What are the best small appliances for your kitchen?

Adopt an eco-friendly kitchen for your food waste 

UK households are becoming more eco-friendly, with small changes to everyday lifestyles in the home adding up to make a difference. Consumers are looking for ways to make the kitchen more environmentally friendly, so when buying kitchen appliances, they’re looking for those that are more energy efficient and less wasteful.

The most eco-friendly goal regarding food waste is to produce less of it. But for unavoidable food waste, consider installing a food waste disposer in your kitchen sink. The waste is ground up into tiny food particles, which then are washed through the plumbing system rather than contributing to excess methane sitting in landfills.

Speed your tea making up

When you’re waiting for a kettle to boil, life just seems to stand still… (holding on to the handle impatiently while staring daggers at the kettle won’t speed it up). Perhaps you’re running late for a virtual meeting, or perhaps you just need that first cup of the day ASAP before you can feel human. Hot water taps are by far the fastest way to prepare your cups of tea with near-boiling water at the press of a button, thereby avoiding any tea-related frustration in future.

The popularity of slow cookers

Slow cookers are social media stars. Huge communities of slow cooker fans have joined forces on social media, where they share recipe ideas. Did you know that you can make an entire chocolate cake in the slow cooker? With info like that it’s easy to see why a slow cooker is a must-have small kitchen appliance. The novelty of being able to shove a few raw ingredients into a slow cooker in the morning, and come home to mouth-watering smells and a wholesome cooked meal ready to serve up, never wears off. 

The rise of air fryers

The slow cooker isn’t the only social media star in the kitchen. According to Future Market Insights (FMI), the market for air fryers is expected to reach US$ 1,861 million by the end of 2031, rising at a compound annual growth rate of over 7% between 2021 and 2031. So what’s so special about an air fryer? They give the texture of deep frying food — but with only a fraction of the oil. 

Meat usually doesn’t need any oil added; it cooks in its own meat juices. You can even ‘boil’ an egg with no water — it cooks in the air — the wizardry! They can also be used to heat frozen foods or cook fresh food like vegetables, meat like steak or chicken, and fish such as salmon. If you’re a big fan of fried chicken and chips, give the air fryer a go for a healthy alternative and have fun checking out the air fryer hacks on the internet. 

FAQs:

What other must-have small kitchen appliances are there?

When you lead a busy life, there’s a thrill in finding something which makes things quicker and easier. Here are some more small appliances no kitchen should be without:
 

• Coffee machine — churns out café-quality drinks
• Blender — perfect for a healthy lifestyle, mixing up smoothies and soups from fresh fruit and veg
• Food processor — when you own one, you won’t be able to bake without one again
• Microwave — it’s unusual to see a kitchen without one for a reason!

Is it worth investing in smart kitchen appliances?

Smart kitchen appliances are a good investment — they’re designed to make your life easier and more convenient. If you’re selling your property, they also add value — an average spend of £179 on making your home 'smart' can add up to £16,000 to its value.

Which appliances would speed up the cooking process?

Everyday cooking is usually a race against the clock. We never seem to have enough hours in the day! Here are some appliances which will help you time-save:

• A steaming hot water tap — no need to wait for the kettle to boil to make a hot drink, or add straight to a saucepan for speedier cooking on the stove
• A convection oven — the fan constantly moves the hot air around for speedy cooking
• Halogen ovens — 40-50% faster than regular cooking