Whether you’re a renter or a homeowner, you would certainly have a kitchen in your place. Kitchens have become more than just a place where meals are cooked each day. Now, it’s a place of relaxation, where after a long day of work, making meals doesn’t seem like another chore. So, why not make it convenient and comfortable for yourself?
If you’re moving into a new place or planning to renovate your kitchen, you might wonder what kitchen appliances your home needs. So, let this article guide you through the essential gadgets that every foodie needs to gear up your kitchen!
Kitchen Hood
Investing in a high-quality kitchen hood is a must if you want to have a clean and healthy kitchen. A capable kitchen hood can quickly eliminate odours and steam when cooking. It can also prevent grease from settling on your kitchen counter. Additionally, this appliance is highly beneficial to health-conscious people. Anyone who has asthma and often shies away from cooking can rely on kitchen hoods. They will take care of fumes and other pollens that are harmful to your health.
Kitchen hoods come in different styles: built-in, integrated (hidden away), chimney (on a wall) or freestanding (away from a wall). Based on different types and usage, the prices of kitchen hoods can vary a lot. Rubine kitchen hood, Electrolux kitchen hood, and Firenzzi kitchen hood are some high-quality kitchen hood brands that you can look at.
Microwave Oven
No small kitchen appliances are more beloved than microwave ovens. They have been our friends for so long that it’s simply impossible not to see them sitting in the kitchen. They are easy to use, extremely durable, and easy to clean. In fact, for many people, a microwave completes their kitchen experience without having to use other kitchen gadgets.
You can get built-in or freestanding microwaves, depending on the function of your kitchen. Especially, some microwave ovens only offer microwave cooking, but others also provide oven-cooking or grill functions, which are super convenient if you want to test out more recipes!
Baking Oven
One of the most essential kitchen appliances that you should have is a baking oven. Depending on the size of your kitchen, you can choose from single or double ovens with a range of different fuel types. If you have always wanted to try out some baking and roasting recipes, having an oven can definitely help perfect your dishes.
Before investing in a new oven, it’s worth thinking about how often it will be used and what types of functions you will need in an oven. Nowadays, baking ovens have tons of functions that may confuse you.
Generally, built-in ovens have many features for baking, grilling and roasting food. Single electric ovens tend to be convection ovens, which use a fan to distribute heat evenly inside the cavity. So, make sure you know what’s included in each oven to get the most out of them.
Coffee Machine
Almost everyone loves starting the day with a hot cup of coffee. However, if you want to enjoy a cup of hot latte or espresso right in the comfort of your own kitchen, having a coffee machine is a necessity. There are three types of coffee machines: semi-automatic, automatic and super-automatic espresso machines.
Semi-automatic and automatic machines require you to grind the coffee, load the portafilter, tamp, and press a button to start the shot. There are minor differences between the level of control. However, they are the most common espresso machine types in speciality coffee shops and enthusiasts’ homes. That’s why, if you are picky about your coffee and want a whole coffee-making experience, purchasing a semi-automatic or automatic machine would be a great choice.
Source: pexels.com/@Vlada Karpovich
Meanwhile, super-automatic espresso machines are a modern invention designed to do everything for you. It’s hard to beat these machines in terms of convenience. You can expect the machine to pull the same-quality shot just about every time. This type of machine is more user-friendly and are perfect for busy people.
Toaster
Toast is an obvious staple of the culinary world, especially when it comes to breakfast. Having a toaster in your kitchen may be a basic requirement in many kitchens. Toasters can easily, quickly and efficiently crisp bread, bagels, and even sandwiches. Depending on your preferences, you could choose to buy either a toaster or a toaster oven. While toasters are limited to making toast only, toaster ovens can crisp up many other food choices. You can reheat your pizzas, cheese sandwiches and croissants!
There are tons of toasters and toaster ovens out there for you to choose from. Some of the best brands have to be Philips toaster, Breville toaster, KitchenAid toaster and Smeg toaster.
Blender
Blenders are a practical must-have appliance for those who need to mix sauces and make juices or soups. A blender’s main job is to “blend” two or more ingredients together. Its motor is less powerful, and its blades are less sharp than a food processor. So, a blender is used more common among liquid and ice ingredients.
However, you may see blenders as a little too bulky at times. That’s why an immersion blender would be a perfect fit for you. Immersion blenders offer more convenient and less messy mixtures, they are designed to be “immersed” in liquid-heavy foods (soups, stews, dips and spreads). For instance, when you’re making a stew and want to enhance some flavours, you might add some ingredients after the stew is already in the pot. An immersion blender allows you to blend those new ingredients without removing the entire stew from the pot.
Mixer
A kitchen gadget that can’t be missed if you’re a baking fanatic: mixers. Mixers make it easier to combine wet and dry ingredients; some even come with dough-hook attachments for kneading. Mixers of both the hand and stand varieties are a practical essential when it comes to making bread, pastries, and other dishes.
The style you choose largely depends on your budget, storage space, and level of patience. If you’re a foodie and often cook for yourself, a stand mixer might cost you more, but it’ll definitely be worth the investment. On the other hand, if you prefer to whip out your cooking skills once in a while, then a hand mixer is good enough for your usability.
Air Fryer
The air fryer is the new queen of cooking appliances, so why not have one in your kitchen? You’ll be surprised at how many recipes an air fryer can tackle. French fries, chicken fingers, tater tots are yummy food that is deep-fried with tons of oil. However, air fryers have changed people’s approach to deep-fried food, making it easier and healthier to enjoy fried chicken.
An air fryer helps you maintain the satisfying crunch while decreasing the greasiness of the food you’re eating. Not only can an air fryer help with frying, but it can also help you make other amazing recipes, such as apple chips, doughnuts, egg tarts, macaroni and cheese, and even salmon!
Dishwasher
I know you probably think that a dishwasher is not an essential kitchen appliance, but you’ll be surprised at how a dishwasher can help you. One of the advantages of having a dishwasher is that you don’t need to stand at the sink and wash the dishes by yourself. But other than removing the hassle of hand washing, what else is there that a dishwasher can do?
First of all, a dishwasher not only can help you save time and effort but also conserve water and money. You may not notice, but we actually consumed a lot more water when hand-washing dishes. That’s why a dishwasher decreases your water consumption when washing dishes and help save money on your water bills too.
If you own lots of stainless steel or cast-iron pans, such as Korean-made cookware, then you must spend lots of time and effort to clean and preserve the pans’ surfaces. This is when a dishwasher comes to the rescue.
Conclusion
Of course, the definition of “must-have” varies from person to person, but these are the nine must-have appliances that I think people should have in their kitchens. I hope this article provides valuable information to help you style your kitchen.
Thanks for your continued love and appreciation for our media. We love to collaborate with brands and we love to get feedback from our readers. Did you check our platform “SocialMediaMomSG” for mompreneurs, local brands and ladies?
Drop a line on [email protected] / [email protected] or Click here to get in touch with us. Happy to connect!