Curated, Kinda

Kitchen counters are at a premium. But sometimes, it just makes more sense to leave things out, instead of shoving them in the back of your cabinets to collect dust. Here are the appliances I think are worth the space they occupy. Some links in this post are affiliate links—I may earn a small commission if you shop through them (thank you!).

Air Fryer

I know for some this seems like just another thing to add to your countertop. But this air fryer has been an indispensable addition to the kitchen line-up.

The crispiness and crunch of the things that come out of this air fryer cannot be matched by any other kitchen appliance. Chicken nuggets? French fries? GRILLED CHEESE? Superior in the air fryer. I was resistant at first, but now we use it pretty much every day.

Slow Cooker

As someone who works full-time and has a kid in school, my slow cooker has become a kitchen lifeline when I can get myself together to plan out meals. Or even when I can remember in the morning that I want to eat something at night that doesn’t come from a drive-through lane.

I’ve got a set of recipes that always work and can plan ahead most of the time to have the ingredients ready to go. This is great for nights when we have activities but don’t want to go out to eat afterward. We also have this version of the slow cooker that’s a little cheaper and more analog but still works well, the result of combining households long ago. It’s great to have two for parties.

Countertop Oven

I loved our air fryer so much that I thought it would be a good idea to get another one to be able to cook more dinner components more quickly. But instead of just buying the same one, we went with this smart oven air fryer. And it was the move.

It heats up super fast and we often use it instead of our regular oven for everything from chicken thighs to cookies. Plus we can air fry in it. There’s also a setting for frozen pizza, you can fit a whole one in! It is the Swiss Army Knife of countertop ovens. A clutch addition to the line-up.

Rice Cooker

This is one appliance that I resisted at first. Who needs a whole machine just for rice? But this rice cooker came with my husband and I am now a devoted user.

Gone are the days of gummy rice that is also burnt to the bottom of the pot. This thing gives you perfect rice every time. So it may be a one-trick pony, but it’s the most functional pony in the ring.

Electric Kettle

This is another thing I really didn’t understand the use for. But it also came with the husband and is another thing I didn’t know I needed. This electric kettle does exactly what it’s supposed to do, and so quickly.

Whether you need some hot water for your tea, your thermos, or for cleaning your drain, this electric kettle is what you need. That’s all it does, but it does it well!

Bread Machine

This felt like a very retro purchase, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I use my breadmaker. Fresh bread just tastes better, it’s a universal truth (at least in my house).

Once you get the hang of it, it really does take no effort at all. Add the ingredients (SO EASY with a kitchen scale) then truly set it and forget it. Though forgetting will be hard once you smell the results. Also, a tip for anyone on a budget, or that just really likes a deal: pretty much any thrift store will have at least two or three bread machines in perfect condition on their shelves. An easy way to give this a try without a huge investment!

Blendtec Blender

This Blendtec Blender is worth EVERY PENNY. After a few blender mishaps, finally took the plunge on Blendtec, and haven’t regretted it one bit.

It can blend pretty much anything. It even blends and HEATS soup, all in one go! Smoothies, dips, batters, you name it. I also love how easy it is to clean up. Add some hot water, soap, blend a little bit, and you’re done! It’s also great for me that the blades aren’t sharp inside, so if you need to get in there for anything sticky, you won’t cut yourself up.

Coffee Machine

I’m not a coffee drinker, but my husband is. And this countertop coffee/espresso machine is his favorite kitchen appliance.

It grinds the beans, heats up the water, steams the milk, etc. And according to my husband, the taste is unmatched.

So there are all of the things that take up my precious countertop space! And I think they’re all completely worth it! What do you think, do you use any of these? Any that I’m missing? Let me know! There’s always room for more!