Quick summary: Air fryer, Instant Pot, stand mixer, bread maker, waffle maker... American kitchens are full of small appliances. Which ones do I actually use, and which ones just sit on the shelf? Honest answer.
Americans and Their Small Appliance Obsession
Growing up in Turkey, the kitchen had a pot, a pan, maybe a blender. That was enough. When I came to America I realized there is a whole culture around kitchen gadgets here. Every neighbor has an air fryer, Instagram is full of Instant Pot recipes, and there are Reddit threads about "which stand mixer."
I got curious, bought things, tried them, gave up on some, and some genuinely made my life easier. Which is which, I will explain.
Air Fryer: Do You Actually Need One?
Short answer: Yes, but with conditions.
An air fryer is not an oil-free deep fryer. Let me say that upfront. It works like a small convection oven, crisps the top quickly but inside is not different from an oven. I bought it for french fries, then realized I use it for a lot of things:
- Chicken thighs (done in 20 minutes, faster than the oven)
- Reheating borek/muska (does not make them soggy like a microwave)
- Frozen items (mozzarella sticks, crispy chicken, etc.)
- Roasted vegetables (carrots, broccoli, zucchini)
But let me also say this: if you have a big oven and you already use it, an air fryer is not necessary. It adds value for small kitchens. My kitchen is small, so it adds value.
Gulsah's note: I bought the air fryer, could not figure out what to put in it, did not use it for two weeks, then I put chicken thighs in and my life changed. Now I use it 3-4 times a week. It came for chicken thighs, it earned its spot.
Instant Pot: Amazing for Turkish Cooking
Before buying this I thought: "Don't Turkish people use pressure cookers anyway?" Yes, but the Instant Pot is different. Pressure cooker + rice cooker + slow cooker + yogurt maker all in one. And let me tell you: for dried legumes it is incredible.
Chickpeas cook in 35 minutes without pre-soaking. White beans in 40 minutes. Mercimek corbasi in 15 minutes. The Instant Pot pairs perfectly with the legumes that are the foundation of Turkish cooking.
The downside: it is big. Takes up space in a small kitchen. I keep it on the counter because I use it often enough.
Stand Mixer: The KitchenAid Dream vs. Reality
The KitchenAid stand mixer looks beautiful. It photographs great on Instagram. I looked at it for a while. Looked and looked and looked.
Then I asked myself: "How many times a week do I make dough?" The answer: maybe two or three times a month. For that frequency, spending $400-500 on a KitchenAid does not make sense. Kneading by hand is both practical and free exercise.
But if you really do cook a lot, the KitchenAid is a long-term investment. Solid build, lasts forever, and Costco occasionally has great prices. Waiting for a Costco deal before buying makes sense.
Note: KitchenAid has a cheaper "Artisan Mini" model ($250). If you are not making large batches of dough, this is enough. The full-size model is big and heavy.
Bread Maker: Bought It, Regretted It, Sold It
This category is my biggest spending mistake. I bought a bread maker with the excitement of "homemade bread, how nice." First week I made bread 3 times, loved it. Second week, once. Third week, not at all. Fourth week the machine was still taking up counter space and I was buying bread from the store.
For a bread maker to work out, you need a real habit of making bread regularly. Otherwise it turns into a large kitchen accessory. I sold it on Facebook Marketplace. No regrets.
Which Appliance Should You Definitely Buy?
| Appliance | My Recommendation | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| Air Fryer | Yes | Small kitchen, fast cooking, actually gets used |
| Instant Pot | Yes (especially for Turkish cooking) | Legume cooking, time savings |
| Stand Mixer | If you cook a lot, yes | Expensive investment, decide based on usage |
| Bread Maker | No (for most people) | Requires a habit, usually gets bought with excitement and then shelved |
| Rice Cooker | Maybe (unnecessary if you have Instant Pot) | Good for rice but Instant Pot handles it |
Vacuum Sealer: Extending Food Freshness
Vacuum sealers save serious money, especially for those who buy large quantities of meat, cheese, or Turkish groceries. Meat stays fresh in the fridge for 10-14 days instead of 2-3 days. When frozen, the freezer burn problem is mostly eliminated.
There are two different approaches on Amazon: compact handheld models and professional countertop models.
Chef Preserve Compact Handheld Sealer
A rechargeable, portable model. Comes with 30 reusable bags. Does not take up much counter space.
- Advantages: Compact size, rechargeable (no cable), reusable bags are economical, enough power for getting started.
- Disadvantages: Battery life decreases with heavy use. Hard to get full vacuum on large bags.
- Best for: Those just starting out, small kitchens, people who travel with food.
View on Amazon: Chef Preserve Vacuum Sealer →
Anova Culinary Precision Vacuum Sealer Pro
Anova is a brand known for sous vide devices. This sealer, with its large bag roll and powerful motor, is designed for serious home use.
- Advantages: Strong suction, you can cut bags to any size from the large roll, long-term durability, dry and wet mode options.
- Disadvantages: Bigger and heavier, more expensive. Takes up counter space.
- Best for: Those who regularly do big grocery runs, people who stock up on meat/cheese, sous vide cooks.
View on Amazon: Anova Culinary Precision Vacuum Sealer Pro →
Will you actually use it? For someone who buys bulk meat from Costco, portions it out, and vacuum seals, this machine pays for itself very quickly. But for someone who shops twice a week and buys small amounts, it might be an unnecessary investment.
Other Popular Kitchen Appliances
Other frequently asked-about appliances:
- Vitamix 5200 Blender: Overkill for smoothies, soups, and hummus, but once you buy it you use it for 20 years. There is a real difference compared to cheaper alternatives. View on Amazon →
- Ninja BL610 Professional Blender: Similar performance at half the price of a Vitamix. A good starter choice for smoothies and soups. View on Amazon →
- Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 (6 Quart): Very useful for Turkish dishes. Pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, yogurt maker all in one. View on Amazon →
Final Thought: Ask Yourself Before Buying a Kitchen Gadget
I ask myself this question: "How many times a week will I use this?" If the answer does not go past two, I do not buy it. Thanks to this rule my kitchen cabinet has relatively few gadgets and I actually know the ones I use.
Costco sometimes has amazing prices on small appliances, watch for those. On Amazon, Prime Day and Black Friday bring serious drops too.
Disclosure: Some Amazon links in this article are affiliate links. Your price doesn't change. I only recommend products I actually use or have personally tested.
