It’s hard to pinpoint the exact moment when our kitchens transformed from humble cooking spaces into small-appliance showrooms, but somewhere between the rise of the Instant Pot and the air fryer revolution, it happened. Today, the average countertop looks less like a food prep zone and more like a halfway house for gadgetry. There’s the waffle maker you swore you’d use every Sunday, the juicer that turned into a very expensive citrus squeezer, and the bread machine that’s been quietly gathering dust since the “sourdough phase” of 2020. (Guilty). Don’t even get me started on the milk frother—it takes up as much space as a cat, but you’ll defend it to the grave because “what if I want a cappuccino at home?”
I haven’t sprung for an air fryer yet, and I definitely do not have a milk frother, but a few years back, I bought a panini maker, which is still sitting in my pantry. I also have a dusty bread baking machine, a KitchenAid mixer, and of course, a Keurig-type coffee machine.
Having a cluttered counter is something that I avoid at all costs. I can feel my stress level rise if the toaster is left out too long. All my small appliances are kept on the pantry shelves or in my lower kitchen cabinets.
Besides the coffee machine and toaster, my slow cooker is the appliance that gets the most use, and I have the perfect pull-out shelf under the counter where I store it. However, the Instant Pot has proved itself to be so convenient that I find I am regularly turning to it. Most of the recipes I use I have found through Internet searches. So far, I haven’t found a great Instant Pot-focused cookbook. Some of my favorite Instant Pot recipes are from the Damn Delicious website. I’ve made her White Chicken Chili, Mississippi Pot Roast, Chicken Alfredo, Swedish Meatballs, Chicken Tortilla Soup and much more.
Last night I made Chicken Tikka Masala from a different website, Eating Instantly. If you enjoy Indian cuisine, this recipe is a must-make. It is a standby at our house and I try to make it every couple of months. Ahren is a big fan and we seem to always have it when he visits.
Getting back to small kitchen applianes: The funny thing is, despite owning roughly seventeen different contraptions capable of cooking a potato, most of us still reach for the oven or the microwave. And yet, we keep collecting gadgets as if the next one will unlock some hidden culinary superpower. “Of course I’ve never made ice cream before, but surely this $200 ice cream maker is the start of a new era!” In reality, small appliances are less about necessity and more about aspiration—a slightly delusional but endearing belief that the right machine will transform us into the kind of person who actually uses them.
NOTE: I have made the type larger, and that should be easier to read. Also, the subscription notification service has been sorted out. If you had a subscription to my blog on the old site, it will carry over to this one. Thanks for your patience while I work out these little kinks and figure out my new path.
49 Responses
I grew up with grandma’s who cleared the room when they got out the pressure cookers. As a child I was terrified of them. Still am. My oldest gave me a insta pot, not knowing. I regifted it to my youngest. But I still cannot be in the same room with one, at anyone’s house.
We tend to have ONE of many things and pass them around the family. My bread maker is currently at my mom’s, but will float back. My air fryer is permanently at my middle daughter’s (needed during lockdown when everyone was home, now do not use). At one point I needed two blenders, they are now at my two daughters’.
What have I kept? My rice cooker and two crock pots and electric water kettle.
What a great idea to share these appliances amongst the family!
My mom used a pressure cooker a couple of times. She did warn me about it could explode. I’ve never used one and never got one. I think that’s the reason I never got a Instant Pot. I do have a slow cooker that I use a lot, especially when I was working. Loved coming home and dinner was ready.
I mostly use my instant pot for making fall apart delicious baby back ribs that I finish off in the oven by caramelizing the bbq sauce and also rice. I need to start using it more for a crock pot because it is so much easier to clean. My bread machine is my most favorite small appliance. I make all our bread products only using the dough cycle and baking in the oven. I finally found the most perfect yeast recipe for sandwich bread and buns, and a second one for really good cinnamon rolls. I always get rave reviews when I take bread products to potlucks. I had an air fryer until it went out and I have never replaced it.
I’ve made ribs in the Instant Pot as well and they were amazing. Fall apart tender and so good.
