It’s no secret that casual and serious home cooks love when countertop appliances enhance meal preparation. While toasters, blenders and mixers are fairly standard equipment in most kitchens, there’s been an explosion in high-tech cooking gear in recent years.
More than ever, home cooks have many options for improving the quality of meals, saving time and creating the kitchen of their dreams. Here are four drool-worthy countertop appliance trends for your customers to feast on.
Ninja Double Oven
Wall-mounted double ovens have long been staples of high-end kitchens, but their built-in nature often requires an extensive remodel or sacrificing a few cabinets. Recently, brands have been exploring double ovens that require no more than some space on the counter and an electrical outlet. The Ninja Double Stack XL Countertop Oven is a prime example.
A major advantage of having two cooking zones is the ability to prepare two dishes at different temperatures. Customers will appreciate that they won’t need to shuffle multiple dishes using a single oven, which is a key factor in some food cooling down too much before dinner starts. Instead, everything can finish simultaneously for the optimal serving temperature.
Countertop double ovens don’t have to replace a full-size oven to be practical. For example, a typical Thanksgiving feast might use the main oven to roast the turkey, while a portable double oven tackles the pumpkin pie and green bean casserole.
Notably, the Ninja Double Stack XL Countertop Oven can also do toasting, air frying, convection baking and dehydrating, among other functions. This makes it a suitable option for replacing multiple countertop appliances. That alone might be enough reason for apartment and tiny house dwellers to add a countertop double oven to their kitchen arsenals.
The Ninja Double Stack XL Countertop Oven retails for $350, but Ninja also sells an upgraded version with a leave-in thermometer for $380.
Nuwave Diamond Precision Induction Cooktop
Induction cooktops rival gas burners for heating power while offering the precision of electronic controls. This innovative tech directly heats pots and pans using a magnetic field, which cuts down on waste heat in the kitchen — meaning exceptional energy efficiency and comfort. Unfortunately, full-sized induction ranges and cooktops are pricey upgrades.
However, there are numerous countertop models that home cooks can try before committing to a full-sized induction range. For example, the Nuwave Diamond Precision Induction Cooktop is a compact burner that gives cooks absolute control over time and temperature. As a result, it handles high-temperature searing as easily as delicate cooking, like melting chocolate.
Still, it might not be compatible with a customer’s existing pans. Consider this as an opportunity to offer a selection of induction-compatible cookware. The Nuwave Diamond Precision Induction Cooktop typically retails for $100 — which is surprisingly affordable, though the brand also sells larger models and even a dual-burner cooktop.
GoveeLife Smart Electric Kettle Lite
In most of the world, the humble electric kettle is an essential countertop appliance, while it’s relatively unknown in the United States. However, adoption rates in the U.S. are increasing, according to a recent analysis by MarkWide Research, which shows this market has great potential.
The key selling point of an electric kettle is the ability to heat water quickly and efficiently without a stovetop. While some models use a single switch to boil water, many customers might appreciate different temperature presets for tea, coffee and long-term temperature keeping, as found on the GoveeLife Smart Electric Kettle Lite.
Govee may have made its name with smart lighting, but this $40 smart kettle is simple to use and offers the convenience of schedules and voice controls through Alexa and Google. The brand even sells gooseneck and brewer variants. While Govee is a promising newcomer, customers may also be interested in electric kettles from established brands like Cuisinart and Breville.
GE Profile Opal 2.0 Ultra Nugget Ice Maker
In the heat of summer and the deep freeze of winter, ice-cold drinks are as American as apple pie. There’s an insatiable demand for ice, with nugget ice makers being one of the most popular options on the market. Countertop ice makers are built for speed, often creating dozens of pounds of ice daily.
A recent highlight is the GE Profile Opal 2.0 Ultra, which can make a batch of chewable ice nuggets in less than 10 minutes. While its starting price of $579 is steep, the enhanced cleaning, filtering and smart home controls make it tempting for customers who always want high-quality ice on hand. Customers on a tighter budget might be interested in an affordable ice maker option from Frigidaire.
Whether stone, steel, or butcher block, kitchen counters often have space to spare for a few small appliances.
See also: 3 Countertop Cooking Appliances Retailers Can Maximize In Q4
