6 Space-Saving Appliances for Small Kitchens

You should always strive to make the most out of what you have available. No matter how large your kitchen is, if you overcrowd it with useless appliances, you won’t be efficient. And when it comes to small kitchens, you need to be especially cautious. There is very little space to begin with, so you’ll need to make a lot of tough choices. You won’t be able to fit every luxury appliance that catches your eye. To help you out, here are some tips for utilizing the space in a crowded kitchen, as well as 6 space-saving appliances for small kitchens.

Declutter

Before you start thinking of what new space-saving appliances for small kitchens you need to buy, maybe you should first get rid of some stuff you don’t need. Trust us; you don’t need everything. Go to your kitchen right now and open all the drawers and cupboards. We guarantee you’ll find at least a few novelty appliances you haven’t used in over a year. It would be best to get rid of the stuff you aren’t using before you even think about getting something new.

Not being crowded by clutter can also help you feel better, and having easier access to everything in your kitchen can help you lead a healthier lifestyle. 

Have multipurpose appliances

It’s time to forget about single-purpose specialty appliances. If you have a small kitchen, there’s simply not enough room for bulky items that only do one thing. You can’t have a separate toaster, grill, skillet, and electric barbecue. However, if you are setting up your first home, there are some items you just won’t be able to go without. It’s still important to go for efficiency and practicality.

Pack up appliances when you are done using them

If you’re struggling with space in your kitchen, maybe not every appliance needs to have a place on the countertop. Take things out when you need them, and put them away when you are done using them. Have a designated place for everything so that you don’t just cram everything in that one drawer. Make the most out of vertical storage by using tall cabinets and shelves. If you have just moved in, you can even reuse some of the boxes you used for packing. This is a great way to reduce the amount of waste after the move.

Disassemble appliances you don’t use often

There are certain appliances that you’ll need to have around, but that still don’t get used too often. It might be a good idea to disassemble them and take them apart to save space. This can also come in handy if you are moving to a new home, and there are even some appliances that you can take with you on trips or vacations. Knowing how to take them apart and put them back together can help you get packed easily. You can also store disassembled items in the kitchen or garage until you need them.

Space-saving appliances for small kitchens

Here are our picks for 6 appliances that will save space and make the time you spend in the kitchen be more enjoyable.

1. Microwave oven

Sticking with our theme of multipurpose kitchen appliances, you can’t do much better than getting a microwave oven. They can be used to heat or defrost food, but you can also use them to do some cooking. They are easy to install and can fit into pretty much any kitchen. Modern microwaves are also safe to use since they come with built-in sensors and timers. Cleaning them is straightforward, but they can get jammed up if you neglect them for too long.

2. Get a second fridge

Before you jump to any conclusions, just hear us out first. If you are dealing with a cramped kitchen, you’ll mainly be focusing on appliances that don’t take up much space. But you’ll still need a place to store your food. You could go with a small fridge in the kitchen and a second combination fridge for the garage or pantry. That way, you’ll save space in the kitchen and still have enough room to store frozen food and other ingredients. You can use the second fridge for holding foodstuffs you don’t need while cooking. The fridge in the kitchen can have all the ingredients you need for cooking.

3. Hand or immersion blender

Hand blenders are the perfect example of multipurpose appliances. You can use them in place of a food processor or for mixing and blending soups. A good hand blender will quickly become one of your most-used appliances since it can help you prepare almost any meal. What’s best is that there are many budget options, so getting a reliable blender won’t set you back too much.

4. Small cooktops

There are many varieties of cooktops to choose from, with the most common ones being gas, electrical, and induction. Pick one that can heat only specific areas of its surface to save space in your kitchen. Induction cooktops can be as small as 24 inches wide, and there are even portable versions available. You can store those in the cupboard when you are done cooking.

5. Built in oven or fridge

The best time to install these is when you are moving into a new home or remodeling the kitchen. Built-in appliances can save a lot of space, and you don’t need to stop with the oven and fridge. While they are the most common space-saving appliances for small kitchens that people build into the walls or countertops, you can choose to go all out. There are also built-in versions of microwaves, dishwashers, and even pantries. If you carefully plan the design of your kitchen, you can end up saving a lot of space.

6. Pressure cooker

While some models of pressure cookers can be on the larger side, we still recommend that you find a place for one in your kitchen. You can set the timer and leave the food to stew inside the cooker. It will provide you with so much functionality in one appliance and save you plenty of time in the process.

Final Words

As you can see, the main goal with our list of 6 space-saving appliances for small kitchens was to provide as much utility as possible with the fewest number of separate devices. If you have a small kitchen, you’ll need to adopt a minimalist approach. Be strict on yourself and only keep the items that you’ll use regularly.