The Best Countertop Appliances | Serious Eats

In many apartments, the kitchen is the space in which we make the most sacrifices. That area, while sometimes minuscule, is where you do all of your cooking. It's also where you must skillfully Tetris your beloved appliances. But which ones are the must-haves, the ones that deserve to take up some of that precious counter space? These are the go-to items we at Serious Eats love and use all the time.
FULL STORY: www.seriouseats.com/2017/09/favorite-countertop-appliances.html
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Serious Eats is a leading resource for all things food and drink: meticulously tested recipes that really work; in-depth, science-based explanations of cooking techniques; detailed reviews of cooking equipment; and guides to ingredients, dishes, and cuisines. We bring a democratic yet scientific approach to cooking the best dishes, busting food myths, and delivering strong opinions on what you should eat next, where, when, and why.

[@arielkanter8339]

Thank you to everyone who is requesting a chicken nugget recipe! I appreciate your love and support during this time. #TeamNugget

[@fordhouse8b]

I want one too.

[@_CoasterNinja]

I would want it to be very close in texture to McDonanlds but higher quality ingredients and better umami flavour.

[@ph11p3540]

When you live in a small apartment with a small kitchen, you can only permanently keep up to small appliances on your counter top. Everything else must be kept in a small appliance cabinet or a roll around kitchen island cart. Personally, I am looking for a tall open cabinet for holding a large microwave, and large toaster oven while storing a heavy stand mixer and food processor underneath. Those ovens need lots of breathing space around them too.

[@inspectorammo]

I want a chicken nugget recipe!

[@markoschatziathanasiou6754]

haha

[@JacquelineLP]

The older Hobart mixers actually have metal gears too. I have one and it’s a beast!

[@asortdcookie]

The Chefman kettle over-shoots the temperature by a significant amount (up to 15F in my test). I would recommend another brand.

[@biggybg98]

Pizza makers, waffle irons, soda streams, ice cream machines but no coffee machine or microwave(gasp! I said it)? Also how big are peoples kitchens? I mean really?? The best counter top appliances are ones that are multi-use with an emphasis on the limited space people have. Come on Serious Eats. This video was a straight money grab.

[@lordgarion514]

People already have a coffee maker and microwave on their counters. This is about the appliances that everyone doesn't already have. Now, if you could find me a pizza cooking ice cream maker that boils water that would be great, but if you can't I'll just have to keep my unitaskers that do those jobs..........

[@biggybg98]

@@lordgarion514 The title of the video is best Countertop Appliances.

[@lordgarion514]

@@biggybg98 And your point? Would the title "best countertop appliances except the 2 that almost every house already has in it" have been better for you? Learn to use context..... A seventh grader could figure out they weren't including those two.

[@lordgarion514]

@@biggybg98 Also, did the title include the phrase "in all categories"? Then they are under no obligation to include every category.

[@raysu]

Chicken nugget recipe with different types of breading and spices that can be eaten without sauces!!! (think popcorn chicken!) Thanks!

[@toin9898]

I use Kenji's general tso method but add 11 herbs & spices into the breading. Divine.

[@flea10x6]

Vitamix Esp the 5000-53000 are the commercial mixers which have since evolved. The Kitchen Aid is the smaller commercial Hobart The Magimix is the smaller commercial Robo-Coupe. Yup

[@Obsidianone831]

Definitely get the vitamix. Yes, it is very expensive but it is super high powered and will last decades. A cheap blender will need replacing after a few years with moderate use but the vitamix will last you 20 or 30 years.

[@temudjin38]

Actually debunked myth. A ninja blender is just as good.

[@lexasilvestre]

@@temudjin38 It was never a "myth", much less debunked.

[@cozycoffee3831]

I agree that it's always best to get what's going to last. Even if a planned obsolescence item lasts for 15 years, it would still suck for it to break, and it would be expensive to replace.

[@farhiyaa4880]

I only see 3 items for daily use..instapot, blender, and electric tea pot. The food processor is a good investment for frequent users. I am surprised no airfryer!!

