by Christina Wright
Can't decide what to get for the newlywed or engaged couple you know? The right kitchen appliance can make their new life together much easier. This kitchen appliance buying guide can help you determine the best small appliance to give as a gift; read on to find out which small appliances newlyweds really need.
Blender: Blenders do the chopping and pureeing for you and are quick options for whipping up soups, salsas and smoothies. Newlyweds need them because they make it easy to throw ingredients together for breakfast, dinner or a snack. They can make a healthy fruit smoothie breakfast drink in time to run out the door to work or school, puree ingredients for a fast soup or host a party on a budget with salsas and dipping sauces they made themselves. Immersion blenders are a smaller, hand-held version of the standard blender and are great for making smoothies in a glass or for blending hot soup ingredients without the risk of hot splatter.
Mixer: Mixers come in a variety of sizes and speeds and are perfect for speeding up your baking recipes. Newlyweds need them because they can save money by cooking and baking homemade foods. Most mixers are large countertop appliances; because newlyweds often live in cramped apartments with little kitchen storage, consider giving them hand mixers instead. Hand mixers take up much less space than stand mixers and are great tools when the chef is only cooking for two. Hand mixers usually have five speeds and removable beaters for easy cleaning and storage.
Toaster oven: Toaster ovens are great timesavers, and they can do much more than toast bagels and other items too big for a regular toaster. Newlyweds need them because they are one of the most versatile kitchen appliances. Toaster ovens can do all the same things as toasters, and they are great for cooking mini frozen pizzas, making your own cheesy bread or crisping garlic bread. Toaster ovens also heat up much faster than a regular oven, saving newlyweds time and money. These kitchen appliances generally take less space than a countertop microwave oven and give food a crisp texture that microwaves can't. Some toaster ovens come with cool extras, like warming features and pizza trays.
Electric grill: Electric grills provide the same grill marks and outdoor barbeque flavor as outdoor grills, but you don't have to wait for summer to use them. Newlyweds need them because they often won't have an outdoor area for a propane or charcoal grill; plus, electric grills cook food quickly and reduce the food's fat content. Most electric grills come with top and bottom grill plates, meaning the food is cooked evenly from both sides, which speeds up the cooking process. These plates are usually ribbed, providing the tell-tale grill marks and draining fat away from food. Electric grills can handle almost all the same foods that outdoor grills can, including vegetables, burgers, steaks and kabobs. They are also handy for panini or grilled sandwiches.
