Sometimes the best things come in small packages

August 4, 2022 by
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Despite what some advertisers claim, bigger is not always better. A giant stand mixer might be perfect for making multiple batches of cookie or bread dough, but if you want to whip just one or two egg whites, you can be out of luck if all you own is a 10-quart Hobart. Often, having a small tool dedicated to the task is just what the doctor ordered. A bonus of tiny tools is that they don’t take up much space, making them a win-win.

Saveur recently took a look at the best mini-food processors available (these are US models but many of these brands are offered worldwide). Mini-food processors are wonderful for chopping small amounts of vegetables or when you are cooking for one or two, as I often do these days. Dragging out the 14-cup Cuisinart is a chore I would rather skip, but a 3 cup model can live on the countertop.

Huff Post also posted about the best small appliances and space-saving kitchen tools not too long ago, also including multi-use cookware in the review. A lot of the products profiled in this article include space-saving storage racks and organizers to help you escape the problems of cluttered drawers and cabinets.

Going back to the stand mixer, my KitchenAid 7 quart does sit proudly on the counter but the drawbacks mentioned above are real, which is why I splurged on a smaller 3 quart bowl and combi-whisk. This fits on larger bowl-lift KA models and solves the problem of whipping smaller amounts of egg whites or cream or making half-batches of recipes. It’s like having two stand mixers in one. For those with limited space and smaller needs, KitchenAid also has the mini stand mixer.

If tiny is your jam, you might want to check out these teensy-weensy measuring spoons, which start at 1/4 teaspoon and go down from there to a miniscule 1/64 of a teaspoon. I have never seen a recipe that calls for anything less than 1/8 of a teaspoon, but maybe I’m just looking in the wrong places.

Category: Antipasto

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7 Comments

  • hillsboroks  on  August 4, 2022

    When I start cutting recipes in half or thirds or fourths for two people, I end up with the most amazing fractions and those teensy-weensy measuring spoons would be just perfect!

  • averythingcooks  on  August 4, 2022

    I do have many full size countertop appliances (stand mixer, blender & food processor) but as I often cook for just the 2 of us, I love my mini kitchen aid food processor (I have the model pictured in the post). For the same reason, I immediately looked for the teensy weensy spoons on Amazon.ca…..”currently unavailable – not sure when back in stock”. Sad face emoji

  • dmco6863  on  August 4, 2022

    The tiny spoons! Not available in Australia, grrrr.

  • wester  on  August 5, 2022

    I do own these tiny measuring spoons, though I admit I seldom actually use them. Still, too cute not to get, and they use less space than the beautiful rolling pin I’m not using.

  • kmgavigan  on  August 5, 2022

    These spoons are used for measuring culture in cheesemaking. You can purchase them from cheesemaking suppliers online.

  • lean1  on  August 7, 2022

    I love my mini chop processor model above, it is wonderful for making salad dressing, and small amounts of pesto, chopping herbs, etc.
    I keep it on the counter and use it often.

  • Skamper  on  August 7, 2022

    Thanks for posting the teensy measuring spoons. I’d seen the ones that say “dash” or “smidgen” but always thought they were just a gimmick. These are the first I’ve seen with actual measurements included. There are two of us, so I’m often making fractional recipes.

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