Best Small Kitchen Appliances Worth the Splurge (Chef’s Picks!)
Ready to level up your kitchen? This is the high-end kitchen gear I swear by—worth every penny.
My Chef-Recommended Kitchen Appliances for Serious Home Cooks
As a professional chef, I’ve worked with just about every kitchen tool out there—from heavy-duty restaurant gear to trendy kitchen gadgets. Some aren’t worth the space at home, but a few high-end appliances truly earned their spot in my tiny Toronto kitchen before I started traveling full time.
These are the tools I personally own, trust, and have used for years. They come from the best kitchen appliance brands I know from my time working in restaurants. From silky purées in my Vitamix to homemade pasta in my KitchenAid stand mixer, these tools make home cooking easier, more consistent, and a lot more fun.
I may earn a small commission from some of the links on this page if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I genuinely believe in and already have or would purchase myself.
The 7 Best High-End Kitchen Appliances Chefs Actually Use
1. KitchenAid Stand Mixer
The ultimate kitchen workhorse with endless attachments.
Every restaurant I’ve worked in has had at least one KitchenAid stand mixer. There’s a reason it’s the go-to brand for chefs and home cooks alike: it’s powerful, stable, and built with heavy-duty materials that last.
With the right attachments, it becomes a true multitasking machine. I upgraded mine with the meat grinder for custom burger blends and the pasta maker to roll out paper-thin sheets in seconds.
And that’s just the start. From the juicer, spiralizer, and slicer to the food processor, shredder, and even an ice cream maker—there’s almost nothing this machine can’t do. One solid motor, endless possibilities.
My Amazon Pick:
KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer
A classic for a reason—this model is durable, reliable, and comes in 20+ colors to match your kitchen and personality (mine’s “Contour Silver”). It includes three attachments (whisk, flat beater, and dough hook) and a handy pouring shield to keep your counter clean.
Pair it with KitchenAid’s endless lineup of official attachments to take your home cooking to the next level.
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2. Vitamix Blender
The chef’s choice for velvety purées, soups, and smoothies.
From experience, I can tell you Vitamix blenders are a daily go-to in professional kitchens—and it’s the only blender I trust at home. With a 2-horsepower motor and that signature vortex, it turns anything into a smooth purée in seconds.
From hot soups to frozen desserts, nut butters to silky sauces, it handles everything with ease. Even stubborn ingredients like ginger, kale, and seeds—which I love adding to my green smoothies—blend up perfectly. No grit, no chunks.
My Amazon Pick:
Vitamix 5200 Blender, Professional-Grade
This is the gold standard Vitamix model: 10 variable speeds, a 64-ounce pitcher, and a tamper to push down thick or difficult ingredients while blending. Powerful, precise, and built to last—if you’re serious about cooking (or smoothies), this is the one to get.
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3. Mini Food Processor
Small but mighty—perfect for hummus, pesto, and everyday prep.
My little Cuisinart food processor is compact, lightweight, and surprisingly powerful. I’ve used it to grind graham crackers for cheesecake, cut butter into flour for pie crust, and whip up small batches of hummus or pesto with ease.
It barely takes up any counter space, which makes it ideal for small kitchens or anyone short on storage. In pro kitchens, we use the massive (and expensive!) Robot Coupe—amazing, but overkill at home. This little Cuisinart gets 90% of the job done, without the size or price tag.
Is it essential? Maybe not. You can chop by hand or make pesto in a mortar and pestle. But if you want to save time and get consistent results, this little food processor earns its keep—and it barely takes up any space.
My Amazon Pick:
Cuisinart 4-Cup Mini Food Processor
Space-saving, versatile, and perfectly sized for quick, everyday prep. The auto-reversing blade has a sharp edge for puréeing herbs and garlic, and a blunt edge for grinding nuts, seeds, and spices. Just note—you’ll need to hold the button while it runs, and it’s not built for bigger, longer jobs.
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4. Immersion Circulator — Sous Vide Machine
The secret to perfectly cooked steaks, chicken, and fish every single time.
Sous vide was once a technique reserved for fine-dining restaurants, but with compact immersion circulators, it’s now one of the easiest ways to cook at home. I use my Anova Nano to get flawless, edge-to-edge perfection on steak, chicken breasts, and even vegetables—just set the temp, seal the food, and let it do the work.
No more guessing if your steak is medium-rare or ending up with dry, overcooked chicken—the water stays at the exact temperature you choose, locking in moisture and cooking everything evenly. I like tossing in aromatics in the bag like garlic, rosemary, and thyme for extra flavor, then searing quickly to finish for the ultimate steak dinner at home.
A sous vide machine may not be essential, but if you’re a perfectionist in the kitchen (or just love a good steak), this is one gadget you’ll actually have a lot of fun using.
My Amazon Pick:
Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker Nano 2.0
Compact, consistent, and easy to use. It clips onto any pot and holds your set temperature within 0.1°F for perfect results every time. You can control it via the app or directly on the device with the touchscreen.
Note: The app now requires a subscription for full access to recipes and guides (kind of annoying!), but the machine itself works flawlessly without them.
