Small appliances can be an asset for easy and healthful food preparation. According to Grandview Research, single person households and smaller homes are helping to drive the small appliance industry that includes items from popular air fryers to multi-function cookers. Many individuals want to know if such appliances are right for their situation or how to best use what they own.  

Due to client inquiries and requests, the Boone County Cooperative Extension Service conducted a four-part, hands-on “Creative Healthy Cooking with Small Appliances and Techniques” series for 69 unique men and women from the general public who attended one or more of the sessions. Topics covered in the series included slow cookers, pressure cookers, multi cookers, convection ovens, induction cooktops, sous vide, air fryers, and sheet pans.

An online Qualtrics survey was sent to all participants about 3 months after the conclusion of the series to determine changes made in food preparation habits or use of appliances. Survey results revealed:

88 percent indicated the sessions encouraged them to try new techniques or recipes – from making sheet pan meals for one, using their convection ovens more often, and decreasing the use of a deep fryer and opting for an air fryer.

60 percent reported improved adherence to food safety guidelines when using slow cookers (not using frozen foods, not overfilling, and not storing leftovers in the crock in the refrigerator)

35 percent tried a sheet pan meal recipe at home and 12 percent purchased new sheet pans

29 percent report using their air fryer more often

18 percent opted to not purchase an air fryer due to not having a need

One individual was excited to learn more about the advantages of cooking a sheet pan meal since they could put all items on one pan for easy clean up, energy efficiency, and planned leftovers for future meals.

Source: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/us-small-kitchen-appliances-market-report