20 Home Appliances Everyone Should Have That Are Easy To Use

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Modern home appliances are wonderful, with gadgets and products galore designed to do any conceivable task you can think of. But, of course, there are many appliances that seem handy that you shouldn't waste your money on. Some are overly complicated, gimmicky, and hard to use, adding little to your life except frustration and a fair amount of time wasted. The average American household spends $135 a year on small household appliances alone, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (via FRED), so it's important to make sure your money goes toward items that will add real value to your life, like toasters, slow cookers, and electric kettles.

The most important function of any home appliance is that it's easy to use. An item may look great and have all the fancy bells and whistles you can imagine, but if it doesn't offer convenience, you could end up investing in a product that's just a glorified paperweight. Your household tools need to perform their functions in a way that you will come to grips with quickly and efficiently, but what are those home appliances that are easy to use? Let's look at some of the best options.

Is there anything easier to use than the humble toaster? With a simple lever to push the bread down, a dial to choose how toasted your bread gets, and, sometimes, a few functions to cook from frozen or pop the bread up mid-cycle, there's little to go wrong. Just make sure you know how to clean a toaster to ensure that it doesn't get blocked up with excessive crumb debris, and you'll have a wonderful little energy-efficient machine that will last for years. 

Another kitchen staple, the kettle boils water quickly and efficiently for any number of functions (although it's particularly popular with tea and coffee drinkers). Stove top kettles heat up on the burner, but plug-in electric versions have a simple on/off switch. Some electric kettles also have added convenience and safety features, such as a keep-warm function, temperature controls, and an automatic switch-off when it runs dry. Just remember to keep limescale at bay with effortless cleaning methods like this easy lemon hack for descaling your kettle.  

A stand mixer is one of the core multi-functional appliances that can declutter a crowded kitchen. Cake lovers swear by them for the speed and consistency of mixing ingredients, but they're also a huge help when making bread dough and whisking. Buy one of the multiple attachments on offer, and you can turn a stand mixer into a pasta maker, meat grinder, vegetable slicer, or even an ice cream maker. Stand mixers are also effortless to use, with attachments that click in and one switch to vary the speed. 

A stick blender couldn't be simpler — just plug it in, and switch it on. Also known as an immersion blender, this is one of those lesser known appliances you never realized you're missing out on, with its ability to blitz, blend, puree, and emulsify in a matter of minutes. It's also a great addition for those who enjoy one-pot meals, helping to eliminate the need for extra cookware.   

Let's face it — coffee machines can be daunting, with far too many buttons and options for when you just want a simple cup of joe. So, you might then be confused as to why coffee machines are featured in this list. The reason is simple; there are so many options available, and many of them are incredibly easy to use. Once you adjust the settings you prefer, many coffee machines work with the press of a single button — what could be easier?

Over 85% of households in the U.S. have a washing machine, and it's easy to see why this time saving device is so popular. Whichever side you take in the front-loading versus top-loading washing machine debate, there's no doubt that being able to power through piles of washing quickly and efficiently is a godsend for households. With programmed details printed on machines and simple dials to adjust temperatures and spin speeds, washing machines are also easy to use and figure out.   

Microwave ovens are little gems, allowing us to heat up almost anything in a flash, defrost frozen items, and cook a complete meal. Some more sophisticated models can also be used as convection ovens, air fryers, or grills, turning the microwave into a multi-function product. Controls vary, with some microwaves sporting simple dials to change settings, while others use buttons to select timings and power levels. Either way, there's nothing complicated here — all you really need to know is a power level and what time you want to dial in.

As with washing machines, dishwashers are a fantastic time saver, taking the sting out of piles of washing up. Not only do they save time and water, but many also have eco-friendly modes to use less energy and save even more on your utility bills. Dishwashers come with simple buttons and dials to choose a cycle, and the displays take the guesswork out of determining when it's time to add detergent or rinse aid. Just make sure you know how often you need to clean your dishwasher to keep it running at optimal performance.  

Carving the Sunday roast used to be a laborious task, but the invention of the electric carving knife has made the job far easier on the hands and wrists. Able to produce precise slices through any cut of meat, an electric carving knife couldn't be more straightforward to use — you simply slide a switch up to turn it on and down to turn it off. Some models may also have different speed settings, but apart from this, there's little else to worry about. 

