Imagine the ideal kitchen in your thoughts – a well-lit, glistening, and spacious culinary haven, complete with the perfect central cooking station, a wonderful spot for morning meals, and top-notch kitchen gadgets that seamlessly unite the space. Nothing streamlines the art of cooking, baking, or daily kitchen routines more than a collection of robust, feature-rich appliances ready to tackle tasks like crafting smoothies, brewing coffee, and air frying with ease.
It’s also an added bonus if these appliances are visually appealing and reasonably priced. In pursuit of this goal, we’ve curated a selection of appliances that strike the perfect balance between functionality and cost, giving you the best value for your investment.
Below, we’ve put together a concise guide with general pointers to assist you in selecting the right appliances. Further down the page, you’ll find brief information on our preferred kitchen appliances.
Table of Contents
How to choose the Best Kitchen Appliances for you
Selecting the ideal kitchen appliances tailored to your needs involves several key considerations. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you make the best choices:
Functionality: Prioritise appliances that align with your cooking habits and lifestyle. Consider what tasks you frequently perform in the kitchen. Whether it’s baking, grilling, or food processing, ensure the appliances you choose can handle these tasks efficiently.
Size and Space: Consider the size of your kitchen and the available countertop space. Appliances with a compact design can be beneficial if you have limited room. Ensure that the dimensions of the appliances fit comfortably on your worktop without crowding the space.
Build Quality: Pay close attention to the durability and craftsmanship of the appliances. Look for high-quality materials that can withstand daily use and maintain their performance over time. Sturdy construction ensures your appliances will last, reducing the need for frequent replacements.
Capacity and Wattage: Evaluate the capacity of the appliances based on the volume of food or liquids you typically handle. Ensure that the wattage of devices like blenders, food processors, and microwaves is sufficient for your intended tasks. Higher wattage can lead to more efficient and faster results.
Multi-functionality: Opt for appliances that offer versatility and multiple functions. This can save you space, money, and time. For example, a kitchen appliance that combines blending, chopping, and grinding functionalities can be more useful than having separate devices for each task.
User-Friendly: Look for appliances with intuitive controls and easy-to-follow instructions. A user-friendly design ensures that you can quickly learn how to operate and maintain the appliances.
READ NEXT: Best Air Fryers | Toasters | Kettles | Can Openers
The Best Kitchen Appliances NZ
1. Sunbeam New York Kettle
The Sunbeam New York Kettle is a sleek and elegant addition to your kitchen, combining functionality with a touch of modern design. With a generous capacity of 1.7 liters, this glass kettle is perfect for boiling water for your daily tea or coffee needs.
The most striking feature of the Sunbeam New York Kettle is its captivating illumination. Boiling water in a cool blue light, the kettle creates a mesmerizing visual display, adding a touch of sophistication to your kitchen. This unique feature is not only practical for indicating the boiling status but also adds a stylish element to your countertop.
The 360-degree power base ensures convenience and flexibility in placing the kettle on its base from any angle. This feature is especially handy for both right-handed and left-handed users, allowing for easy handling and placement.
2. Breville Toast Select Luxe Toaster
The Breville Toast Select Luxe Toaster is a compact and versatile kitchen appliance that delivers perfectly toasted bread with every use. With a 2-slice capacity, this toaster is perfect for small households or individuals looking for a quick and efficient toasting solution.
The toaster features 6 bread settings, allowing you to choose the ideal level of toasting for your preference. Whether you prefer a lightly toasted slice or a crispy, golden-brown result, this toaster has you covered.
The browning control slider adds to the customisation options, giving you precise control over the level of browning, ensuring that your toast is just the way you like it.
The LED progress indicator is a convenient feature that keeps you informed about the toasting process. You can easily track the progress of your toast, ensuring that it reaches your desired level of toasting perfection.
3. Instant Pot Duo Crisp Pressure Cooker
The Instant Pot Duo Crisp Pressure Cooker is a versatile kitchen appliance that offers remarkable 11-in-1 functionality, making it a true powerhouse for culinary enthusiasts. This innovative device combines the features of a pressure cooker with the added benefit of an air fryer lid, providing a wide range of cooking possibilities.
The pressure cooker lid allows you to quickly pressure cook your meals, delivering tender and flavorful results in a fraction of the time compared to traditional cooking methods. Whether you’re preparing stews, meats, or even soups, the pressure cooking feature proves to be a game-changer in the kitchen.
The added air fryer lid takes your cooking experience to the next level, allowing you to achieve crispy and delicious results. From crispy fries to perfectly cooked chicken wings, the air fryer functionality adds a new dimension of taste and texture to your dishes.
4. Panasonic Ricemaker SR
The Panasonic Rice Cooker SR is a reliable and versatile addition to any kitchen, offering a range of features that make cooking rice a breeze. With a 2.2 mm 6-layer Inner Pan, this rice cooker ensures even and consistent cooking, resulting in perfectly fluffy rice every time.