[@thegoodplate]

Have a look at the Braun Food Processor from Germany. The best thing about it is the variable speed in addition to pulse. It also has a smaller bowl that fits in it, a dough blade, a shipping blade and a citrus juicer. It's also relatively quiet. It's a wonderful piece of machinery.

[@Stevoayala]

Lots of good stuff! One thing I would add is a sous vide circulator and maybe a vavuum sealer.

[@fordimension]

It's easy to find countertop appliances that are just as good, if not better than these 'fancy' brands for a lot less money. You just have to look around and read reviews. I bought a Kogan blender very similar to the vitamix which has the same specs, looks very similar too, for $99, you can get it for $45 now. I bought a cheap precision kettle from Target, you don't need glass jugs, chrome and led lighting to boil water... My Sunbeam stand mixer was half the price of a basic Kitchen Aid, and I got an ice cream maker bowl for it. My espresso machine which makes excellent coffee was $150. If I do end up buying a more expensive brand (usually for stuff like washing machines, stoves), I usually wait for the big sales when you can often pick things up for half price, or get models that have been discontinued and are on clearance.

[@m1ssd1tz]

I use my vitamix at least once a day, and some days two or three times a day. I love it. I use my stand mixer several times a week. I use the spiralizer attachment and the meat grinder.

[@wafambarek7003]

Would you recommend having both a vitamix and a magimix? Is there one that can do all? Or do you need both?

[@dh7139]

Excellent video! Ariel is a delightful narrator

[@BuzzLiteBeer]

I feel like there are only a handful of "must-haves" for home cooks. The ice-cream maker, pizza oven, and soda stream are all specialty items that only apply to enthusiasts of those genres. Unless you make ice cream, soda and pizza multiple times a week, those tools are taking up space and costing you hard earned money. A unitasker is still a unitasker.

[@erroneousbosch]

Agreed. First half of this list was solid, then it pretty much went into the realm of rich people frivolity

[@carpediem5232]

If you drink carbonated water the soda steam makes sense, and pays for itself pretty quickly, regarding the ice cream maker and pizza oven it comes down to quality of food and your own preferences. You can cut the cost for the pizzas by about 4 or even 5 times. At pizza prices from 12 to 15 dollars you can safe 9 or 10 dollars per pizza at least. So for a pizza oven of 800 dollars to pay for itself you have to make 80 pizzas. If you are not living alone that's 40 meals, that less than once a week in a year. Throw in a few parties and the number goes down even further. You can also cook other things in a pizza oven that require high temperatures. On the ice cream maker I think you are right though, it's application is pretty confined.

[@xenadu1]

A minute into the video, she literally says there are a few extra fun things if you "recently won the lottery."

[@lizcademy4809]

@@carpediem5232 I actually did a cost analysis of the Soda Stream ... if you can get store-bought seltzer for less than 66¢ per quart, the SodaStream will be more expensive. The cost goes up if you need double shots of carbonation or add flavoring. Since I could buy seltzer at $0.89 for a 2 liter bottle, I did not get a SodaStream.

[@carpediem5232]

@@lizcademy4809 The initial costs are higher, but you can refill the 130-liter CO2 cylinder for about 30 dollars locally. That makes 23 cents per liter. The new 60 liter cylinders cost 15 dollars to refill. Taking your 89 cents for to liters it still saves 43/ 39 cents or 21.5/ 19.5 cents per liter. Even with the lower savings of 19.5 cents it saves a single person about 213 dollars per year (assuming 3 liters per day). Take the initial costs with about 115-150 dollars away and you still save money. On top of that, you don't need a new SodaStream every year and each additional person using the machine doesn't have to pay the initial costs as well. With flavoring the cost goes naturally up, but I wouldn't recommend to use it anyway. As you can see, I did a cost analysis as well. Add the benefits to the environment and a SodaStream or similar product is well worth it.

[@StephenElms]

You have a Joule on the counter and in just about every shot, but no mention of sous vide? Given how much one can cook with a pot of water and some time seemed a better buy over the $800 pizza oven.

[@trishfitzpatrick2066]

I have used a Breville toaster oven for not quite two years The buttons are failing and the toast feature only does one side. Too bad because it's awesome to use when it was newer.