Although I have been tempted by the air fryer, so far I only have a slow cooker. Why did electric frypans disappear? I don’t cook enough to own gadgets. A small kitchen keeps me in line too.
Oh my gosh Betty, I had forgotten about my electric skillet. It is just the thing for making fried chicken. You can fit so much in it and the spatter doesn’t go all over the range top. I spread newspaper on the counter and most of the spatter ends up there for easy clean up.
I gave away the Instapot, I prefer the crockpot. I love the air fryer! It gets everything crispier than the oven and cooks quickly!
My sister is devoted to her air fryer too. I was over for lunch one day and she made the most delicious corn dogs in it.
Oh I can so relate! I had a George Foreman, juicer, bread machine, etc. I vested in a Ninji Air fryer/grill when I bought a new dishwasher (had a huge discount) – used it a few times and it was such a pain to clean, it’s been relegated to the deep dark depths of a kitchen island 🤣 as I get older I try to keep the number of gadgets to a minimum. I love my rice cooker and KitchenAid mixer and food processor. I would love to know which model of Instapot you have as I have thought about it but always seem to fall back on my trusty crockpot 😁
I remember the George Foreman! My dad had one. I had a nephew who lived with him for awhile and he used it nearly every day to grill something. I forgot to mention my food processor and rice cooker– of course I have those as well.
We do have one, but rarely use it. My husband was making yoghurt the last time. Yoghurt for us seems to be hit or miss – too runny and not thick enough. I do not want an air fryer and when I microwave went kaput, we didn’t get a new one! Husband made bread in the breadmaker while I was out this morning. We’ve just bought ourselves a grain mill and are playing with spelt at the moment. Today’s offering looks and smells lovely. But as I don’t eat much bread, we freeze it after slicing. We have a water distiller – our water tastes awful. Never got to grips with the slow cooker – we kept the pot, ditched the other paraphernalia! My daughter gave me her coffee machine but I don’t use it. I did buy more pods for it but they are still unopened! Other than that it is mainly the food mixer, food processor and the liquidizer thingy.
You made me remember back in the 70s and 80s we had a yogurt maker (which was a total fail) and an egg cooker. The egg cooker worked pretty well, but it didn’t last long. It seemed easier just to make eggs in a pan on the range top!
LOL! Agree – eggs are easy whichever way you do them!
I forgot about the food processors, I had two, gave them to one of my girl’s best friends. My hands are so bad, I could no longer get them open and closed.
I could not do without my microwave – I heat cherry pit bags in them. They are like rice bags but hold the heat a lot longer. Helps my arthritis.
Vickie, in the winter I wrap my hands in a heating pad while watching t.v. in the evening. feels so wonderful.
I’ve never heard of cherry pit bags! I have rheumatoid arthritis and use a heating pad. Had a rice bag but it ended us smelling so bad 😳
That reminds me of making one of those microwaveable heating pads. I used buckwheat. I stored it in a drawer at my Dad’s house for when I stayed over there, and it turned out mice got it! They somehow got into that drawer and had a feast on the buckwheat. What a mess.
We, too, have a bazillion space occupying kitchen gadgets and seem to use the crock pot and a little chopper the most.
Our coffee is made with the Filtron Cold Water system that we’ve used for 40 years. The cold water drips down onto the water, sits for 12 hours, and is drained into a glass carafe (no metal) to go into the fridge. The “coffee essence” looks like thick coffee and about 1 oz makes a delicious cup of non-acidic coffee. I buy the thick filters it uses occasionally and it’s quick to make a cup of coffee: hot water and that small amount of coffee from the fridge.
DH used to use the bread maker but in the last few years uses a no knead recipe and the boule of bread is a treat.
Hugs!
Thanks for the larger font!
There are so many kitchen gadgets I have never even heard of, like your water filter. My son in law has an ice maker on his counter that is as big as a microwave! What will they think of next?
My husband does cold brew too, using glass jars, no gadget.
