Small appliances · 5 min read
Will you actually use it? Three questions before any small appliance
Counter space is permanent and appliances are not. A short test that keeps most of them out of your kitchen.
Count the times you did the job last month
If the answer is fewer than four, the appliance will live in a cupboard and be used less. That is not a reason never to buy, but it is a reason to buy small and cheap rather than large and expensive.
Look for the parts that wear
Seals, gaskets, blades, bowls, batteries. If none of them are sold separately, the machine has a fixed life. A five-year-old appliance with a two-dollar gasket is a better buy than a new one.
- Spares available: repairable, keep it.
- Sealed unit: disposable, buy accordingly.
- Non-replaceable battery: a few years, then landfill.
Measure the space, including the clearance
Appliances need air behind and above them. A machine that fits the counter but blocks the cupboard door above it will be moved, and then it will not be used.
Products mentioned in this guide
Ninja dual-zone air fryer
Two drawers that cook different foods at different settings and finish together.
KitchenAid Artisan tilt-head stand mixer
The mixer with the deepest spare-parts market, which is why it lasts.
Vitamix high-performance blender
A blender strong enough for nut butter and hot soup, not just smoothies.