Amazon Has Its Own Line of Small Appliances — And These 5 Are Super Impressive!

Spend even a few minutes browsing Amazon for kitchenware, and it’s inevitable that you’ll find yourself face-to-face with one of the retail behemoth’s own AmazonBasics products. After the line launched in 2009 with a short list of random consumer electronics like phone cables, it has since expanded into a multitude of categories, including small kitchen appliances. These machines are usually aesthetically inoffensive, offer the core features you need, and usually cost quite a bit less than the name brands. Basic? You betcha. But are they any good? I tested a few of them recently to find out. 

After two weeks of regular use, I can safely say that all of the AmazonBasics small appliances I tested reliably get the job done. They definitely perform their jobs as promised. However, none would win any design awards, and they usually go light on extra features. The name says it all: They’re basic. But if you need a small appliance on a small budget, they’re a great option, and a few really stood out. These are the five best small appliances from AmazonBasics.

I used to have a simple Cuisinart immersion blender, which just wasn’t high-powered enough and the stick wasn’t detachable for easy cleaning. So I upgraded to the Breville, which has never let me down and comes with a bunch of attachments, but costs a whopping $100. Well, the AmazonBasics option is like a bargain Breville. It has a 500-watt motor, regular and turbo speed, detachable blending stick, and attachments that include a mini chopper, blending cup, and whisk — and it’s less than half the price. 

I used the AmazonBasics immersion blender to purée homemade tomato sauce, red chile sauce, and refried beans and found it had plenty of power to get the job done fast. My only issue is that the suction was so strong it was a little jarring to use. But I also liked how easy it was to detach the blending stick with a simple twist.

I used the whisk to make whipped cream in seconds. I used the blending cup to make smoothies and aioli, which thickened up almost instantly. The chopper left a lot to be desired, as they often do. (It worked fine for a small amount of nuts and garlic, but when I tried to chop a small onion, cut into wedges, I ended up with some large chunks and some that looked almost grated.) 

The AmazonBasics is just a little more rough-around-the-edges than the luxe Breville, which has more thoughtful design that reduces the suction and even has a scratch-guard on the blending stick so you won’t scuff your cookware. But, hey, if you need an immersion blender, this one works great and won’t break the bank.

Buy: AmazonBasics Immersion Blender with Attachments, $34.99

My first impression of this was, meh. It’s mostly all lightweight plastic, so it has a cheap “hotel coffeemaker” vibe. My first shot of espresso was just as disappointing — watery and bland. But. But! Then I started to get the hang of it. I tamped the espresso grounds a bit harder, I let it brew for a much shorter length of time, and I actually got a pretty tasty cup. And when I added it to my freshly steamed milk, well, I was sold. Make no mistake, this is not going to be capable of pulling an espresso shot that’s as luxe, or make steamed milk that’s as velvety, as what you can get at a real café. With its 15-bar pump, I don’t think it can offer enough pressure to get the job done, although that’s the same kind of pump used by other home espresso machines that cost three times as much.

Still, it’s really good for a homemade latte or cappuccino, and at $65 it’s miles cheaper than anything made by a dedicated coffee brand. Most home espresso makers start around $300 and reach into the thousands. 

The espresso coming out of this machine reminds me of what I get with my Aeropress, but it’s even easier to use and it has that handy steam wand for frothing milk. I found myself using it at least once a day, especially in the late morning when I craved a pick-me-up. I wish the steam wand was longer, and that the portafilter didn’t drip after brewing, and that I could brew two shots at a time. But all-in-all, this is a really inexpensive espresso machine that can easily satisfy your cappuccino, café au lait, or latte craving at home. 

Buy: AmazonBasics Espresso Machine and Milk Frother, $64.83

The electric, temperature-controlled kettle was the most attractive appliance I tested. Finally, there was an attempt to make something look nicer than just basic. It’s fully lined in stainless steel, not plastic, and holds a generous 1.5 liters of water. It boiled 4 cups of water in 3 minutes and 30 seconds. This was on par with another electric kettle I have that doesn’t offer incremental temperature settings, but far faster than my fancy Bonavita temperature-controlled kettle. I found myself turning to the AmazonBasics time and again when making tea and French press coffee. 

The temperature can be set from 90°F to 212° F in 10-degree increments. Anyone who loves tea and French press or pour-over coffee needs a kettle that doesn’t just go full boil. And I like the modern, sleek look and digital readout on the handle. 

It has a Strix temperature controller, the gold-standard made in England where there’s an electric kettle in every kitchen, and an auto-shutoff feature to prevent the water from boiling dry.

What’s not to like? Just a few minor things: The wide pour spot lacks precision, which is only really a problem when making pour-overs. The lid doesn’t open all the way or come off, which can get in the way when trying to fill the pot from a filtered water pitcher. There’s no water level mark on the outside so you have to peek inside to see how much there is. And it beeps loudly (five maddening times) to tell you it’s done (not what I want to hear in the morning). The keep warm button is handy but non-intuitive. It doesn’t keep the water at the temperature you set; it keeps it about 10 degrees cooler. Still, less than $40 for an attractive-looking temperature-controlled kettle is pretty sweet, especially when the brand-name competition costs closer to $90.

Buy: AmazonBasics Temperature Controlled 1.5-Quart Electric Kettle, $38.99

The air fryer worked great getting frozen fries, fish sticks, tater tots, and roasted broccoli nice and crispy. And my kale chips were light as air. But, you know, it was basic. Instead of digital buttons and programs like you’ll find on name brand models, this one just had two dials — one for the temp and one for a timer. I had to set a separate timer to remind myself to shake or turn things over halfway through. And at 3.2 quarts it’s on the small side. But you’d have to spend at least $20 more to get one with digital controls and extras like a divided basket. This one got the job done better than the air-fryer setting on my toaster oven, and it’s about $10 cheaper than the other bargain brands.

Buy: AmazonBasics Manual 3.2-Quart Air Fryer, $63

This toaster did a good job toasting white bread, seeded bread, thick bagels, and even sugary cinnamon bread. Was the toast evenly golden? No. The heating elements on the outside of the toaster tended to be hotter, resulting in those sides of the bread getting darker than the other. But nothing came close to burning, the toasting levels were accurate, and the toast was ready several minutes faster than with my toaster oven. 

Buy: AmazonBasics Extra-Wide, Two-Slot Toaster, $22

Have you tried any of the small appliances from AmazonBasics? What’d you think? Tell us in the comments below.