Like you, I keep all my small appliances on shelves and in the pantry when not in use. The only things that stay out are the toaster and the coffee maker. My latest “do I really need it?” appliance is a tiny refrigerator-heater for proofing sourdough starter. It’s going into the pantry, as I have cut back on the bread making to once a month. My go to Instant Pot cook book is by Barbara Schieving “The Electric Pressure Cooker cookbook”. She has a web site https://www.pressurecookingtoday.com with lots more helpful tips and recipes to try. Potatoes cooked in the Instant Pot are easy and delicious. 😋
Thanks so much Tracy, for the link to the Instant Pot cookbook. I will check it out.
My son keeps his house so cold that I think he needs that sourdough proofer!
I am not a gadget person/cook at all! I have a crockpot, bread maker and an air fryer. I was talked into the air fryer and I have come to love it. It is essentially a second oven for me. While the main meal is in my oven I can put appetizers, baked potatoes, or other veggies in air fryer. The best part is the hard boiled eggs! Cooked in 16 minutes and the shells slip off! Voila!
I’ve made hard boiled eggs in the Instant Pot and they came out perfect. There is nothing worse than hard boiled eggs that won’t shell easily. The air fryer sounds like such a versatile device. I may cave in and get one.
The newest small appliance that I’ve noticed are countertop ice makers. A friend prefers one because of the shape her’s makes. My sister’s refrigerator ice maker broke for the third or fourth time so she went to one. I don’t want to give up the space! I use my trusty Cuisinart food processor & my Kitchen Aid mixer the most but try to keep small appliances in a cupboard when I’m not using them. I don’t have either an Instant Pot or an air fryer with no plans to get either one. (Oh, boy, do I sound old!? 😂)
My son in law Ryan has one of those ice makers and it does take up a ton of counter space.
I keep my KitchenAid in a lower cupboard, and it is getting so hard to pick it up and put it on the counter. Those things are so heavy. My husband used to get it out for me, but now I don’t want to ask him because of his balance issues.
I embroidered an adorable retro pattern of a hand-mixer and a cake mix box that I then made into a cover for my ginormous/heavy Kitchenaid. I leave it on the counter with the washable cover that still has no binding. I made it 15 yrs ago? So cute! Keeps the bowl and unit clean and also looks decorative. Maybe I should make the binding? Nah. I’ve got more fun things to sew.
Oh Ina, you are a person after my own heart. No binding for 15 years? Absolutely.
I love the enlarged font size. Thanks! Since becoming gluten sensitive I use my Kitchenaid and bread maker all the time. Not too fond of expensive store bought gluten free baked goods. My husband loves his air fryer and instant pot. Betty Crocker website has a lot of instant pot recipes. Our favorite is the spaghetti and meatballs recipe. It infuses the sauce into the pasta and is delicious. He always makes a big batch of meatballs in the oven and freezes them so skips the meatball part. And given he had to work with gf pasta for just the two of us he made it a few times before perfecting the recipe. He always makes pasta this way now, it’s that good.
That spaghetti and meatballs recipe sounds wonderful! I will see if I can find it.
We have also softened the background color so it is easier on the eyes.
I went to the Betty Crocker website and searched for Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs and the recipe came up right away! I am going to make this very soon. Here is the link if anyone wants it:
https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/instant-pot-spaghetti-with-meatballs/f8bbdcbf-4c20-443f-94cb-96ed592f6f0e
When I had my kitchen remodeled several years ago, I had drawers of various depts installed on the bottom so no more lower doors on my cabinets. It’s been wonderful being able to reach small appliances without getting down on my hands and knees.
I wish I had that for my KitchenAid mixer. That thing is so heavy to lift up. I just can’t stand to have it on my counter, which of course would be more convenient.
I have a suggestion for those that are dealing with heavy Kitchenaid mixers (mine is a Kitchenaid Pro 6 Qt. very heavy monster), I made a pretty cover for it. I bought pre-quilted fabric but you could make pretty quilted blocks to make yours. Do a Google search for a pattern. You can either pin paper pattern together or cut it out of the ugly fabric already in your stash that you have no idea how it got there to make sure it fits.
