6 Best Kitchen Gadgets for Small Kitchens

Outfit your small kitchen with only the most efficient gadgets.

Photo Credit: iStockphoto/contrastaddict

Don’t let your small space stop you from bring out your inner gourmet chef – instead, embrace the best kitchen gadgets that let your culinary skills shine. Some are larger but are highly recommended for their reliability, while others are multi-use pieces designed to reduce countertop clutter. Check out our suggestions for the seven best kitchen gadgets for small kitchens.

KitchenAid Classic 4.5-Quart Stand Mixer ($199)

This mixer workhorse will last for years, and since it is the smallest of the KitchenAid stand mixers, it takes up less space than the others. It only comes in white, but if you don’t intend to leave it out on your counter – or don’t mind its neutral color – that shouldn’t be a problem. Whip up everything from standard baked goods to bread and pizza dough with the bread hook attachment and perfect meringues with the whisk attachment. When you move into a bigger place, you can purchase the pasta maker, ice cream maker and meat grinder attachments.

Cuisinart Pro Classic 7-Cup Food Processor ($99.95)

Grind meat, shred vegetables for coleslaw and cheese, emulsify mayonnaise and salad dressing, slice vegetables and fruits, mince garlic and herbs and knead dough with this food processor. Its seven-cup bowl is plenty big for meals for two, but its narrow body fits well on a counter, and its smaller motor (versus its 11-cup cousin) is light enough to take in and out of a cabinet.

Cuisinart SmartStick Immersion Hand Blender ($29.95)

Available in classic chrome or white, plus green, orange, pink, turquoise and magenta, this slender hand blender allows you to puree soups, vegetables and applesauce right in the pot you cooked them in. It also includes a two-cup plastic measuring cup that you can make smoothies for one in, and once you’re done, simply detach the dishwasher-safe blending shaft from the body by pressing a button.

Cuisinart Grind-and-Brew 12-Cup Automatic Coffeemaker ($85)

Eliminate the need for a separate coffee grinder and coffee maker with this all-in-one automatic wonder. Plus, it’s programmable and features a brew-pause function if you’re pressed for time. If you are using pre-ground coffee, you can always turn off the grinder option

LG 0.9 Cubic Feet Combination Microwave Oven/Toaster ($111)

Eliminate the need for a microwave, toaster and toaster oven with the LG combination microwave oven and toaster, an attractive, sleek stainless steel appliance. This microwave oven features 10 power levels, a regular toaster with nine browning levels, a bagel-sized toaster and an automatic and rapid defrost.

Cuisinart 5-in-1 Griddler ($96)

This fairly lightweight (9 lbs.) unit works as a contact grill and Panini press while closed, and its removable, reversible plates convert it into a full grill, full griddle or half grill/half griddle while open. These plates drain grease while cooking and include a drip tray to catch anything that drains off. Plates, drip tray and included scraper tool are dishwasher-safe.