Kitchen Essentials: Countertop Appliances and Tools Worth Owning
How to pick kitchen gear that fits the way you actually cook, without filling your counters with gadgets you won't use.
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It's easy to fill a kitchen with gadgets that get used twice and then live in a cabinet. The better approach is to think about how you actually cook, then buy a few tools that make those meals easier. This guide groups the kitchen picks on our site by the job they do, so you can decide what's worth the counter space.
Before you buy: three questions
- What do you cook most? Weeknight dinners, big batches for the week, quick breakfasts and smoothies all call for different tools.
- How much space do you have? Measure the spot where an appliance will live, including the room it needs under the cabinets.
- How many people are you feeding? Capacity matters. A small appliance can be perfect for one or two people and frustrating for a family.
For hands-off weeknight dinners
If you want dinner on the table without standing over the stove, a multi-cooker is hard to beat. One pot can handle soups, stews, rice, beans and more, and it's well suited to cooking a batch on Sunday and eating from it all week.
Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, 6 Qt
One pot that pressure cooks, slow cooks, steams, sautés and makes rice and yogurt. Great for weeknight dinners and batch cooking.
An air fryer is the other popular weeknight helper. It's good for crisping frozen foods, roasting vegetables and reheating leftovers so they don't go soggy, and it heats up a small space instead of a whole oven.
Ninja AF101 Air Fryer, 4 Qt
A countertop air fryer for crisping, roasting, reheating and dehydrating with little or no oil. The basket and crisper plate go in the dishwasher.
If you're choosing just one, think about your favorite meals. Soups, stews and grains point toward a multi-cooker. Crispy foods and reheating point toward an air fryer.
A pan that lasts
A cast iron skillet is one of the few kitchen tools that can genuinely last a lifetime. It works on the stove, in the oven and over a campfire, and it gets better as the seasoning builds up. The trade-offs are weight and a little care: dry it after washing and wipe on a thin coat of oil now and then.
Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet, 10.25 in
A classic made-in-USA skillet that goes from stovetop to oven to campfire. It comes pre-seasoned and can last for generations with basic care.
Mornings and drinks
For people who want one cup of coffee at a time and don't have much counter space, a compact single-serve brewer is a simple choice. For smoothies, frozen drinks and crushed ice, a full-size blender with a large pitcher is the better tool.
Keurig K-Mini Single Serve Coffee Maker
A slim single-cup K-Cup brewer that fits small counters, dorms and offices. Brews 6 to 12 oz and stores its own cord.
Ninja Professional Blender BL610, 72 oz
A powerful 1000-watt blender that crushes ice for smoothies and frozen drinks. The large pitcher handles family-size batches.
Weekend breakfasts get easier with small, single-purpose tools too, as long as they're small enough to store in a drawer.
Dash Mini Waffle Maker
A tiny 4-inch nonstick waffle iron for quick breakfasts, snacks and keto chaffles. Small enough to store in a drawer.
Prep tools that save time
The least exciting tools are often the ones you use most. A salad spinner gets greens and herbs dry enough that dressing actually sticks, and a digital scale makes baking more consistent and helps with portion control.
OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner
Wash and dry greens, herbs and berries in seconds with a one-handed pump and brake button. The bowl doubles as a serving dish.
Etekcity Digital Kitchen Scale
A slim stainless-steel food scale that weighs in grams and ounces with a tare button. Great for baking, meal prep and portion control.
Fresh herbs on the counter
If you cook with fresh herbs, an indoor smart garden lets you grow them on the counter instead of buying a bunch that wilts in the fridge. It's also a nice project if you don't have a yard.
Click & Grow
Indoor smart gardens for growing herbs, greens and flowers on your countertop.
Indoor smart gardens for growing herbs, greens and flowers on your countertop.
Cleaning up
Spills happen in every kitchen, and some of them end up on the rug or a dining chair. A portable spot cleaner handles those without a big carpet machine.
BISSELL Little Green Portable Carpet Cleaner 1400B
A portable spot cleaner that sprays, scrubs and suctions stains from carpet, stairs, upholstery and car seats. Handy for pet messes.
Tips for buying kitchen gear
- Check the capacity against the number of people you cook for.
- Look at which parts are dishwasher safe if cleanup matters to you.
- Read the current reviews and the return policy on the seller's site before you buy.
- Buy one new appliance at a time and use it for a few weeks before adding another.
- Keep the manual. Many come with recipes and cooking times that make the first few weeks much easier.
The bottom line
You don't need every gadget to cook well. A good pan, one or two appliances that match the way you eat, and a couple of solid prep tools will cover most home cooking. Start with the job you do most often and build from there. See more ideas in our Home & Kitchen category.