Finding the best appliances for small kitchens can be tricky. I’ve just moved from the countryside to the city and so my kitchen has halved – if not quartered – in size.
To my dismay, a toaster, microwave, kettle, and blender are four appliances too many for my narrow countertops. Given that many of us looking for small kitchen ideas are usually struggling for space, I thought it worthwhile to speak with our small appliance experts to find out what to buy to be more space-efficient.
Our busy team put these kettles, toasters, stand mixers, and more through rigorous tests. We compared them to their regular-sized competitors and judged them by the same standards, finding miniature models that are more than up to the task.
Best appliances for small kitchens 2023
You can trust Homes & Gardens. Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing the latest products, helping you choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
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Best small food processor
Why you should buy it
A portable, cordless, and convenient alternative
Why we love it
It’s rare that compact alternatives deliver more than their regular-sized competitors. That is what this KitchenAid does: it’s completely cordless so you can use it anywhere inside, or outside. This was enough to convert our expert tester, Camryn, who didn’t have to charge the food processor all week.
The design works well. Rather than a classic chunky chute, this design has a neat dispenser indent on the lid. This is where you can drizzle oil and other liquids into your mix whilst it’s running. It’s easier to store and still simple to use.
Good to know
It’s smaller than your average food processor, so you will need to be patient. Camryn found that the dispenser needed to be refilled several times when adding oil to her pesto, rather than adding the oil all at once.
Best compact blender
Why you should buy it
An ergonomic and powerful option
What we love
When it comes to blending, NutriBullet is a trusted brand. They deliver quality results at a reasonable price and size. We tested this blender with smoothies, ice, and cauliflower rice and the blades could cut through it all. It looks sleek and subtle on the countertop, but is easy to store too.
Good to know
It only has one speed setting, so you will need to think about blend time more than blend power. The blade isn’t dishwasher safe either. The NutriBullet Go has even smaller dimensions if you’re really short on space. However, our experts think it’s better as a portable option because it lacks the power of a plug-in alternative.
An even smaller option would be an immersion blender. These can be stored in your kitchen drawers, but can be a little messier to use.
Best small hand mixer
Why you should buy it
Classic, convenient and compact
What we love
Our experts recommended this as a lighter and more straightforward alternative to stand mixers. It’s cordless and easily fits into your kitchen drawers, but still does a good job of whipping, beating, and mixing. Our expert, Molly, commented on how light this was to hold, making the user-experience particularly pleasant.
Good to know
As a cordless appliance, it’s not as powerful as corded versions. Molly was also disappointed that the turbo beaters are the only attachment included, so you need to whip cream with the same attachment that you use for mixing cookie dough.
Best small air fryer
Why you should buy it
Small and sturdy with impressive results
What we love
This air fryer is an expert in the basics. It has just a four-quart capacity and just one function (air fry), but it does it to perfection. Our expert tester, Alex, was impressed with the cooking speed and texture of a number of the items which he tested in the air fryer. Once finished, this is dishwasher-safe and easy to store away.
Good to know
With one powerful setting, it’s easy to overcook food. Once you are used to this strength, you can use it without much bother. It’s limited both on functions and capacity, but that is to be expected with a smaller design.
Best mini toaster oven
Why you should buy it
A compact cooker, designed for smaller kitchens
What we love
Ninja make some of the best toaster ovens and air fryers on the market. This low-profile model offers eight programmes, covering a range of cooking techniques, from toasting and microwaving to air frying.
Ninja designed a flip feature, so that this can fold away when it’s not in use, which is ideal for smaller kitchens. Our expert tester, Millie, was pleased with the speed, precision and quality with which the Ninja Foodi cooked salmon, baked muffins, and toasted bagels.
Good to know
The compact size means that this isn’t suitable for larger cooking challenges. Millie didn’t try bread, a whole chicken, or a cake, because it simply doesn’t have the capacity for it. Although the inserts are dishwasher-safe, Millie found that cleaning the heating elements was a little tricky.
