COUNTER BLESSINGS
The latest countertop appliances streamline practically every kitchen task
We all have our favourite countertop appliances (ahem, the coffee machine with all the bells and whistles — or my stand mixer; no, no, my super-duper blender). These little gizmos make food prep easier and they make healthy, homemade cooking all the more attainable.
Right now, consumers are gravitating toward small appliances that perform a specific function in a sleek, compact way.
“People rely on their appliances to do everything from creating a simple weekday dinner to experimenting with new flavours and recipes,” said Priya Trivedi, brand manager for KitchenAid Small Appliances and Kitchenware. “With countertop space at a premium in many kitchens, today’s countertop appliances need to be versatile — combining function and design. They add a pop of colour to your countertops and can act as a focal point for the room.”
This is especially true when it comes to condo-dwellers, for whom space tends to be at a premium.
“As more people move to condos, they have less counter space to work with, but still love to cook and explore in the kitchen,” Trivedi explained. “When you’re working with limited space, you want your appliances to be versatile and serve multiple purposes.”
Highly efficient food processors, for example, can be used in a variety of applications in the kitchen, and today they are made with microwaveand dishwasher-safe parts to make prep and cleanup that much easier. KitchenAid’s Artisan Mini fits all KitchenAid attachments, meaning you can transform your machine into other small appliances like a food processor, pasta maker or juicer, but still only have one device sitting on your counter.
Blenders, steamers and gadgets for food preservation are also dominating the countertop appliance market right now.
“Currently, countertop blenders are experiencing dynamic growth in Canada — specifically professional-style, high-powered blenders, which have the highest growth segment of countertop blenders,” said Louise Sauvé-Nicholls, director of marketing at Hamilton Beach Brands Canada Inc. “Consumers are more concerned about wellness and healthy eating than ever before, and they are looking to educate themselves, and willing to invest in appliances that will deliver results. These high-powered blenders are extremely versatile, making anything from smoothies to nut butter to flour.”
Rice cookers and food steamers are also growing in popularity, as trends in food consumption such as gluten-free diets and increases in protein replacement options have increased the number of recipes featuring vegetables, fish and rice. “Consumers like rice cookers because they are programmable, easy to use, and the quality of the rice is better than other methods,” Sauvé-Nicholls said.
Farm-to-table and local food sourcing trends are also influencing small-appliance choices, meaning that more people are growing their own fruits and vegetables and are interested in preparing and preserving healthy foods.
“This has increased demand for products such as dehydrators to preserve and make dried fruit snacks, vacuum sealers to preserve the freshness of produce and meats, and meat slicers for homemade cold cuts,” Sauvé-Nicholls said.
And these appliances aren’t just about function; their form is evolving,
too. The look of these countertop machines is moving away from bland utilitarian styles and into modern, chic designs.
“Countertop appliances usually follow the design trends in major appliances,” Sauvé-Nicholls said. “Professional and commercial design elements are increasingly more popular with streamlined, modern sleek elements in stainless steel and black.”
When it comes to these countertop appliances, quality is more important than ever.
“A new ‘buy better’ philosophy is also appearing (where) consumers feel overwhelmed by the amount of physical stuff in their lives,” SauvéNicholls explained. “Understanding the difference between essential and non-essential purchase is key. Products need to be designed to last, and consumers are selecting more carefully purchasing products as an investment.”