A slow cooker couldn't be easier to use. In general, you may need to brown your meat and combine your sauce before placing in the slow cooker, but then all that's required is to toss everything in and set the cooker to low, medium, or high as per your recipe. Some models also have a timer or auto shut-off setting, but this really is one of the simplest machines to use, a set-it-and-forget-it convenience that makes dinner as effortless and delicious as possible. Bonus fact — you can even use a slow cooker as a humidifier.

Making bread by hand requires a lot of kneading, and, to be frank, it's often a fairly exhausting job. Bread machines take all the strain out of the process, requiring you only to add all the ingredients as instructed. These clever machines also come with various programs to make different kinds of loaves, so you can whip up everything from a standard white loaf to a fancier ciabatta.  

If, like many of us, you struggle to get perfect fluffy rice on your stove, a rice cooker could be the answer to your problem. These marvelous machines guarantee perfectly cooked, beautifully fluffy rice every time you use them, and they're incredibly easy to operate. Simply add the rice and specified amount of water to the cooker and press the cook button, and the rice cooker takes care of the rest. You can even use your cooker to prepare steamed vegetables, oatmeal, hard-boiled eggs, and much more.

Are cordless vacuums worth the hype? We certainly think so, as they're easy to operate, convenient to quickly run around the house, and often even capable of breaking down into smaller handhelds for quick clean up jobs. Cordless vacuums often run on an eco mode or a boost mode for extra power and typically include simple slide-open bins and a decent range of attachments. They're a great, fuss-free addition to the home. 

Ironing isn't most people's favorite chore but using a decent steam iron will make it far less painful. The combination of steam and a perforated soleplate allows the plate to glide effortlessly over fabrics, reducing the amount of time you need to spend ironing your clothes. With its simple heat settings to match up with care labels on your clothes, you just have to add water to generate the steam, and you're ready to go. 

A food processor is a great way to declutter a crowded kitchen, as it can perform so many tasks, from chopping, grating, and slicing vegetables to pureeing food and even kneading bread dough. It's also a breeze to use, with a motor at its base driving a selection of different blades and spinning discs. There's also the option of either adding vegetables through the feeder tube or placing items directly into the bowl.  

Waffle irons might not be an essential item, but they're great fun and easy to use. And thanks to the non-stick surface, cleaning a waffle iron doesn't need to be that difficult. Once your batter is prepared, you simply pour it into the machine and select your temperature for light to dark waffles. Indicator lights tell you when the iron is hot and when waffles have been cooked, and some models include a timer.  

The multicooker is aptly named, as it performs a multitude of tasks. It can steam, sauté, pressure cook, slow cook, roast, boil, and even sous vide, with presets for all these different functions and more. It's a complex collection of features made easy, although you'll also find manual controls to set times and temperatures yourself. And, as you'd imagine, with all these functions, it's also a fantastic space saver in the kitchen.  

A juicer is a great way to get plenty of vitamins and nutrients into your diet, helping to reduce food waste by using up multiple fruits and vegetables. And this is another home appliance that's hassle-free to use. A simple on/off button controls the power, and you'll usually have two speed settings for different textures of fruit and veg. A feed chute allows you to easily feed the produce into the juicer, and many models have a non-drip spout to cut down on any mess.  

For the wine connoisseurs among us, a wine fridge is the ultimate home appliance for keeping bottles ready and waiting at the perfect temperature to be enjoyed. Glamorous as a wine fridge may be, they're actually simple to use, with touch controls to set the temperature across single or dual zones (dual zones allow you to cool both white and red wine in one fridge). Wine fridges usually have little more than a power button and interior light otherwise, but they're also versatile enough to store other drinks and items like cheese, desserts, or prepared foods. 

No at home movie night is complete without popcorn, but store purchased popcorn can be far too sweet or salty. It's not always the healthiest snack either, so a popcorn maker is a far better option for avoiding additives. And popcorn makers are also fun for the entire family. They're simple to use too, typically with only three switches to make them work. One controls the heat, one controls the motor for the stirrer, and the last controls the light and warmer that will keep your popcorn fresh after its popped.