Best multi-cooker
Why you should buy it
Does the job of multiple appliances in one
What we love
With 13 cooking functions, there’s more than enough to love about this multi-cooker. It’s high-tech, reasonably priced and still relatively compact. It can do everything from air frying and pressure cooking to roasting and our expert tester, Helen, was pleased with the results. For a versatile, easy to use appliance, this is a go-to.
Good to know
This multi-cooker isn’t designed to be small per se. We’ve included it in the guide because it does the job of multiple appliances, so saves on space. Also, it’s a small thing to note, but the cooking pot is stainless steel, so it doesn't have a non-stick feature. This means you’ll need to leave it to soak when food sticks to it before cleaning it off by hand.
Best slim toaster
Why you should buy it
Chic and simple to use
What we love
We expect sleek designs and simplicity with Zwilling and this does not disappoint. With two, extra-long and wide slots, this is slim, but still capable of handling homemade bread and wedges of brioche. The dials cater for a range of different toasting settings and were effective too.
Good to know
The dials and settings are slightly smaller than other toasters, like the Smeg 4 Slice Toaster, for example. They can be a little fiddly to use. It’s also worth noting that we are in the process of testing some even smaller alternatives, which are on our best toasters roundup, because of their glowing customer reviews.
Best small stand mixer
Why you should buy it
Petite, practical and powerful
What we love
A miniature marvel, this mixer delivered KitchenAid-quality results, but on a smaller scale. Our expert tester, Molly, thought that the 3.5 quart capacity was impressive and commented that it was much quieter than the standard size.
It’s aesthetically pleasing and has the same attachments as the larger KitchenAid stand mixer. Molly was impressed with its capacity to make cakes, whip cream, and knead bread. After you’re done with baking, everything can easily and safely fit into your dishwasher.
Good to know
This has a similar retail price to the standard size, so isn’t the best value for money. Our expert, Molly, would still buy one, which speaks volumes
Best small coffee grinder
Why you should buy it
Excellent quality grind
What we love
This cordless design is a great option for lots of reasons. It’s small, doesn’t heat up too much (and degrade your coffee), and achieves a really consistent grind. Our experts were pleased with the results of this test and found that the coffee results worked particularly well for drip coffee.
Good to know
It’s non-electric, so you will need to use a little elbow grease to grind your beans. Have your arm muscles ready.
Best slim coffee machine
Why you should buy it
A premium and practical buy
What we love
This was a tricky choice, because not many coffee makers are small. Nespresso has made this Vertuo line much slimmer than its predecessors. We were pleased to find that they had improved the coffee settings even more, adjusting the brewing settings to suit your capsule. In fact, it’s number one in our best single-serve coffee makers guide.
This machine can cater to a range of cup sizes between 5oz and 18oz. It’s simple to use and has one-touch technology. This accounts for cup size, pressure, brewing time and temperature, so you don’t have to do much except wait a few seconds for your coffee. The waste bin can hold up to 8 pods too.
Good to know
Even though it is slim, it’s still long and tall. You’ll also need to buy pods, which then need storage of their own. The bin can store up to eight pods, but after that, you’ll need some space for the others. . If you really want to cut down on space, we would recommend a French Press which is easily stored in cupboards or deep drawers.
Best sleek electric kettle
Why you should buy it
Subtle, smart design
What we love
This kettle has brains and beauty. With seven temperature settings, you won’t ever burn coffee or tea again. It’s simple to use and the temperature gauge is a great way of checking how warm your water is after boiling.
We loved the anti-slip swivel base, variety of color options and limescale filter which came with this kettle. Aside from that, it’s designed to look smart and subtle on any kitchen countertop.
Good to know
I’m going to be upfront. We have tested and loved this kettle. However, unlike most of this list, it hasn’t been consciously crafted for smaller spaces. In fact, Smeg’s mini kettle is on our reviewers to-do list and has great feedback. This kettle has more capacity than their mini alternative, but is not as compact as I would like for a small kitchen.
