Small appliances – can’t live with ‘em, or can’t live without ‘em?

June 17th, 2013

Appliance Talk Small Appliances

One of the first pieces of advice typically given to anyone looking at reorganising a cluttered kitchen is to get rid of everything you don’t use.  Alas, more than a few different small appliances fall into this category, rarely getting used for anything more than gathering dust and getting in the way.

An impressive collection, but how many do you REALLY need?

But certain small appliances, especially single-use small appliances, are really cool, with specialised functions that can’t be beaten by an alternative gadget.

So should you exile your small appliances from your kitchen in the name of tidiness?  Or should you give every misbegotten gadget a role in your home?

Can’t live with ’em

We’ve looked at the phenomenon before of the single-use novelty appliance that only perform one task – they can range from being fairly practical to absurdly useless.

Perhaps a well-meaning relative got you an all in one omelette and waffle maker (seen above) as a stocking stuffer.  Or maybe you spotted one of these gadgets for yourself and picked it up on a whim.  You use it a few times and revel in its convenience, but as man was not meant to live on omelettes and waffles alone, it gradually drifts out of rotation in favour of more traditional cooking appliances.

You could even argue that some of the kitchen’s more mainstream small appliances are unnecessary in the home, when you get right down to it.  You don’t really NEED a food processor to dice onions – just a sharp knife. A mixer can be replaced with a wooden spoon and your own strong arms.  Even a toaster or microwave can be replaced with your oven and a bit of patience.

Can’t live without ’em

Hang on, though.  This blog is getting a bit Negative Nancy here.  What about all the GOOD things that small appliances can do?

Not exactly what I meant, Grumpy.

A food processor can get your carrots sliced into tiny chunks in a matter of seconds, and prevent wear and tear on your choppin’ arm.  A mixer can guarantee a smoothness in your baking batter that simple stirring couldn’t match, unless you’re some kind of living stirring machine.  Toasters and microwaves are the best at what they do, making them almost kitchen essentials.

Even those “joke” appliances can have a place in your kitchen – maybe not a regular, everyday place, but a place nonetheless.  When you get a random craving for marshmallows, you’ll be glad that there’s a dedicated marshmallow-toasting machine (above) gathering dust in the back of the cupboard – you’ll just have to hope that time and dusty storage hasn’t left it busted.  Try to always store your appliances carefully – selected appliances, such as the Tefal Fresh Express, have been designed with easy and efficient storage in mind.

And remember, even small appliances that supposedly only have a single use can prove to be remarkably versatile if you’re willing to experiment.  The Tefal Actifry may appear to be a simple hot chip machine, but its cookbook includes recipes for everything from beef stroganoff to desserts, all prepared in the unit.  We’ve already explored the many and varied uses for a sandwich press, and if you’re feeling daring, you could look for inspiration among the suggestions from our readers for creative uses for appliances…

Your turn

Do you have a cupboard full of gimmicky appliances and utensils that you never use?  Or is your kitchen a stripped-down cooking machine, where no space is wasted?