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How to Store Small Kitchen Appliances

Diana Nguyen — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 05:00:41 PDT

Clean and ample counter space - the elusive ideal everyone, from the culinary genius to the working mom to the metropolitan gal, dreams about. While renovating your kitchen and adding more cabinetry may not be financially and spatially viable, more counter space on a limited budget can be within your grasp. Lo and behold, five ways to hide, store, and camouflage those mixers, microwaves, and more for clutter-free counters.

Transparency is convenient. Cabinets at counter level might fare better for appliance storage without the doors and hinges (like in this photo from Better Homes and Gardens). You'll be more inclined to scoot your heavy mixer in a nook rather than lifting or bending over to store it in a cabinet. If you don't already have open shelving, create some with Ikea Lack shelves ($7 each). Just make sure the shelves are near a socket, so you barely have to move the appliance.

Garages aren't just for cars. Appliance garages may take up some counter space, but they'll conveniently hide those unsightly metals. You can even paint the garages and add your own special pizzazz so that it blends into your kitchen seamlessly.

Keep reading for three more tips for clear counter tops and easy appliance storage.

Need It or Leave It? Kitchen Appliance Staples

Lizzie Fuhr — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 08:48:58 PDT

With so many products on the market to make your cooking experience less time consuming and more precise, it's difficult to decipher which tools are totally necessary and which ones will collect dust. I'm interested in your thoughts on the subject. Take a peek at the eight appliances up for consideration and let me know if you totally need it or can leave it.

Your Future Kitchen Will be Pretty Smart

Kristy Korcz — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 13:15:20 PST

The fact that I'm not so good in the kitchen doesn't mean I can't appreciate some good kitchen gadgets. But after stopping by the Kenmore booth at CES, I realized that the kitchen of the future will have more than just awesome tools; your fridge will actually know how to text you. We're one step closer to having our very own Rosie! Find out more about the smart appliances we found in Las Vegas in the video below!

Cool Idea: Design Your Kitchen to Reflect Your Style

Casa Community — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 13:00:37 PDT

Here's a post from CasaSugar Community member diywithadd from the Su Casa group:.

Whether you're planning a big budget kitchen renovation or a small budget kitchen upgrade, it's the little details that matter. One detail we took into account was the microwave. Since we hardly ever use it, and since microwaves aren't sexy, we didn't want it to be front and center in our kitchen. We definitely didn't want it sitting on a counter or hanging out right over our very sexy Bertazzoni range.

So, instead, we designed our cabinets with a slot for the microwave to slide in underneath the counter. Below the microwave cubby is a tall pull-out drawer that houses microwave-friendly storage containers. This makes for a convenient little "leftover" station. Above the microwave is nothing but uncluttered countertop, and that kind of real estate is priceless in our tiny New York kitchen. I love that our microwave is out of sight and out of mind until we need to reheat last night's mac and cheese.

For a before shot of the space,

Do You Have a Microwave?

partysugar — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 10:15:27 PDT

In Aspen, at a special lunch, Michael Voltaggio named the microwave as "the most underused technology in cooking today." He used the microwave to make a delectable sponge cake and told us how easy it was to re-create at home. I was disappointed because I do not have a microwave. Although my kitchen is modern, there simply isn't a microwave. How about you?

Does This Concept Gadget Belong in the Kitchen or the Office?

GeekSugar — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 15:30:30 PDT

Gadgets make our life easier, but there sure are some strange-looking gizmos on the market - sometimes it's hard to tell what exactly all those items are for. Can you tell what these gadgets are for?

Question 1 of 5

Can you toast your bread on the go with this gadget OR listen to tunes at your desk? Does this gadget belong in the kitchen or the office?

What Is This?

YumSugar — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 09:00:46 PST

Trying to stick to a resolution to make more foods on your own in 2010? This appliance - which looks like it might be in your beauty cabinet, but actually belongs in your kitchen - might be able to help. Do you know what it is?

The 12 Ages of Christmas: 2-Year-Olds

babysugar — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 06:00:41 PST

Instead of the 12 days of Christmas, we're celebrating the ages and the toys that go along with them. Keep an eye out for your age group as we tick along throughout the season!

On the second day of Christmas, yours truly gave to thee... a kitchen to whip up servings! Parents may think play kitchens are for lil gals only, but young men like to bake up cookies just as much as their female counterparts. Go for broke with a fancy shmancy modern set from Pottery Barn Kids ($580) or settle for a simple one that will surely provide just as much fun at a lower price. Add to the package with a grocery cart full of "food" and pots and pans. It won't be long until their tiny mitts have a place in mommy's real mixing bowl.

Check out what we suggest for the other ages of Christmas!

What Is This?

YumSugar — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 09:00:15 PDT

If you were trying to prepare a light version of your favorite Spring vegetables, like artichokes, asparagus, or English peas, you might reach for this kitchen tool. Can you guess what it is?

SodaStream Soda Maker: Worth Gushing About?

YumSugar — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 09:00:12 PDT

I have a confession to make: if I didn't worry about what my friends and family would say to me, I'd probably drink soda all day, every day - I love it that much. So when I got my hands on SodaStream's Soda Maker, a SkyMall-like contraption that claims to "turn tap water into sparkling water in three seconds," I knew I'd be in for some fizzy fun. According to Soda-Club, the company behind the machine, the SodaStream is more convenient (since you make soda instantly at home) than buying soda, less troublesome (no need to lug soda bottles), healthier (no high-fructose corn syrup), economically sensible, and better for the environment. Did the soda maker stand up to its claims? Find out when you

read more. I received a starter kit ($99.99) with a Fountain Jet Home Soda Maker, a 110-liter carbonator, two carbonating bottles, and an assortment of diet soda flavors and sparkling water essences. Following instructions, I assembled the machine, which requires no electricity, in under 10 minutes. To make soda, you fill a carbonating bottle with water, screw it into the machine, press a button four times to create fizz, and pour in some flavoring. The soda machine is certainly easy to use, less troublesome to transport, and better for the environment. After the initial cost for the machine, a cup of soda will set you back less than $0.10. As far as taste, however, this is no match for store-bought soda. The pop flavors (which included diet cola, diet grapefruit, diet cranberry-raspberry, and diet root beer) taste artificial with an odd aftertaste, and the bubbles aren't as fine or long-lasting as canned or bottled soda. "It's like Italian soda meets Crystal Light," a friend lamented. The flavored fruit essence drops taste even less natural. The soda bottles, despite being BPA-free, aren't dishwasher-safe. If you're a heavy club soda drinker, or frequently make Italian sodas with traditional syrups, then this machine would actually be a good investment for you. But if you're a regular canned Coke drinker, the soda system's syrupy flavors won't likely be the replacement you're hoping for. Have you ever tried SodaStream? Did you come to the same conclusions about it?

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