[@michellevdg4708]

Hilarious like I’m gonna spend 600-900 bucks on that red mixer but damn it’s gorgeous

[@1markpower]

Instead of ‘must-haves’ the video seemed to be “get everything’.

[@J_PhD]

"Also, buy Breville!"

[@bl6973]

K, here’s how you know if you want a processor or a mixer 1. You have money 2. You want to cook complex recipes 3. Enjoy bread baking or want to make large quantities of items 4. You’re busy and want to do prep ahead of times

[@djetchasketch]

I also want that chicken nugget recipe! The other unitasker I love is my rice cooker. I know you can make it in the Instant Pot, but it takes much longer (or feels like it, anyway), and takes up less counter space.

[@davidbgreensmith]

If you're stuck for counter space a company called "Sistema" make a rice cooker for the microwave. I use mine all the time. 2 cups of rice, 3 cup of water and 20 minutes on 800W in the microwave plus about 5 minutes to let it rest and it's as good as anything from a rice cooker.

[@ph11p3540]

I am looking for a dual oven stand for my fulls iced microwave and a large Brevelle toaster oven. Sadly no one online sells such dual oven stands. I hate loosing precious counter top space to a big toaster oven.

[@GeorgeDonnelly]

I thought we were going to see the essentials and she shows a blender milling grain. I neither want nor need to mill my own grain. LOL

[@soldn6068]

a chef who finds it hard to cook rice the regular way is advising us on what to get LOL

[@samuelwilliams8560]

Cooking rice in an Instant Pot is SURPRISINGLY effective! 🍚 I started cooking it in my 8-qt Instant Pot (IP-DUO 80) simply out of curiosity. It performed so well that I bought a smaller Instant Pot (3 qt Mini) and now use it exclusively for rice (e.g., white, brown, risotto, medium-grain). Now I make rice dishes at least once a week, and frequently more. Perfectly cooked rice sprinkled with Furikake rice seasoning is amazing! 😋

[@MollyDiBi]

Who said she's a chef? The video said Director of Commerce.

[@matlit1859]

Man that pizza looked seriously good. But yeah, with $800 I can buy a lot of great pizzas from the place in the city

[@perniciouspete4986]

The KitchenAid 5 and 6 quart models are EXTREMELY LOUD!

[@TheLakeMorgan]

How is rice hard to make on a stove top?

[@Alactrium]

Fruit or cookies or *deepest breath* Alcohol. Oscar-worthy.

[@kimberlygoodwin8500]

I have everything on this list except the pizza maker. I’m serious in my home cooking. Lol!

[@L2THEC1]

I love Breville since , the movie Enemy of the State, and that blender l still own, but how much did they pay ya'll 😋😋😋

[@Deimos000]

No coffee machine?? 😥

[@dh7139]

Well done Ariel! Thanks for your info. I keep going back and forth about taking the plunge about an expensive food processor. You have convinced me to go for the vitamix. Your videos are delightful, fun and informative. More!!!

[@dailykitchensupply4126]

Great ideas

[@abcdefg54321x]

No juicer?

[@cs7160]

Since when do we need to brew different teas at different temperatures? Anything below boiling point is only going to make a weaker brew.

[@wellivea1]

For more delicate tea like green tea, you want it a bit lower.

[@davidbgreensmith]

I have the Breville Boss Blender, their stand mixer and their food processor. They give the Vitamix, Magimix and Kitchen Aid a run for their money.

[@cheerios428]

Got everything except the waffle maker, pizza maker and soda machine. Brb gonna go shopping

[@alynjones3389]

cant beat the toasty make /not a toaster lol

[@nathanp2007]

I want a chicken nugget recipe, DUH!

[@lizt8735]

The breville oven is great till it falls apart after only a year. I do not recommend it!

[@irish_failed_guitarist]

Is this a shopping channel now? Give us recipes!

[@ilsunnylo3562]

Toaster. Crispy bread every morning.

[@madthumbs1564]

Better toast on stove top.

[@stacyhackney6100]

Thank you.

[@brixandblooms]

I prefer SMEG appliance esp the stand mixer by SMEG.

