If there's one thing foodies love, it's finding new ways to make their favorite foods faster, easier, and better. Back in the day, there was pretty much just a stove and an assortment of cookware and bakeware, and you'd have to make do with just those. This led to certain dishes becoming time-consuming treats that could only be made every so often, simply because they'd take forever — and were a tonof effort.
As time went on, new appliances were added to the modern cook's kitchen lineup. Microwaves became standard, making life a whole lot easier for harried parents who needed to whip something up in a hurry. Later, slow cookers became all the rage. Nowadays, the Instant Pot is a popular choice that's seen in more and more kitchens. But what about the nonstandard little gadgets that make your cooking life so much easier?
We compiled a list of 16 of the most clever and unique small kitchen appliances to take your cooking and baking games to the next level — each for under $100!
1. Cuisinart Classic Style Popcorn Maker, $99.95
Sure, you can toss a bag of popcorn into the microwave, but where's the fun in that? This retro, movie-theater-inspired popcorn maker will add a cool touch to any modern kitchen.
2. Compact Air Fryer, $59.99
Air fryers are all the rage nowadays, but the standard size can be a bit bulky. Get your fry on (in small portions) with this compact version.
3. Yogurt Maker, $35.99
Did you know that making homemade yogurt is surprisingly simple? With this handy countertop yogurt maker, you can even make up to seven different flavors at once!
4. Electric Crepe Pan, $38.85
You can absolutely make crepes in a regular old stovetop pan, but this electric griddle will help you make them perfectly round and perfectly thin super easily.
5. Food Dehydrator Machine, $48.99
This dehydrator can preserve a wide variety of foods, making everything from beef jerky to kale chips.
6. Electric Vertical Nonstick Easy Egg Cooker, $25.97
If you can get over the weirdness of eating cylindrical omelets, this is actually a really cool, useful kitchen gadget to make breakfast a breeze.
7. Bacon Express Grill, $28.47
Tired of painful grease splatters when you're frying up some delicious bacon? This gadget's vertical cooking apparatus helps drain away grease, making cleanup a breeze.
8. Babycakes Multi-Treat Maker, $32.33
This compact baking machine can make a variety of tiny sweet treats, including donuts, cupcakes, and cake pops.
9. Rotating Pizza Oven, $40.99
This countertop pizza oven rotates to ensure even baking, and you can use it with frozen or homemade pizzas.
10. Bibo Barmaid Smart Cocktail Machine, $99.99
This one's a bit on the pricier side, but how cool is this concept? Sort of like the Keurig for coffee, this cocktail machine uses individual mixer packets and a shot of your alcohol of choice to make a perfectly mixed drink at the touch of a button.
11. Grilled Cheese Sandwich Toaster, $24.99
This one is a bit of a niche product, but if you really love a good grilled cheese, this cute little retro toaster is the appliance for you.
12. Stackable Baskets Food Steamer, $29.74
Steam meat, fish, and veggies all at once for a super-healthy dinner using this stackable food steamer.
13. Frozen Yogurt, Sorbet, and Ice Cream Maker, $65.62
Make your favorite frozen treats from the comfort of your own kitchen with this handy little machine. It's fully automatic and makes up to two quarts!
14. Double Belgian Waffle Maker, $74.99
This little gadget is for serious waffle lovers. It can cook two Belgian waffles with extra-deep, 1-inch pockets at once — all the better for drowning them in syrup!
15. Breakfast Sandwich Maker, $24.99
This breakfast sandwich machine makes the morning trip to the McDonald's drive-through totally unnecessary. It cooks your egg and meat at once, all while toasting your bread of choice. Plus, it's totally customizable, so you can make whatever sandwich floats your boat!
16. All-in-One Breakfast Maker, $89.99
If you prefer your morning meal a bit more traditional, you may want to invest in this retro-inspired all-in-one breakfast machine. It toasts your bread, brews up a cup of coffee, and grills your breakfast meat and eggs all in one nifty little appliance.
Buy it at Sharper Image for $89.99.
Psst: If you choose to purchase an item on this list, LittleThings may receive a small cut. Each item and price is up to date at the time of publication; however, an item may be sold out or the price may be different at a later date.
*Psst: if you choose to purchase an item from this post, LittleThings.com may receive a small cut. Each item and price is up to date at the time of publication; however, an item may be sold out or the price may be different at a later date.
