The Best Countertop Appliances | Serious Eats

In many apartments, the kitchen is the space in which we make the most sacrifices. That area, while sometimes minuscule, is where you do all of your cooking. It's also where you must skillfully Tetris your beloved appliances. But which ones are the must-haves, the ones that deserve to take up some of that precious counter space? These are the go-to items we at Serious Eats love and use all the time.

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[arielkanter]

Thank you to everyone who is requesting a chicken nugget recipe! I appreciate your love and support during this time. #TeamNugget

[php]

When you live in a small apartment with a small kitchen, you can only permanently keep up to small appliances on your counter top. Everything else must be kept in a small appliance cabinet or a roll around kitchen island cart. Personally, I am looking for a tall open cabinet for holding a large microwave, and large toaster oven while storing a heavy stand mixer and food processor underneath. Those ovens need lots of breathing space around them too.

[JacquelineLP]

The older Hobart mixers actually have metal gears too. I have one and it’s a beast!

[thegoodplate]

Have a look at the Braun Food Processor from Germany. The best thing about it is the variable speed in addition to pulse. It also has a smaller bowl that fits in it, a dough blade, a shipping blade and a citrus juicer. It's also relatively quiet. It's a wonderful piece of machinery.

[farhiyaa]

I only see 3 items for daily use..instapot, blender, and electric tea pot. The food processor is a good investment for frequent users.

I am surprised no airfryer!!

[raysu]

Chicken nugget recipe with different types of breading and spices that can be eaten without sauces!!! (think popcorn chicken!) Thanks!

[fleax]

Vitamix Esp the 5000-53000 are the commercial mixers which have since evolved. The Kitchen Aid is the smaller commercial Hobart
The Magimix is the smaller commercial Robo-Coupe.
Yup

[asortdcookie]

The Chefman kettle over-shoots the temperature by a significant amount (up to 15F in my test). I would recommend another brand.

[Stevoayala]

Lots of good stuff! One thing I would add is a sous vide circulator and maybe a vavuum sealer.

[wafambarek]

Would you recommend having both a vitamix and a magimix? Is there one that can do all? Or do you need both?

[dh]

Excellent video! Ariel is a delightful narrator

[php]

I am looking for a dual oven stand for my fulls iced microwave and a large Brevelle toaster oven. Sadly no one online sells such dual oven stands. I hate loosing precious counter top space to a big toaster oven.

[djetchasketch]

I also want that chicken nugget recipe!

The other unitasker I love is my rice cooker. I know you can make it in the Instant Pot, but it takes much longer (or feels like it, anyway), and takes up less counter space.

[trishfitzpatrick]

I have used a Breville toaster oven for not quite two years The buttons are failing and the toast feature only does one side. Too bad because it's awesome to use when it was newer.

[mssdtz]

I use my vitamix at least once a day, and some days two or three times a day. I love it. I use my stand mixer several times a week. I use the spiralizer attachment and the meat grinder.

[Obsidianone]

Definitely get the vitamix. Yes, it is very expensive but it is super high powered and will last decades. A cheap blender will need replacing after a few years with moderate use but the vitamix will last you 20 or 30 years.

[soldn]

a chef who finds it hard to cook rice the regular way is advising us on what to get LOL

[StephenElms]

You have a Joule on the counter and in just about every shot, but no mention of sous vide? Given how much one can cook with a pot of water and some time seemed a better buy over the $800 pizza oven.

[fordimension]

It's easy to find countertop appliances that are just as good, if not better than these 'fancy' brands for a lot less money. You just have to look around and read reviews. I bought a Kogan blender very similar to the vitamix which has the same specs, looks very similar too, for $99, you can get it for $45 now. I bought a cheap precision kettle from Target, you don't need glass jugs, chrome and led lighting to boil water... My Sunbeam stand mixer was half the price of a basic Kitchen Aid, and I got an ice cream maker bowl for it. My espresso machine which makes excellent coffee was $150. If I do end up buying a more expensive brand (usually for stuff like washing machines, stoves), I usually wait for the big sales when you can often pick things up for half price, or get models that have been discontinued and are on clearance.

[davidbgreensmith]

I have the Breville Boss Blender, their stand mixer and their food processor. They give the Vitamix, Magimix and Kitchen Aid a run for their money.