I have very few job specific kitchen items. Looking forward to when I can get rid of the microwave. Have enjoyed cleaning out the kitchen stuff over the past few years. My MIL gave me her Hobart mixer when she could no longer move the heavy thing. If I keep it at a counter height place for storage….currently the utility room…it is easy to carry. Just don’t cook very much. Maybe the only reason I have a kitchen is that it came with the house. Our ice maker failed several years ago. Local fast food place sells great crunchy ice by the bag. Easy. Oh, so I do have 3 waffle irons. My go to breakfast for a crowd. No one likes to wait on waffles. Especially the grandkids!
I had to laugh about the waffle makers. You are the first person to admit that you actually use yours regularly!
My kitchen has become a small appliance showroom but I don’t have an instant pot. Fortunately there is a version of the chicken tikka masala recipe to make in a slow cooker so I will try that, it sounds and looks delicious.
It is also a cinch to cook in a Dutch oven on the stovetop. Fast and easy.
Interesting and fun post! I also have lots of kitchen appliances and now have those that my mother had, since she moved into a retirement home. Most are put away, but the coffee pot, kitchenaid mixer, toaster, and air fryer/convection oven are always out. (oh, and the microwave!)
The spaghetti and meatballs recipe Dorothy suggested does indeed sound good and will have to be tried at some point in the near future! 🙂
Thanks, Sally, I had fun writing it. When we cleared out my dad’s house, we discovered fondue pots, warming trays, and some weird chafing dish things my mom used for entertaining large groups. In the 70s everyone seemed to have a fondue pot in their kitchen arsenal. When I taught kindergarten, I used the electric warming trays for the kids to do melted crayon art.
I use my air fryer almost daily. The Insta Pot has been collecting dust in the pantry since I got it over 3 years ago. I’m like you, nothing on the counter except our coffee pot. Congratulations on the successful migration of your blog to a new platform, I was keeping my fingers crossed for you.
I was scared to death I would lose all my previous content. One company said they could do it for $10,000! A couple of other companies said they could migrate the text, but no images. Sara turned me on to a website that various freelancers advertise on, and I found a guy in Pakistan who had no trouble at all migrating posts, images, and even comments. Plus, he designed the new site, which I am so happy with.
We also have 3 waffle makers, and we use at least 2 of them every weekend! One is for bubble waffles, one for regular waffles, and one for Belgian waffles. My husband makes them every weekend. We have a lot of kitchen equipment, but we do actually use it. I guess that’s unusual? I love my Instant Pot! I make hard boiled eggs in them often because we always have hard boiled eggs in the fridge for salads and breakfasts. I also make rice in it. Plus, I have all 4 of the Instant Pot cookbooks by Jeffrey Eisner! I use the Vegan Instant cookbook by Nisha Vora too. I think I’ll try that tikka masala recipe you suggested. Did you cut up the chicken before you added it? Love the new blog design!
I actually have Jeffrey Eisner’s cookbooks. The only thing that put me off a bit is that he wants to put a package of Boursin cheese in everything! His recipes are good, though.
I agree, the Instant Pot is unparalleled for making hard-boiled eggs. They come out perfect every time.
When I make the tikka masala, I like to use boneless thighs instead of breasts, and I do cut them into bite-sized pieces.
3 waffle makers Suzanne? You win. I have to ask, what the heck are bubble waffles?
Oh, Jeffrey and his soft cheeses! Yes, that’s not for me either. I love chicken thighs, so I’m going to try that tikka masala recipe! Bubble waffles originated in Hong Kong, and they’re very puffy. Maybe almost an inside-out Belgian waffle but with circles instead of squares? Look up a photo online! You can eat them as regular waffles, as we usually do, or you can curve it into a big ice cream cone. We first had bubble waffles with ice cream in Copenhagen, of all places!
Oh my gosh, I want one right now!
Thanks for adding background color….so much easier to read! The only appliance on my counter is the espresso maker, and only in the summer so I can make iced coffees. Everything else is tucked under the lower corner lazy-susan cupboard. Best invention for small appliance storage, IMHO.
I agree, I love keeping all that clutter out of sight. I do like to be able to access it, though, so appliance “garages” and under-counter storage are a must!