Best Kitchen Appliances
Look, a good kitchen appliance isn't going to turn you into a chef overnight. But the right ones genuinely save you time and open up meals you'd never bother with otherwise. We've compared the heavy hitters across air fryers, pressure cookers, and stand mixers to figure out which ones actually earn their counter space.
Quick Comparison
| Product | Best For | Key Pros | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 (6-Qt) Electric Pressure Cooker | Instant-Pot | Replaces 7 kitchen appliances | Buy on Amazon |
Detailed Look at Each Product
Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 (6-Qt) Electric Pressure Cooker
7-in-1 multi-cooker replaces pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, sauté pan, yogurt maker, and warmer. 6-quart capacity feeds up to 6 people. Over 13 customizable smart programs. Stainless steel inner pot is dishwasher safe.
- Replaces 7 kitchen appliances
- 13 smart programs
- Very popular with huge recipe community
- Dishwasher-safe inner pot
- Learning curve for pressure cooking
- Takes up counter space
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most useful kitchen appliance to buy first?
If you had to pick one, go with an air fryer or an Instant Pot. The COSORI Air Fryer Pro LE handles everything from fries to a whole chicken with barely any oil. The Instant Pot Duo replaces seven different appliances, which is absurd. Either one will change how you cook on a weeknight.
Is an air fryer worth buying?
For most households, absolutely. They cook faster than your oven, use way less oil than deep frying, and cleanup is a breeze. The COSORI 5-Qt is a great starting size for 1-3 people. Fair warning though — you'll start air frying everything once you get one.
What kitchen appliance do chefs recommend most?
A stand mixer, and it's not even close. The KitchenAid Classic is the one chefs keep coming back to. Over 10 attachment options means it does pasta, meat grinding, you name it. It's an investment, but it'll outlast pretty much anything else on your counter.
Which Instant Pot size should I get?
The 6-quart Instant Pot Duo is the sweet spot — feeds 4-6 people and it's the most popular size for a reason. Only go 8-quart if you're regularly cooking for a crowd or you're big into batch cooking and meal prep.