra-wide slots to handle everything from baguettes to bagels.
- Toaster ovens offer toast, bake and broil capabilities, eliminating the need to heat a large oven for cooking a small dish.
- Features, like rotisserie or convection cooking, allow you to customize your cooking experience. Rotisserie cooking rotates food in heat for more even cooking and crispier skin. Convection toasters save time and cook foods more evenly by circulating hot air with a fan.
- Some toaster ovens have an air fry function, allowing one appliance to cook multiple ways and save counter space.
Tip
Look for an automatic shut-off feature to eliminate worry about appliances overheating, damaging surrounding countertops and cabinets or causing house fires.
Countertop Microwaves
- Countertop microwaves are available between 700 and 1,200 watts.
- Watts equal cooking power. The more power you have, the faster food cooks.
- Countertop microwaves are available in all the same finishes as built-ins: white, black or stainless steel. They can be paired with a trim kit for a built-in look.
- Preprogrammed cook cycles and sensor cooking easily heat your favorite foods and drinks with a single button. Preprogrammed settings are automatically set to heat popular snacks such as popcorn. Sensor cooking checks the doneness of foods by monitoring steam and adjusting cook time automatically to avoid overcooking.
Tip
Before you shop, measure your available counter space to ensure a good fit, as countertop microwaves vary greatly in size.
Wine Chillers and Coolers
- Wine chillers and coolers maintain ideal temperatures for wine and/or beer bottles, cans or a mixture of containers (based on shelf configuration) in a built-in or stand-alone unit.
- Chilling units with automatic settings for red or white wines hold your bottles at the optimum serving temperature per varietal.
- Look for textured aluminum interiors, which maintain temperature and humidity better than other materials.
Tip
Solid doors offer the best performance. If you opt for a glass door, make sure it's UV-coated. Light can damage wine.
Mixers
- Stand mixers and hand mixers come with a variety of beater types for flexibility: Flat beaters mix ingredients without whipping, dough hooks let air into bread or pizza dough so it can rise and wire whips add air to your foods for fluffy whipped cream or meringue.
- With stand mixers, determine the beater action that’s right for you. Planetary means both the beater and bowl move. Standard means that just the beaters move.
- Stand mixer attachments are available for a variety of food prep: juicing/saucing, slicing and shredding fruits and vegetables, rolling and cutting pasta, even making homemade ice cream.
Tip
Consider the weight of your mixer. For hand mixers, lighter is better because it reduces exertion and shoulder stress, while heavier stand mixers help the appliance remain stable at high speeds.
Slow Cookers, Pressure Cookers and Rice Cookers
- Cookers are available in a variety of sizes, from .75 quart to 18 quarts in configurations from single vessel to triple vessel.
- Look for dishwasher-safe, nonstick interiors and removable liners for easy cleaning.
- Some cookers and steamers offer multifunction usage — sear/brown meat, then switch to traditional slow cooking for savory roasts. Use the steam feature for rice or vegetables. Use the reheat option for warming up to 400 degrees.
Food Processors and Grinders
- Food processors and grinders come with accessories to tackle many kitchen chores: shred vegetables and cheeses, finely chop vegetables, grind meat, pulverize grains, chop nuts for toppings or process them to make nut butter.
- Some appliances come with additional attachments to handle prep work. Look for attachments to help knead dough and tackle juicing, shredding, slicing and grating.
- Feed tubes on the top of the appliance let you add items while the machine is running.
Tip
Mini choppers are a space-saving option and come with many of the same features and attachments as full-size models.
Ice Cream Makers
- Small (1.5 quarts = 12-1/2-cup servings) and large (4 quarts = 32-1/2-cup servings) capacities accommodate your ice cream party needs. Since people tend to enjoy more than a 1/2-cup serving of ice cream at a time, adjust portions accordingly.
- Today’s ice cream makers are made with BPA-free plastics to protect your health.
- Self-refrigerating compressors mean that you don’t have to freeze the bowl ahead of time. Enjoy homemade ice cream on a whim.
Deep Fryers
- Closed systems cook to time and automatically lift and drain the basket for improved user safety.
- Open systems require manual lifting and draining of the basket and are available with cool-touch handles and external basket lifts for safer handling.
- Tilt and drain features tilt the basin to drain the oil and make cleanup easy.
- Sealing lids are a great option if you plan to store oil in your fryer.
Tip
Read and follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions carefully to avoid burns and damage to countertops and other surfaces.
Indoor Grills, Skillets and Waffle Makers
- Look for interchangeable, flat and ridged nonstick plates for toasted sandwiches, pancakes, bacon and more from your grill, skillet or waffle maker.
- Overflow channels and drains empty grease and juices into a separate receptacle for easier cleaning.
- Indoor grills and waffle makers cook evenly on both sides, so there’s no need to flip for perfect results.
Bread Makers
- Explore preprogrammed settings for crust color, loaf sizes, cakes and more. Convection fans provide for even cooking.
- Gluten-free settings allow those with gluten sensitivities and aversions to create delicious gluten-free bread.
- Shop for dishwasher-safe, nonstick pans for easy cleanup.
Tip
Adding a bread maker to your small appliance collection means you can control what goes into your food. You can make breads and cakes without preservatives or trans fats, unlike store-bought breads, which are loaded with preservatives to keep them shelf stable, and unhealthy trans fats that come from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil.
Food Dehydrators
- Food dehydrators preserve food for months ahead.
- Control what you eat by making healthy dried fruit and jerky. Drying food concentrates flavors and maintains nutritional value.
- Fans circulate the air for even drying, so there's no need to rotate your trays.
Caution
Don't use small appliances near water.
Popcorn Machines
- Popcorn is made with hot air or oil. Hot air popcorn machines are a healthier alternative, saving calories. Oil popcorn machines use oils with a high smoke point to make a delicious snack. We recommend using coconut, avocado, canola, sunflower or peanut oil.
- There are three types of popcorn machines: tabletop, cart or campfire. Tabletop machines can be stored in a cabinet or on a countertop. Cart popcorn machines are larger and freestanding. They're ideal for those that entertain a lot or make large batches. Campfire popcorn machines are made of metal and have a long handle to use over a campfire or firepit.
- Depending on your needs, there are popcorn machines that can make 4 quarts to 3 gallons of popcorn in minutes.
- Look for these features: a butter melter, dishwasher-safe parts, fun colors and nostalgic designs.
Roaster Ovens and Food Steamers
- Electric roaster ovens cook foods at high temperatures (up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit) using dry heat, which gives some foods a crispy exterior. They tend to heat up faster than full-size ovens.
- Food steamers gently cook food using steam which helps the food retain more flavor, texture and nutrients. A food steamer differs from a steamer pot in that a steamer pot requires an external heat source like a stovetop or cooktop.
- Roaster ovens distribute heat evenly for more uniformity in cooking and they’re versatile. They can cook large cuts of meat like ham and turkey, and they can also bake desserts like cakes, cookies and pies.
- Most roaster ovens have a removable cooking pan that lifts out, making it easy to clean.
- Food steamers allow you to cook multiple foods simultaneously without transferring flavors.
- Look for a roaster oven or food steamer with dishwasher-safe parts, a timer and auto shut-off. Also choose one with a capacity that fits your needs. If you’re cooking for a large family, a large-capacity, 22-quart roaster oven will work, as will a multi-tier steamer.