Kitchen appliances - which are and which aren't worth the money?

[Poppy]

So I'm curious as to which kitchen appliances VVers use most often, and which are a complete waste of money. (I know there's a bread machine in my pantry that hasn't been used in years and a giant crock pot ).

My most used appliance is probably my Vitamix, and I use it all the time. Now that I'm making my own "butter" and mayonnaise, as well as lots of cashew cheeses, I'm so glad I have it. My least used appliance (that resides in the kitchen) is probably my kitchen-aid mixer. It's just so heavy. I have an inexpensive hand-held mixer that I reach for far more often.

So what appliances do you use all the time, which do you use on occasion, and which should never have been purchased and why?

 

[Second Summer]

Microwave ovens are definitely worth the money.

I think having a dishwasher would also be worth it, although we haven't ever had one while living here. (British houses / flats are small ...)

Some kind of blender is also a necessity, I think, for making smoothies.

Well, it all depends on your particular situation, obviously. If I had a less busy life and had the opportunity to live somewhere closer to nature, then I probably wouldn't mind giving up some of the modern comforts.

 

[Blobbenstein]

Electric kettle.

Toaster(mine broke)

Food processor, which I used to use a lot, but not much these days.

 

[Chryssie]

Microwave would have to be number 1 as we use this constantly. I also use the toaster oven as we do not have a toaster. Coffee maker (Kuerig) is next then the Ninja blender/food processor. The mixer is seldom used because I really don't bake that much. While I love homemade bread, the bread machine is sadly under utilized And though I wanted a crockpot, we don't use it much at all.

 

[ledboots]

Toaster, electric kettle, microwave, dishwasher, stick blender, crockpot. These I use all the time.

 

[Mischief]

Microwave, immersion blender, toaster oven, electric kettle, food processor

 

[Andy_T]

Espresso machine and Vitamix are tied in our household in position one. Electric kettle is number 2.

Not so sure about microwave ovens. While I do not really believe the claims heard sometimes (but as far as I know not backed up by solid science) that they are the work of the devil and turn food into poison, I still do not feel the wish to use ours if not absolutely necessary (which is very seldom the case)

We had a bread maker once, but have moved on to simply kneading our sourdough by hand and baking it in the oven. Not much more work, but much less cleaning.

 

[Moll Flanders]

The things I use the most are the kettle, toaster, washing machine, tumble dryer and the smoothie maker. I have a stick blender that I use for soup. I just wash by hand so I don't have a dishwasher.

ETA - My husband uses the toastie maker a lot. His idea of cooking.

I keep considering buying a crock pot, breadmaker, microwave and a washer dryer, but I haven't got around to it so maybe there isn't a burning reason to buy any of those things.

 

[Calliegirl]

Best investment was the Vitamix and immersion blender. I use the microwave multiple times a day, and the toaster a few times a week. We used the air fryer daily when we first got it, but only occasionally now.

I never use the crock pot, very rarely the food processor and rice maker, and tried the pressure cooker once and didn't like it.

Many, many, many years ago I had a breadmaker and used it all the time. Then I suddenly stopped using it and gave it away. It's easy enough to make it by hand that I wouldn't invest in another one. Plus, I think the homemade bread comes out better than the breadmaker bread.

I use the Keurig maybe once or twice a week, I'm not a big hot coffee drinker. But it's convenient when I do want one.

 

[MadamSarcastra]

I got the Zyliss EasyPull Food Processor: Shop Zyliss - Award Winning, Designer Kitchen Tools and Gadgets last year and I absolutely LOVE it!! It easily paid for itself the very first week.... I use it constantly, it works like a dream, it's saved my aging hands SO much pain, and it uses NO ELECTRICITY!!

 

[Calliegirl]

I forgot about the salad shooter. I loved that thing, I have no idea what I did with it.

 

[Andy_T]

Oooooh ... totally forgot about the rice cooker. Yes, that one is used at least 3 times a week in our household.
And daily in a typical Asian household that has not heard about pasta yet.

 

[PTree15]

Most-used appliances: food processor, immersion blender, stand mixer, hand mixer, toaster.
Least-used: bread machine, though it was only recently given to me by my mom, so it may climb the ladder at some point. I also had a pressure cooker that I never used so I gave it away.