The 16 Auto Menus provide a convenient selection of preset cooking options, taking the guesswork out of preparing various types of rice and dishes. Whether you’re making traditional white rice or experimenting with more complex recipes, this rice cooker has you covered.
The Easy Viewing White LED Display adds a modern touch to the appliance, allowing you to easily monitor the cooking process and settings. The clear display ensures that you can make adjustments as needed, ensuring optimal results.
5. Sunbeam Two-Way Blender
The Sunbeam Two-Way Blender is a versatile and powerful kitchen appliance designed to simplify your blending tasks and elevate your culinary experience. With its innovative Two-Way Blade Technology and extra-wide 9cm reversible blade system, this blender ensures efficient and thorough blending for a variety of ingredients.
The heavy-duty stainless steel blade adds durability and longevity to the appliance, making it capable of handling even tough blending tasks with ease. Whether you’re blending smoothies, soups, or sauces, this blender’s robust blade system gets the job done.
6. Kenwood Multipro Classic Food Processor
The Kenwood Multipro Classic Food Processor is a versatile and efficient kitchen appliance that caters to a wide range of food preparation needs. With its generous 3-liter bowl and 4 food processor discs, this appliance offers ample capacity and versatility for chopping, slicing, grating, and more.
The inclusion of a 1.5-liter thermo-resistant blender expands the functionality of the food processor, allowing you to easily create smoothies, soups, and other blended recipes. The thermo-resistant feature ensures that you can blend both hot and cold ingredients without worrying about damaging the blender.
The 8 variable speed settings provide precise control over the processing, allowing you to achieve the desired texture and consistency for your dishes. Whether you’re working with delicate ingredients or tackling tougher tasks, these speed settings adapt to your needs.
7. Kenwood Titanium Chef Baker
The Kenwood Titanium Chef Baker is a premium and versatile kitchen companion that elevates your culinary experience to new heights. Crafted with a sturdy die-cast metal body, this appliance exudes durability and quality, making it a long-lasting addition to your kitchen.
The 7L polished stainless steel bowl is a marvel of design, offering ample capacity for large batches, and when needed, it easily transforms into a 5L mixing bowl, catering to a wide range of recipe sizes. This flexibility ensures that you can handle everything from small batches to large family meals with ease.
The inclusion of a dough tool and whisk enhances the appliance’s functionality, allowing you to effortlessly knead the dough and whisk ingredients to perfection. Whether you’re baking bread or whipping up delicate desserts, this food processor has the tools you need.
8. Breville the Smart Oven Air Fryer
The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer is a stylish and versatile kitchen appliance that combines the convenience of an air fryer with the functionality of a multi-purpose oven. Its brushed stainless steel exterior adds a touch of elegance to your kitchen, while the LCD display provides easy-to-read information for seamless operation.
The air fry function, along with 9 additional cooking techniques, makes this appliance a true culinary powerhouse. From air frying to roasting, toasting, and beyond, this oven covers a wide range of cooking needs. The ability to air fry with less oil provides a healthier alternative to traditional frying methods.
The 10 cooking functions offer versatility and convenience, ensuring that you can easily prepare a variety of dishes with just the touch of a button. Whether you’re baking, reheating, or dehydrating, this oven has you covered.
9. Sunbeam Café Press Brushed
The Sunbeam Café Press Brushed is a sleek and functional addition to your kitchen, offering a convenient way to enjoy delicious grilled sandwiches and more. Its stainless steel construction adds a touch of sophistication, while the flat plate design ensures even cooking and easy cleanup.
The non-stick surface of the grilling plates makes cooking and cleaning a breeze. Say goodbye to stuck-on food and enjoy the benefits of a hassle-free grilling experience.
The 2-sided grilling feature is a fantastic addition, allowing you to grill both sides of your sandwiches or other items simultaneously. This feature not only saves time but also ensures that your food is perfectly grilled and evenly cooked.
10. Panasonic Flatbed Inverter Microwave
The Panasonic Flatbed Inverter Microwave is a reliable and versatile kitchen appliance that combines a spacious 27L capacity with advanced features, making it a valuable addition to any home. With 1000 watts of power and 6 adjustable power levels, this microwave ensures efficient and even cooking for a wide range of dishes.
The 16 auto menus provide convenience and ease of use, making it simple to prepare various recipes at the touch of a button. From reheating leftovers to cooking frozen meals, the auto menus offer pre-programmed settings for common cooking tasks, saving you time and effort.
FAQs
Which brand of appliances are most reliable?
Brands like Kenwood, Sunbeam, Breville, and Panasonic are often considered among the most reliable for appliances due to their reputation for quality craftsmanship and durability. However, reliability can vary by product and model.
Which kitchen appliances last the longest?
Kitchen appliances with durable materials, solid construction, and minimal electronic components tend to last the longest. Appliances like high-quality stainless steel cookware, cast iron pans, and manual coffee grinders can have extended lifespans compared to complex electronic gadgets.
What is the most used kitchen appliance?
The microwave is often considered the most used kitchen appliance, providing quick and convenient heating and cooking options for a wide range of meals and leftovers.