Smart, functional appliances ideal for small space living
No matter how big your kitchen, you could always use more counter space, right? Even if you're not much of a cook, it's essential your kitchen provides enough functional space to prepare food while still affording ample room to freely move about. Which is why this list will be so helpful. We've scoured the market for the best countertop appliances engineered to make cooking easier and your food more tasty. But best of all, they're geared towards small space living. Nothing here will overpower your counters and each item will pay for itself in the time and aggravation it spares you. Now get cooking.
A big problem with air fryers is that they're slightly unwieldy. They're bulbous and squat, like a humidifier with a coffee percolator's handle attached. But not this one. This one is wide enough for pizza and also roasts, broils, bakes and toasts. And when you're done cooking, you can save counter space by flipping the oven up and away (which also makes for easier cleaning too).
Foodi multi-use oven,
$229.99 / $209.99 by Ninja
If you want a quality espresso maker, you can't cheap out. But that doesn't mean you need to spring for the monster cafe-sized machines either. This well-reviewed model has a slim profile and pulls excellent coffee while maintaining the ideal brewing temperature. A manual frother mixes steam and milk to create a rich, creamy froth for evenly textured drinks.
EC680M espresso machine,
$454.95 / $294.99 by De'Longhi
You've no doubt heard a lot about pressure cookers lately. And while they work fast, there's no beating the simplicity and efficacy of an old fashioned slow cooker—there's less danger and you can add ingredients at any time. This one isn't huge but it's big enough to fit a whole chicken. Plus, it's programmable and dishwasher safe.
4-Quart programmable slow cooker,
$44.99 / $34.99 by Hamilton Beach
If you don't have a backyard or access to an outdoor grill, this truly is the next best thing. Is it really “smoke-free”? Yes. Which is a huge win for those of us who don't have a kitchen with a real exhaust fan. Will it give you the same char or smoky flavor of a charcoal grill? No. But it's faster and easier, plus the meat (because it cooks at a slightly lower temp) comes out juicier and the clean up is a breeze because nothing gets baked on.
Smoke-less infrared grill,
$299.95 by Philips
Just because your kitchen didn't come with a dishwasher doesn't mean you're relegated to hand wash everything. However, most countertop dishwashers require a faucet connection and complicated adapters, which can be a drag. Not this modern looking model. It fits a surprising amount of dishes and thanks to its built-in five liter tank, it doesn't necessitate a water line hook-up. It's quiet, hardworking and delivers warm, washed and dried dishes in about two hours.
Portable 5-liter dishwasher,
$399.99 / $331.33 by Farberware
A microwave is a microwave, right? Wrong. What don't you like about your microwave? It's too big, or unattractive and almost certainly makes any reheating a guessing game that ends with your finger stuck in your leftovers to gauge the temperature. But this sleek James Bond-level microwave is compact yet intuitive. LG utilizes a technology called “Smart Inverter” that manages to heat food without cold centers and overcooked edges.
NeoChef compact microwave,
$129.99 by LG
The first electric toaster was invented in 1893 in Scotland. The machine was called the “Eclipse Toaster,” and it toasted only one side of the bread, so you had to flip the bread over manually.
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