FAQs
Are small kitchen appliances as good as large appliances?
This really depends on which appliance you buy. Small appliances have their advantages: they might be cordless and more convenient to take with you on the move, or more straightforward and simple. There will be cases where you compromise on power, for example, when choosing a smaller appliance. You will need to think about what you are happy not to have in your small appliance.
What small kitchen appliances do I need?
The non-negotiables are an air fryer or a toaster oven, to combine as many functions as possible in a single appliance, cutting down on costs and countertop real estate. A good food processor is also essential, as it can save you hours of chopping.
Are there any appliances I don’t need?
This depends on your lifestyle. If you don’t drink smoothies or shakes, you probably won’t need a blender. If you aren’t much of a baker, you won’t need the stand mixer. When you have a small kitchen, you might want to start off only getting what you need and then expand into a few extra luxuries.
Can I have appliances in a small kitchen?
Absolutely. Just because you’re short on space, doesn’t mean that you can’t have the handy appliances you know and love. KitchenAid is a great example of where you don’t need to compromise when downsizing.
Should small kitchen appliances match?
Not necessarily. It’s down to personal preference. I like to have complementary colors, but an eclectic mix of styles and shades can look really great. If your appliances will be in storage most of the time, they don’t need to match.
How do I store small kitchen appliances?
We’ve recommended products which are small enough to fit on your kitchen countertop. However, if you want to put them in low cupboards and deep drawers, that’s okay too. It’s always good to keep things together, but not necessary.
Where should I put small kitchen appliances?
Millie Hurst is an expert on decluttering and managing small spaces.
“Honestly, my best advice for storing appliances in a small kitchen is don't – the only appliance I have out on display is my coffee machine, which I use every morning”, says Millie. “In kitchens with limited countertop space, I'd argue that even toasters and air fryers should be stored in a separate closet down the hall.
“Otherwise, counters become hard to clean and end up looking visually cluttered, which is stressful and makes it feel like you've got a lot of work to do before you even start making dinner”, she concludes.
Our experts
Millie Fender is Head of Reviews. She specializes in cooking appliances, such as the best kettles, and also reviews outdoor grills and pizza ovens. Millie loves to bake, so she will take any excuse to review stand mixers and other baking essentials. When she's not putting products through their paces in our dedicated testing kitchen, Millie's reviews are conducted at home, meaning she uses these products in her own day-to-day life.
Millie Hurst is Section Editor at Homes & Gardens, overseeing the Solved section, which provides readers with practical advice for their homes, from painting to organizing and decluttering. Millie has been working in digital journalism for six years, having worked in SEO for News UK in both New York and London. She studied French & Italian at UCL and is currently completing an interior design diploma.
Alex is Head of eCommerce at Homes & Gardens. He's reviewed appliances for several years at a range of consumer magazines, and tested the Instant Essentials air fryer in this article at our dedicated test kitchen.
Louise Oliphant is eCommerce Editor and sleep specialist at Homes & Gardens, here to help you wind down well. Louise is also a keen coffee drinker, so is happy to offer her advice and opinion on market-leading products.
With an MA in International Journalism and PR experience working for a luxury homeware brand, Louise brings bags of bedding expertise and enjoys nothing more than helping readers find solutions and sleep products that best suit their needs
Molly is an eCommerce Editor at sister brand Ideal Home. She has experience covering news, features and deals across a range of small appliance, interiors, and gardens topics, with stand mixers earning their place as her favorite appliance to write about.
Camryn Rabideau is a writer and product reviewer specializing in home, kitchen, and pet products. In her five years as a product tester, she's tested hundreds of items first-hand, including many, many kitchen appliances for Homes & Gardens. Camryn does her product testing from her small homestead in beautiful Rhode Island.
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