Top Small Appliances of 2012

Blender

When you're ready to make sauces, smoothies, margaritas etc. the blender is the go-to appliance for these projects. What blender earned top marks this year? The KitchenAid 5-Speed KSB560 Blender. What makes this blender different from the others? Compared to other models it has a stronger motor, variable speed options, offers cord storage, and it has a compact design so it takes up less space on your counter and/or fits easily in the cupboard.

Reviews of the KitchenAid Blender:

Epinions.com - Users of this blender have commented that it's easy to use, has power and more importantly it's easy to keep clean and dishwasher safe and said it's the best blender they have ever used.

Good House Keeping - Has an "A" rating from Good Housekeeping Research Institute.

Macys - Over 85 perfect of their reviewers would recommend this blender to their friends.

Coffee Maker

Most of us start our days with a nice hot cup of coffee and thanks to the invention of the automatic coffee maker, we can have that liquid cup of heaven ready when we wake up.. Brewing great coffee means having a great machine. What coffee maker makes great coffee? The Cuisinart Brew Central DCC-1200 is the best coffee maker to come out 2012 according to sites such as:

Cuisinart Brew Central Reviews:

ConsumerSearch - Number 1 in their annual list of the best reviewed coffee makers in 2012

Cooking.com - 95% of those who used the coffee maker would recommended it to others.

WholeLatteeLove - Ranked 4.5 stars out of 5 by customers who have used it.

The Cuisinart receives top marks because of such features such as 24 hour programming, easy to use coffee chafe, a charcoal filter (it filters out chlorine and other impurities in the water before brewing), pause and brew options and an optimum brewing temperature that draws out the most amount of flavor from the coffee beans.

Food processor

The food processor is the perfect machine for cutting ingredients down to size in a short amount of time. Most models of food processors come with multiple blades designed for different chopping options. With so many models/brands to choose from what one should you get?

Cooking.com, Rachel Ray, Good Housekeeping, and Ebay.com all have ranked the Brushed Stainless Prep 9 Food Processor by Cuisinart as this year's winner. This wonderful appliance allows for easy storage and it has a brushed stainless steel finish that gives it a touch of class when sitting on the counter. Compared to other food processors the Prep 9 has a large work bowl allows you to prepare an entire meal from start to finish.

Cuisinart Food Processor Reviews:

Cooking.com - Readers have given this processor a 5 out of 5 rating.

Ebay - Customers have rated the processor a perfect score - 5 out of 5.

Rachael Ray - The highest rated food processor on their website.

Hand Mixer

The hand mixer which has been around since 1910 is a favorite of many bakers. Which mixer is up to your cooking projects? The Hamilton Beach 62676 hand mixer receives top marks from users. What gives the Hamilton Beach an edge over its competition? The 290 watt motor is what makes this mixer a powerhouse. It also comes with a set of attachments that allow you to do a variety of tasks such as mixing up cake batter, whipping egg whites and even making milkshakes. It's both a mixer and a blender so you get two appliances for the price of one! It also has storage for the power cord to prevent it from dangling on the counter or into your mixture!

10Rated.com, Home and Garden Ideas and Amazon list this appliance as their hand top mixer for 2012. Users of this mixer have repeatedly commented that it's the perfect appliance for any baking project.

Hamilton Beach Mixer Reviews:

10Rate.com - The number one choice for hand mixers in 2012 on their list of top 10 mixers.

Home and Garden Ideas - Listed this as best-rated mixer and the reviewer commented it's a great addition to the kitchen.

Amazon - On their list of the best reviewed mixers in 2012.

Microwave

The microwave was one of the best inventions of the 20th century. This machine can boil water in 30 seconds as well as defrost meat and/or cook meat in half the time of a regular oven. There are lots of brands of microwaves available so which one is tops in 2012? This year the GE Profile JES2251SJ is ranked as the best microwave out there. It boasts a large interior, a variety of cooking features and it delivers 1,200 Watts of power which cooks food about 30 percent faster than other microwaves. It also has a stainless steel finish, easy to-use-navigation controls, and a warm oven mode.

GE Profile Microwave Reviews:

Consumer Search - Listed as the best reviewed microwave this year.

Buzzillions - Given a 4.3 out of 5 stars by users

HHGregg - Customers have given them a 4.6 stars out of 5.

Stand Mixer

The stand mixer is necessary for any serious bakers or up and comers who are ready to try out some more complex recipes. What particular of brand was this year's top seller? The KitchenAid Mixer Artisan Series is the 2012 choice for in the stand mixer category. Users of the KitchenAid Mixer have commented on its strength, durability, versatility, the various color options. It's considered a piece of art in many a kitchen.

KitchenAid Mixer Reviews:

About.com - Highest rated mixer on their site.

Amazon - Has a 5-Star rating by Amazon customers.

Consumer Search - The number 1 reviewed mixer on their site.

GoodHouseKeeping - Rated number 1 by Good Housekeeping's Research Institute.

Slow cooker

The slow cooker (often called a crock pot) is an amazing appliance that's designed to help busy households save time by letting them set and forget dinner. All you need to do is prep the meal whether its meat, fish, veggies etc. add them into the slow cooker, set the timer and when you get home dinner is done.

When you're gone for the day what brand of slow cooker is up to the task of getting your dinner ready? The Crock-Pot Touchscreen Slow Cooker, is the best slow cooker for families because it has a programmable interface with high, medium and low settings, an auto warm feature that last for up to 4 hours, it's also dishwasher safe and has a removable inner tub that can double as a storage platter and keep leftovers in the fridge.

Crock-Pot Touchscreen Reviews:

About.com - Currently has a 5-star rating by About.com reviwers

Party of 5and Counting - Blogger gave the appliance high marks and recommends it as a must have gift.

CountrySmart - It was mentioned that it was a pleasure to cook with the Crockpot Touchscreen.

Toaster

The toaster is a staple of the modern kitchen. Investing a good toaster so you can have your breads and bagels toasted to your liking. With so many brands of toasters available which one do you choose? This year's White 4-Slice Compact Toaster By Cuisinart is a great choice.

This appliance can fit regular and thick bagels, breads and toast them to how you like them ' anywhere from light to a dark golden brown. What gives this toaster the edge over other brands is the pull out crumb tray, which makes cleaning it a breeze and a wrap around cord, that makes storage simple. Customers who have used this love its design and how well it does the job.

4-Slice Comapct Toaster Reviews:

Cooking.com - Has a 4.5 out of 5 stars rating by users.

ViewPoints - Has an 88 out of 100 average and is rated higher than all of the toasters on the site.