Product Review: The Best Small Kitchen Appliances

Sure, it's important to have the right stove or refrigerator, but let's face facts: It's the little kitchen appliances you use day in and day out that make the biggest difference in your life, helping you bake, blend, and cook to perfection. Our staff found a slew of new "can't live without" kitchen products and decided to put them to the test in our labs. In addition to looking for top-notch performance and giving points for safety features or timesaving devices, our pros considered whether these items will be worth the counter space once their novelty wears off. Got a small space? We've got the right-sized appliance for it. Here, four that measured up to our kitchen's daily grind.

1. Krups Espremio Espresso/Cappuccino/Latte Maker
The Krups Espremio Espresso/Cappuccino/Latte Maker is a pump driven machine, producing the pressure required to produce true espresso. The Espremio is a great value for an entry level espresso maker and is well worth the price difference over a small boiler machine that can't produce sufficient pressure to produce the cafe style espressos, cappuccinos or lattes you desire. The Auto-Cappuccino function makes frothing milk as easy as can be. Simply connect the milk container (included) to the frothing stem and rich froth is dispensed directly into your cup. Sleek styling and a compact footprint make it a welcome addition to any coffee lover's kitchen. Love espresso but convinced only a rocket scientist can make it at home? That's all changed. All you have to do is drop a pod filled with ground coffee into a slot to make a satisfyingly authentic cup of espresso. Want another one? Just slide in another pod -- no need to empty, clean, and refill the filter basket. To get the best froth for your cappuccinos, use fresh cold milk: whole makes a creamy foam, skim results in a stiffer foam.

2. Toastmaster's TBR15 Breadmaker
Do you love waking up to the smell of freshly made bread? The 13-hour delay timer on Toastmaster's TBR15 breadmaker makes it possible to wake up to or come home to freshly baked 1- or 1-1/2-pound horizontal loaves of bread. Choose from eight different settings: basic, fast bake, French, whole wheat, sweet, quick bread, dough, and bake only. The crust control program allows you to choose between light, medium, or dark crust. With the extra-large viewing window, the one-hour "keep warm" cycle, and electronic touchpad controls, you’ll enjoy discovering how easy baking bread can be. We found it user-friendly, with easy-to-program controls, a beep that lets you know when to add raisins and nuts, and a comprehensive owner's manual. Expanding your repertoire of recipes is the best way to get the most from your bread machine. Institute experts consider The Ultimate Bread Machine Cookbook, by Tom Lacalamita ($25), a classic for its delicious recipes and terrific troubleshooting advice. Be sure to try the recipe for Onion and Sage Focaccia. Check your local bookstore and stores where bread machines are sold.

3. Cuisinart Toaster Oven/Broiler Cuisinart TOB-160
Have you ever started to toast your morning bagel and realized the toaster oven was still on from the night before? Well, there's no chance of that happening with this model. When you bake or broil, you set a timer that automatically shuts off the oven. The oven interior is also large enough to hold a 9-inch cake pan or a 4-pound chicken and has a nonstick finish that's easy to wipe clean. And it makes perfect toast whether you like yours with just a tinge of color, golden brown, or almost burned. Can't find a pan that fits into your toaster oven? Cookware manufacturers such as Nordic Ware, Wilton , Wearever, and Chicago Metallic offer bakeware -- from cupcake pans to casseroles, most with nonstick coatings -- sized for toaster ovens and priced from $4.99 to $8.

4. Braun MR400HC Multiquick Handblender & Chopper
There's nothing like this odd-looking instrument for whipping up milk shakes, making baby food in a flash, or pureeing soup right in the pot. Just place it in a bowl, a pot, or the beaker it comes with and blend. In seconds, you're done. And though other handheld blenders have to be rinsed carefully to avoid submerging the motor, this one has a detachable mixing shaft so you can pop the other half in the dishwasher. The chopper attachment makes quick work of mincing garlic or chopping herbs or nuts; use the whisk attachment for whipping eggs or beating pancake batters. This handblender can be used to thicken sauces and soups, rather than adding fat and flour.