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5. Vacuum Sealer
The must-have upgrade for sous vide, food storage, and meal prep.
This little vacuum sealer has become one of my favorite kitchen tools. It’s sleek, reliable, and delivers a seriously strong seal.
It pays for itself in food preservation alone, from extending the life of dry goods and keeping refrigerated products fresher to eliminating freezer burn. It’s also a go-to when I’m packing food for camping trips—vacuum sealing keeps everything leak-proof, dry, and perfectly portioned.
Mine has lasted years and barely takes up any room, even in a tiny kitchen. It’s not something I use every day, but when I do, nothing else compares—especially if you buy meat in bulk or like to prep ahead.
My Amazon Pick:
Cuisinart VS-200C One-Touch Vacuum Food Sealer
This is the exact model I use at home. It’s simple, easy to store, and gets a solid seal with just the press of a button. It has modes for wet and dry foods, plus a gentle setting so you don’t crush delicate ingredients.
It includes two starter rolls in different widths, so you can customize bag size for every need right out of the box. Just clamp the roll in, seal one end, and cut to your desired length. This machine is so satisfying to use. Great value, great results.
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6. Cordless Meat Thermometer
A wireless thermometer that nails your cook every single time.
I’ve used plenty of thermometers over the years—mostly instant-read and wired models—but the MEATER stands out because it’s completely wireless and connects to your phone via Bluetooth. No cords, no hovering by the oven or grill, just precision cooking every single time.
The app tracks both internal and ambient temperatures and even estimates when your food will be done and how long to rest it. It basically predicts carryover cooking, which means you hit your target without any guesswork. I used it on a prime rib roast recently, and it came out beautifully pink and juicy throughout—rested just long enough that the juices stayed put when I sliced it.
Be aware that the probe is a little thick, meaning it leaves a larger insertion hole. This might be more noticeable on smaller cuts, but for larger items like roasts or whole chickens, it's perfectly fine.
My Amazon Pick:
MEATER Plus – Smart Bluetooth Wireless Meat Thermometer
This is the exact model I use. The extended Bluetooth range makes it great for grilling, smoking, or roasting without babysitting your food. The magnetic charging dock sticks right to the fridge, so it’s always charged and easy to grab. This truly is a luxury kitchen tool.
There’s also a MEATER Pro if you want more range and higher temp capacity, but it’s pricier. For most home cooks, the Plus hits the perfect balance of performance and value.
Note: Bluetooth range can vary depending on walls or distance—keep the base near your oven or grill for best results.
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7. Espresso Machine
The ultimate splurge for coffee lovers who want café-quality drinks at home.
An espresso machine isn’t essential for everyday cooking, but it completely upgrades your kitchen if you love coffee. I owned the Breville Barista Express for years and used it every single day to pull smooth, rich shots and steam milk just like a professional setup.
What I love most is how approachable it is. You get the feel of a real espresso machine, but with built-in grind settings and smart controls that make it far less intimidating than commercial models. Even if you’ve never made espresso before, you’ll get the hang of it in just a few tries.
It’s easy to maintain, with indicator lights that tell you when to clean it, and the burr grinder comes apart quickly for a deep clean. The upkeep is simple—and worth it for the quality you get. It’s true espresso: freshly ground, customizable, and miles better than any pod machine.
My Amazon Pick:
Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine
This is the exact machine I owned and used every day for close to a decade. It combines a conical burr grinder, precise espresso extraction, and a powerful steam wand in one sleek, durable package.
Many long-term owners in the reviews say theirs still runs flawlessly after years of daily use—and I can vouch for this. Breville is one of those brands that truly earns its reputation: sturdy, reliable, and worth every penny if you’re ready to upgrade your coffee setup.
Tip: Use freshly roasted beans and clean the steam wand right after each use for the best flavor and longevity.
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Small Kitchen Appliance Buying Tips
Start with the one appliance you’ll use most often. For many home cooks, that’s a stand mixer or a high-powered blender. If you love meal prepping, consider pairing a vacuum sealer with an immersion circulator.
Choose quality over quantity. Go with trusted brands like KitchenAid, Cuisinart, Vitamix, and Breville—pay the price upfront, and you’ll be rewarded with reliability for years to come. Whenever possible, choose stainless steel or metal components—they hold up better under daily use and deliver more consistent performance over time.
Don’t forget to think about space and cleanup. Compact tools that store easily or have dishwasher-safe parts will always get used more. If it’s a pain to clean or takes up too much counter space, it’ll probably end up collecting dust in a cabinet.
More Chef-Tested Gear and How-To Guides
Campfire cooking tools: My essential open-fire cooking gear tested on countless trips, from grill baskets to fireproof gloves.
Delter Coffee Press review: Why this compact coffee press is my go-to for brewing rich coffee on the road or at camp.
Best electric kettles for cooking: The kettles I recommend the most for quick boiling, cooking, and everyday kitchen use.
How to pack a cooler like a chef: Step-by-step tips for layering food, keeping things cold longer, and staying organized at camp.
How to cook over a fire: My chef’s guide to building a cooking fire, managing heat zones, and getting restaurant-quality results outdoors.
