The 10 Best Small Kitchen Appliances for Homes with Next to No Counter Space
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No matter how spacious your kitchen is, you’ll soon realize you don’t have enough counter space. And with a new gadget on the market every other day (or so it seems), you’re likely wondering, which ones are actually worth that precious, precious real estate? And which are the best small kitchen appliances, as in, ones that cook efficiently and reliably while maintaining that tiny footprint?
That’s where we come in. Our editors have tested dozens of toaster ovens, air fryers, Instant Pots, slow cookers, coffee makers and the like over the years—especially through our PureWow100 process—and these are the items we’ve kept (and recommended) long after our research has concluded.
The Best Small Kitchen Appliances at a Glance
How We Chose the Best Small Kitchen Appliances
After researching new and existing products on the market, vetting for ones with strong reviews, we turned to the products we’ve personally tested and tried, focusing on the following criteria: size, value, ease of use, functionality (how reliably and efficiently it gets the job done) and aesthetics. We also gave preference to an item’s durability, longevity and multi-use capabilities (like a toaster oven that doubles as an air fryer, saving you from needing two appliances).
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How I Doubled the Space in My Brooklyn Kitchen
The Best Small Kitchen Appliances of 2024, According to Editors
1. Ninja QB900B Master Prep Food Processor Blender
Why settle for a tiny food processor and single-serving blender when you could have one device that does both—and does it well? It comes with a two-cup prep bowl and 6-cup pitcher, so you can make smoothies for 2-3 people at once without having to work in batches. But what’s most impressive is its 400-watt motor: “It’s super powerful—I would not expect a tiny motor head to pack such a punch,” says PureWow Associate SEO Editor Marissa Wu, adding that it’s “super efficient for a small space.”
2. Moccamaster 40-Oz. Coffee Maker
Pricier than your typical coffee machine, PureWow Senior Food Editor Katherine Gillen swears the Moccamaster is worth the investment. After six years—and despite testing all kinds of coffee makers—she relies on this baby for a barista-caliber brew. “Have you ever accidentally spent $7 at a fancy coffee shop on a pour-over cup that takes five minutes to get to you? And you were annoyed—until you took a sip? The Moccamaster makes coffee like that,” she explains in a PureWow100 review (where it scored a coveted 95/100). “Since it’s a drip machine, the brew has no sediment (unlike a French press, or even a pod-based single-serve machine)...It’s the ideal balance of flavorful-yet-drinkable.”
3. Bodum Cold Brew Maker
If you’re a daily cold brew drinker (raises hand), it might be worth springing for a cold brew maker instead, and this simple, affordable device does the job better than any massive countertop appliance. It’s essentially a larger-capacity French press with a fine mesh strainer, so the coarsely ground beans don’t wind up in your mug. You can make about 12 cups at a time, it’s easy to use and, best of all, it’s dishwasher safe, making it easy to clean.
4. Beautiful by Drew 6-Qt. Air Fryer
Beautiful by Drew
While Beautiful by Drew technically sells a three-quart size air fryer (as well as a nine-quart one), we’re making a case for the six-quarter. Its width and height are just a little bigger, though its length is considerably smaller than the three-quart (by 5 inches) yet it has double the cooking capacity. “I don’t know how I survived before this airfryer came into my life,” says PureWow Assistant Home Editor Sydney Meister. “Aside from the fact that it’s great for anyone new to cooking (the controls are straightforward and easy to use), the design is as drool-worthy as the food it produces. The matte finish makes it a piece of counter candy on its own, and I love how the signature brass handle adds an extra pop of glam.”
5. Our Place Wonder Oven
Calling the Wonder Oven a toaster oven is an understatement. Like Our Place’s other creations, it’s a multi-purpose gem, doubling as an air fryer. The brand says it’s designed to preheat 75 percent faster (and cook 30 percent faster) than traditional ovens, and after testing it firsthand, PureWow Assistant Commerce Editor Natalie LaBarbera can attest to its speed. “I almost never use a full size oven anymore because it's just so convenient, especially for cooking just for one person, and having so many functions in one saves me a ton of counter space,” she says.
6. Crockpot 4.5-Quart Ceramic Slow Cooker
When it comes to slow cookers, we trust Crockpot for a reason: They hold up to years (and years) of wear and tear. They come in all sizes, though we prefer the 4.5-quart because it can easily feed up to five or six people while being easy to stow in a cabinet. The stoneware bowl and glass lid are dishwasher safe, and the dark green, matte finish is on trend.
7. Dash Waffle Maker
If you’re an occasional waffle maker, there’s no better buy than this charming, hardly bigger-than-a-stack-of-coasters contraption from Dash. It’s available in a ton of colors and can make waffles in a variety of shapes—from classic circles to hearts to skulls—so the only danger is that you may be tempted to collect them like Pokémon. I (Candace) have owned one for years, and it’s still working as good as it did out of the box. (Oh, and if the thought of baking one waffle at a time makes you groan, they do have a four-waffle option.)
8. KitchenAid 7-Speed Cordless Hand Mixer
There are cheaper hand mixers, sure, but you know what makes this one worth the splurge? It’s cordless, so you won’t get tangled while you work, and it features seven speeds, so you can whip up a batch of cookies (technically, four batches on a single charge, per the brand) or a meringue, all with this powerful gadget. And, when it’s not in use, you can tuck it away without taking up much more space than a pair of mugs.
9. West Bend Air Crazy Popcorn Machine
We didn’t think we needed a popcorn machine, until we tried this little number (which honestly isn’t much bigger than a 40-ounce Stanley tumbler). It can pop four quarts of popcorn in three minutes flat, and its diminutive size yet powerful output has earned it a spot in PureWow Assistant Editor Delia Curtis’s cabinet. "It’s so simple to use and literally just requires dried kernels," they explain, warning that the gadget gets very hot, so handle it carefully. "It heats up very quickly and has popcorn ready in under 5 minutes. I like that you can control the amount of butter, toppings, etc. on your popcorn because you’re adding all of that after the fact."
10. BLACK+DECKER EM720CB7 Digital Microwave Oven
At 700 watts, this microwave might take a bit longer to thoroughly warm your Hot Pockets, but we’re willing to wait a few more seconds for a microwave that doesn’t overtake half our counter. This .7-cubic-foot model still has top-of-the-line features, like a turntable for more even heating, child safety locks and push-button timing (rather than a dial, which can be less precise). It’s also fairly quiet, which is a nice perk.
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Why You Should Trust Us
PureWow's editors and writers have spent more than a decade shopping online, digging through sales and putting our home goods, beauty finds, wellness picks and more through the wringer—all to help you determine which are actually worth your hard-earned cash. From our PureWow100 series (where we rank items on a 100-point scale) to our painstakingly curated lists of fashion, beauty, cooking, home and family picks, you can trust that our recommendations have been thoroughly vetted for function, aesthetics and innovation. Whether you're looking for travel-size hair dryers you can take on-the-go or women’s walking shoes that won’t hurt your feet, we’ve got you covered.