[@lsamoa]

I can't get over how gigantic American kitchen appliances can be lol. Unless you're cooking for 12 people daily, you can replace all these with a handmixer plus regular cookware and utensils.

[@haroldhenderson2824]

After burning out 3 "kitchen" blenders, I bought a "bar" blender. 3 speeds, Off-Lo-Hi.

[@etherdog]

I have many of these items and will attest to their exceptional quality. The sodastream seems frivolous especially since a coffee maker was omitted, and I truly lust after the Breville Pizzaiolo and Ice Cream makers. If they are as good as my Breville toaster oven (and all the reviews I have seen say they are), then they on my Wish List. Nice wrap up!

[@JaseMM87]

Chicken nugget recipe please!!

[@JJ-co8pu]

U mention they're good products but give no real insight the specific functions of each product. Like we know what a kettle does but maybe explain the different temp settings or i get u say its a good blender but what are the power levels? Doesn't make me trust the person when they can't even tell me why the product is different from the competition

[@MichaelQuisao]

Oh no, I have a serious crush on Ariel. And I am here for a chicken nugget recipe. 😂

[@glsapp23]

A good little compendium.

[@GeorgeCockerill]

I would love to see a Serious Eats chicken nuggets recipe.

[@CriticalDepth]

Was this just an ad for ads?!

[@cbartlett]

Chicken nugget recipe, please.

[@adamalbert]

a quick, weeknight chicken nugget recipe please

[@hasitdawnedonyou]

I do not agree with the vitamix. It’s more worth it to get a vacuum blender for the price c’mon

[@masterchief5231]

Thx gonna get the fookin vitamix

[@neylsonrodrigues7350]

I too would like a chicken nugget recipe. and it needs to be a chicken nugget not chicken meat balls

[@haroldhenderson2824]

Loose the pizza oven. Buy unglazed ceramic (or terracotta) tiles to put on your oven rack. Much cheaper.

[@cozycoffee3831]

Brian Lagerstrom(sp?) who also has a YT channel, used to be a professional pizza chef and he swears by using a pizza steel. For that matter, a cast iron pizza pan may also be as effective (dunno, I haven't tried it, but it's an idea), and could double as a serving piece, too.

[@samb1314]

Chicken nugget recipe 👍👍

[@alhung5637]

Wait - Robot Coup?

[@bl6973]

**laughs in cheap**

[@TheUnnamedAssailant]

GIMME MUH NUGGETS !!!

[@rgwak]

I can barely make toast without burning it. 🥖🔥 Why am I even watching this? 🤷

[@writerinfact1768]

Your suggestions seem, mostly, to be in lottery territory. I will respectfully suggest, based on over 45 years of cooking, that any "expert" list of essentials be taken with at least a modicum of skepticism. Buy very little to begin with and add to that according to what you actually need, at an affordable price. Shop your local thrift store, not an online kitchen boutique. Don't end up with a kitchen overflowing with thousands of dollars' worth of stuff you've never used. After cooking for a family of 5, I have yet to purchase a food processor. I have knives and I'm not afraid to use them; none of my knives cost $150, let alone more. In fact, I doubt that all the knives I've ever bought cost that much, in total.

[@shaimaaziz1798]

Omggggggg we want chicken nugget recipe

[@katylowe3504]

My comment PLEASE ADD CAPTIONING! I only understand some of what you are saying and captioning would help a lot of us, I’m sure. Thanks.

[@mpepin01]

I want a chicken nugget recipe!!!!! #TeamNugget

[@13yearsoldvatsimpilot]

I want a chicken nugget recipie

[@justoutchea]

Chicky nuggs!!!!

[@travelvloggity]

#sponsoredbybreville?

[@TimesRyan]

Chicken Nuggets, Please!!!

[@miriamrodriguez6892]

Chicken nugget please

[@latonyajackson5698]

All u need is a garden and some chickens.

[@roland97008]

... Alcohol... CUT! CUT!

[@servant72]

6:05-6:12 John 2:1-11

[@listofromantics]

Sooo... All told, more than $3,100+ dollars, not counting tax--must be nice.

