This small unit can bake, broil, roast, toast and air fry.
Photo courtesy of Dash Appliances
In the past few years people have started building and buying smaller houses. One of the main reasons for this is the saving in building cost, but there is also the savings in energy costs and the reduced maintenance required for a small house. Many people today, both millennials and older people want to live a simpler life, in a smaller space, with less “stuff” around. People are also more concerned today than ever about the carbon footprint of building a large house.
Along with building smaller houses come smaller kitchens. In the past few years there have been a preponderance of small appliances coming on the market. And when a kitchen is small, it is very helpful when as many of the kitchen small appliances are as multi-functional as possible, to save on space.
Fortunately, the appliance market is adapting to the upswing in smaller kitchens with not only smaller appliances but also multifunctional smaller machines.
One of the newest small appliances to come on the market is an air fryer oven. I could never have appreciated the advantage of having an air fryer until I recently saw a demonstration of some vegetables being air fried and them coming out quickly, not only cooked, but also browned. For those with a small kitchen space, where space is at a premium, what a great invention to have – an air fryer that now comes along with a small oven that bakes, broils, roasts, toasts and warms up food. Several companies produce air fryers, including Dash Appliances, GoWise and Chefman with multifunctional options. Each of these products have a variety of functions such as rotisserie oven, and roasting, baking and dehydrating elements.
Another appliance that is multifunctional is the Zeny pressure cooker, rice maker, steamer, sautér, yogurt maker and warmer. This appliance is programmable for all of these functions.
Most people who cook like to have a stand-up mixer, but now that can be combined with a blender to avoid having so many appliances. These are available from Cheftonic and Nurxiovo . Food processors can also be had with a juicer and food processor by Cuisinart.
With Thanksgiving coming this week, a great tool to have is an immersion blender by Geoffrey Zakarian , which comes with attachments to blend soup, mix a batter, whisk and mash – all in one
A new evolution of the George Forman grill now allows the home cook to grill a steak, make waffles, muffins, and grilled sandwiches.
Another item that is extremely useful in the home is the Wolf slow cooker which also sears and braises, and simmers rice with the inner pot also functional on the stove top.
With the recent popularity of tiny and small houses, there are apt to be many more multifunctional appliances coming on the market in the future.