Do You Need Kitchen Appliances, But Are On a Tight Budget? Read Here to Find Out The Appliances You Must Have, and The Ones You Can Forego

There’s an overwhelming number of kitchen appliances on the market place. With that comes the ever-present opportunity to overspend on appliances you probably don’t really need. While there’s no doubt that some can streamline the process of cooking, there are others that don’t necessarily warrant the cost. To help decide what’s worthy of a purchase, we’ve compiled tips that break down the process of choosing and also highlighted some of the best appliances to have in a frugal foodie’s kitchen. To avoid overspending on kitchen appliances, ask these five questions before making the big buy:

What’s the return on value?
The answer to this question is the biggest deciding factor in whether an appliance is worth the purchase. To get worth out of a purchase you want to earn back value that meets and –ideally—exceeds what you spent on the item. There’s a reason that refrigerators are standard in a kitchen. They have a consistent benefit to anyone storing perishables. Since that applies to most people, they have a high return on value.

Slow cooker
What makes it so cost effective: It’s not so much the slow cooker itself that’s valuable, it’s value lies in the time that it frees up for a busy cook. While cost effective ingredients (like beans and end cut meats) simmer in the crock pot, you’re free to go about focusing on other tasks in your life.

How frequently will you use the item?
You could own an electric ice cream maker that churns out the best ice cream that you’ve ever had but if you only use it a handful of times during the summer then it might never reach it’s return on value. In that case, it doesn’t make sense to buy an appliance that will be used infrequently. Another way to look at the impact of buying something that won’t be regularly utilized is to break down the cost per use.

Microwave
What makes it more frequently used than other appliances: It speeds up the cooking and reheating process. This efficiency alone is useful in most kitchens. And while it’s not necessarily going to churn out a gourmet feast on its own, it did revolutionize the way that we utilize our cooking time.

Can you make do without it?
This is the best question to help you distinguish if an appliance supports your needs or your wants. Many kitchen tasks can be completed without an appliance but we’ve come to rely on the convenience of having something perform an action for us. What kind of hard-line you draw between needing and wanting an appliance comes down to your preferences, but

Countertop blender
What makes it so useful: Even the best of knife skills won’t break down ice the way that blender blades can. Beyond smoothies, blenders also combine ingredients efficiently and quickly and is a smart addition for mixing and blending needs. A good blender can blend ingredients into pesto, hummus, peanut butter etc. and does so in a way that chopping and grinding by hand won’t achieve.

Will Having to Clean the Appliance Deter You from Using It?
The number one example of a difficult to clean appliance is the food processor. While a valuable appliance in some people’s kitchens, the amount of work spent disassembling and cleaning the blades can deter others. Think about the time from beginning to end, and whether you find the timeline reasonable.

The fussier an appliance, the less likely you are to take full advantage of it on a regular basis. When choosing something, keep ease of use in mind.

Hand mixer
What makes it the best easy to clean appliance: For an avid baker, there’s the coveted (and pricey) Kitchenaid stand-up mixer but most baking needs can be met quickly with a hand mixer. The best part about clean up with this appliance is that once you pop out the metal beaters, they’re as easy to clean as a piece of silverware. It’s a huge advantage when the “messy” part of an appliance detaches itself.

Some appliances fall into the “specialty appliance” category. Though fun, they’re not generally considered necessary. You can file things like a quesadilla maker and a breakfast sandwich maker here. So before buying any appliance, take the time to understand if you’re just being dazzled the packaging, the marketing or just the general idea of it.

Consider alternatives to buying brand new appliances

Share appliances or borrow from a neighbor or friend. Sharing appliances is a completely feasible thing for certain appliances. Obviously ones that have been installed into your kitchen can’t be moved, but other small appliances can be shared among friends and family.

Buy used: Buying used is a great option if you’re eyeing a pricy appliance but want to save money. Two stipulations to this suggestion, though: check for quality and don’t discount the above questions. If you really want to see what kinds of things have a low return on value or at the very least seem to be more expendable, visit the appliance section of your local Goodwill or second hand store.

Take your personal needs into account: If you buy a refrigerator but store nothing in it, your lifestyle will not benefit from the purchase. This goes for any appliance. Even though a slow cooker can be an excellent tool to turn low-cost ingredients into a meal, if it will remain in your cupboard then it doesn’t make sense to buy one.

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