[@AWWx2]

I have to ask: is this supposed to be SATIRE??? WHO on earth can AFFORD all that equipment?

[@odditi8293]

Is this comment supposed to be satire?

[@levivandijk7139]

No one said these are required.. it's just a video recommending their favourites for people who ARE able to or interested in purchasing...

[@toekneeevans]

Director of Commerce?

[@stephengoh5456]

So, since you owned it, you must have lots of money and space!

[@Nikl1296]

George Foreman Grill

[@mencken8]

Well, the problem was solved in the first 30 seconds, congratulations. Without an extra 100 running feet of counter, not happening for us. An I’m not constantly breaking them out and stowing them. Coffee pot & grinder sit on the counter, and a cheap hot water pot. Rice cooker and griddle / grill / waffle iron and a blender are rotated out of cabinet storage. That is all. K.I.S.S.

[@postalcode123]

NUGGETS!!!

[@rexiioper6920]

Sodastream? Wtf???

[@izf4660]

Thank you for watching:) Sponsored by Breville

[@Beregorn88]

My thought indeed...

[@BombedNevada]

Chicken nuggets!

[@prettyprudent5779]

...and then she swaps saliva with the dog at the end.

[@jaytorr6701]

So spend 1000 dollars on a mixer because it blends flour... The same flour any baker buys already milled and even a decent flour mill costs 200 bucks...

[@aolson1111]

It's $250-500 for the blender (not mixer,) and it blends everything. Why the hell would you instead get a unitasker just to save $50?

[@jaytorr6701]

@@aolson1111 because milling flour in a blender is the worse thing you can do if you want decently milled grains. So should we not use coffee grinders because this " amazing" blender can also do that? See how stupid your comment is?

[@maryandchild]

it's a smart purchase for people with celiac, as alternative flours cost an arm and a leg at the grocery store and you can save a lot by milling them at home (and you have to make a lot more from scratch with celiac, so you use more flour than you'd expect). otherwise, i can't imagine needing a vitamix at home.

[@jaytorr6701]

@@maryandchild if you want want to mill flour buy a dedicated mill. Can get really good ones for 200 bucks.

[@maryandchild]

@@jaytorr6701 and if you don't have another $200 or space for a mill and a blender... this is a great tried and true compromise.

[@spiritofe629]

She look like my gym teacher

[@JjrShabadoo]

+1 nuggets

[@stephendevore1800]

If she was my wife I would be happy to buy her anything she wanted. WOW !! I guess I will have to settle for the chicken nugget recipe.

[@leporello7]

Berkel modello 7 manual food slicer. Just saying.

[@briansmith2160]

Yuk! Dog the counter.

[@heartlandlight6862]

There is a serious eating problem with having an ice cream maker at home.

[@yorkaturr]

Kenwood is superior to KitchenAid. Just saying.

[@jb76489]

Don’t cut yourself on all that edge bro

[@Paelorian]

If you want to nerd out over stand mixers, watch Amy Learns to Cook here on KZbin. She has it all. The flagship KitchenAid Pro will cover all the bases for most people and you can get it on sale here in the US unlike a lot of the higher-end stuff which is more niche. Contemporary KitchenAids are not that durable (decades ago they were made by Hobart and much more robust and I'd take one of those over a new one) but they're durable enough for most people. If you use the mixer a lot, have special attachment needs, or make thick or otherwise challenging-to-mix doughs, then the expensive high-end mixers that won't choke and die when you make bagels are worth looking into. Kenwood, Bosch, Ankarsrum, etc. They're all stronger than KitchenAid and some mix certain foods better, but expect to pay more, probably a lot more, and they're overkill for many home bakers. Hobart if you're running a small business, it's the most robust at home mixer sizes. I sure do lust over the high-end mixers but I'll be shacked up with whatever I can get for under $200 for the foreseeable future.

[@tacosauce9409]

Brags about her channel any chance she gets , we get it you want money

[@jameshobbs]

She finds it hard to make rice on the stovetop? Sad.

[@petef15]

this channel is done

[@briangenthner5500]

Can I get you on the counter top?