The Best Kitchen Appliances for Your Apartment

Whether you cook much at home or not, there are some appliances all kitchens should have. A refrigerator for instance! A stove and oven may be debatable if you rely heavily on a microwave. Some appliances are fun – that super cool ice cream maker, or the amusing waffle iron. But when it comes to often tight quarters in many apartment kitchens, you need to be extra picky when choosing which appliances to buy. A lack of counter space coupled with not enough cupboards means storage space is at a premium. Here are our tips for essential appliances for any kitchen to purchase on a budget.

Kitschy kitchen appliances seem to be a hot trend – and one you must avoid! Before making an impulse purchase, stop and think: Have you ever said to yourself, ‘it would be so helpful if I had a (insert potential new appliance here).’ If the answer is no, keep moving. However, if you are looking to cook more, have an interest in baking, or some other specific reason for considering a new appliance, than maybe it is one you should invest in.

So what questions should you ask yourself? First, do you have anything similar already at home? If you are looking at a new frying pan, do you already have one? What’s different/better about the one you are thinking about? Is there something else you already own that will work just as well? Hanging on to perfectly good kitchen tools, or making them do double duty is the best way to keep your kitchen clutter-free and extra cash in the bank account.

Second, how often do you realistically see yourself using it? Say you love the smell of baking bread and would love to bake your own loaves. That’s a grand ideal, but how often will it actually happen? Be honest – if you think you might lose interest after a few weeks, skip it.

There are some worthy appliances out there that work well for just about any lifestyle. The aforementioned microwave for example comes in handy when preparing and heating food. A quality skillet and baking pan will be useful in many ways, and typically one of each will suffice. Some people prefer ceramic, others swear by cast iron. And you don’t need them in 30 different sizes – a medium-size skillet and large pot are probably enough if you don’t cook much. If you can’t face the day without your morning cup of joe, consider a French press over a bulky countertop coffee maker. A manual can opener is a more affordable and space-saving choice over an electric one and at least one quality chopping knife is also important. Other tools your kitchen will be happy with include a wooden spoon, kitchen shears, a strainer, a chopping board and measuring cups and spoons.

Depending on your lifestyle, there are other appliances that might make your life easier so are obviously worth the money and storage space given. A slow cooker, a blender and toaster are all ones to consider, and if you really enjoy cooking, a food processor will probably come in handy.

Jacy is a freelance journalist specializing in art, design and culture. When not writing, reading or traveling she enjoys torturing her husband and dog with extremely long walks. Follow her on Google+.